Jagiellonian dynasty
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| Jagiellonian dynasty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent house | Gediminids |
| Country | Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Bohemia |
| Founded | 1377 |
| Founder | Jagiello |
| Final ruler | Anna the Jagiellonian |
| Titles | Grand Duke of Lithuania, King of Poland, King of Hungary, King of Bohemia |
| Dissolution | 1596 |
The Jagiellonian dynasty (Polish: Jagiellonowie, Lithuanian: Jogailaičiai, Czech: Jagellonci, Hungarian: Jagelló, Belarusian: Ягелоны) was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries (present day Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, parts of Russia (including nowadays Kaliningrad oblast), Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia) between the 14th and 16th century. Members of the dynasty were Grand Dukes of Lithuania (1377–1392 and 1440–1572), kings of Poland (1386–1572), kings of Hungary (1440–1444 and 1490–1526), and kings of Bohemia (1471–1526).
The dynastic union between the two countries (converted into a full administrative union only in 1569) is the reason for the common appellation "Poland–Lithuania" in discussions about the area from the Late Middle Ages onwards. One Jagiellonian briefly ruled both Poland and Hungary (1440–44), and two others ruled both Bohemia (from 1490) and Hungary (1490–1526) and then continued in the distaff line as the Eastern branch of the House of Habsburg.
Name
The name (other variations used in English include: Jagiellonians, Jagiellos, Jogailos, Jagiellas) comes from Jogaila, the first Polish king of that dynasty. In Polish, the dynasty is known as Jagiellonowie (singular: Jagiellon, adjective, used of dynasty members, also patronymic form: Jagiellończyk, if male, and Jagiellonka, if female); in Lithuanian it is called Jogailaičiai (sing.: Jogailaitis), in Belarusian Яґайлавічы (Jagajłavičy, sing.: Яґайлавіч, Jagajłavič), in Hungarian Jagellók (sing.: Jagelló), and in Czech Jagellonci (sing.: Jagellonec; adjective: Jagellonský), as well as Jagello or Jagellon (fem. Jagellonica) in Latin. In all variations of that name, the letter J should be pronounced as in "Hallelujah" (or as Y in "yes"), and G as in "get".
Pre-dynasty background
Gediminids (Lithuanian: Gediminaičiai), the immediate predecessors of the first Jagiellonian, were monarchs of the medieval Lithuania with the title didysis kunigaikštis which would be translated as Great King according to the contemporary perception. The later construct for its translation is Grand Duke (for its etymology, see Grand Prince). Their realm, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, was chiefly inhabited by Lithuanians and Ruthenians, and was at least half-Slavic.
Jogaila, the eponymous first ruler of the Jagiellonin dynasty, started as the Grand Duke of Lithuania. He then converted to Christianity and married the 11-year-old Jadwiga, the second of Poland's Angevin rulers, and thereby becoming himself King of Poland, founded the dynasty. At the time, he called himself King Ladislaus (Polish: Władysław), without an ordinal number, but later historians have referred to him as Ladislaus II (of Poland) or sometimes Ladislaus II Jagiello of Poland and Lithuania.
The rule of Piasts, the earlier Polish ruling house (c. 962–1370) had ended with the death of Casimir III.
Rulers of the House of Jagiello
Jagiellonians were hereditary rulers of Lithuania and Poland.
