The Sovereign Houses of Habsburg and Jagiellon
by
George Romanenkov*
The Habsburg dynasty was a predominant force in Europe for several hundreds years. This house ruled over the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, Spain and many other realms in Europe. The Habsburgs were especially powerful and played an exceptional role in the history of Central and Eastern Europe.
The other sovereign, though, not imperial, house that focused its political interests on Central and Eastern Europe was the house of Jagiellons. This house was the descendants of Vladislaus Jagiello, Grand Duke of Lithuania (1377-1401), who became King of Poland, marrying Jadvyga, the only daughter of the last King of Poland of the Andegawen dynasty (1386). In Lithuanian historiography this house is known as Gediminaiciai that is the descendants of Gediminas (c.1275-1341), grandfather of Jagiello and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1316-1341). However, the only branch of this dynasty that retained its sovereign status were Jagiello’s descendants that became known in Poland as the Jagiellons.
Over five hundred years ago dynastic relations were a significant part of European politics. They were used to acquire new lands and cement political alliances. Therefore, dynastic contacts between the two most powerful houses in Central Europe were inevitable.
Emperor Sigismund (1410-1437) the last male of the Luxembourg dynasty only had one daughter, Elizabeth. She married Albrecht von Habsburg, who was chosen as Sigismund’s successor as Holy Roman Emperor and Hungarian and Czech King. When Elizabeth gave birth to Albrecht’s second daughter, Elizabeth, Polish delegates came to Vienna, asking Emperor Sigismund to allow his granddaughters, Anne and Elizabeth to marry two Jagiellons: Vladislaus, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania and Prince Casimir. Using that marriage, the Poles intended to take over Czech and Hungarian lands. However, Emperor Sigismund offered conditions of the marriage contract that were clearly unacceptable for Poland and Lithuania and the 'marriage bargains' stopped temporarily. After a short time negotiations resumed. The Poles only required Elizabeth’s hand together with all Czech lands for Prince Casimir. The negotiations were interrupted by Sigismund’s death in 1437. In March 1438, the Electors of the HRE gathered and elected his son-in-law Emperor Albrecht II (he was crowned King of Hungary and appointed viceroy of Bohemia during the lifetime of his father-in-law). He had his own marriage plans for his daughters in that: Anne was to to marry Wilhelm of Saxony and Elizabeth was to marry Friedrich of Saxony. At the same time Poles attempted to take Bohemia over by force and make Prince Casimir King of Bohemia with the support of the Taborite party, which was very anti-German. These attempts, however, were unsuccessful. Then in 1439 most unexpectedly Emperor Albrecht died leaving his two daughters and a pregnant wife. The Poles immediately made an agreement with anti-German inclined Hungarian nobles to establish a union with Hungary by marriage of the 15-year old King Vladislaus with the twice as old Albrecht’s widow, Elizabeth (who was at that time still pregnant). Hungarian nobles forced her into negotiations. Elizabeth agreed, however, only in case her baby was female. In 1440 in Komorn she gave birth to a son, Vladislaus Posthum. Elizabeth immediately withdrew her agreement and crowned her son Hungarian and Czech King in Belgrade. As an answer to this action, pro-Polish Hungarian nobles crowned Vladislaus Jagiellon, who came to Hungary with the Polish army. Civil war broke out. Papal Legate, Julian Cesarini interfered, suggesting that Elizabeth marry Vladislaus and recognize him as the King of Hungary with the condition that after his death, her son, Vladislaus Posthum would succeed to the Hungarian throne. However, these plans also failed, due to Elizabeth’s death in 1442 (rumours were spread that her own mother, dowager Empress Barbara, poisoned her). Emperor Friedrich III took her children to his court in Vienna, and considered Albrecht’s marriage plans. In 1446 Anne was married to Prince Wilhelm of Saxony. However, the prospective husband of her younger sister Elizabeth, Prince Friedrich, died in 1451. In a year, Prince Casimir of Poland & Lithuania asked for her hand in marriage. A marriage contract was signed in Wroclaw in 1453. The wedding took place on 10th February 1454. That was the first Habsburg-Jagiellon marriage ever contracted.
