Casimir I of Kuyavia
Encyclopedia
Casimir I of Kuyavia (c. 1211 – 14 December 1267) was Prince of Kujawy, Mazovia
and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia
, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus
.
. In subsequent years, his support of his father's turbulent politics brought him to the duchy of Gdańsk
. Casimir's brother, Boleslaw, became Duke of Mazovia on the death of their father.
Casimir did not wish to create trouble with his brother Boleslaw over the inheritance. When Boleslaw died in 1248 he was childless, and all his possessions should have passed his brother Casimir. However, Boleslaw decided to leave his lands to their younger brother, Ziemowit.
Ziemovit allied with Daniel of Galicia against Casimir. As part of the alliance, Ziemovit married Daniel's daughter, Pereyaslava. In 1254, his brother made an alliance with the Teutons
so that they would be defended against the advancing Baltic tribes. A coalition led by Boleslaw the Pious of Greater Poland
in 1259 made Ziemovit give back some of the lands that were rightfully Casimir's. Some lands were given to Henry II the Pious
.
In 1250, Casimir was trying to establish peaceful relations with his neighbors the Yotvingians
. Unfortunately his peace plan was not supported by the Teutonic Order, who had the Pope on their side. After the plan failed, Casimir needed to deal with other land problems elsewhere in his territory. In order to secure the northern border of his territory, he appealed to the Knights Templar
, who settled Łuków. It was not until 1263 that relations with the Teutonic Order returned to normal .
Meanwhile, Casimir faced more troubles. In 1258 Boleslaw the Pious made an alliance with Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania
. They launched an attack against Casimir, claiming lands that had been given to him illegally by Henry II the Pious
. The attack failed, but Boleslaw did not give up. The following year, he succeeded in bringing the powerful dukes Bolesław V the Chaste (Casimir's brother), Siemovit and Daniel of Galicia) into his coalition against Casimir. Peace negotiations were difficult and require the coalition to launch a new attack against Casimir in 1261. Taking advantage his weakening father, Casimir's son Leszek II the Black
made a claim on his inheritance. Casimir lost the Duchy of Sieradz
, which he divided between his sons.
Casimir died in 1267 and was buried in the Cathedral of Włocławek.
Casimir married secondly in 1239 to Constance
, daughter of Henry II the Pious
and Anna of Bohemia
. They had the following children:
After Constance died in 1257, Casimir married in the same year, Euphrosyne
, daughter of Casimir I of Opole
and Viola
, and they had the following children:
Mazovia
Mazovia or Masovia is a geographical, historical and cultural region in east-central Poland. It is also a voivodeship in Poland.Its historic capital is Płock, which was the medieval residence of first Dukes of Masovia...
and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus
Agafia of Rus
Agafia Svyatoslavna of Rus was Princess of Mazovia by her marriage and was a member of the Rurikid dynasty.-Life:...
.
Life
Casimir received the Duchy of Kujawy on his father's death in 1233. In 1239 he received a dowry from his second wife Constance, daughter of Henry II the PiousHenry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
. In subsequent years, his support of his father's turbulent politics brought him to the duchy of Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
. Casimir's brother, Boleslaw, became Duke of Mazovia on the death of their father.
Casimir did not wish to create trouble with his brother Boleslaw over the inheritance. When Boleslaw died in 1248 he was childless, and all his possessions should have passed his brother Casimir. However, Boleslaw decided to leave his lands to their younger brother, Ziemowit.
Ziemovit allied with Daniel of Galicia against Casimir. As part of the alliance, Ziemovit married Daniel's daughter, Pereyaslava. In 1254, his brother made an alliance with the Teutons
Teutons
The Teutons or Teutones were mentioned as a Germanic tribe by Greek and Roman authors, notably Strabo and Marcus Velleius Paterculus and normally in close connection with the Cimbri, whose ethnicity is contested between Gauls and Germani...
so that they would be defended against the advancing Baltic tribes. A coalition led by Boleslaw the Pious of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
in 1259 made Ziemovit give back some of the lands that were rightfully Casimir's. Some lands were given to Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
.
In 1250, Casimir was trying to establish peaceful relations with his neighbors the Yotvingians
Yotvingians
Yotvingians or Sudovians were a Baltic people with close cultural ties to the Lithuanians and Prussians...
