Elizabeth of Bosnia

Elizabeth of Bosnia
Elizabeth with her daughter Mary in captivity.
Queen consort of Hungary
Tenure 20 June 1353 – 10 September 1382
Queen consort of Poland
Tenure 5 November 1370 – 10 September 1382
Spouse Louis I of Hungary
Issue
Catherine of Hungary
Mary of Hungary
Hedwig of Poland
House House of Anjou-Hungary
House of Kotromanić
Father Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia
Mother Elizabeth of Kuyavia
Born c. 1339
Died 16 January 1387
Novigrad, Dalmatia
Burial Székesfehérvár Basilica

Elizabeth of Bosnia (Bosnian: Elizabeta Kotromanić, Hungarian: Kotromanić Erzsébet, Polish: Elżbieta Bośniaczka; c. 1339 – 16 January 1387) was Queen of Hungary from 1353 until 1382 and Queen of Poland from 1370 until 1382 as the second wife of King Louis the Great. After her tenure as queen consort, Elizabeth served as regent for her daughter Mary.

As queen consort, Elizabeth was overshadowed by her domineering mother-in-law. Later, as regent, Elizabeth was faced with several rebellions led by Croatian noblemen who wished to take advantage of Mary's insecure reign. Modern historians describe her as a formidable woman, while her contemporaries regarded her as an efficient, but ruthless politician who used political intrigues to protect her daughter's interests.[1] Elizabeth was murdered after being imprisoned by the rebels but she had succeeded in defending her daughter's rights.[2]

Contents

Descent and early years

Born around 1339, Elizabeth was the daughter of Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia, the head of the House of Kotromanić.[3] Her mother was Elizabeth of Kuyavia, a member of the House of Piast[4] and grandniece of Władysław I the Elbow-high.[5] Her only sibling was Catherine, Countess of Cilli.[6]

Her father refused a proposal from Tsar Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia for her marriage to his son, as he was not willing to cede the territories which Dušan wanted to be Elizabeth's dowry. Those lands were surrendered to Elizabeth's husband by her cousin, Tvrtko I of Bosnia, in 1357.[7]

Elisabeth of Poland, the mother of the King of Hungary, had heard that Stephen II had a young daughter named Elizabeth, and she insisted immediately on bringing her to the Hungarian court for fostering. Stephen was reluctant at first, but eventually dispatched Elizabeth.[8] After three years of life in the Hungarian court, the queen mother invited Stephen II to Hungary and arranged a marriage between Elizabeth and Louis. The first wife of Louis I, Margaret of Bohemia, had died earlier leaving Louis childless.[9]

Marriage

A replica of the casket of St. Simeon, comissioned by Queen Elizabeth in 1380. On the left, there is an image of Elizabeth and her daughters and on the right, there is an image of Elizabeth's father on his deathbed.
Queen Elizabeth presenting the casket to St. Simeon, with her three daughters kneeling in front of her.

On 20 June 1353, Elizabeth married the King of Hungary, achieving a huge diplomatic success for her father. However, her father became seriously ill and could not be present at the actual wedding, celebrated in Buda. It was discovered that Elizabeth and Louis were related in the fourth degree through a common ancestor, Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia.[note 1] The Roman Catholic Church regarded the marriage to be within a prohibited degree of consanguinity and some clergymen were tempted to anathematize the couple. Later in the same year Pope Innocent IV wrote to the bishop of Zagreb granting a dispensation for the marriage and forgiving the sin.[10]

In 1370, Louis became King of Poland too. Elizabeth, though Queen of Poland, was never crowned as such. She is one of only five queens of Poland who were never crowned.[11]

Elizabeth was never crowned Queen of Hungary either. She completely subjected herself to her controlling mother-in-law. The fact that the young queen's retinue included the same persons who had served the queen mother suggests that the former did not even have her own court.[9] Early in the marriage, Elizabeth was completely powerless. As she came from a region where high-ranking women significantly influenced the politics,[12] Elizabeth must have endured a long period of unhappiness until her mother-in-law was sent to govern Poland as regent.[9][13]

Elizabeth and Louis had no children for the first seventeen years of marriage. Elizabeth was considered barren and a succession crisis was expected to happen after Louis's death. For a couple of years, her niece and namesake, Elizabeth of Slavonia, was promoted as heiress presumptive. However, a daughter was born to Louis and Elizabeth in 1370, which secured the succession to some point. The daughter, named Catherine, was followed by two more daughters, Mary (born in 1371) and Hedwig (born in 1373).[14] Elizabeth and her daughters are represented on Saint Simeon's casket, whose creation Elizabeth commissioned.[15][16]

Catherine died aged eight and Elizabeth's second eldest daughter, Mary, was intended to inherit both her father's kingdoms, Hungary and Poland. Louis secured the succession rights of his daughters by granting the nobles Privilege of Koszyce. Elizabeth is known to have written a book for the education of her daughters. A copy of the book was sent to France in 1374. However, all copies have been lost.[17][18]

Widowhood and regency

Crown of Elizabeth of Bosnia (in Zadar, Croatia) given by Louis the Great.

