HISTORIA / HISTORY
"POCZET KRÓLÓW I KSIĄŻĄT POLSKICH" Jana Matejki
'The Pictorial Guide to the Kings and Princes of Poland' by Jan Matejko
Nota historyczna:
WŁADYSŁAW ŁOKIETEK
(Ladislaus the Short, Vladislav the Short, Ladislaus the Elbow-high)
Years of life: about 1260-1333
Years of reign: 1306-1333
Nothing did herald the great career of that ruler. Władysław Łokietek was born during the greatest regional fragmentation of Poland. He was the third son of Kazimierz (Casimir), Duke of Kujawy (Kuyavia), Łęczyca and Sieradz and Casimir's third wife Eufrozyna (Euphrosyne). She was a daughter of the Duke of Opole and Racibórz. Kazimierz was still a ruler of a big duchy but he had to partition it among his sons. It fell to Władysław to get the tiny district of Brześć-Kujawy.
Both the Polish district reality and rule in southern Kujawy did not create conditions to fathom out secrets of great policy. Although Łokietek had no adequate preparation he achieved great successes thanks to his abilities and ambition. Chances opened for him when he inherited Sieradz from his brother Leszek Czarny (Leszek the Black) in 1288. Perhaps then he already thought about Cracow. However, in the meantime, the knigthood of Małopolska (Lesser Poland) elected Bolesław Mazowiecki (Boleslaw of Mazovia) for their ruler. Łokietek supported his cousin. The coalition of Mazovian dukes and Łokietek defeated the Silesian dukes, who were allied with Probus, in the battle of Siewierz. It allowed Łokietek to seize Cracow for the short time. He resigned in favour of Henryk Probus (Henry the Righteous), Duke of Wrocław, but he managed to hold Sandomierz. Thanks to that he became one of more powerful Polish dukes.
Once again he competed for Cracow in 1290, after death of Henryk Probus. This time he resigned voluntarily in favour of Przemysław II Wielkopolski (Przemyslaw II of Greater Poland). In turn, Przemysław had to resign in aid of Wacław II (Wenceslaus II).
The aim of Wacław was to rule in the whole Poland. After he had tributed several Silesian dukes, he attacked Łokietek. First he took Sandomierz away from Łokietek in 1292 and then he defeated him near Sieradz. (...)
(Translated by A. Trela)
(Translated by A. Trela)
