Kings of Poland-Lithuania
1548-1572: Sigismund II (House of Jagiellon)
1572-1597: Casimir V (House of Jagiellon) [1]
1597-1620: Aleksander II (House of Jagiellon) [2]
1620-1620: Aleksander III (House of Jagiellon) [3]
1620-1664: Catherine I "The Unlikely" (House of Jagiellon) [4]
[4] Catherine Jagiellon was born in 1603 as the oldest child of King Aleksander II and would become known as "The Unlikely" for how no one expected her to become Queen after her brothers both died young with Sigismund dying at the age of 11 from smallpox and Aleksander dying from a fall from his horse and the subsequent kick. While few expected Catherine Jagiellon to be Queen of Poland-Lithuania, she would prove to be an intelligent and capable ruler, presiding over a golden age for the Kingdom of Poland.
During her reign, she would see Poland defend itself against Godunov Russia and the rising Swedish Empire in the Baltic War of 1635-1641 which saw Sweden lose its Baltic territories and the annexation of Prussia into Poland-Lithuania in the aftermath of the Polish victory in the war. Her reign would also be a reign which would be marked by relative peace and economic prosperity with Poland-Lithuania becoming a powerful realm in the aftermath of the Baltic War. During her reign, Catherine would gain a reputation as a ruthless and strict but fair ruler who would reign effectively during her reign.
To preserve the Jagiellonian dynasty, Catherine Jagiellon would marry her first cousin Casimir with the two having six children, even if only four would make it to adulthood and three would outlive their mother, who died on October 1, 1664 from what appears to be a sudden heart attack. She would be succeeded by _________.
1548-1572: Sigismund II (House of Jagiellon)
1572-1597: Casimir V (House of Jagiellon) [1]
1597-1620: Aleksander II (House of Jagiellon) [2]
1620-1620: Aleksander III (House of Jagiellon) [3]
1620-1664: Catherine I "The Unlikely" (House of Jagiellon) [4]
[1] King Casimir V was born in 1552 to Barbara Radziwill, who died giving birth to him. As a young man, Casimir V would be given the best education that a prince could have and would grow up to be an intelligent and capable young man, worthy as a successor to his father when he died in 1572. During his 17-year reign, Casimir V would spend his reign centralizing his realm and generally stabilizing it during his reign. As ruler, Casimir V would prove to be a ruler who would ensure that the nascent Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth would be on an even footing, especially with his moderate approach towards the rise of Protestantism and his wars with the Russians under Ivan the Terrible. Casimir V would marry Elisabeth of Austria in 1575 with the two having three children with Casimir dying in 1597 from smallpox, being succeeded by his son, Aleksander.
[2] During the year, King Aleksander come to the Polish throne, the unpopular but Catholic, King Sigismund of Sweden was deposed and replaced by his uncle, Karl. Sigismund fled to Poland and asked for their help to defeat his traitorous uncle. Young, hotblooded and eager to prove himself, the new King Aleksander agreed despite many of his vessels not wishing to get involved in the other country's matters.
Aleksander lead the Polish forces himself to Kalmar 1599, declaring that God was on his side. Unfortunately, wiser heads were aware that the Almighty Lord seldom get involved in the affairs of mortals. The battle in the fields outside Kalmar were a bloodbath with the young Aleksander taken prisoner.
He was taken to King Karl Vasa. Their meeting has been depicted numerous times and depending on who was telling the tale, Karl Vasa was either a temperamental loon and Aleksander was a regal man wise beyond his years or King Karl was stern but fair man while Aleksander was a foolish spoiled brat. In contrast, eye witness statements to the true meeting described both men as polite and respectful with no sight of grudges even if Aleksander was a bit gloomy with seeing his military venture having ended in such a humiliating way.
The terms of Aleksander's release were straight forward. He would withdraw his support to Sigsmund or his children's claim to the Swedish throne, his youngest sister would marry Karl's heir, Gustavus Adolphus. Upon his sister, Barbara, arrival in Sweden with her dowry/his ransom, Aleksander was sent home, humbled and a bit more mature for the experience.
From them on, he focused on making Poland stronger, fearing that his hasty actions would tempt Russia into attacking, taking advantage of their weakness. He also made it a point to focus on trade instead of getting involved in wars.
