Constance of Wrocław
Encyclopedia
Constance of Wrocław was a Princess of Silesia and the Duchess of Kuyavia
. She was a member of the House of Piast. She was mother of Leszek II the Black
and Ziemomysł of Kuyavia
.
and his wife Anna of Bohemia
, daughter of Ottokar I of Bohemia
and Constance of Hungary
.
Constance was born in 1227 Because she married in 1239 and according to canon law, you had to be at least twelve year old to marry . Among her sisters only Gertrude was married, when Constance came of age, she would have been expected to marry soon after, only one other sister, Elisabeth of Wrocław
was to marry, the rest were to become Abbesses.
Constance was named after her maternal grandmother, Constance of Hungary .
Constance was more carefully educated than her future husband, Casimir I of Kuyavia
, who was tutored by John Heron, who was later educted by Casimir's parents. Constance and her siblings were brought up away from their parents at the monastery of Trzebnica
, where they were cared for by their paternal grandmother Hedwig of Andechs
. Staying at the side of her grandmother (who was later canonized) had a big effect on the young Constance, she became a pious person. Her eldest son Leszek was influenced by her.
. In literature there are two theories about why Constance and Casimir married.
The first one was for political reasons, Constance's father, Henry wanted less on an enermy in Konrad I of Masovia
. Henry wanted a good alliance with him, with Constance's sister Gertrude already married to Konrad's eldest son, Constance's marriage would have made the alliance stronger.
The second theorie says that Constance's father had internal and external problems and good relations with Konrad I of Masovia
would help greatly, and the marriage of his daughter with the son of the Duke of Mazovia was supposed to be an effective way to strengthen this cooperation . Henry filed a dowry for Constance's marriage to Casimir. This dowry and inheritance of Henry would cause fighting between Casimir and Boleslaw the Pious (1258–1262), it ended in Boleslaw gaining Greater Poland
Constance's husband, Casimir was born between 1210 and 1213 . He was the second son of Konrad I and Agafia of Rus
. He reigned over Kuyavia
from 1230 0r 1231 when Gertrude's husband died, instead of leaving his lands to Casimir like he should have according to Konrad's will, the younger brother, Siemowit I of Masovia, inherited Masovia and other lands. Casimir had been married once before to Jadwiga, a Polish noblewomen whose origins are unknown . Casimir and Jadwiga had no children and Jadwiga died childless.
Constance and Casimir had three children:
Constance's burial place is unknown.
A document from, September 16, 1257, issued by her two sons and Casimir for Bishop of Chelmno. Her sons wanted to celebrate daily Mass for Constance's soul.
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
. She was a member of the House of Piast. She was mother of 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 :...
and Ziemomysł of Kuyavia
Ziemomysł of Kuyavia
Ziemomysł of Kuyavia was Prince of Kuyavia from 1267-1271 and 1278-1287. He was a member of the large House of Piast- Early life :...
.
Early Life and Family
Constance of Wrocław was the escond child 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...
and his wife 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...
, daughter of Ottokar I of Bohemia
Ottokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
and Constance of Hungary
Constance of Hungary
Constance of Hungary was the second Queen consort of Ottokar I of Bohemia.-Family:Constance was a daughter of Béla III of Hungary and his first wife Agnes of Antioch. Her older siblings included Emeric, King of Hungary, Margaret of Hungary and Andrew II of Hungary...
.
Constance was born in 1227 Because she married in 1239 and according to canon law, you had to be at least twelve year old to marry . Among her sisters only Gertrude was married, when Constance came of age, she would have been expected to marry soon after, only one other sister, Elisabeth of Wrocław
Elisabeth of Wrocław
Elisabeth of Wrocław , also known as Elisabeth of Poland, was a daughter of Henry II the Pious and his wife Anna of Bohemia . She was a member of the House of Piast and was Duchess of Greater Poland by her marriage.- Family :Elisabeth was the seventh of ten children born to her parents...
was to marry, the rest were to become Abbesses.
Constance was named after her maternal grandmother, Constance of Hungary .
Constance was more carefully educated than her future husband, Casimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia 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.- Life :...
, who was tutored by John Heron, who was later educted by Casimir's parents. Constance and her siblings were brought up away from their parents at the monastery of Trzebnica
Trzebnica
Trzebnica is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Trzebnica County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Trzebnica. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
, where they were cared for by their paternal grandmother Hedwig of Andechs
Hedwig of Andechs
Saint Hedwig of Silesia , also Saint Hedwig of Andechs from the comital House of Andechs was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and of Greater Poland from 1231 as well as High Duchess consort of Poland from 1232 until 1238.-Life:...
. Staying at the side of her grandmother (who was later canonized) had a big effect on the young Constance, she became a pious person. Her eldest son Leszek was influenced by her.
Marriage
In 1239 at Wrocław, Constance married Casimir I of KuyaviaCasimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia 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.- Life :...
. In literature there are two theories about why Constance and Casimir married.
The first one was for political reasons, Constance's father, Henry wanted less on an enermy in 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:...
. Henry wanted a good alliance with him, with Constance's sister Gertrude already married to Konrad's eldest son, Constance's marriage would have made the alliance stronger.
The second theorie says that Constance's father had internal and external problems and good relations with 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:...
would help greatly, and the marriage of his daughter with the son of the Duke of Mazovia was supposed to be an effective way to strengthen this cooperation . Henry filed a dowry for Constance's marriage to Casimir. This dowry and inheritance of Henry would cause fighting between Casimir and Boleslaw the Pious (1258–1262), it ended in Boleslaw gaining 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...
Constance's husband, Casimir was born between 1210 and 1213 . He was the second son of Konrad I and 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:...
. He reigned over Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
from 1230 0r 1231 when Gertrude's husband died, instead of leaving his lands to Casimir like he should have according to Konrad's will, the younger brother, Siemowit I of Masovia, inherited Masovia and other lands. Casimir had been married once before to Jadwiga, a Polish noblewomen whose origins are unknown . Casimir and Jadwiga had no children and Jadwiga died childless.
Constance and Casimir had three 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
Death
The date of death for Constance is disputed: Obituary strzeleński reported that she died February 21, 1257. Accordingto the Abbey of St. obituary, her death occurred February 23, 1257 .Constance's burial place is unknown.
A document from, September 16, 1257, issued by her two sons and Casimir for Bishop of Chelmno. Her sons wanted to celebrate daily Mass for Constance's soul.