Constance of Świdnica ( – 21 November 1363) was a 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

Świdnica Świdnica (; german: Schweidnitz; cs, Svídnice; szl, Świdńica) is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. As of 2019, it has a population of 57,014 inhabitants. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh larges ...

Jawor Jawor (german: Jauer) is a town in south-western Poland with 22,890 inhabitants (2019). It is situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship (from 1975 to 1998 it was in the former Legnica Voivodeship). It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies appro ...

branch and by marriage Duchess 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) ...

. She was the second child but eldest daughter of Duke

Bernard of Świdnica Bernard (II) of Świdnica ( pl, Bernard świdnicki) (c. 1291 – 6 May 1326) was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice between 1301–1312 (with his brothers as co-rulers), of Świdnica-Ziębice during 1312–1322 (with his brother as co-ruler ...

by his wife

Kunigunde Kunigunde, Kunigunda, or Cunigunde, is a European female name of German origin derived from "kuni" (clan, family) and "gund" (war). In Polish this is sometimes Kunegunda or Kinga. People with such names include: * Kunigunde of Rapperswil (c. early ...

, daughter of

Władysław I the Elbow-high Władysław is a Polish given male name, cognate with Vladislav. The feminine form is Władysława, archaic forms are Włodzisław (male) and Włodzisława (female), and Wladislaw is a variation. These names may refer to: Famous people Mononym * W ...

, later

King of Poland Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16t ...

Life

Marriage

In March 1326, Constance had married with Duke

Przemko II of Głogów Przemko II of Głogów ( – 11 January 1331) was a Duke of Żagań, Ścinawa, etc., from 1309 to 1321 (with his brothers as co-rulers), Duke of Oleśnica, Namysłów, Gniezno and Kalisz from 1309 to 1312 (with his brothers as co-ruler) and Duke of ...

. This union brought Przemko II closer to Constance's powerful grandfather,

. After five years of childless union, Przemko II died suddenly on 11 January 1331, allegedly poisoned by his own vassals. The late Duke's three surviving brothers divided Przemko II's lands between them. Constance received the city of Glogów 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. ...

, according to her husband's will. Soon after, she entered the

Poor Clares The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare ( la, Ordo sanctae Clarae) – originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and later the Clarisses, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Order, and the Second Order of Saint Francis ...

monastery of

Stary Sącz Stary Sącz is a small historic town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship of southern Poland. It is the seat of the Gmina Stary Sącz (commune), and one of the oldest towns in the country, having been founded in the 13th century. Geography Stary Są ...

, where she became abbess.

Widowhood

In September 1331, King

John of Bohemia John the Blind or John of Luxembourg ( lb, Jang de Blannen; german: link=no, Johann der Blinde; cz, Jan Lucemburský; 10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346), was the Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King of ...

began his siege of the Duchy. By October, he had captured the city of Głogów. Constance was forced to take refuge in the court of his grandparents, the Polish King and Queen, and Jan of Ścinawa (one of Przemko II's brothers) was compelled to sell his rights over half of the Duchy to the Bohemian King for 2,000 fines. Constance was virtually left without financial support after the loss of her lands; however, her situation soon changed: first when she received a rent by her lands and later in 1336, when her grandmother

Queen Jadwiga Jadwiga (; 1373 or 137417 July 1399), also known as Hedwig ( hu, Hedvig), was the first woman to be crowned as monarch of the Kingdom of Poland. She reigned from 16 October 1384 until her death. She was the youngest daughter of Louis the Great, ...

settled her residence definitely in Stary Sącz and took the veil. The Queen clearly favored her granddaughter, supported her in all ways. After almost thirty years, in 1360, the Bohemian Kingdom finally recognized Constance's rights as widow of Przemko II. She received half of Głogów as her dower (the other half was already given to the Dukes of Żagań in 1349). Constance ruled effectively for only one year: in 1361 she renounced to her lands on behalf of her brother

Bolko II the Small Bolko II the Small (c. 1312 – 28 July 1368), was the last independent Duke of the Piast dynasty in Silesia. He was Duke of Świdnica from 1326, Duke of Jawor and Lwówek from 1346, Duke of Lusatia from 1364, Duke over half of Brzeg and Oława ...

. Constance died on 21 November 1363 and was buried in the monastery of Stary Sącz. After almost 150 years of separation, all the Duchy of Glogów was reunited in 1480 by Duke

Jan II the Mad Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel (16 April 1435 – 22 September 1504), was a Duke of Żagań- Przewóz since 1439 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1449), from 1449 Duke of Przewóz (as co-ruler of his younger br ...

Sources

* *
Genealogy of the Dukes of Świdnica

Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Constance of Swidnica 1313 births 1363 deaths Piast dynasty 14th-century Polish nobility 14th-century Polish women