On 16 September 1382, Louis died. The next day, ten-year-old Mary was crowned "king"[note 2] of Hungary. Queen Elizabeth, now queen dowager, acted as regent from 1382 onwards on behalf of Mary. The Hungarian holdings were de facto ruled by Elizabeth, but the Poles discontinued her regency in Poland. In Hungary, Elizabeth was helped by Palatine Nicholas I Garay.[19]

However, a number of Croatian and Hungarian noblemen were opposed to Elizabeth's rule. The first to rise against her was John of Paližna, Ban of Croatia and the Prior of Vrana. He was mainly opposed to the centralizing policy which Elizabeth's husband had enforced. He hoped to regain local independence by rising against Elizabeth. Elizabeth's own first cousin, Tvrtko I of Bosnia, with whom she was raised, decided to take advantage of Louis' death and Elizabeth's unpopularity by trying to recover the Dalmatian lands he had lost to Louis in 1357. John asked Tvrtko for help but was ultimately defeated by Elizabeth's army and forced to flee to Bosnia.[19]

Hedwig's accession in Poland

Although Louis had designated Mary as his successor in both Hungary and Poland, the Polish nobility were not willing to recognize Mary and her fiancé, Sigismund of Luxembourg, as their sovereigns. They wanted to end the personal union with Hungary.[20] Elizabeth proposed her youngest daughter Hedwig as Louis' successor in Poland. After two years' negotiations, Hedwig unexpectedly became sovereign of Poland, but Elizabeth was reluctant to let her leave and live in Poland. She delayed Hedwig's arrival, hoping to drive Sigismund out of Hungary by having him elected King of Poland.[21] Elizabeth finally allowed Hedwig to be taken to Poland, where she was crowned king in November 1384. Hedwig married Jogaila of Lithuania, as agreed in the Act of Kreva, where Elizabeth, as her daughter's guardian, was one party to the negotiations. Elizabeth was also requested to legally adopt Jogaila as her son, thus giving him right to retain the Crown of Poland in the event of Hedwig's death.[22][23]

Mary's marriage issue

Elizabeth and her daughter Mary mourning at the tomb of Louis I.

Sigismund, his powerful brother King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia and many noblemen of Hungary were opposed to the formidable Elizabeth and the Palatine. They, on the other hand, were not enthuasiastic about Sigismund reigning together with Mary. Both Sigismund and Mary's relative, Charles of Durazzo, the governor of Croatia-Dalmatia, who had gained the Crown of Naples by having his aunt Joan murdered, threatened to invade Hungary; the former intended to marry Mary and reign together with her, while the latter intended to depose Mary. Either way, Elizabeth would have lost her power. Thus, in 1384, Elizabeth started negotiating with King Charles V of France about the possibility of his son Louis marrying her daughter Mary, notwithstanding Mary's engagement to Sigismund. Louis had already been engaged to Elizabeth's eldest daughter Catherine and was expected to succeed to the throne of Hungary. If Elizabeth had made this proposal in 1378, after Catherine's death, the fact that the French king and the Hungarian king did not recognize the same pope would have represented a problem. However, Elizabeth was desperate in 1384 and was not willing to let the schism stand in the way of the negotiations. Pope Clement VII issued a dispensation which annulled Mary's betrothal to Sigismund and the proxy marriage was celebrated in April 1385. However, the marriage was not recognized by the Hungarian noblemen who adhered to Pope Urban VI.[24]

Four months after the proxy marriage, Sigismund invaded Hungary and had himself married to Mary by Demeter, Archbishop of Esztergom, regardless of Elizabeth's opposition and the proxy marriage. Elizabeth wanted to retaliate to the marriage by trying to deprive the archbishop of his see.[25]

Deposition and restoration of Mary

A 14th century illustration of the murder of King Charles II.

