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 List of Polish monarchs, Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I of Poland, Mieszko I (–992). The Poland during the Piast dynasty, Piasts' royal rule in Pol ...

in the

Świdnica Świdnica (; ; ) is a city on the Bystrzyca (Oder), Bystrzyca River in south-western Poland in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. As of 2021, it has a population of 55,413 inhabitants. It is the seat of Świdnica County, and also of the smaller dis ...

Jawor Jawor () is a town in south-western Poland with 22,890 inhabitants (2019). It is situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław. One of the oldest towns ...

branch and by marriage Duchess of

Głogów Głogów (; , rarely , ) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Głogów is the sixth largest town in the Voivodeship; its population in 2021 was 65,400. Among the oldest towns in Po ...

. She was the second child but eldest daughter of Duke

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

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 (disambiguation), Kinga. People with such names include: *Kunigunde of ...

, 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: People Mononym * Włodzis ...

, 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 Royal elections in Poland, free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electab ...

Life

Marriage

In March 1326, Constance had married with Duke Przemko II of Głogów. 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 settlement (law), settled on the bride (being given into trust instrument, trust) by agreement at the time of t ...

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

Poor Clares The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare (Latin language, Latin: ''Ordo Sanctae Clarae''), originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and also known as the Clarisses or Clarissines, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Or ...

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, receiving Magdeburg rights in the 13th century. Geography Star ...

, where she became abbess.

Widowhood

In September 1331, King

John of Bohemia John of Bohemia, also called the Blind or of Luxembourg (; ; ; 10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346), was the Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King of Poland. He is well known for having died while fighting ...

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 Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Numbe ...

(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 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 ( – 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 from 1 ...

. 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 brot ...

Sources

*
Genealogy of the Dukes of Świdnica

Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Constance of Swidnica 1310s births 1363 deaths Piast dynasty 14th-century Polish nobility 14th-century Polish women