Władysław the Lucky

If Władysław Biały is meant to be really lucky, maybe we should assume that his beloved wife lives? That means he would never take vows and would not leave his duchy and at the time of death of Casimir the Great he would be in Poland, which would make things easier for him (bad side of that solution is the fact, that his life would be less interesting ;) no vistit in Holy Land, no meeting with Pope or Philip the Bold and so on)
@krieger
 

krieger

Banned
If Władysław Biały is meant to be really lucky, maybe we should assume that his beloved wife lives? That means he would never take vows and would not leave his duchy and at the time of death of Casimir the Great he would be in Poland, which would make things easier for him (bad side of that solution is the fact, that his life would be less interesting ;) no vistit in Holy Land, no meeting with Pope or Philip the Bold and so on)
@krieger
But mere fact that his beloved wife lives, won't get him any closer to the Polish throne. Even if he was in Poland when Casimir III died, Louis with his Hungarians would smash him like a mosquito. On the other hand, if any other claimants than him ended up dead, he'd take the throne simply by virtue of not having any contenders (because little girls like Catherine of Hungary or Casimir's younger daughters wouldn't be considered an option, there is nothing to gain from their ascension). But we can add this as a secondary POD, maybe she'd give Władysław the White a son?
 
But mere fact that his beloved wife lives, won't get him any closer to the Polish throne. Even if he was in Poland when Casimir III died, Louis with his Hungarians would smash him like a mosquito. On the other hand, if any other claimants than him ended up dead, he'd take the throne simply by virtue of not having any contenders (because little girls like Catherine of Hungary or Casimir's younger daughters wouldn't be considered an option, there is nothing to gain from their ascension). But we can add this as a secondary POD, maybe she'd give Władysław the White a son?
That is my intention-for all people who are less fortunate ITTL making life of Elżbieta Strzelecka longer and better is good counterbalance
 
There is also something related to Władysław Biały I wondered about-if Władysław attempted to regain his duchy once again after death of Louis d'Anjou, after he was finally released from vows? That would not end with Władysław on the throne, but maybe would ensure at least mere survival of Cuiavian Piasts?
 

krieger

Banned
There is also something related to Władysław Biały I wondered about-if Władysław attempted to regain his duchy once again after death of Louis d'Anjou, after he was finally released from vows? That would not end with Władysław on the throne, but maybe would ensure at least mere survival of Cuiavian Piasts?

Was he? He tried to be, but he wasn't. And IMHO, he was just too ambitious to be satisfied with mere duchy. He'd try to oust Hedwig and end rather poor, because Cuyavia after death of Louis d'Anjou was torn apart by war between Siemowit IV of Płock and Opolczyk - and they weren't peculiarly fond of Biały. Any of them would like to get Biały killed - for Siemowit he was an obstacle to get the throne, for Opolczyk he was enemy of his liege lord. Biały IOTL called himself "king of Poland" in front of monks from Cluny monastery even after Jogaila's coronation.
 
Was he? He tried to be, but he wasn't. And IMHO, he was just too ambitious to be satisfied with mere duchy. He'd try to oust Hedwig and end rather poor, because Cuyavia after death of Louis d'Anjou was torn apart by war between Siemowit IV of Płock and Opolczyk - and they weren't peculiarly fond of Biały. Any of them would like to get Biały killed - for Siemowit he was an obstacle to get the throne, for Opolczyk he was enemy of his liege lord. Biały IOTL called himself "king of Poland" in front of monks from Cluny monastery even after Jogaila's coronation.
That was just PC with little meaning (as surviving Cuiavian Piasts reduced to mere Duchy of Gniewkowo would be not in league even with their Mazovian cousins.

Returning to our Le Roy Lancelot: There is year 1370, Łokietek's miracle happens again-ruler of tiny duchy in Cuiavia gets the crown due to simple fact that stronger opponents with better claims are simply dead. Internal situation without absent king-foreigner certainly would be better, but what about relations with neighbours? Hungarian civil war would not last forever (in ATL circumstances Charles of Durazzo should eventually win). Durazzo has no claim to the Polish throne, but he could be interested in getting Red Ruthenia one day.
 
