She saved her family in the guise of a simple bourgeoisie. She personally commanded the defense of Wawel. And she was not afraid to stand up even to the most powerful bishop in the country. Do you have any idea who we are talking about?
Queen Jadwiga came from the line of the rulers of Greater Poland. She is often referred to as Jadwiga Kaliska, because it was in the town on Prosna that her father - Bolesław the Pious - stayed in power for the longest time. He died when the princess was only a few years old, so he could not influence her marriage and further fate.
The decision about Jadwiga's future passed into the hands of other relatives. And it was they who decided that she was given to Prince Władysław during his lifetime, called "Elbow" or "Elbow".
According to the nickname, it was a man of very short stature. However, his meager stature was accompanied by great ambitions and an adventurous nature. Łokietek began his career as a prince of a microscopic state in Kujawy, and after a few years he successfully settled in Krakow. Although he did not manage to conquer the fortified Wawel or keep Krak in the city for longer, he nevertheless managed to make a name for himself and be promoted to the forefront of Polish princes. It was then that the restless prince was married to the heiress of the Wielkopolska titles.
Władysław Łokietek in the image of Marcello Baciarelli.
The union was to strengthen Łokietek, and Jadwiga Kaliska was to provide a prosperous future alongside an ever stronger dynasty. The reality turned out to be much more complicated. Łokietek was constantly in trouble throughout his career. And very often it was the reliable spouse who pulled him out of them…
1. At a critical moment, she saved her family from captivity
In 1299, Władysław Łokietek, who so far ruled not only in his native Kujawy, but also in Greater Poland, succumbed to the overwhelming forces of the Czech king Wenceslas II, who sharpened his teeth on the Polish crown. The prince lost all lands, estates and titles. He was forced to flee the country. And he was in such a hurry that… he forgot all about his family.
It was then that the character of Jadwiga was put to a decisive test for the first time. The Duchess, accompanied by three young children (daughter Kunegunda and sons Stefan and Władysław), found herself destitute and without any support. The deposed ruler knew that the Czechs would not hesitate to throw her into a dungeon, use her for their political games or to blackmail her husband. She couldn't even be sure that she would get away with her life if she got in the way of the invaders.
Running away with a few-year-old toddlers was out of the question. So the identity had to be changed. Accustomed so far to serving and luxuries, the Duchess began to pretend to be a simple townswoman. She found shelter under the roof of a certain Gerk, in a small town of Radziejów in Kujawy. And she remained hidden for the next five years, constantly driving the Czechs out of the way.
Only thanks to her persistence and cleverness, Łokietek had something to come back to.
2. As her husband, she commanded the defense of Wawel
In 1311, Łokietek's future was once again put into question. The inhabitants of the most important city in the country:Krakow, revolted against the princely rule. Wieliczka and Sandomierz quickly followed in the footsteps of the capital. The rebels were also joined by monks from two influential monasteries, in Miechów and Jędrzejów. The situation was critical. And the leader of the rebellion, Kraków mayor Albert, was already preparing to invite… the new Czech king, John of Luxembourg, to the Polish throne.
Imprint of Jadwiga Kaliska's seal.
In the fight against the rebels, the role of the ruler turned out to be even more important than the one assumed by Łokietek. The prince left Wawel and headed towards Nowy Sącz to gather troops loyal to him and summon allies. The townspeople counted on the fact that no one would resist them in the absence of Piast. They launched a decisive assault on the Wawel fortress. They must have been very surprised to discover that the castle is not without a defender at all. Jadwiga assumed the role of the garrison commander. And she had already made sure that the attack ended in disastrous defeat.
3. She was not afraid of anyone. Even the most powerful Polish bishop
Jadwiga, famous for her piety, felt no resistance when, for the sake of her husband and the country, even the bishop had to be arrested. She proved this by entering into a sharp dispute with the head of the Krakow cathedral, Jan Muskata. This hierarchy was known not so much as a priest, but above all as a calculated politician. When the civil war broke out after Łokietek's return to the country in 1304, it was Muskata who turned out to be the main opponent of the Piast rule.