Elizabeth von Habsburg (known in Poland as Elzbieta Habsburgska and in Lithuania as Elzbieta Habsburgaite) was a perfect Polish Queen and Lithuanian Grand-Duchess. She was called “Matka Jagiellonow” (“Mother of the Jagiellons”), as she gave birth to 12 children: 6 sons (Vladislaus, Czech and Hungarian King; St.Casimir, Patron Saint of Lithuania; John Albrecht, King of Poland; Alexander, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania; Sigismund, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania; and Friedrich, Bishop of Krakow, later Archbishop of Gnezno, Cardinal) and 6 daughters (Jadvyga, married George of Bavaria; Sofia, married Albrecht of Brandenburg; Jadvyga and Elizabeth, who died in childhood; Anne, married the Prince of Ligniza; and Barbara, married George of Saxony). Elizabeth did not participate too much in politics during the lifetime of her husband (except for her concern about Bohemia and Hungary, the lands, she considered herself heiress of and wanted her children to rule over). She has devoted herself to her children and their education. Elizabeth has become an example of wise education of royal children, described in a pedagogical treatise “De institutione regii pueri”. She was very pious, strictly Catholic and rather intolerant to other cultures and confessions. She, therefore, wished her children to marry only those of the same faith and was very disappointed, when her fourth son, Alexander married Helena, daughter of John III, Grand Duke of Moscow, who was, of course, Orthodox. For the rest of her life, Elizabeth tried to persuade Alexander to divorce, or, at least, convert his wife to Catholicism.
Elizabeth got actively involved in politics after the death of her husband, King Casimir in 1492. Her main efforts were directed to securing the dynasty on the Polish throne. After Casimir’s death, a dispute occurred between her son, John Albrecht and Janusz of Mozuria. With the help of her son, Friedrich, Archbishop of Gnezno and Primate of Poland, she managed to make the Sejm vote for John Albrecht. However, his death followed in 1501 and resulted in a dispute over the Polish throne between his three brothers: Vladislaus, Czech and Hungarian King; Alexander, Grand Duke of Lithuania; and Sigismund. This was truly a victory for their mother, who managed to solve this conflict peacefully, avoiding civil war. Alexander was elected King of Poland. During his reign Elizabeth died peacefully on the 30th August 1505 at the age of 69, closing the first page of Habsburg-Jagiellon relations.
Vladislaus Jagiellon, Czech and Hungarian King, eldest son of Casimir and Elizabeth was married three times: firstly, to Barbara, daughter of Markgraf of Brandenburg; secondly, to Beatrice, daughter of the King of Naples; and thirdly, to Anne, daughter of the Duke de Foix et Candale. His third marriage was successful. Anne gave birth to two children (Anne and Ludwig. Ludwig was the future Czech and Hungarian King. Both of Anne's children married Habsburgs. Ludwig married Mary von Habsburg. However, they had no children and in 1526 Ludwig was killed in the battle of Mohancs with Turks, leaving the Czech & Hungarian throne to his sister and her husband. Anne married Ferdinand, the brother of Emperor Carl V and future Emperor Ferdinand I. Five years after their wedding, which took place in Innsbruck in December 1520, Anne and Ferdinand succeeded to the Czech and Hungarian thrones and were crowned jointly with the Czech crown on 24th February 1526 and on 4th November 1527 with the Hungarian crown. This way, after a half-century of interruption, these lands became Habsburg property the same way they previously passed to the Jagiellons.
Anne was known as a very good wife. Her marriage with Ferdinand was very fruitful in that she gave birth to fifteen children. Her eldest son Maximillian was later to succeed his father as Emperor Maximillian II. Her other son, Carl of Styria was the ancestor of most future Habsburg Emperors. Therefore, one can be absolutely correct in naming Anne as the 'Mother of the Austrian Habsburgs' in the same way, as Elizabeth von Habsburg was known as 'Mother of the Jagiellons'.
Anne was never involved in politics and devoted all her time and attention to her many children, whom she was said to educate in her family traditions: in simplicity and discipline. In 1547 she died at the age of 44, having not awaited the moment of Carl V abdication and her husband’s accession to the Holy Roman Imperial Throne. She was buried in Prague, next to Emperor Carl IV and his wife, Elizabeth (descended from Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, through his daughter, Aldona).
