WI:Elisabeth of Pomerania marries to Masovia not Bohemia

Elisabeth of Pomerania was the legitemate remaining descendant of Casimir III of Poland after Casimir IV of Pomerania died childless, Casimir IV was childless while Elisabeth had many children, what if she was married to the Masovia instead of marrying to Bohemia, what would happen to Poland?
 
Being a wife of a king and emperor was certainly more attractive than being a wife of a minor duke, so Elisabeth would prefer the Bohemian king. But assume it is impossible; which Masovian duke is she supposed to marry? Siemowit III? One of his sons, Janusz I or Siemowit IV?
Siemowit III - I'm not sure, he might be a widower at the time, so he might be available. IOTL his daughter married Casimir III's grandson, Casimir IV, so Casimir III should not be against this marriage. Although it would probably make the marriage between Casimir IV and Siemowit III's daughter (which happened in 1369) out of the question.
Janusz I is of the same age - a most likely candidate, IMO.
Siemowit IV is 5 years younger, besides, he is a younger son - Janusz is more likely candidate.
If she marries Siemowit IV, it doesn't change so much - both his successors IOTL, Janusz and Siemowit IV, are already alive (they were sons from his first marriage); IOTL Siemowit III had a second wife, but his only surviving son from that marriage became bishop of Płock. OTOH, he would be a great-grandson of Casimir III.
If she marries Janusz, it also doesn't change that much: Janusz was a loyal vassal to Poland and Anjou dynasty, he probably remains the same.
If she marries Siemowit IV - it might strengthen Siemowit's position when he tries to get Polish crown for himself in 1381. If Siemowit IV has a son with Elizabeth, he can claim he fights for the crown not for himself, but for Casimir III's great grandson. Personally, however, I do not think it would work. The decisive voice belonged at the time to the noblemen from Małopolska (Lesser Poland) since they controlled Cracow and had strong support from Hungary. And they prefered Jogaila. Siemowit IV probably acts the same he did IOTL, with probably the same result - he fails. Altough his chance might slightly better, so who knows?
 
I think Jogaila's position to gain the Polish crown and marrying Jadwiga might be butterflied and Jogaila's sister was married to Casimir IV of Pomerania, the only problem is that Jogaila's sister died childless and Casimir IV was childless himself and Elisabeth of Pomerania was married to Bohemia which would likely merge Bohemia and Poland again, I think it is more beneficial that she marries a Masovian or Silesian Piast - or better, she marries a brother of Jogaila or Jogaila himself.
 
Last edited:
Casimir IV was supposed to succeed Casimir III, but Polish noblemen made their king's last will invalid. IMO that eliminates Casimir IV's line completely.
I do not see how Elizabeth's marriage to Bohemia might bring Poland and Bohemia together - it didn't IOTL.
Elizabeth was a Pomeranian princess - not a Polish one. Marrying her Jogaila (or his brother) gains no claim to Polish throne - he had to marry Jadwiga since she was the legitimate king (!) of Poland.
Besides, I think we have a chronological problem here. Elizabeth was married in 1363 IOTL; after Casimir III's death in 1370 Polish crown went rather smoothly (except the case of Casimir IV) to Louis of Hungary (Anjou dynasty). Nobody else contested Louis' rights to Polish throne. Problems started after his death in 1382. Elizabeth would be 36 at the time, probably already married for a long time and with no claims to Polish crown at all.
Had she been married to Siemowit IV she might strenthen his position. Or not. There was a plan to marry Jadwiga to Siemowit, which would unite followers of the Anjou dynasty and followers of Siemowit. Elizabeth as a wife would have been an obstacle to that solution (I forgot about it in my previous post). Theoretically he might have tried to go against legitimate succession in the name of his son with Elizabeth (if there had been one), but I think he would have failed, as he did IOTL.
 
Casimir IV was supposed to succeed Casimir III, but Polish noblemen made their king's last will invalid. IMO that eliminates Casimir IV's line completely.
I do not see how Elizabeth's marriage to Bohemia might bring Poland and Bohemia together - it didn't IOTL.
Elizabeth was a Pomeranian princess - not a Polish one. Marrying her Jogaila (or his brother) gains no claim to Polish throne - he had to marry Jadwiga since she was the legitimate king (!) of Poland.
Besides, I think we have a chronological problem here. Elizabeth was married in 1363 IOTL; after Casimir III's death in 1370 Polish crown went rather smoothly (except the case of Casimir IV) to Louis of Hungary (Anjou dynasty). Nobody else contested Louis' rights to Polish throne. Problems started after his death in 1382. Elizabeth would be 36 at the time, probably already married for a long time and with no claims to Polish crown at all.
Had she been married to Siemowit IV she might strenthen his position. Or not. There was a plan to marry Jadwiga to Siemowit, which would unite followers of the Anjou dynasty and followers of Siemowit. Elizabeth as a wife would have been an obstacle to that solution (I forgot about it in my previous post). Theoretically he might have tried to go against legitimate succession in the name of his son with Elizabeth (if there had been one), but I think he would have failed, as he did IOTL.
Actually, some historians say that Jogaila was 3 years younger from Elisabeth, if this is true, she could marry Jogaila once Casimir marries Jogaila's sister or else she could marry an older brother of Jogaila and make a double marriage between the Griffins and the Gediminids, I think any son between Jogaila or his brother and Elisabeth could marry Jadwiga instead of Jogaila himself.
 
Last edited:
Top