Bona Sforza loved chasing deer, she trembled at the mere thought of the thrill of hunting big game. She was predator-like, and whenever there was an opportunity to hunt, she forgot about the world. This unhealthy fascination finally led to a tragedy.
In the summer of 1527, Queen Bona Sforza was once again in a different state. After five pregnancies almost every year, she was less and less patient. The rounded belly limited her freedom of movement to a minimum. Although she could participate in the games on the political chessboard, in everyday life she was a prisoner of her own castle.
She wandered along the long corridors of Wawel, taking care not to harm her child or her own health. Finally, however, she could not stand it. In September, together with her husband, she left for Niepołomice to take part in a hunt for an extremely handsome bear brought from Lithuania.
The doomsday hunt
The hunt started according to tradition. The cones lifted the lid of the big, heavy chest. Confused by the multi-day journey and blinded by the sun, the brown animal dragged itself out on its shaky paws, only to encounter a group of rabid dogs there. According to the chronicler, the bear was "at first unfit". It was enough, however, that he tasted blood, and nothing could stop him anymore.
Renaissance mansion in Niepołomice. Current status
The great dogs screeched away from the blows of his heavy paws. Without a second thought, the peasants armed with javelins retreated. The few who did not understand it was time to save lives bitterly regretted the moment's hesitation. However, the bear did not intend to stop at his first victims. Even less so, he did not think about escaping. Instead of the forest, the royal retinue rushed to watch the spectacle.
A wild panic ensued. Ladies in tight dresses and uncomfortable ankle boots scuttled away, clumsily fiddling with their feet. The courtiers froze, not knowing what to do. The brave dignitaries searched for weapons in a disorderly manner. There was not enough time for any organized response. The beast and the horse were overturned by the royal sub-commander. The rogue, who tried to swing his javelin at the bear, knocked the weapon out of his hand with one blow. Finally, he rushed towards the queen.
Last child
Bona was already on the horse, which she immediately chased to a gallop. With the best-blooded steed, the bear had no chance in the chase. Or at least it shouldn't have. meanwhile, the frightened horse stumbled on the stone after a few meters and, kicking panically, fell to its side, crushing the Polish monarch with its bulk. The bear was tamed before he reached the queen screaming in pain, but it was clear to everyone that the harm had already happened.
In the same place, in a forest clearing, among the crowd of onlookers, half-conscious, bleeding Bona gave birth to a son. She was five months pregnant. Gasping every breath, an underdeveloped infant had no chance of survival. He died on the same day. Before her death, Bona named him Olbracht. She was buried in a small lead coffin in the palace chapel in Niepołomice.
After the tragic incident, the Queen was recovering for many weeks. She was lucky that she did not get infected, that complications after the accident and premature birth did not kill her. The superficial wounds healed, but Bona never fully recovered. The hunt of September 20 permanently cast a shadow on her psyche, it turned out to be an insurmountable trauma. The physical stigma also remained with her until her death. She never got pregnant again.
Black pond in the Niepołomice forest. Contemporary photography
She realized with full force that for one moment of carelessness - because of her own stupidity and immaturity - the fate of the entire Jagiellonian dynasty hung in the balance. Thirty years ago, this was one of the most branched ruling families in Europe, with a host of strong and ready-to-rule male descendants. Now there is only one link left:little Sigismund II Augustus, on whose survival and a successful marriage everything depended.
The situation was even worse as Bona was the only one to feel the burden of responsibility. From then on, she herself had to bear the burden of the threat hanging over the entire ruling house. Her husband, Zygmunt, was getting older and more childish. He had one son, and he didn't need anything more to be happy. Soon after the accident, instead of mourning the dead baby and worrying about his wife's fate, he joked carelessly about his jester, Stańczyk, who was also beaten by a bear. Bona was not amused. And in fact - it will never be again.
Source:
You can learn more about the confusing fate of Bona Sforza in Kamil Janicki's book. Ladies of the golden age (Horizon Label 2014). The article is based on the literature and materials collected by the author during the work on the book.