The Jagiellonian rulers of Lithuania and Poland (with dates of ruling in brackets) were:
- Ladislaus (Jogaila) (in Lithuania 1377–1401; in Poland 1386–1434). (also known as Władysław II Jagiełło)
- Ladislaus III (1434–44) (Only Poland)
- Casimir IV (1447–92)
- John Albert (1492–1501) (Only Poland)
- Alexander (1501–05)
- Sigismund I (1506–48)
- Sigismund II Augustus (1548–72) (also known as Sigismund II)
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| Vladislaus II (Jogaila)[i] c. 1351–1434 G. Duke of Lithuania, 1377–1401 King of Poland, 1386–1434 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elisabeth Bonifacia 1399 | Hedwig 1408–1431 | Vladislaus III 1424–1444 King of Poland, 1434–1444 King of Hungary, 1440–1444 | Casimir 1426–1427 | Casimir IV 1427–1492 G. Duke of Lithuania, 1440–1492 King of Poland, 1447–1492 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vladislaus II 1456–1516 King of Bohemia, 1471–1516 King of Hungary, 1490–1516 | Hedwig 1457–1502 Duchess of Bavaria-Landshut, 1475–1502 | Saint Casimir 1458–1484 | John I Albert 1459–1501 King of Poland, 1492–1501 | Alexander 1461–1506 G. Duke of Lithuania, 1492–1506 King of Poland, 1501–1506 | Sophia 1464–1512 Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach, 1479–1512 | Elisabeth 1465–1466 | Sigismund I 1467–1548 King of Poland and G. Duke of Lithuania, 1506–1548 | Frederick 1468–1503 Bishop of Kraków, 1488–1503 Archbishop of Gniezno, 1493–1503 | Elisabeth 1472–after 1480 | Anna 1476–1503 Duchess of Pomerania, 1491–1503 | Barbara 1478–1534 Margravine of Meissen, 1494–1534 | Elisabeth c. 1483–1517 Duchess of Liegnitz, 1515–1517 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anna 1503–1547 Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, 1526–1547 Queen of the Romans, 1531–1547 | Louis II 1506–1526 King of Hungary and Bohemia, 1516–1526 | Hedwig 1513–1573 Electress of Brandenburg, 1535–1573 | Anna 1515–1520 | Isabella 1519–1559 Queen of Hungary, 1539–1540 | Sigismund II Augustus 1520–1571 King of Poland and G. Duke of Lithuania, 1548–1572 | Sophia 1522–1575 Duchess of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel, 1556–1568 | Anna 1523–1596 Queen of Poland and G. Duchess of Lithuania, 1575–1586 | Catherine 1526–1583 Duchess of Finland, 1562–1583 Queen of Sweden, 1569–1583 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
- ^ Kings are marked in gold, queens in pale gold.
Monarchs of Central Europe: the House of Jagiellon and their competitors, 1377–1572 | ||||||||||||||
1380 — – 1390 — – 1400 — – 1410 — – 1420 — – 1430 — – 1440 — – 1450 — – 1460 — – 1470 — – 1480 — – 1490 — – 1500 — – 1510 — – 1520 — – 1530 — – 1540 — – 1550 — – 1560 — – 1570 — – 1580 — – 1590 — – 1600 — | Jogaila, 1377–1381 Jogaila, 1382–1392 Vytautas 1392–1430 Švitrigaila, 1430–1432 Sigismund Kęstutaitis, 1432–1440 Casimir IV 1440–1492 Alexander, 1492–1506 Sigismund I 1506–1548 Sigismund II Augustus 1548–1572 Louis I, 1370–1382 Hedwig, 1382–1399 Vladislaus II (Jogaila) 1386–1433 Vladislaus III, 1434–1444 Casimir IV 1447–1492 John I Albert, 1492–1501 Alexander, 1501–1506 Sigismund I 1506–1548 Sigismund II Augustus 1548–1572 Louis I, 1342–1382 Mary, 1382–1387 Sigismund 1387–1437 Albert II, 1437–1439 Matthias Corvinus 1458–1490 Ladislaus V, 1445–1457 Vladislaus I, 1440–1444 Vladislaus II 1490–1516 Louis II, 1516–1526 Ferdinand I 1526–1564 Maximilian II, 1564–1576 Wenceslaus IV 1378–1419 Sigismund 1419–1437 Albert II, 1437–1439 Ladislaus 1440–1457 George 1458–1471 Vladislaus II 1471–1516 Louis II, 1516–1526 Ferdinand I 1526–1564 Maximilian II, 1564–1576 | |||||||||||||
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After Sigismund II Augustus, the dynasty underwent further changes. Sigismund II's heirs were his sisters, Anna Jagellonica and Catherine Jagellonica. The latter had married Duke John of Finland, who thereby from 1569 became King John III Vasa of Sweden, and they had a son, Sigismund III Vasa; as a result, the Polish branch of the Jagiellonians merged with the House of Vasa, which ruled Poland from 1587 until 1668. During the interval, among others, Stephen Bathory, the husband of the childless Anna, reigned.
