Hedwig of Legnica ( pl, Jadwiga legnicka) (ca. 1351 – 1 August 1409) was a Polish princess and member of the

Piast dynasty The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 930–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir III the Great. Branch ...

, in the

Legnica Legnica (Polish: ; german: Liegnitz, szl, Lignica, cz, Lehnice, la, Lignitium) is a city in southwestern Poland, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the Kaczawa River (left tributary of the Oder) and the Czarna Woda (Kaczawa), Czarna Woda ...

branch. By marriage Hedwig was Duchess of

Żagań Żagań ( French and german: Sagan, hsb, Zahań, la, Saganum) is a town in western Poland, on the Bóbr river, with 25,731 inhabitants (2019). The town is the capital of Żagań County in the historic region of Silesia. Previously in the Zielon ...

. She was the fourth child and only daughter of Wenceslaus I, Duke of

and his wife Anna, daughter of

Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn Casimir I of Cieszyn ( pl, Kazimierz I cieszyński, cs, Kazimír I. Těšínský, german: Kasimir I. von Teschen; 1280/90 – ), was Duke of Cieszyn from 1315, Duke of Siewierz from 1337 and Duke of Bytom from 1357. He was the second son of Mies ...

Life

Hedwig married on 10 February 1372 to

Henry VI the Older Henry VI (IV) the Elder ( pl, Henryk VI (IV) Starszy) (bef. 1345 – 5 December 1393) was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów since 1368 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1378). He was the oldest son of Henry V of Iron, Duke of Żagań-Głogów, by hi ...

, Duke of

Głogów Głogów (; german: Glogau, links=no, rarely , cs, Hlohov, szl, Głogōw) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), and was previously in Legnica Voivodeship (1975–1998) ...

. Their union was an unhappy one; after the premature death of their only daughter, the Ducal couple became formally separated. Hedwig remained in Żagań and Henry VI moved to

Krosno Odrzańskie Krosno Odrzańskie (german: Crossen an der Oder) is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 11,319 inhabitants (2019) is the capital of Krosno County. It is assigned to the Lubusz ...

, where he died on 5 December 1393. Despite their many years of estrangement, in his will Henry VI left all his lands to Hedwig as her

dower Dower is a provision accorded traditionally by a husband or his family, to a wife for her support should she become widowed. It was settled on the bride (being gifted into trust) by agreement at the time of the wedding, or as provided by law. ...

, these included the towns of:

, Krosno Odrzańskie and

Świebodzin Świebodzin (; szl, Świybodzin; german: Schwiebus) is a town in western Poland with 21,736 inhabitants (2019). It is the capital of Świebodzin County. Since the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998, Świebodzin has been part of Lubusz V ...

. Hedwig ruled over the lands until 1403, when she renounced her government over them on behalf of Henry VI's nephews.

References

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Chronological Dates in Stoyan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hedwig of Legnica 1350s births 1409 deaths Polish Roman Catholics Piast dynasty