Sigismund left Hungary and returned to Bohemia in the autumn of 1385. This time Elizabeth faced a much serious opposition than that of John of Paližna. John Horvat (co-ruler with his relative John of Paližna as Ban of Croatia), Ban of Mačva, and his brother Paul, Bishop of Zagreb, used Sigismund's absence and helped Charles of Durazzo become briefly King of Hungary in 1385, regardless of his wife Margaret's opposition.[2] Elizabeth and Mary were forced to attend his coronation.[2] Elizabeth feigned friendly feelings for her husband's kinsman while his retinue was at the court. After his supporters had returned to their homes, he was left defenceless.[26] Elizabeth acted quickly and invited Charles to visit Mary at one of her palaces. Upon his arrival there on 7 February 1386, Elizabeth had Charles stabbed in her apartments and in her presence. The attack took place 39 days after his coronation. Charles died at Visegrád on 24 February.[2][26] She managed to have the crown restored to her daughter and immediately rewarded those who helped her. She gave Jelenec Castle to Blaise Forgach, the Master of the Cupbearers, whose blow had mortally wounded Charles.[26]

Having Charles murdered did not help Elizabeth as much as she hoped it would. His heir was his underage son Ladislaus. Noblemen who had supported Charles immediately rose up in arms to support Ladislaus who spent his entire adulthood attempting to conquer Hungary, but despite some support in Hungary itself, did not succeed. Rebellions against Elizabeth continued and were even supported by her first cousin, King Tvrtko I of Bosnia.[27][28]

Death and aftermath

Nicholas I Garay defending Elizabeth and Mary from the Horvats.

Elizabeth believed that her daughter's monarchical dignity would help calm the opposition.[29] In 1386, accompanied by Nicholas I Garay, she set out for Croatia with her daughter Mary. According to Fine, Elizabeth was going to Đakovo,[27] while Duggan asserts that the two queens were heading towards Zagreb.[29] Either way, they did not arrive to their destination as they were ambushed en route and attacked by John Horvat.[30] Their entourage fought the attackers, but were all killed while Elizabeth and her daughter were taken prisoners. The heads of Elizabeth's defenders were sent to Naples to console Charles of Durazzo's grieving widow.[2] Elizabeth took all blame for the rebellion and begged the attackers to spare her daughter's life.[29]

Ruins of Novigrad Castle in Croatia.

The two queens were then sent to the coast of the Adriatic Sea and were imprisoned in Novigrad. She managed to smuggle out plans for their relief to the Venetians, but this was discovered by the jailers. Her son-in-law marched into Slavonia, with the intention to reach Novigrad and rescue the queens, but his attempt failed.[31] Charles's widow Margaret, who was at first against her husband's plan to invade Hungary, now insisted that Elizabeth be murdered. On 16 January 1387, Elizabeth was strangled before Mary's eyes on the orders of John of Paližna, their jailer and ally of Elizabeth's cousin Tvrtko.[27][32][33][34]

At the moment of her death, Sigismund was on his way to rescue his wife and mother-in-law.[30] Mary was rescued from that captivity by the troops of her husband Sigismund soon after Elizabeth had been murdered. Mary promised not to take revenge on the murderers of her mother, but nevertheless had them executed and their families banished. The queen mother was secretly buried in the Church of St Chrysogonus in Zadar and remained buried there for four years. On 16 January 1390, the third anniversary of her death, her body was moved to Székesfehérvár.[35][36][27]

Legacy

Street of Queen Elizabeth in Zadar.

Elizabeth is known to have commissioned the creation of Saint Simeon's casket in 1381. The casket, located in Zadar is of great importance for the history of the city, as it depicts various historical events – such as the death of her father – and Elizabeth herself. According to legend, Elizabeth paid for the creation of the casket in order to atone for stealing the saint's finger.[37] The casket contains a scene which allegedly depicts the queen gone mad after stealing the saint's finger.[38] A street in Zadar is named after Elizabeth of Bosnia. Its full name is "Street of Queen Elizabeth Kotromanić, donor of St. Simeon's casket" (Croatian: Ulica kraljice Elizabete Kotromanić, darovateljice rake sv. Šime).

