Władysław III of Poland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Władysław III |
|
|---|---|
.PNG)
Detail of Władysław's seal
|
|
| King of Poland Supreme Duke of Lithuania |
|
| Reign | 1434–1444 |
| Coronation | 25 July 1434, Wawel Cathedral |
| Predecessor | Władysław II Jagiełło |
| Successor | Interregnum (1444–1447) Casimir IV Jagiellon (1447) |
| Regent | Zbigniew Oleśnicki (1434–1438) |
| King of Hungary and Croatia Contested by Ladislaus the Posthumous |
|
| Reign | 1440–1444 |
| Coronation | 17 July 1440, Székesfehérvár Basilica |
| Predecessor | Albert |
| Successor | Ladislaus the Posthumous |
| Born | 31 October 1424 Kraków, Kingdom of Poland |
| Died | 10 November 1444 (aged 20) Varna, Ottoman Empire (present-day Bulgaria) |
| Dynasty | Jagiellon |
| Father | Władysław II Jagiełło |
| Mother | Sophia of Halshany |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Władysław III of Poland (born 31 October 1424 – died 10 November 1444) was a very young king. He became King of Poland and the leader of Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1434. Later, in 1440, he also became King of Hungary and Croatia. He ruled these lands until he died in a big battle called the Battle of Varna.
Władysław was the oldest son of Władysław II Jagiełło, who was also known as Jogaila. His mother was Sophia of Halshany, a noblewoman from Lithuania. He faced many challenges during his short reign. These included wars, political struggles, and leading a major crusade.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming King
Childhood (1424–1431)
Władysław was born in Kraków, Poland, on October 31, 1424. His father, King Władysław II Jagiełło, was quite old when Władysław was born. Many people saw his birth as a miracle because his father had outlived three previous wives.
Władysław was baptized in February 1425 at Wawel Cathedral. This was a very grand event. Important church leaders and royal guests attended the ceremony.
When Władysław was young, some Polish nobles tried to stop him from becoming king. They argued that he wasn't directly related by blood to earlier Polish kings. They wanted someone else to rule. However, these plans failed, and Władysław's right to the throne was secured.
Challenges Before Coronation (1432–1434)
From a young age, Władysław had important advisors. One of the most powerful was Cardinal Zbigniew Oleśnicki. Oleśnicki became Władysław's guardian and wanted to keep his high position in the royal court.
When Władysław's father died in 1434, Oleśnicki quickly worked to make sure Władysław would become king. Some nobles were worried that a young, inexperienced king would give Oleśnicki too much power. Others didn't want a son of Jogaila (who had once been pagan) on the Polish throne. They preferred a ruler from the old Piast dynasty.
Despite these challenges, Oleśnicki managed to get Władysław crowned. The coronation was delayed a bit, but Oleśnicki used his influence to make sure it happened.
Władysław's Rule (1434–1444)
Becoming King (1434)
Władysław was crowned King of Poland at Wawel Cathedral on July 25, 1434. He was only nine years old. Cardinal Oleśnicki closely watched over the ceremony. He even changed some parts of the traditional coronation. For example, the young king had to take an oath before receiving the royal symbols. This showed that the king had to agree to the nobles' wishes, not just rule because he was born into the family.
Ruling with Help (1434–1438)
Since Władysław was so young, he couldn't rule alone. A group of senior nobles formed a special council called the provisores to help him. This was a type of regency, where others rule for a king who is too young or unable to. Cardinal Oleśnicki still had a lot of control over Władysław's education and decisions.
Władysław didn't have much say in politics during this time. Even when he turned fourteen in 1438, and was officially old enough to rule, the situation didn't change much at first.
Wars and Peace in Lithuania (1434–1438)
Early in his reign, Władysław faced problems in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. There was a civil war happening there. Władysław's uncle, Švitrigaila, didn't want to be loyal to Poland and declared independence. He even teamed up with the Teutonic Knights, who then attacked Poland.
Władysław and the Polish leaders worked to turn Lithuanian nobles against Švitrigaila. Polish and Lithuanian forces fought together. They defeated Švitrigaila and his allies in the Battle of Wiłkomierz in 1435. This ended the civil war.
After this, Władysław made a peace treaty with the Teutonic Knights in December 1435. This treaty stopped them from interfering in Poland and Lithuania's affairs. It was a big win for Władysław's kingdom.
Home and Foreign Plans (1438–1440)
During these years, Poland also dealt with a small rebellion by a group called the Hussites. A noble named Spytko of Melsztyn led this group against Cardinal Oleśnicki. Spytko was killed in battle in 1439, ending the conflict.
The Polish court also wanted to get back lands that were once part of Poland, like Silesia and Pomerania. Cardinal Oleśnicki preferred to use diplomacy rather than war to get these lands back. He wanted to keep peace with the Teutonic Knights.
An important goal was to create a strong alliance with the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian king, Sigismund, had no sons. Polish leaders hoped Władysław could marry one of Sigismund's granddaughters and become king of Hungary. This would create a powerful union between Poland and Hungary. It would also help them fight against the growing threat of the Ottoman Turks.
King of Hungary and Croatia (1440)
In 1439, the Hungarian king Albert II died. This left the thrones of Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary empty. Albert's wife, Queen Elizabeth of Luxembourg, had a baby son, Ladislaus the Posthumous. She wanted her son to be king.
