Helena of Znojmo
| Helen of Znojmo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Queen consort of Poland | |
| Reign | 1177-1194 |
| Issue Detail | Maria, Grand Princess of Kiev Leszek the White Konrad I of Masovia |
| House | House of Piast (by marriage) Přemyslid dynasty (by birth) |
| Father | Conrad II of Znojmo |
| Mother | Maria of Serbia |
Helena of Znojmo (Polish: Helena znojemska b.1145- 1202 or 1206[1]) was a Princess of Moravia (1165 - 1194) and Princess of Masovia (1186-1194) as well as being regent of Krakow, Sandomierz and Masovia on behalf of her minor sons children Leszek I the White and Konrad I of Masovia from 1194-1199/1200.
Life
Helen was the daughter of Conrad II of Znojmo and his wife Maria of Serbia, daughter of Uroš I of Rascia. Helen was probably named after Helena of Raška. Helen was sister of Conrad II, Duke of Bohemia.
Helen married the youngest son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Casimir II the Just (this happened probably shortly after his return from captivity)[2].
On May 5 1194, perhaps as a result of heart attack[3], Helen's husband died, leaving two minor sons. Regency of Małopolska and Mazowsze was taken on by Helen with the Bishops of Kraków and Krakow Voivod.
Helen's regency was not an easy one, because other princes threated the minors. The children's uncle, Mieszko III the Old was after Cracow. Bloody stocks, which were the culminating moment of the Battle of Mozgawa between Helen and Mieszko, it lasted until 1198 when they reached an agreement with thr Duke of Wielkopolska. Mieszko would take Krakow, in return for which he gave Helen and her sons Kuyavia. Independent authority over the inheritance was taken on by Leszek the White who took over in 1199 or 1200. The great political and intelligent Helen testied words written in the chronicle of Kadlubek Vincent, who certainly knew the princess in person. According to historians Helen was "a wise woman than a woman's wisdom."
Helen of Znojmo died between 1202 and 1206 [4], probably on April 2[5].
Children
Helen and Casimir had the following children:
- Maria (1164 - 1194), married in November 1178 to Prince Vsevolod IV of Kiev.
- Casimir (ca. 1165? - 1 March 1167).
- Bolesław (ca. 1168/71 - 16 April 1182). He died accidentally, after falling from a tree.
- Odon, died in infancy. Only named in the Polish Wikipedia Biography of Casimir II the Just
- Adelaide (ca. 1177/84 - 8 December 1211), foundress of the convent of St. Jakob in Sandomierz. Only named in the Polish Wikipedia Biography of Casimir II the Just
- Leszek the White (ca. 1186/87 - Marcinkow, 23 November 1227).
- Konrad (ca. 1187/88 - 31 August 1247). [6]
References
- ^ Life Dates for: K. Jasiński, Rodowód pierwszych Piastów, Poznań 2004, p. 266-268
- ^ K. Jasiński cit., Pp 266-267
- ^ R. Horn, Polish królobójcy, Warsaw 1994, p. 27
- ^ MORAVIA, Medieval Lands
- ^ According to John Dlugosz Helena still alive December 24 1211 However, this message has already been challenged by O. Balzera. Cf. O. Balzer, Genealogy Piast, Krakow 2005, p. 327
- ^ There is however a very unlikely possibility, but which can not be completely ruled out that Helen was the second wife of Casimir the Just. But no mention about this in the sources, hence this hypothesis is merely a logical structure, which even more reduces its credibility. Cf. K. Jasinski cit., P. 267