Hedwig Jagiellon Survives Her Father

Hedwig Jagiellon was the daughter of Wladislaw Jagiellon and Anna of Celje, a Piast heiress. Hedwig's claims to the Polish throne were supported over her two half brothers and she was betrothed to Frederick II of Bradenburg, causing an imbalance in the Bradenburg-Pomeranian conflict. If Hedwig had survived, what would that have meant for Poland?
 
Other candidates for her hand were: Bogusław IX, duke of Stolp in Pomerania (supported by emperor Sigismund and Eric of Pomerania) and son of king Janus of Cyprus (not sure which one). However, Cyprus was far away, so I believe king Władysław II would have chosen someone closer to home.
Personally I would have chosen Bogusław, which would improve Polish relations with HRE, give Poland a foothold on the sea coast, with good chances of cutting of the Teutonic Order from reinforcemens from the west in case of another war.
As far as Hedwig's claims to Polish throne goes, they were more or less irrelevenat, since king Władysław II had also 2 son, Władysław and Kazimierz. Władysław III was 10 when his father died, so IMO at best Hedwig's husband might push for regency. That would be interesting - Bogusław might be acceptable candidate fot Polish lords, but I think Zbigniew of Oleśnicy would have won as he did IOTL as the leader of the Regent Council.
Had Hedwig married Frederick II, I do not believe Polish lords would have accepted him as a regent: he was more or less an independent ruler and his country's interests might possibly be in conflict with Polish interests.
 
Other candidates for her hand were: Bogusław IX, duke of Stolp in Pomerania (supported by emperor Sigismund and Eric of Pomerania) and son of king Janus of Cyprus (not sure which one). However, Cyprus was far away, so I believe king Władysław II would have chosen someone closer to home.
Personally I would have chosen Bogusław, which would improve Polish relations with HRE, give Poland a foothold on the sea coast, with good chances of cutting of the Teutonic Order from reinforcemens from the west in case of another war.
As far as Hedwig's claims to Polish throne goes, they were more or less irrelevenat, since king Władysław II had also 2 son, Władysław and Kazimierz. Władysław III was 10 when his father died, so IMO at best Hedwig's husband might push for regency. That would be interesting - Bogusław might be acceptable candidate fot Polish lords, but I think Zbigniew of Oleśnicy would have won as he did IOTL as the leader of the Regent Council.
Had Hedwig married Frederick II, I do not believe Polish lords would have accepted him as a regent: he was more or less an independent ruler and his country's interests might possibly be in conflict with Polish interests.
A Cypriot match though would be interesting....
 
Other candidates for her hand were: Bogusław IX, duke of Stolp in Pomerania (supported by emperor Sigismund and Eric of Pomerania) and son of king Janus of Cyprus (not sure which one). However, Cyprus was far away, so I believe king Władysław II would have chosen someone closer to home.
Personally I would have chosen Bogusław, which would improve Polish relations with HRE, give Poland a foothold on the sea coast, with good chances of cutting of the Teutonic Order from reinforcemens from the west in case of another war.
As far as Hedwig's claims to Polish throne goes, they were more or less irrelevenat, since king Władysław II had also 2 son, Władysław and Kazimierz. Władysław III was 10 when his father died, so IMO at best Hedwig's husband might push for regency. That would be interesting - Bogusław might be acceptable candidate fot Polish lords, but I think Zbigniew of Oleśnicy would have won as he did IOTL as the leader of the Regent Council.
Had Hedwig married Frederick II, I do not believe Polish lords would have accepted him as a regent: he was more or less an independent ruler and his country's interests might possibly be in conflict with Polish interests.

The question arises though as to whether Hedwig's dad would remarry if he has a surviving heir(ess). Also, would the Poles accept her half-brothers who have a more marginal claim to the Polish crown
 
Originally posted by Keran Sullivan
The question arises though as to whether Hedwig's dad would remarry if he has a surviving heir(ess). Also, would the Poles accept her half-brothers who have a more marginal claim to the Polish crown

IOTL Władysław II married Sophia of Halshany in 1422 when Hedwig was still alive (she died 1431 IOTL). Some even accused Queen Sophia of poisoning Hedwig. Władysław III and his brother Kazimierz were born respectively in 1424 and 1427, so Władysław II remarrying is not an issue.
Now, about accepting Władysław's sons. I think their chances would have been pretty good. They were sons of the late king, so his natural successors. Hedwig's only strength would have been her being a great-grandaugther of Casimir the Great, the last Piast King of Poland, but it her Piast blood is rather diluted. Also Poland had no tradition of female rulers, with exception of Queen Hedwig, but even she had been crowned as King (!) of Poland and Polish nobles found her a husband pretty quickly - Wadysław II. Besides, it wouldn't be Hedwig to rule Poland but her husband. And the problem again is, who would be the husband in question. I doubt the Poles would have been happy with a Brandenburgian on Polish throne. Bogusław might have better chances.
Anyway, IMO Hedwig would not have been able to get the Polish crown. The regency, OTOH, might be possible, but a lot depends on the person of her husband, f he were acceptable to the Poles.
 
I think the POD necessary in order to make Hedwig having a chance of succeding to the throne isn't just making her outliving her father, but rather making her mother not die in 1416, and so denying her father a new marriage. Or making Jogaila's third wife, Elizabeth Granowska, not die in 1420 (she was already middle-aged and with five children from a previous marriage, so unlikely to have new babies). This way Hedwig position as the only child of Wladislaw II would be consolidated.
 
