Wenceslaus of Płock
Encyclopedia
Wenceslaus of Płock (1293 – 23 May 1336) was a member of the House of Piast. He was Duke of Płock from 1313 until his death and was a vassal of Bohemia
from 1329.
and his second wife Kunigunde
, daughter of Ottakar II of Bohemia and sister of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. Unlike his older brothers from his father's first marriage, Wenceslaus did not obtain the Duchy of Masovia on the death of his father in 1313.
. Thus, in order not to quarrel with a neighbor, he avoided testifying at the trial of Inowrocław which opposeed the Teutonic Knights to Poland. Also to stay on good terms with his neighbors, he signed an agreement with the Teutonic Knights on 14 April 1321, by which the dukes of Masovia would help prevent an attack from Lithuania
, who would attack the Order. Initially Wenceslaus also maintained good relations with Lithuania. In 1323 he allowed the Lithuanians, who led a military expedition against the duchy of Dobrzyń
to cross his territory. He also married Elizabeth, daughter of Gediminas. He was active at the diplomatic level. From his marriage Wenceslaus maintained good relations with Boleslaw-Yuri II of Galicia.
From his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Gediminas and Jewna
, he had two children :
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
from 1329.
Duke of Płock
Wenceslaus of Płock was a son of Boleslaus II of MasoviaBoleslaus II of Masovia
Boleslaw II of Masovia or Boleslaw II of Płock was a ruler of Masovia. He was the younger brother Konrad II of Masovia and son of Siemowit I of Masovia. His mother was Pereyaslava , daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
and his second wife Kunigunde
Kunigunde of Bohemia
- References :...
, daughter of Ottakar II of Bohemia and sister of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. Unlike his older brothers from his father's first marriage, Wenceslaus did not obtain the Duchy of Masovia on the death of his father in 1313.
Political neutrality
Early in his reign, the Duke of Płock tried to pursue a policy of good neighborly relations with his two powerful neighbors, the Teutonic Order and PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Thus, in order not to quarrel with a neighbor, he avoided testifying at the trial of Inowrocław which opposeed the Teutonic Knights to Poland. Also to stay on good terms with his neighbors, he signed an agreement with the Teutonic Knights on 14 April 1321, by which the dukes of Masovia would help prevent an attack from Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, who would attack the Order. Initially Wenceslaus also maintained good relations with Lithuania. In 1323 he allowed the Lithuanians, who led a military expedition against the duchy of Dobrzyń
Dobrzyn
The terms Dobrzyń and Dobrin may refer to:* Order of Dobrzyń, military order* Golub-Dobrzyń, town in Poland* Dobrzyń nad Wisłą, town in Poland* Dobrzyń, Masovian Voivodeship...
to cross his territory. He also married Elizabeth, daughter of Gediminas. He was active at the diplomatic level. From his marriage Wenceslaus maintained good relations with Boleslaw-Yuri II of Galicia.
Ally of the Teutonic Order
In 1325, Wenceslaus was obliged to renounce his policy of neutrality when Ladislaus the Short launched a surprise attack against the Duchy of Płock. The reasons for this attack are unknown. On 2 January 1326 at Brodnica the dukes of Masovia (Trojdener and Siemowit II) concluded an alliance with the Teutonic Knights, directed against Poland. A year later, war between the Teutonic Knights and Poland broke. Wenceslaus fell into the camp of the Teutonic Order. Ladislaus the Short took revenge by seizing the city of Plock and burning it. With the support of the Teutonic rejected the army of Ladislaus.Vassal of Bohemia
In 1329, Wenceslaus suddenly changed sides and allied with Ladislaus the Short. After this betrayal, an army of Teutonic and Czechs commissioned by John of Bohemia invaded the Duchy of Płock and Wenceslaus was forced to surrender. On 29 March 1329 he was forced to make a tribute of vassalage to John, who was a candidate for the throne of Poland.Death and descendants
Wenceslaus of Płock died on 23 May 1336. He is buried in the Cathedral of Płock.From his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Gediminas and Jewna
Jewna
Jewna was daughter of Prince Ivan of Polatsk and wife of Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia . She is mentioned in written sources only once – the Bychowiec Chronicle, a late and unreliable source...
, he had two children :
- Boleslaus III of Płock (1322/30–20 August 1351) he succeeded his father in 1336 as Prince of Płock.
- Anna (1324-16 February 1363) married Henry V of IronHenry V of IronHenry V of Iron , was a Duke of Żagań since 1342, from 1349 Duke of half-Głogów, and from 1363 Duke of half-Ścinawa.He was the only son of Henry IV the Faithful, Duke of Żagań, by his wife Matilda, daughter of Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel.-Life:The young Henry V gained his political...
and was mother of Jadwiga, Queen consort of PolandHedwig of SaganHedwig of Sagan was a daughter of Henry V of Iron and his wife Anna, daughter of Duke Wenceslaus of Płock. She is also known as Jadwiga. She was the fourth wife of Casimir III the Great and wife of Rupert I of Legnica...