Units obedient to him set the villages on fire, plundered settlements, and robbed property from churches. The bishop not only did not restrain his subordinates, but even encouraged them to desecrate the churches managed by the faithful priests of Łokietkowo. Apparently, he was of the opinion that the ax was the best "key of Saint Peter" and that it was with its help that one should enter churches if the demand for surrender was not enough. Later, the hierarch also entered into deals with Krakow councilors. It is even possible that he was actually behind the rebellion of 1311 and the project of replacing the monarch with another model.
According to legends, Łokietek was hiding from the Czechs in a grotto near Ojców. It doesn't matter where. The important thing is that he has completely forgotten about his family.
Muskata was, without a doubt, a dangerous and unpredictable man. Nevertheless, Jadwiga got into an open argument with him. She threatened the bishop that he would use her contacts to remove the Czech nominee from the bishopric. She may not have been successful, but she has proved that she does not intend to stick with any opponent.
4. She had a great record with the Pope
Jadwiga allowed herself to make threats because she knew how high her ratings were in the papal curia. We know many examples of its influence from later years.
By the decision of Saint Jadwiga, it was allowed to participate in the holy mass even in the event of a church curse on the country. She was also entitled to visit cloistered monasteries and spend the night there - as if she were a nun herself. Finally, the Pope even instituted a special indulgence, according to which anyone who prayed for Jadwiga and her spouse could count on washing away the punishment for their sins.
The Duchess's reputation obviously had something to do with her personal piety. Above all, however, it resulted from the same understanding that was at the root of the duchess's dispute with Jan Muskata. Jadwiga knew where matters of faith gave way to interests. And where to the humble supplication it should be added a sumptuous offering in silver.
Not only her husband, but also she was behind the legation sent to Avignon to obtain approval for the coronation. And smearing properly wherever necessary.
5. It was she who gave the Szczerbiec to Łokietkowo
The coronation sword played a key role in the ceremonial elevation of the ruler to the rank of king, which the Poles accepted in accordance with the guidelines of the Holy See itself. It couldn't be any ordinary common blade. A Christian king needed a beautiful and unusual blade. This is exactly what Jadwiga gave to her husband.
The famous Szczerbiec was most likely a gift from the royal wife.
It is about the famous Szczebiec. Due to popular legend, the sword was associated with the first Polish king, Bolesław the Brave. In reality, however, the Szczerbiec, which still exists today, was founded not in the years of the kingdom's birth, but less than a hundred years before the coronation of Łokietek:in the mid-13th century.
Its first owner was the Duke of Greater Poland, Bolesław the Pious. After him, the ceremonial weapon was inherited by his daughter Jadwiga and then passed it on to her husband. And it is thanks to the forgotten, first queen of the reborn state that Szczerbiec symbolizes the extraordinary course of our history to this day. After all, Jadwiga's sword is the only surviving Polish crown insignia ...
Selected bibliography:
- Abraham W., The Muskata case , "Dissertations of the Academy of Learning," vol. 30 (1894).
- Abraham W., The position of the papal curia on the coronation of Łokietek [in:] Memorial book of the University of Lviv to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Jagiellonian foundation of the University of Krakow , Senate of the University of Lviv, Lviv 1900.
- Antonin R., Political activity of Jan Luksemburski during the rebellion of the Kraków mayor Albert and its assessment in Czech historiography , "Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis. Studia Historica ”, vol. 13 (2013).
- Biborski M., Stępiński J., Stępiński J., Szczerbiec (the jagged sword) - the coronation sword of the kings of Poland , "Gladius", vol. 31 (2011).
- Długopolski E., Władysław Łokietek against the background of his times , Universitas, Krakow 2009.
- Lileyko J., Polish Regalia , National Publishing Agency, Warsaw 1987.
- March A., "Domina Terrae Sandecensis". The political role of Queen Jadwiga Łokietkowa in the context of her relations with the dignitaries of Lesser Poland (1305–1339) , "Kwartalnik Historyczny", vol. 107 (2000).
- Marzec A., Jadwiga Łokietkowa (1270 / 1275–1339) [in:] Polish rulers , ed. B. Czwojdrak, M Publishing House, Krakow 2017.
- Ożóg K., Jadwiga [in:] The Piasts. Biographical Lexicon , edited by K. Ożóg, S. Szczur, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Krakow 1999.
- Pietras T., " Bloody Wolf with Crosier". The Bishop of Kraków, Jan called Muskata, Semper, Warsaw 2001.