. Unfortunately his peace plan was not supported by the Teutonic Order, who had the Pope on their side. After the plan failed, Casimir needed to deal with other land problems elsewhere in his territory. In order to secure the northern border of his territory, he appealed to the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, who settled Łuków. It was not until 1263 that relations with the Teutonic Order returned to normal .
Meanwhile, Casimir faced more troubles. In 1258 Boleslaw the Pious made an alliance with Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania
Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania
Wartislaw III was a Griffin duke of Pomerania-Demmin. Son of Casimir II of Pomerania-Demmin and Ingardis of Denmark, he was married to a Sophia of an unknown house. As he did not have any children, Pomerania-Demmin ceased to exist with his death.Ingardis ruled Pomerania-Demmin in place of young...
. They launched an attack against Casimir, claiming lands that had been given to him illegally by Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
. The attack failed, but Boleslaw did not give up. The following year, he succeeded in bringing the powerful dukes Bolesław V the Chaste (Casimir's brother), Siemovit and Daniel of Galicia) into his coalition against Casimir. Peace negotiations were difficult and require the coalition to launch a new attack against Casimir in 1261. Taking advantage his weakening father, Casimir's son Leszek II the Black
Leszek II the Black
Leszek the Black , named after his black hair, was one of the High Dukes of the fragmented Kingdom of Poland. He ruled from 1279 to 1288, and was married to Agrippina of Slavonia with no children.- Life :...
made a claim on his inheritance. Casimir lost the Duchy of Sieradz
Duchy of Sieradz
The Duchy of Sieradz was one of the territories created during the period of the fragmentation of Poland. It was originally part of the central Seniorate Province, but became separated upon the death of High Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks in 1231, ruled by the rivaling Masovian branch of the...
, which he divided between his sons.
Casimir died in 1267 and was buried in the Cathedral of Włocławek.
Marriages and Children
Casimir's first marriage was to Jadwiga, whose origins are unknown. They had no children and she died in 1235.Casimir married secondly in 1239 to Constance
Constance of Wrocław
Constance of Wrocław was a Princess of Silesia and the Duchess of Kuyavia. She was a member of the House of Piast...
, daughter of Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
and Anna of Bohemia
Anna of Bohemia
Anna of Bohemia was the Duchess consort of Silesia ; she was the daughter of Ottokar I, King of Bohemia and his second wife Constance of Hungary. Her maternal grandparents were Béla III of Hungary and his first wife Agnes of Antioch-Life:Anna was born in Prague...
. They had the following children:
- Adelaide (before 7 April 1249-8 December 1291), nun
- Leszek II the BlackLeszek II the BlackLeszek the Black , named after his black hair, was one of the High Dukes of the fragmented Kingdom of Poland. He ruled from 1279 to 1288, and was married to Agrippina of Slavonia with no children.- Life :...
(1240/42-30 September 1288), Duke of the Fragmentation of Poland - Ziemomysł of KuyaviaZiemomysł of KuyaviaZiemomysł of Kuyavia was Prince of Kuyavia from 1267-1271 and 1278-1287. He was a member of the large House of Piast- Early life :...
(1241/45-29 October/24 December 1287), Duke of Kuyavia
After Constance died in 1257, Casimir married in the same year, Euphrosyne
Euphrosyne of Opole
Euphrosyne of Opole was a daughter of Casimir I of Opole and his wife Viola, Duchess of Opole. She was a member of the House of Piast and became Duchess of Kujavia from her first marriage and Duchess of Pomerania from her second marriage.- Family :Euphrosyne's paternal grandparents were Mieszko I...
, daughter of Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz from 1211 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole-Racibórz and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.-Early life:Little is known about his early years of life,...
and Viola
Viola, Duchess of Opole
Viola, Duchess of Opole also known as Wencisława , was a Duchess of Opole-Racibórz by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I.-Origins:...
, and they had the following children:
- Władysław I the Elbow-high (1261-March 2, 1333), King of Poland (1320–1333)
- Casimir (1261/62-10 June 1294), killed while in battle in LithuaniaLithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
- Siemowit (1262/67-1309/14), Duke of Kuyavia-Brieg, married Anastasia of Galicia (daughter of Lev I of Galicia)
- EuphemiaEuphemia of KuyaviaEuphemia of Kuyavia was a Kuyavian princess, she was Queen consort of Galicia-Volhynia.She was the daughter of Casimir I of Kuyavia by his third wife Euphrosyne, daughter of Casimir I of Opole...
(d.18 March 1308), married Yuri I of Galicia