Anna of Cili, Mother of Dynasty

Queen Anna
1401:
After death of his first wife, Hedwig d'Anjou, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Władysław Jagiełło was in need of new wife. Candidate choosen by him, Anna of Cili (who could pass her Piast blood to Jagiełło's descendants and would strenghten their claims to the Polish throne, because she was granddaughter of King Casimir the Great) arrived to Cracow in July of that year. Polish King was stunned by her beauty and resemblance to her Angevin cousin and decided to not wait long with wedding ceremony*

*That is POD. IOTL Jagiełło was not very enthusiastic about marriage with Anna, who was described as very ugly and was of poor health. Jagiełło delayed their wedding after she came to Cracow and once they were married he was still not very interested in her, no surprise, that their only child was born 6 years after they married. TTL Anna is healthier, better looking, and would be more active politically.

And yes, I know it would change nothing in the long run, because drunk, dirty, dumb, greedy, selfish, sociopathic, subhuman retarded (did I miss something?) szlachta would inevitably impose liberum veto, because anarchy is deeply ingrained in "Polish national character" since time of Mieszko I and Poles could only live under someone's whip, hehe)
 
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Struggle for a heir
Marriage of Władysław and Anna was happy one, although Kingdom of Poland still had to wait for male heir. Queen Anna gave birth to her first child in autumn of 1402, but her daughter Hedwig lived only two weeks. Another daughter, also named Hedwig, born in 1405, was more fortunate. In 1408 third daughter, named Anna after mother and grandmother, was born, followed by Elizabeth, born in summer of 1413. Jagiełło still hoped for a son, although his oldest surviving daughter is viewed as his potential heiress. Eric of Pommerania, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, wants to arrange her marriage with his cousin Bogusław, whom he wants to see as his successor on the thrones of Scandinavian Kingdoms*.

* Thus, not much changed from OTL situation yet. Great War with Teutonic Order and Union of Horodło are not much affected, Jagiełło still have no sons, when these events happen, although his daughter is not proclaimed heiress of the Kingdom, Jagiełło still hopes for a son with Anna.
 
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Horodło
Great War against Teutonic Order showed how profitable Polish-Lithuanian cooperation could be, but Teutonic Order wasn't completly broken. Order seek for revenge and have support of Pope and King of the Romans. Teutonic Order didn't want to give up Samogitia, stating, that Samogitians are still pagans, thus it is Order's duty to christianize them. Propaganda of Teutonic Order portrayed Jogaila and Vytautas as false Christians, who used help of pagans and schismatics against Catholic Order. Mediation of Sigismund of Luxembourg, who clearly favoured Teutonic Knights, have not improved things for Jogaila and Vytautas. In such circumstances need to redefine union between Poland and Lithuania appeared, leading to new Union of Horodło in autumn of 1413. Jogaila accepted system with separate Grand Duke in Vilnius and was willing to accept possibility of continuation of such system even after Vytautas' death. King of Poland remained Supreme Duke of Lithuania and Lithuanians could not choose new Grand Duke without consultation with Polish side and acceptation of King/Supreme Duke.
 
Jagiellończyk
Cracow, 1 September 1414.
It was memorable day for Kingdom of Poland. For the first time in 104 years male heir was born to the King of Poland. Last time it happened in 1310, when boy's great-grandfather Casimir the Great was born. Newborn son of Jagiełło and Anna of Cili was named Władysław, after father and great-great-grandfather.
 

krieger

Banned
Counts of Celje? That bunch of psychopaths? Their importance would increase, but I'm not guaranteeing their survival.
What exactly did they do to earn the name of psychopaths? They struggled for power but it doesn't necessarily make them evil.
 
What exactly did they do to earn the name of psychopaths? They struggled for power but it doesn't necessarily make them evil.
Murdering wives and daughters-in-law. Also, even Sigismund of Luxembourg, man, who loved machinations, was afraid of schemings of Empress Barbara during his last years and was afraid about his life.
 
Heir of the Kingdom
Baptism of young Władysław in spring 1415 was occassion to confirm his rights to the Polish throne. Although mere fact of being son of the King has not given younger Władysław 100% certainty, that he'll automatically replace his father on the throne, but being born from mother of Piast blood, he was seen as natural heir, so Jagiełło has not faced too much problems to make his son proclaimed Heir of the Kingdom of Poland*.

*Jagiełło tried the same with his OTL son, but OTL Władysław III was born from wrong mother, from non-dynastic marriage of Jagiełło with Zofia/Sonka Holszańska opposed by Polish Royal Council, and had older half sister, who needed to be disinherited first. There were still supporters of hereditary rights of Sonka's sons, but opposite side (among them powerful, influential man, bishop of Cracow Zbigniew Oleśnicki, who was supporter of elective monarchy, in 1415 he's not bishop of Cracow yet and likely would never be ITTL) prevailed. ITTL Poland would not be the same type of hereditary monarchy like France, but rather something like Grand Duchy of Lithuania was IOTL).
 
