Euphemia of Greater Poland () (1253 – 5 September 1298) was a

Greater Poland Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; ), is a Polish Polish historical regions, historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city in Poland. The bound ...

princess member of the

House of Piast 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 ...

and nun at St. Clara in

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

. She was the fourth daughter (twin with Anna) of Przemysł I, Duke of

and

Poznań Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...

, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of

Henry II the Pious Henry II the Pious (; 1196 – 9 April 1241) was Duke of Silesia and High Duke of Poland as well as Duke of South-Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. Between 1238 and 1239 he also served as regent of Sandomierz and Opole– Racibórz. He ...

, Duke of

. She was named after her paternal aunt

Euphemia Euphemia (; 'well-spoken f), known as Euphemia the All-praised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, was a virgin martyr, who died for her faith at Chalcedon in 303 AD. According to tradition, Euphemia was martyred for refusing to offer sacrifices t ...

, wife of Władysław, Duke of

Opole Opole (; ; ; ) is a city located in southern Poland on the Oder River and the historical capital of Upper Silesia. With a population of approximately 127,387 as of the 2021 census, it is the capital of Opole Voivodeship (province) and the seat of ...

. In sources, and like almost all the Piast princesses who bear that name, Euphemia was also called with the diminutive ''Ofka''.

Life

After the death of her father in 1257, Euphemia and her siblings remained under the custody of their mother, and after the mother's death in 1265, they remained under the custody of their paternal uncle

Bolesław the Pious Bolesław the Pious (1224/27 – 14 April 1279) was a Duke of Greater Poland during 1239–1247 (according to some historians during 1239–1241, sole Duke of Ujście), Duke of Kalisz during 1247–1249, Duke of Gniezno during 1249–1250, Duk ...

. The religious environment under which Euphemia and her unmarried sisters Euphrosyne and Anna (her twin) lived since their early years certainly impacted them: the three took the veil. Euphemia entered in the St. Clara monastery in

as a nun. She was the only of the three sisters who never became Abbess of her community: until 1280, the office of Abbess was held by her maternal aunt Hedwig, daughter of Henry II the Pious, and after her resignation, she was replaced with Hedwig, daughter of Konrad I of Głogów, who remained in that position until her death in 1318. Euphemia died on 5 September 1298. She was buried in the St. Clara monastery in Wrocław.

Bibliography

* K. Jasiński, ''Genealogia Piastów wielkopolskich. Potomstwo Władysława Odonica'', n:''Kronika Miasta Poznania'', vol. II, 1995, p. 52. * K. Ożóg, ''Eufemia'' n:''Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny'', Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 1999, p. 153. 1253 births 1298 deaths Piast dynasty People from the Duchy of Greater Poland 13th-century Polish women 13th-century Polish people 13th-century Polish nuns {{Poland-noble-stub