Władysław the White would have daughters of Casimir the Great and Hedwig of Sagan in his custody. If we assume that Elżbieta Strzelecka lives and has son with Władysław, then marriage between that son and daughter of Casimir seems likely.
 

krieger

Banned
That was just PC with little meaning (as surviving Cuiavian Piasts reduced to mere Duchy of Gniewkowo would be not in league even with their Mazovian cousins.

Returning to our Le Roy Lancelot: There is year 1370, Łokietek's miracle happens again-ruler of tiny duchy in Cuiavia gets the crown due to simple fact that stronger opponents with better claims are simply dead. Internal situation without absent king-foreigner certainly would be better, but what about relations with neighbours? Hungarian civil war would not last forever (in ATL circumstances Charles of Durazzo should eventually win). Durazzo has no claim to the Polish throne, but he could be interested in getting Red Ruthenia one day.

I'd say that Charles would recognize rights to Ruthenia in exchange of Vladislaus the White not supporting Catherine during the civil war. If Vladislaus has a son, in mind of Elizabeth of Poland (Vladislaus's cousin) and Elizabeth of Bosnia (Vladislaus's niece) the idea of marrying young Catherine to said son (Vladislaus junior or Casimir) could come up. Of course, civil war would be over in 1378, when Catherine simply dies and anti-Durazzo party stays without an claimant. Charles also becomes Hungarian monarch before getting crown of Naples, so he wouldn't want to start conflict with Poland. Joanna I would be not pleased by one of her biggest enemies gaining throne in Buda and prominence. Croatian nobles, who formed main chunk of Durazzo supporters were more interested in pursuing Balkan direction of expansion. What's more, Hungary fought Turks IOTL in 1371 and Charles can't simply ignore it in the name of land to which he doesn't have any legal claim. So I think that Durazzo would be in favor of making peace with Biały. And there would be another bride for Biały's son - OTL Joanna II of Naples could be offered by Charles as a part of negotiations. In this TL, situation in Bohemia would look really interesting. Elizabeth of Pomerania is barren, and Charles has no sons besides Wenceslaus. It is not a problem yet, but when Wenceslaus fails to produce children, his only heirs are Jobst and John Sobiesław of Moravia, who both died childless before Wenceslaus. Who could replace Luxembourgs on Bohemian throne? Strictly speaking, House of Valois would have best geneaological claim, since John II of France married Bonne of Luxembourg, but Charles VI slowly descended into madness and I doubt if he would agree to send his son to Bohemia to be raised as heir. At the time, when Wenceslas could seek a French prince as a heir, older sons of Charles VI were alive and one of them could be send to Bohemia (their mother was Bavarian princess). Since Louis, duke of Guyenne was already a Dauphin, the next eldest in line was John, duke of Touraine. IOTL he died because of abcess (or being poisoned) at the age of eighteen. If he is sent to Bohemia once Jobst of Moravia dies, he could avoid his fate. Neither abcess or being poisoned are irreversible fate. If he spent four years in Bohemia, he may survive as well. Of course he'd come back to France in 1415, when his elder brother (aforementioned Louis) died, but he'd be replaced on the dignity of Bohemian crown prince by..his even younger brother, Charles (OTL Charles VII of France). John was genuinely loved by his mother, so if he survived there would be no Treaty of Troyes. He was described as the most capable son of Charles VI. It could alter HYW rather seriously. On the other hand, Valois prince could be seen by Bohemians as foreigner (although he is not German, which is advantage in the eyes of Bohemian nobility). Other candidate could be duke of Liegnitz - he is a descendant of Premyslid dynasty, who comes in line after Luxembourgs and their descendants and he is subject of Bohemian crown. On the other hand, anyone elected King of the Romans once Jobst dies in 1411 would try to place his candidate in Bohemia (and Brandenburg, because in absence of Sigismund of Luxembourg, Brandenburg stays tied to Bohemia). And Jan Hus is probably still alive ITTL 1419, so his voice would mean A LOT in disputing succesion after Wenceslaus.
 
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