The Jagiellonian family
Bohemia and Hungary
At one point, the Jagiellonians established dynastic control also over the kingdoms of Bohemia (from 1490 onwards) and Hungary (from 1490 on), with Vladislaus Jagiello whom several history books call Vladisla(u)s II.
The Jagiellonian Kings of Bohemia and Hungary:
- Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary (Vladislaus Jagiello)
- Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia (Louis Jagiello). By Louis' sudden death in Battle of Mohács in 1526, that royal line was extinguished in male line.
- Anna of Bohemia and Hungary, Queen Consort, sister of Louis. Her husband Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor was elected King of Bohemia based on her rights. He was also elected King of Hungary in dispute at first with John Zápolya and then with John II Sigismund Zápolya.
Maturity pattern
Anthropologists have noted the tendency of members of the Jagiellonian dynasty to marry late in life, and not procreate until older. Most of its males over the dynasty's two centuries (approximately between 1360 and 1560) managed to have their heirs only when well into their middle years.
This contrasts with the later Bourbons and Habsburg-Lorraines prolific Roman Catholic dynasties, whose members usually started to produce offspring while still in their teens. Also, interestingly enough, those Jagiellonians who continued the line lived to ripe old ages, while those who died in their twenties or thirties generally did not leave children. Because the average life span was relatively short in that time period, this habit of starting to produce children late axed many potential branches from the dynasty, since persons who were generally potential parents did not start procreating until their thirties.
This was no coincidence. In this dynasty, "maturity" and willingness to settle down occurred only later in life, not in one's twenties. It has been speculated that cultural reasons may have also been co-factors. However, it has been proposed that inherited features were the chief reason. Some female-line descendants within a couple of generations showed similar tendencies, such as Charles II, Archduke of Inner Austria, and Albert VII, Archduke of Austria. However, the tendency later diminished, and after the 17th century all members resumed the trait of having their children at a young age.
This tendency to bear children late weakened the potential of the dynasty compared to others of same era. After just four generations, the dynasty went extinct in its male line. But those same four generations lasted two centuries, averaging approximately fifty years between siring each new generation:
- Algirdas (1291–1377), Ladislaus (1351–1434), Casimir IV (1427–92), Sigismund I (1467–1548) and Sigismund II (1520–72).
- Algirdas (1291–1377), Ladislaus (1351–1434), Casimir IV (1427–92), Ladislaus II (1456–1516) and Louis (1506–26)
(Generational chart: Zeroeth interval 60/60 years, first interval: 76/76 years, second interval 29/40 years, third interval 50/53 years)
| Monarch | Birth – death | Age at birth of first child to survive to adulthood |
Age at birth of first child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladislaus | 1351–1434 | 57 | 48 |
| Casimir IV | 1427–1492 | 29 | 29 |
| Sigismund I* | 1467–1548 | 46 | 46 |
| Ladislaus II | 1456–1516 | 47 | 47 |
- Sigismund has a son at 1499 when he was not ruler of Lithuania neither Poland who died at 1536 and was not have law of heritage
Sometimes, women of this dynasty married only when relatively old. Catherine Jagellon, wife of John III of Sweden, was 11 years older than her husband, having remained unmarried into her thirties. She bore her children at ages 38, 40 and 42.
Jagiello himself was born to a father already in his fifties or sixties.
See also
- List of Polish rulers
- List of Lithuanian rulers
- List of Hungarian rulers
- List of Czech rulers
- The Jagiellonian University in Kraków
- Poland during the rule of the Jagiellonian dynasty
External links
