Euphemia of Masovia ( pl, Eufemia mazowiecka; 1395/97Kazimierz Jasiński: ''Rodowód Piastów mazowieckich''. Poznań - Wrocław 1998, p. 121. – before 17 September 1447), was Duchess of Cieszyn by marriage to Bolesław I, Duke of

Cieszyn Cieszyn ( , ; cs, Těšín ; german: Teschen; la, Tessin; szl, Ćeszyn) is a border town in southern Poland on the east bank of the Olza River, and the administrative seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship. The town has 33,500 inhabitant ...

, and regent of the Duchy of Cieszyn during the minority of her sons from 1431. She was the third daughter of

Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia Siemowit IV (Ziemowit IV), also known as Siemowit IV the Younger (pl: ''Siemowit IV Młodszy''; ca. 1353/1356 – 21 January 1426), was a Polish prince member of the House of Piast from the Masovian branch, from 1373/74 Duke of Rawa, and afte ...

and

Alexandra Alexandra () is the feminine form of the given name Alexander (, ). Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; GEN , ; meaning 'man'). Thus it may be roughly translated as "defender of man" or "prot ...

, daughter of

Algirdas Algirdas ( be, Альгерд, Alhierd, uk, Ольгерд, Ольґерд, Olherd, Olgerd, pl, Olgierd; – May 1377) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania. He ruled the Lithuanians and Ruthenians from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his bro ...

Grand Duke of Lithuania The monarchy of Lithuania concerned the monarchical head of state of Lithuania, which was established as an absolute and hereditary monarchy. Throughout Lithuania's history there were three ducal dynasties that managed to stay in power—House ...

and sister of King

Władysław II Jagiełło Jogaila (; 1 June 1434), later Władysław II Jagiełło ()He is known under a number of names: lt, Jogaila Algirdaitis; pl, Władysław II Jagiełło; be, Jahajła (Ягайла). See also: Names and titles of Władysław II Jagiełło. w ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

, and thus a Polish princess member of the

House of Piast 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 Masovian branch.

Life

According to the Chronicle of

Jan Długosz Jan Długosz (; 1 December 1415 – 19 May 1480), also known in Latin as Johannes Longinus, was a Polish priest, chronicler, diplomat, soldier, and secretary to Bishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki of Kraków. He is considered Poland's first histor ...

, Euphemia had a great and natural charm, and because of this she was also known as ''Ofka''. King Władysław II, Euphemia's uncle, wanted to make a close bond between

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

and

Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located ...

, and for this reason he was probably instrumental in her marriage with Bolesław I, Duke of

. Because Euphemia and Bolesław I were related in the third degree of consanguinity, a Papal dispensation was needed for the union, which was granted on 27 January 1412. The wedding took place ten months later, on 20 November, probably in the town of

Wiślica Wiślica is a town in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Wiślica. It lies on the Nida River, approximately south of Busko-Zdrój and ...

. In 1424, Euphemia and her husband took part in the coronation of King Władysław II's fourth and last wife,

Sophia of Halshany Sophia (Sonka) of Halshany or Sophia Holshanska ( be, Соф'я Гальшанская, translit=Sofja Halšanskaja; lt, Sofija Alšėniškė; pl, Zofia Holszańska; – September 21, 1461 in Kraków) was a princess of Halshany and was Queen o ...

. After Bolesław I's death on 6 May 1431, Euphemia took the regency of the Duchy of Cieszyn on behalf of her minor sons, who inherited the lands as a co-rulers. She continued her husband's policies supporting the towns and in 1438 co-decided, with her son Wenceslaus I, to give

the right to mint coins. Despite her sons becoming legally able to rule by themselves, Euphemia continued to hold supreme authority over the Duchy. With her consent, her sons were allowed to sell the

Duchy of Siewierz The Duchy of Siewierz was a Silesian duchy with its capital in Siewierz. The area was part of the original Duchy of Silesia established after the death of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138 during the times of the fragmentation of Poland. Si ...

to Zbigniew Oleśnicki,

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 ca ...

, on 24 December 1443. On 29 November 1442 the co-Dukes of Cieszyn made a formal division of their domains; however, the unity of the Duchy was maintained during Euphemia's lifetime. She died before 17 September 1447 and was presumably buried alongside her husband in Dominican church in

Issue

Euphemia gave birth to five children: *Alexandra of Cieszyn (ca. 1412 - d. aft. 6 October 1463), married to László Garai,

Palatine A palatine or palatinus (in Latin; plural ''palatini''; cf. derivative spellings below) is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman times.

and

Ban of Macsó Ban, or BAN, may refer to: Law * Ban (law), a decree that prohibits something, sometimes a form of censorship, being denied from entering or using the place/item ** Imperial ban (''Reichsacht''), a form of outlawry in the medieval Holy Roman ...

. *

Wenceslaus I, Duke of Cieszyn Wenceslaus I of Cieszyn ( pl, Wacław I cieszyński, cs, Václav I. Těšínský, german: Wenzel I. von Teschen; 1413/18 – 1474), was a Duke of Cieszyn from 1431 (until 1442 with his brothers as co-rulers), Duke of half of Bytom during 1431–14 ...

(1413/18 - 1474). * Władysław, Duke of Głogów (ca. 1420 - 14 February 1460). *

Przemysław II, Duke of Cieszyn Przemyslaus II of Cieszyn, also known as Primislaus II of Teschen or Przemko II ( pl, Przemysław, cs, Přemysl, german: Przemislaus; 1422/25 – 18 March 1477), was a Duke of Cieszyn (Teschen, Těšín) from 1431, ruler over Bielsko and Skoczó ...

(1422/25 - 18 March 1477). *

Bolesław II, Duke of Cieszyn Bolesław II of Cieszyn ( pl, Bolesław II cieszyński, cs, Boleslav II. (Těšín), german: Boleslaus II. (Teschen); c. 1425/28 – 4 October 1452), was a Duke of Cieszyn since 1431 (until 1442 with his brothers as co-rulers), ruler over half o ...

(ca. 1425/28 - 4 October 1452).

Footnotes

References

*O. Balzer: ''Genealogia Piastów'', vol. II, Kraków 2005. *W. Dworzaczek: ''Genealogia'', Warsaw 1959. *K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód Piastów śląskich'', vol. III, Wrocław 1977. *''Książęta i księżne Górnego Śląska'', ed. Antoni Barciak, Katowice 1995. *F. Popiołek: ''Eufemia (Ofka) (1395 - 1447)'', ''

Polish Biographical Dictionary ''Polski Słownik Biograficzny'' (''PSB''; Polish Biographical Dictionary) is a Polish-language biographical dictionary, comprising an alphabetically arranged compilation of authoritative biographies of some 25,000 notable Poles and of foreigners ...

'', t. VI, no. 4, Wrocław 1948. *M. Wilamowski: ''Eufemia'' n:''Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny'', Kraków 1999, pp. 314–315. {{authority control 1390s births 1447 deaths Piast dynasty Duchesses of Teschen 15th-century women rulers Polish princesses Polish people of Lithuanian descent