In 1603, he married Constance of Austria, his cousin once removed. They ended up having seven children even though only three lived to adulthood.
In 1620, he was assasinated by Michał Piekarski, a deluded young man. He ambushed the king and his gaurds with an axe managing to strike the king's neck before his bodygaurds could intervene. He was succeeded by his son Aleksander.
[3] Born in 1606 as the second son of Aleksander II and Constance of Austria, Aleksander became the heir to the throne of Poland-Lithuania after the death of his brother Sigismund in 1616 due to smallpox. Unfortunately, Aleksander didn't reign long as a couple months into his reign he died while hunting due to a horse accidentally kicking him off a cliff. As he had no children Aleksander was succeeded by __________.
[2] During the year, King Aleksander come to the Polish throne, the unpopular but Catholic, King Sigismund of Sweden was deposed and replaced by his uncle, Karl. Sigismund fled to Poland and asked for their help to defeat his traitorous uncle. Young, hotblooded and eager to prove himself, the new King Aleksander agreed despite many of his vessels not wishing to get involved in the other country's matters.
Aleksander lead the Polish forces himself to Kalmar 1599, declaring that God was on his side. Unfortunately, wiser heads were aware that the Almighty Lord seldom get involved in the affairs of mortals. The battle in the fields outside Kalmar were a bloodbath with the young Aleksander taken prisoner.
He was taken to King Karl Vasa. Their meeting has been depicted numerous times and depending on who was telling the tale, Karl Vasa was either a temperamental loon and Aleksander was a regal man wise beyond his years or King Karl was stern but fair man while Aleksander was a foolish spoiled brat. In contrast, eye witness statements to the true meeting described both men as polite and respectful with no sight of grudges even if Aleksander was a bit gloomy with seeing his military venture having ended in such a humiliating way.
The terms of Aleksander's release were straight forward. He would withdraw his support to Sigsmund or his children's claim to the Swedish throne, his youngest sister would marry Karl's heir, Gustavus Adolphus. Upon his sister, Barbara, arrival in Sweden with her dowry/his ransom, Aleksander was sent home, humbled and a bit more mature for the experience.
From them on, he focused on making Poland stronger, fearing that his hasty actions would tempt Russia into attacking, taking advantage of their weakness. He also made it a point to focus on trade instead of getting involved in wars.
In 1603, he married Constance of Austria, his cousin once removed. They ended up having seven children even though only three lived to adulthood.
In 1620, he was assasinated by Michał Piekarski, a deluded young man. He ambushed the king and his gaurds with an axe managing to strike the king's neck before his bodygaurds could intervene. He was succeeded by his son Aleksander.
[3] Born in 1606 as the second son of Aleksander II and Constance of Austria, Aleksander became the heir to the throne of Poland-Lithuania after the death of his brother Sigismund in 1616 due to smallpox. Unfortunately, Aleksander didn't reign long as a couple months into his reign he died while hunting due to a horse accidentally kicking him off a cliff. As he had no children Aleksander was succeeded by __________.
[4] Catherine Jagiellon was born in 1603 as the oldest child of King Aleksander II and would become known as "The Unlikely" for how no one expected her to become Queen after her brothers both died young with Sigismund dying at the age of 11 from smallpox and Aleksander dying from a fall from his horse and the subsequent kick. While few expected Catherine Jagiellon to be Queen of Poland-Lithuania, she would prove to be an intelligent and capable ruler, presiding over a golden age for the Kingdom of Poland.
During her reign, she would see Poland defend itself against Godunov Russia and the rising Swedish Empire in the Baltic War of 1635-1641 which saw Sweden lose its Baltic territories and the annexation of Prussia into Poland-Lithuania in the aftermath of the Polish victory in the war. Her reign would also be a reign which would be marked by relative peace and economic prosperity with Poland-Lithuania becoming a powerful realm in the aftermath of the Baltic War. During her reign, Catherine would gain a reputation as a ruthless and strict but fair ruler who would reign effectively during her reign.
To preserve the Jagiellonian dynasty, Catherine Jagiellon would marry her first cousin Casimir with the two having six children, even if only four would make it to adulthood and three would outlive their mother, who died on October 1, 1664 from what appears to be a sudden heart attack. She would be succeeded by _________.