Two of Anne’s and Ferdinand’s daughters became wives of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from the Jagiellon dynasty – Sigismund III August. Elizabeth was engaged in 1538 to Sigismund (who was not yet King and Grand Duke) who was her second uncle. She was at the time 12 years old and they got married on 6th May 1543. However, their marriage lasted only two years with Elizabeth dying in 1545. Sigismund loved his wife, who was, however, hated by his mother, Queen Bona, wife of Sigismund II and daughter of Giovanni Sforza. Sigismund even accused his mother of poisoning Elizabeth, however, there is no documentary evidence of that really occuring. Elizabeth was buried in the crypts of the Vilnius Cathedral. Shortly afterwards, Sigismund August fell in love and married Barbara, the daughter of his castellan George Radziwill. Sigismund then aceeded to the throne. Dowager Queen Bona did not favour his second wife, as well, and soon Queen Barbara died of gangrene and was buried next to her predecessor, Queen Elizabeth. Her cousin, Nicholas Radziwill “the Black”, close friend and advisor of the King, persuaded him to marry the younger sister of his first wife, Catherine von Habsburg (known in Poland as Kotryna Habsburgska and in Lithuania as Kotryna Habsburgaite). She was the young widow of Francisco Gonzaga of Mantua. This marriage was intended to establish the Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire as allies against the Grand Duchy of Moscow. The King agreed and in March 1553 Nicholas came to Vienna, asking for Catherine’s hand. Ferdinand I agreed, hoping to find in Poland and Lithuania an ally against the Turks. Catherine and Sigismund were wed in Krakow on 30th July 1553, Catherine was crowned Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania the same day. However, their family life was very unsuccessful. Sentimental Sigismund August did not like his wife and their relationship become especially cold when it became clear that Catherine could not give birth to a so much desired child. It was commonly known that the King cheated his wife. He sent Catherine to Rodom Castle, justifying that her illness (epylepsia) made life together impossible. Polish aristocracy and even the Primate, Cardinal Uchanski advised Sigismund to divorce her. Habsburgs, supported by the Vatican have done their best to prevent this. Papal Legate, Monsignor J. Commendoni, was sent to Poland to ensure that the King won’t follow the recent example of Henry VIII of England. He was successful in that the very hesitating Sigismund did not divorce Elizabeth. Instead, in 1565 he separated with her, sending her back to Austria with an allowance of 20.000 guldens per year. As well as her sister, Elizabeth was considered by Poles as a 'saintly woman'. She said before she left that “although Sigismund doesn’t even consider her his wife, she would until her death consider the King her husband, never agree to divorce and return, when God enlighten the King’s heart”. However, she never returned, having died in Linz on 28th February 1572. Having heard about her death, Sigismund August started looking for his fourth wife, as it was predicted by astrologists that he will only have a child from his fourth marriage, as his progenitor, Vladislaus Jagiello did. He did not manage, though since in less than in five months (on 7th July), Sigismund III August died, marking the end of the Jagiellon dynasty.
After the extinction of the Jagiellons, Habsburg princesses continued marrying Polish kings and grand dukes of Lithuania of the Vasa dynasty that ruled the Polish-Lithuanian Republic (Rzeczpospolita Polski i Litwy) for some 100 years. The climax of Habsburg relations with Poland and Lithuania came in late 18th century, when during the reign of Emperor Joseph II and later his nephew, Emperor Franz II Southern territories of the Polish-Lithuanian state passed to the Holy Roman Empire (Northern – to Prussia and Eastern – to the Russian Empire). For 150 years, the Habsburgs ruled over the territories that hundreds of years ago before had belonged to their Polish-Lithuanian progenitors.
REFERENCES
N. Davies, Boze Igrzysko – Historia Polski (God’s Playground – History of Poland), Krakow 2000
Lietuviu Enciklopedija (The Lithuanian Encyclopedia), Chicago, 1960
A. Przezdziecki, O krolowej Elzbiecie (About Queen Elizabeth), Warszawa 1852
Polski Slownik Biografyczny (Polish Biographical Dictionary), 1948
K. Murashev, Vse monarchi mira – Zapadnaja Evropa (All Monarchs of the world – Western Europe), 2000
* Republished by permission of author