Helena of Znojmo
| Helen of Znojmo | |
|---|---|
High Duchess consort of Poland | |
| Reign | 1177–1194 |
| Born | 1141? |
| Died | 1202/1206 |
| Spouse | Casimir II the Just |
| Issue Detail | Maria, Grand Princess of Kiev Leszek the White Konrad I of Masovia |
| House | Přemyslid |
| Father | Conrad II of Znojmo |
| Mother | Marija of Rascia |
Helena of Znojmo (
Born as princess of the Znojmo Appanage (named after its centre, the town of Znojmo in southern Moravia), she later became by marriage Duchess of Sandomierz (1173-1194), Grand Duchess of Kraków and the Seniorate Province (1177-1194), Duchess of Masovia (1186–1194), and Duchess-regent of Kraków and the Seniorate Province, Sandomierz, and Masovia on behalf of her minor sons from 1194–1198, then the latter two duchies plus Kuyavia until 1199/1200.
Life
Helen married Casimir II the Just, youngest son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, probably shortly after his return from captivity,[4] which at the latest was before 1161.
When Helen's husband Casimir II died on 1 May 1194, presumably as a result of a heart attack,
Helen's regency was not an easy one, because other princes threatened her minor sons. Their own uncle
Helen of Znojmo died between 1202 and 1206, probably on 2 April.[6]
Children
Helen and Casimir had the following children:[7]
- A daughter (born before 1167), married in November 1178 to Prince Vsevolod IV of Kiev.
- Casimir (ca. 1162 – 2 February[8] or 1 March 1167), named after his father.
- Bolesław (ca. 1168/1171 – 16 April 1182/1183), probably named after his paternal grandfather Bolesław III Wrymouth, although is possible that in fact was named in honour to his uncle Bolesław IV the Curly.[9] He died accidentally, after falling from a tree. He was probably buried at Wawel Cathedral.[10]
- Odon (1169/1184 - died in infancy). He was probably named after either Odon of Poznań or Saint Odo of Cluny.[11][12]
- Adelaide (ca. 1177/1184 – 8 December 1211), foundress of the convent of St. Jakob in Sandomierz.
- Leszek I the White (ca. 1184/1185[13]– 24 November 1227).
- Konrad (ca. 1187/1188[14] – 31 August 1247).
Notes
- ^ This date is preferred by Czech historiography; Polish historians promote the year 1145
- ISBN 83-7063-409-5.
- ^ According to Jan Długosz, Helen was a daughter of Rostislav Mstislavich, Grand Prince of Kiev. He erroneously deduced her parentage on the basis of her Russian-sounding name. This was corrected by more recent historiography.
- ^ K. Jasiński cit., pp.266–267
- ^ Rafał Róg, Polish królobójcy, Warszawa 1994, p. 27
- ISBN 83-918497-0-8.
- ^ There is a very unlikely possibility, but which cannot be completely ruled out, that Helen was the second wife of Casimir the Just. But there is no mention about this in any of the primary sources. Hence this hypothesis is merely a logical structure, which reduces its credibility even more. Cf. Jasiński K., op. cit., p. 267
- ^ K. Jasiński: Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, Poznań–Wrocław 2001, p. 14.
- ^ K. Jasiński: Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, Poznań–Wrocław 2001, p. 15.
- ^ K. Jasiński: Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, Poznań–Wrocław 2001, p. 16.
- ^ K. Jasiński: Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, p. 247.
- ^ S. Pelczar: Władysław Odonic. Książę wielkopolski, wygnaniec i protektor Kościoła (ok. 1193-1239), Wydawnictwo Avalon, Kraków 2013, pp. 62–64.
- ^ K. Jasiński: Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, pp. 23-25.
- ^ K. Jasiński: Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, pp. 30-32.
References
- Wasilewski, Tadeusz (1978). "Helena księżniczka znojemska, żona Kazimierza II Sprawedliwego: Przyczynek do dziejów stosunków polsko-czeskich w XII–XIII w." [Helen Duchess of Znojmo, a Wife of Casimir II the Just: Tribute to the History of Czech-Polish Relations in the 12th and 13th centuries]. ISSN 0033-2186.
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