Daughters of Luxembourg
Young Władysław of Poland had candidate for spouse from the very moment of his birth. The same year Anna of Cili gave gave birth to male heir of Jagiełło, her cousin Barbara of Cili, wife of Sigismund of Luxembourg, gave birth to her second daughter named Anna. Sigismund, who was preparing for great council to resolve problem of schism within Catholic Church, seek for support of other Catholic monarchs, who would share support for changes in the Church envisioned by him. Thus King of the Romans proposed marriage of his second daughter to son and heir of Jogaila.
 
Murdering wives and daughters-in-law. Also, even Sigismund of Luxembourg, man, who loved machinations, was afraid of schemings of Empress Barbara during his last years and was afraid about his life.

Well that was mostly a simple conflict between father and son about the latter’s love life...
We are talking only about the wives of Frederick, right? He had his first wife killed for marrying his love and his father complained against it and worked for get rid of the indesiderate daughter-in-law... nothing of new or so scandalous, really...
 
Easter's Boy
24th March of 1416 was exceptional Easter Sunday for King Władysław II and Queen Anna. That day their second son was born, giving subjects of Polish King another reason to celebrate. Boy was named Kazimierz, after his great-grandfather Casimir the Great.
 
Road to Melno
Third decade of 15th century has seen the end of almost two centuries long struggle between Lithuania and Teutonic Order. Peace of Melno from 27 September 1422, ending Golub War, confirmed Lithuanian rule over Samogitia. Thus verdict of King of the Romans (who was asked by Jogaila to solve conflict over border disputes between Teutonic Order and Poland and Lithuania) from 1420, which clearly favoured Teutonic Order's side, giving Samogitia to Lithuania only until Vytautas' death, would not be realized. Unavourable for Polish-Lithuanian side judgement of Sigismund of Luxembourg was costful for bishop of Cracow Wojciech Jastrzębiec, who took blame for it. Jastrzębiec moved from Cracow to Gniezno, to became Archbishop and Primate of Polish Church. Politically it was degradation, despite fact, that in theory it was advance in Church's hierarchy. Bishop of Cracow, being close to Royal Court, was de facto more influental person in Kingdom of Poland.
Meanwhile ability of Sigismund of Luxembourg to support Teutonic case was greatly reduced by religious unrest in Bohemia leading to Hussite Wars...
 
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Bishop of Cracow
After bishop Jastrzębiec was moved from Cracow to Gniezno in 1423 Jagiełło wanted him to be replaced with vice-chancellor of the Kingdom Jan Szafraniec. Szafraniec was known to be supporter of 'Royal' party. Szafraniec eventually became bishop, although group of magnates of Lesser Poland under leadership of Voivode of Cracow Jan Tarnowski, who had family connections with Jastrzębiec, opposed that move*.

*Jagiełło ITTL avoided conflicts with Royal Council over his third and fourth marriage, so he should face less problems with this decision. Bishop Oleśnicki had massive impact on Polish politics, mostly negative. He was ambitious and capable man, but interest of the Church (to be more precise-his vision of Conciliarist Church, which he shared with Sigismund of Luxembourd) was first priority for him. He caused lots of problems for Jagiełło and his successors (he questioned hereditary rights of Jagiełło's sons).
 
Duchess of Pomerania
Bogusław IX of Pomerania, Duke of Stargard and Słupsk, was proposed as candidate for husband of Jagiełło's oldest surviving daughter Hedwig not long after her birth by Eric, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Bogusław was Eric's cousin and possible successor. Although Hedwig was no longer viewed as heiress of her father after her brothers were born, she was still attractive candidate for Bogusław's wife. It was also in Jagiełło's interest to make family ties with rulers of Pomerania and Kalmar Union and to have Griffites on his side in the case of another confilct with Teutonic Order. Hedwig left Poland in spring of 1424 and married Bogusław in sumptuous ceremony. King Eric, who was among wedding guests, was stunned by beauty and charm of his cousin's new wife*.

* Something, that would have significant impact on Scandinavian history after 1430 (very significant IMHO).
 
Last years of Jogaila
King Władysław II, despite his advanced age, kept his political skills (that allowed him to keep his life and throne in uneasy times of late 14th century) and physical fitness until last years of his life. Although King and Queen were hit by personal tragedy, when their middle daughter Anna died from tuberculosis in 1424 aged 16, third decade of 15th century was generally fortunate for them. Succession of their son to the throne of Poland seemed secure after he was proclaimed adult at age 14 in 1428. Soon after his 14th birthday preparations for his marriage with Anna of Luxembourg started-her father wanted her to marry heir of Polish throne to ensure, that Poland would not support Hussite case. Being second cousins, they needed Papal dispensation, which they obtained without much problems. But marriage plans were delayed by unfortunate event of autumn 1428-King Władysław Jagiełło, an avid hunter, repeated the fate of last Piast King of Poland and died on 10 November from the wound he received during hunting party*.

*Jagiełło IOTL has broken his leg while hunting at age 76, but, being man of iron health, he recovered. So ITTL death of Jagiełło seems quite plausible.
 
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