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Saint Jadwiga of Poland
Image: Marcello Bacciarelli · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Jadwiga of Poland

Young queen of Poland who helped Lithuania's Christianisation and the Kraków university

Rank
Saint
Kind
Royalty
Life
1374 – 1399
Era
14th century
Feast
17 July
Countries
Poland, Hungary
PolandHungary

Life story

Jadwiga was born around 1373 or 1374 in Buda, the youngest daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Poland. When her father died in 1382, the Poles chose her, then about ten years old, as his successor, and she was crowned in 1384 with the title of king of Poland, since Polish law recognised a ruler only under that title. She had earlier been promised in marriage to William of Habsburg, but that betrothal came to nothing. Her young age and her sister Mary's claim to Hungary, which separated the two crowns, were important in shaping the choice made by the Polish lords.

In 1386 she married Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania, who was baptised, took the name Władysław and became King Władysław II Jagiełło. The marriage opened the alliance between Poland and Lithuania, and from 1387 the Lithuanians began to accept Christianity. Jadwiga also supported the work of the Church, gave alms to the poor and funded churches. She used her own wealth, including jewellery, to support education, and encouraged the refounding of the University of Kraków; her will left property to the school.

Jadwiga died on 17 July 1399 in Kraków, after giving birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Bonifacia, who also died a few days later. She was buried in Wawel cathedral, where her tomb is visited by the faithful. Pope John Paul II, himself Polish, canonised her on 8 June 1997 in Kraków. Her feast is kept on 17 July. Her tomb in the cathedral continues to draw pilgrims.

Works and witness

  • Crowned king of Poland in 1384 at a very young age
  • Married Jogaila in 1386, opening the Polish-Lithuanian alliance
  • Played a part in the Christianisation of Lithuania from 1387
  • Left property to the refounding of the University of Kraków
  • Canonised in 1997 in Kraków

Saints from the same country

Saint Stanislaus of Kraków, Saint John Paul II, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Faustina Kowalska

References

  • Martyrologium Romanum
  • Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
  • Jan Długosz, Annales seu Cronicae incliti Regni Poloniae

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.