Neither of Elizabeth's daughters left surviving children; Mary died heavily pregnant and Saint Hedwig died from birth complications shortly after the death of her own daughter, Elizabeth Bonifacia, named after Elizabeth of Bosnia. Elizabeth of Bosnia's progeny went extinct with the deaths of her youngest daughter Hedwig in 1399.[39]

Issue

Name Birth Death Notes
Catherine of Hungary 1370 1378 betrothed to Louis of France; heiress presumptive to the thrones of Hungary and Poland
Mary of Hungary 1371 1395 monarch of Hungary; betrothed to Louis of France; married to Sigismund of Luxembourg
Hedwig of Poland 1373 1399 monarch of Poland; betrothed to William of Austria; married to Jogaila of Lithuania

Ancestry

Ancestors of Elizabeth of Bosnia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Prijezda I, Ban of Bosnia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Stephen I, Ban of Bosnia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Stephen Uroš I of Serbia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Stephen Dragutin of Serbia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Helen of Anjou
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Elizabeth of Serbia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Stephen V of Hungary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Catherine of Hungary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Elizabeth the Cuman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Elizabeth of Bosnia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Casimir I of Kuyavia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Ziemomysl of Kuyavia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Constance of Wrocław
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Casimir II of Kuyavia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Sambor II, Duke of Pomerania
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Salome of Pomerania
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Matilda of Mecklenburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Elizabeth of Kuyavia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Casimir I of Kuyavia and his first wife, Constance of Wrocław, were great-great-grandparents of Elizabeth of Bosnia. Casimir I of Kuyavia and his second wife, Euphrosyne of Opole, were great-grandparents of Louis I of Hungary, meaning that Elizabeth and Louis were second cousins once removed.
  2. ↑ Mary was crowned "king" of Hungary and Hedwig was crowned "king" of Poland. The sisters assumed masculine titles because there was no precedent for a queen regnant. The title of queen had only been used to refer to wives of kings and it was neccessary to emphasise that Elizabeth's daughters were monarchs rather than consorts.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Parsons, 16.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Grierson, 236.
  3. ↑ Engel, 163.
  4. ↑ Kellog, 9.
  5. ↑ Rudzki, 47.
  6. ↑ Celjski zbornik, 287.
  7. ↑ Van Antwerp Fine, 323.
  8. ↑ Instytut Historii (Polska Akademia Nauk)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Engel, Ayton, Pálosfalvi, 171.
  10. ↑ Długosz, 303.
  11. ↑ Rożek, 49.
  12. ↑ Ward, 128.
  13. ↑ Duggan, 229.
  14. ↑ Engel, 169.
  15. ↑ Mosher Stuard, 153.
  16. ↑ Tomašević, 253.
  17. ↑ Jansen, 13.
  18. ↑ Johnson, 203.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Van Antwerp Fine, 395.
  20. ↑ Goodman, 208.
  21. ↑ Labuda, Biskup, Michowicz, 75.
  22. ↑ New Cambridge Medieval History, 709–712.
  23. ↑ Lithuanian historical studies, Volume 1. The Institute. 1996. 
  24. ↑ Goodman, 222-223.
  25. ↑ Goodman, 223.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Engel, Ayton, Pálosfalvi, 198.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Fine, 396-397.
  28. ↑ Klaić, 352.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Duggan, 231.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Van Antwerp Fine, 397.
  31. ↑ Engel, 199.
  32. ↑ Preveden, 120.
  33. ↑ Myrl Jackson-Laufer, 129-130.
  34. ↑ Gaži, 61.
  35. ↑ Opfell, 17.
  36. ↑ Petricioli, 196.
  37. ↑ Stewart, 210.
  38. ↑ Filozofski fakultet u Zadru, 455.
  39. ↑ Kellogg, 235.

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External links

Elizabeth of Bosnia
Kotromanić
Born: 1340 Died: January 1387
Royal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Margaret of Luxembourg		 Queen consort of Hungary
20 June 1353 – 10 September 1382		 Vacant
Title next held by
Margaret of Durazzo
Preceded by
Hedwig of Sagan		 Queen consort of Poland
5 November 1370 – 10 September 1382		 Vacant
Title next held by
Anne of Cilli
House of Kotromanić
Bans of Bosnia
(1254–1377)
Prijezda I • Prijezda II • Stephen I • Stephen II • Tvrtko I
 Coat of Arms of the House of Kotromanić.svg
Banesses of Bosnia
Elizabeth of Serbia • Elizabeth of Kuyavia • Dorothea of Bulgaria
Kings of Bosnia
(1377–1463)
Stephen Tvrtko I • Stephen Dabiša • Stephen Ostoja • Stephen Ostojić • Stephen Tvrtko II • Stephen Thomas • Stephen Tomašević
Queens of Bosnia
Dorothea of Bulgaria • Jelena Gruba • Vitača • Kujava Radinović • Jelena Nelipčić • Dorothy Garai • Vojača • Katarina Kosača • Jelena Branković
Other significant members
Vladislav Kotromanić • Jelena Šubić • Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary and Poland • Catherine, Countess of Cilli • Jelena, Duchess of Troppau • Radivoj Ostojić