I agree with Gonzaga. To give Hedwig a real chance for Polish throne you would need to make her Władysław II's only child. That would make her marriage a matter of critical importance to the Poles. I still think Bogusław IX would be best choice as a husband (reasons mentioned in my earlier posts) , but IIRC Władysław himself tended to favour Frederick, who even came to Poland as a child to learn the language and Polish customs. But the king might have been persuaded to change his mind...
 
I agree with Gonzaga. To give Hedwig a real chance for Polish throne you would need to make her Władysław II's only child. That would make her marriage a matter of critical importance to the Poles. I still think Bogusław IX would be best choice as a husband (reasons mentioned in my earlier posts) , but IIRC Władysław himself tended to favour Frederick, who even came to Poland as a child to learn the language and Polish customs. But the king might have been persuaded to change his mind...

Were there any male Jagiellonians alive and available around 1425, of the rigth age, that Wladislaw might consider an option as husband of his wife in order to keep his family ruling both Lithuania and Poland?
 
Vytautas lived until 1430; the succession law of the Lithuanian throne is somewhat unlcear to me. IIRC Władysław II supported Švitrigaila hoping that after his death (he had no children) Władysław's sons will rule over Lithuania (which eventually happened, altough only after Sigismund Kestutaitis was murdered). That was Władysław's plan, not using Hedwig.
Anyway, the family of Gediminids (Lthuanian ruling dynasty) was so numerous, I think there was plenty of potential candidates. However, there is no guarantee that Hedwig's husband would win the fight for Lithuanian throne.
 
Vytautas lived until 1430; the succession law of the Lithuanian throne is somewhat unlcear to me. IIRC Władysław II supported Švitrigaila hoping that after his death (he had no children) Władysław's sons will rule over Lithuania (which eventually happened, altough only after Sigismund Kestutaitis was murdered). That was Władysław's plan, not using Hedwig.
Anyway, the family of Gediminids (Lthuanian ruling dynasty) was so numerous, I think there was plenty of potential candidates. However, there is no guarantee that Hedwig's husband would win the fight for Lithuanian throne.

If I was Jagiełło, I'd wait to see which Gediminid emerges victorious in the fight for Lithuanian throne and then offer Hedwig as his wife.
 
Originally posted by Zireael
If I was Jagiełło, I'd wait to see which Gediminid emerges victorious in the fight for Lithuanian throne and then offer Hedwig as his wife.

And if he already was married? And what if he wasn't interested? Another problem is Władysław II also was a Gediminid, so the relation might be a little too close.
Besides, Władysław II did NOT wait to see who would win IOTL. I made a mistake in my previous post, or rather I simplified it too much. Władysław II was imprisoned by Švitrigaila after Vytautas' death in 1430 and it took Polish military intervention to release the king. Nevertheless Władysław II and his nobles were willing to accept Švitrigaila as Grand Duke of Lithuania if he agreed to be Polish vassal. Švitrigaila eventually refused and turned to the Teutonic Order for help; Polish army invaded Lithuania, the Order invaded Poland, it ended with a truce; Švitrigaila was year later overthrown by Sigismund Kestutaitis.
My point is Władysław II wanted to keep Lithuania in union with Poland with him and later his son on top of both of them (either as king and Grand Duke or as king with Grand Duke as king's vassal). Simply waiting which Gediminid emerges victorious was too risky, since the winner might decide he preferes to be fully independent ruler - like Švitrigaila.
 
My point is Władysław II wanted to keep Lithuania in union with Poland with him and later his son on top of both of them (either as king and Grand Duke or as king with Grand Duke as king's vassal). Simply waiting which Gediminid emerges victorious was too risky, since the winner might decide he preferes to be fully independent ruler - like Švitrigaila.

Yes I know, I don't think there is a perfect solution :p
 
There was a Masovian branch of Piasts that were around until roughly 1526. From what I can see, there are three (who just so happen to be brothers): Trojden II of Plock, Casimir II of Belz, and Wladyslaw I of Plock. Trojden died the earliest, in 1427, and attended the wedding of King Wladyslaw II Jagiello to his third wife. His brother, Wladyslaw, had a bit of hostility towards Poland at one time.
 
There was a Masovian branch of Piasts that were around until roughly 1526. From what I can see, there are three (who just so happen to be brothers): Trojden II of Plock, Casimir II of Belz, and Wladyslaw I of Plock. Trojden died the earliest, in 1427, and attended the wedding of King Wladyslaw II Jagiello to his third wife. His brother, Wladyslaw, had a bit of hostility towards Poland at one time.
Aren't there still Silesian Piasts at this point too?
 
Until 1675, yes. Wenceslaus III of Olawa, Rupert II of Lubin, and Ludwik III of Olawa were brothers as well. Not sure about availability of any of these individuals but they are Piast and were born in that time period.
 
Until 1675, yes. Wenceslaus III of Olawa, Rupert II of Lubin, and Ludwik III of Olawa were brothers as well. Not sure about availability of any of these individuals but they are Piast and were born in that time period.


the OTL Bolko the Hussite of Opole, and the sons of Siemowit IV of Mazovia and Alexandra of Lithuania are stronger choices for marriage to Hedwig Jagiellon..in the Piasts side..
 
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