Sophia of Halshany

Sophie Holszańska (Polish Zofia [ Sonka ] Holszańska, Lithuanian Zofija Alšėniškė; * 1405, † 1461 in Kraków ) was a Lithuanian princess of Ruthenian origin of the noble Holszańskis. She was by marriage to Władysław II Jagiello from 1422 Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania. She was the daughter of Prince Andreas [ Andrzej ] Holszański († 1420 ), a brother of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas and the Ruthenian princess Aleksandra Holszańska from the princely house Drucki.

Life

Vytautas himself arranged the marriage of his 17 -year-old niece Sophie with the already thrice widowed Polish King Władysław II Jagiello. The wedding took place today in the Belarusian city Nawahradak on 24 February 1422.

Władysław had from his previous three marriages, only two children: a daughter died as a child, the other, Hedwig of Lithuania, died in 1431 at the age of 23 years, presumably she was poisoned. Sophie finally gave birth to the two male heirs, to which he had been waiting for so long:

• Władysław III. (1424-1444), King of Poland, Hungary and Croatia
• Casimir II (1427-1492), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania

Their second son (* 1426), who also carried the name Casimir died at the age of one year. At the beginning, there was resistance on the part of the Polish nobility, who refused to recognize Władysław sons from his relationship with Sophie as the heirs of the Polish throne. The king had to make them major concessions.

Sophie financially supported the translation of the Bible into Polish (1453-1461) and was the grandmother of Saint Casimir.

1434 her husband died after twelve years of marriage. Sophie lived 27 years as Queen Dowager and died in 1461, she was buried in Krakow St. Michael and St. Stanislaus Church of the Pauline monastery.

• Queen (Poland )
• Born in 1405
• Died in 1461
• Woman