However, the Hungarian nobles didn't want a baby as their king, especially with the Ottoman threat growing. They looked to Poland for a strong leader. In March 1440, they chose Władysław to be their king. He also became King of Croatia because Croatia was linked to Hungary.
Queen Elizabeth was very unhappy. She even had the special Holy Crown of Hungary stolen to prevent Władysław's coronation. But the Hungarians still crowned Władysław with another crown in July 1440. The Pope also supported Władysław, hoping he would lead a crusade against the Ottomans.
Challenges in Hungary (1440–1442)
After Władysław became king, there was a conflict with Queen Elizabeth's supporters. The country was divided. Elizabeth hired soldiers from Bohemia to fight for her son. To pay for these soldiers, she had to give away some of her lands and even pawn the Holy Crown. This made many of her supporters angry, and some switched to Władysław's side.
A key supporter of Władysław was John Hunyadi, a strong military leader in Hungary. Hunyadi helped Władysław fight against Elizabeth's forces. By January 1441, many of Elizabeth's allies had sworn loyalty to Władysław.
Elizabeth continued to resist until December 1442, when a peace treaty was signed. Elizabeth died shortly after. Some people rumored she was poisoned, but this was never proven. The internal fighting weakened Hungary, making it more vulnerable to the Ottoman Turks.
Crusade Against the Ottomans (1443–1444)
The Ottoman Turks were a powerful empire expanding into Europe. After some Hungarian victories against them, the Pope and other European leaders urged Władysław to lead a major military campaign, a crusade, against the Turks. The plan was to attack the Ottomans by land and sea.
On April 15, 1444, Władysław promised to renew the war against the Turks. He received support from many European countries. However, some Polish nobles were unhappy about the high taxes needed for the war.
In August 1444, a peace treaty was signed with the Ottomans. But Władysław broke this peace treaty, believing he had the support to win a decisive victory. On September 20, 1444, Władysław and Hunyadi began their march towards the Black Sea.
Unfortunately, the Christian fleet meant to block the Ottomans from crossing into Europe failed. This allowed the large Ottoman army to reach the battlefield without delay.
Death at Varna (1444)
The battle took place on November 10, 1444, near Varna, Bulgaria. The Ottoman army was much larger than the Christian forces, outnumbering them almost three to one.
The crusaders fought bravely. John Hunyadi showed great courage. At one point, it seemed the Christian army was winning, and the Ottoman Sultan Murad II even thought about retreating.
However, Władysław, seeing Hunyadi struggling, made a risky decision. He led a direct cavalry charge towards the Sultan's camp. This was a very brave but dangerous move. Few men followed him, and none returned. The young king was killed during this charge by the Janissaries, who were elite Ottoman soldiers protecting the Sultan.
After Władysław's death, the Hungarian army lost hope and fled. His body and armor were never found.
Władysław was succeeded in Poland by his younger brother, Casimir IV Jagiellon, in 1447. In Hungary, his rival, Ladislaus the Posthumous, became king.
Appearance and Personal Life
According to old records, Władysław was of average height. He had dark hair and eyes, and a calm look. He was known for being very patient and religious. People also said he had a strong character and was kind to his enemies when it was needed.
Władysław never married and had no children.
Legacy
Władysław's story in Hungary was sometimes presented negatively by the Habsburg family, who were his rivals. They often called him a "usurper" (someone who takes power illegally) and said his crusade failed. There were also rumors that he had Queen Elizabeth poisoned, but this was never proven.
Despite this, Władysław III is remembered in many songs and poems. In Varna, Bulgaria, where he died, a main street and a park-museum are named after him. The museum has a symbolic empty tomb (a cenotaph) in his honor.
Legend of Survival
There's a fascinating legend from Portugal that says Władysław didn't die at Varna. It claims he survived the battle and secretly traveled to the Holy Land. He supposedly became a knight and then settled on the island of Madeira.
In Madeira, he was known as Henrique Alemão (Henry the German). The King of Portugal even granted him land. He married a woman named Senhorinha Anes and had two sons. He built a church there in 1471.
According to this legend, Władysław believed his defeat at Varna was a sign from God because he had broken a peace treaty. He spent the rest of his life as a pilgrim, seeking forgiveness. He never revealed his true identity. However, a group of Polish monks supposedly visited him in Madeira and confirmed he was the lost king. He refused their offer to return to the Polish throne.
Images for kids
-
The Royal Seal of Władysław III, 1438.
-
Coat of arms featuring the symbols of Poland, Lithuania and Hungary.
-
The Memorial of the Battle in Varna, built on an ancient Thracian mound tomb, bearing the name of the fallen king.
-
A more accurate portrayal in the Chronica Polonorum, 1519.
-
Imaginary portrait from Thuróczi János' Chronica Hungarorum (Władysław was only 20 when he died).
-
Drawing by Jan Matejko, a 19th-century imaginary depiction based on historical accounts.
-
Church, Madalena do Mar, Madeira, hypothetical burial place of Władysław III.
-
St. Joachim and St. Anne Meeting at the Golden Gate, a painting that some believe shows Władysław III.
.svg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Vladislao III Jagellón para niños
- History of Poland (1385–1569)
- List of Polish monarchs
