Casimir III of Poland facts for kids

Casimir III of Poland

Casimir III the Great (Polish: Kazimierz III Wielki) was a very important King of Poland. He was born on April 30, 1310, and ruled from 1333 until his death on November 5, 1370. Casimir was the son of King Wladyslaw I the Short. He was the last king from the Piast dynasty, which was Poland's first ruling family. His daughter, Jadwiga, later married a Lithuanian duke named Wladyslaw Jagiello. Casimir is the only Polish king ever to be called "the Great." This shows how much he achieved for his country.

Casimir III the Great: Poland's Builder King

Casimir III earned the title "the Great" because his time as king was a period of great success and growth for Poland. Instead of focusing on wars, he worked on making Poland stronger from the inside. He improved the country's economy and made sure people could trade easily. He also built many new things, which helped Poland become a powerful nation.

A Time of Peace and Growth

King Casimir understood that Poland was not strong enough to fight big wars, especially against the powerful Teutonic Order. So, he chose to keep peace with them during his reign. This allowed Poland to focus on getting stronger without being constantly at war.

Because he avoided wars in the north, Casimir turned his attention to the south-eastern parts of the country. In 1340, he expanded Poland's territory by conquering Red Ruthenia, which included the important city of Lviv. This expansion helped Poland grow larger and gain more resources.

Building a Stronger Poland

One of Casimir's biggest achievements was improving Poland's economy. He created many new laws that made it easier for Polish cities to trade and become wealthy. Cities like Cracow and Lviv became very important centers for trade and culture during his rule.

There is a famous proverb about King Casimir: "Zastał Polskę drewnianą, a zostawił murowaną." This means "When he became king, Poland was made of wood; when he left us, it was made of stone." This saying highlights how much he built during his reign. He ordered the construction of many new castles, churches, and city walls, which made Poland much stronger and safer.

Casimir also founded many new cities. For example, the old Jewish part of Cracow is still called "Kazimierz" today, named after him. This shows his lasting impact on the country's development.

Casimir's Legacy

Casimir III's reign was a golden age for Poland. He left behind a country that was much stronger, richer, and more organized than when he started. His focus on peace, economic growth, and building helped lay the foundation for Poland's future success. He is remembered as one of Poland's most important and effective rulers.

Images for kids

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  Poland (red) at the end of the reign of Casimir III (1370); Silesia (yellow) had been lost, but the kingdom was expanding to the east

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  Wiec in reign of Casimir the Great

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  Casimir's depiction on a seal

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  Casimir the Great by Leopold Loeffler

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  Casimir III's tomb at Wawel Cathedral

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  Document issued by Casimir the Great granting the Armenian bishop Gregory (Գրիգոր) the right to stay and preach in Lviv, 1367

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  Royal seal, 1334

See also

In Spanish: Casimiro III de Polonia para niños