Helena of Znojmo ( cs, Helena Znojemská; pl, Helena znojemska; c. 1141–1202/1206), was a

Bohemian Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Beer * National Bohemian, a brand brewed by Pabst * Bohemian, a brand of beer brewed by Molson Coors Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, origin ...

princess, a member of the

Přemyslid dynasty The Přemyslid dynasty or House of Přemyslid ( cs, Přemyslovci, german: Premysliden, pl, Przemyślidzi) was a Bohemian royal dynasty that reigned in the Duchy of Bohemia and later Kingdom of Bohemia and Margraviate of Moravia (9th century–1 ...

. She was the daughter of Duke

Conrad II of Znojmo Conrad II of Znojmo ( cz, Konrád II. Znojemský; d. 1161), a member of the Přemyslid dynasty, was a Bohemian prince who ruled in the Moravian principality of Znojmo from 1123 to 1128 and again from 1134 until his death. Life Conrad II was the ...

and his

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe * someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people * Serbian language * Serbian names See also * * * Old Serbian (disambiguation ...

wife Maria of Rascia (daughter of Uroš I). Helena was probably named after her maternal aunt, Queen Helena of Hungary, wife of King Béla II. Born as princess of the

Znojmo Appanage Znojmo (; german: Znaim) is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 33,000 inhabitants. Znojmo is the historical and cultural centre of southwestern Moravia and the second most populated town in the South Moravian R ...

(named after its centre, the town of

Znojmo Znojmo (; german: Znaim) is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 33,000 inhabitants. Znojmo is the historical and cultural centre of southwestern Moravia and the second most populated town in the South Moravian ...

in southern

Moravia Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The ...

), she later became by marriage Duchess of

Sandomierz Sandomierz (pronounced: ; la, Sandomiria) is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants (as of 2017), situated on the Vistula River in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy Cross Prov ...

(1173-1194), Grand Duchess of Kraków and the Seniorate Province (1177-1194), Duchess of

Masovia Mazovia or Masovia ( pl, Mazowsze) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centurie ...

(1186–1194), and Duchess-regent of Kraków and the Seniorate Province, Sandomierz, and Masovia on behalf of her minor sons from 1194–1198, then the latter two duchies plus

Kuyavia Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three ...

until 1199/1200.

Life

Helen married

Casimir II the Just Casimir II the Just ( pl, Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy; 28 October 1138 – 5 May 1194) was a Lesser Polish Duke of Wiślica from 1166–1173, and of Sandomierz after 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby Hi ...

, youngest son of

Bolesław III Wrymouth Bolesław III Wrymouth ( pl, Bolesław III Krzywousty; 20 August 1086 – 28 October 1138), also known as Boleslaus the Wry-mouthed, was the duke of Lesser Poland, Silesia and Sandomierz between 1102 and 1107 and over the whole of Poland between ...

, probably shortly after his return from captivity, which at the latest was before 1161. When Helen's husband Casimir II died on 1 May 1194, presumably as a result of a heart attack, he left her with their two minor sons on whose behalf she assumed the regency of

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...

and the

Seniorate Province Seniorate Province, also known as the Senioral Province, , was a district principality in the Duchy of Poland that was formed in 1138, following the fragmentation of the state. Its ruler held the title of the High Duke, ruling all duchies wit ...

, Sandomierz, and Masovia with blessings from the Fulko,

bishop of Kraków A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...

, and the Kraków

voivode Voivode (, also spelled ''voievod'', ''voevod'', ''voivoda'', ''vojvoda'' or ''wojewoda'') is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe since the Early Middle Ages. It primarily referred to the me ...

. Helen's regency was not an easy one, because other princes threatened her minor sons. Their own uncle

Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old (c. 1126/27 – 13 March 1202), of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death. He was the fourth and second surviving son of Duke Bolesła ...

was after Kraków and the Seniorate Province. This situation between Helen and Mieszko III lasted until the Battle of Mozgawą in September 1195, in which Mieszko III was seriously injured and his son Bolesław of Kuyavia was killed. In 1198, they reached an agreement: Mieszko would take Kraków, in return for which he gave Helen and her sons

(they retained Masovia and Sandomierz). Independent authority over the inheritance was assumed by the eldest son,

Leszek the White Leszek the White ( pl, Leszek Biały; c. 1184/85 – 24 November 1227) was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland in the years 1194–1198, 1199, 1206–1210, and 1211–1227. During the early stages of his reign, his uncle Duke Mieszko I ...

, in 1199 or 1200. Helen's intelligence and character were recorded in the chronicle of

Vincent Kadlubek Vincent ( la, Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, which is derived from the Latin word (''to conquer''). People with the given name Artists *Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor *Vincent van Gogh ...

, who knew the princess in person. According to him Helen was "a woman with greater wisdom than usually women have". Helen of Znojmo died between 1202 and 1206, probably on 2 April.

Children

Helen and Casimir had the following children: # A daughter (born before 1167), married in November 1178 to Prince Vsevolod IV of Kiev. # Casimir (ca. 1162 – 2 February or 1 March 1167), named after his father. # Bolesław (ca. 1168/1171 – 16 April 1182/1183), probably named after his paternal grandfather

, although is possible that in fact was named in honour to his uncle

Bolesław IV the Curly Bolesław IV the Curly (; 1122 – 5 January 1173), a member of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Masovia from 1138 and High Duke of Poland from 1146 until his death. Early life Bolesław was the third son of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth of Polan ...

. He died accidentally, after falling from a tree. He was probably buried at

Wawel Cathedral The Wawel Cathedral ( pl, Katedra Wawelska), formally titled the Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus, is a Roman Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it is part of the ...

. # Odon (1169/1184 - died in infancy). He was probably named after either

Odon of Poznań Odon of Poznań, also known as Odon of Greater Poland and Mieszkowic, ( pl, Odon poznański (wielkopolski, Mieszkowic); 1149 – 20 April 1194) was Duke of Greater Poland in 1179–1181, and Duke of Kalisz from 1193 to 1194. He was the oldest son ...

or Saint Odo of Cluny. #

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

(ca. 1177/1184 – 8 December 1211), foundress of the convent of St. Jakob in

. #

Leszek I the White Leszek the White ( pl, Leszek Biały; c. 1184/85 – 24 November 1227) was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland in the years 1194–1198, 1199, 1206–1210, and 1211–1227. During the early stages of his reign, his uncle Duke Mieszko I ...

(ca. 1184/1185 – 24 November 1227). # Konrad (ca. 1187/1188K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich'', pp. 30-32. – 31 August 1247).

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Helen of Znojmo 1140s births 1200s deaths Date of death unknown 12th-century Bohemian people 12th-century Polish nobility 12th-century Bohemian women 12th-century Polish women 12th-century women rulers 13th-century Bohemian women 13th-century Polish women 13th-century Bohemian people 13th-century Polish nobility Přemyslid dynasty Piast dynasty Polish people of Czech descent Czech people of Serbian descent Polish people of Serbian descent Bohemian princesses