Dobroniega Maria by Michał Stachowicz

Maria Dobroniega, Dobroniega Maria

A Polish duchess, wife of Kazimierz the Restorer of the Piast dynasty. She was a Russian princess from the Rurykowicz family, the younger sister of Prince Jarosław the Wise. The marriage with her, concluded in 1040 or 1041, sealed the alliance with the Ruthenians, which allowed Kazimierz to solidify his power:newly regained after the rebellion of his subjects, the devastating Czech invasion and the civil war.

Nothing is known about Maria Dobroniega's youth, but there is a controversial theory according to which she was - together with her sister Przedsława - a captive of the Polish king Bolesław the Brave.

The relationship with it led to radical changes on the political map of Europe:after decades of fierce conflicts, the Ruthenians became key allies of the Piast court. It can be assumed that Maria Dobroniega she contributed to her brother's reinforcements, which in 1047 allowed to break the forces of the Mazovian usurper Miecław and finally consolidate the position of prince Kazimierz. Probably Maria Dobroniega it also influenced the decision to permanently relocate the actual capital of the state to Kraków.

Maria Dobroniega was the mother of two successive Polish rulers:Bolesław the Bold and Władysław Herman. She outlived her husband by almost thirty years, dying only during the reign of the second son.