Wenceslaus of Płock

Seal of Wenceslaus of Płock

Wenceslaus of Płock (Polish: Wacław Płocki) (1293 – 23 May 1336) was a member of the House of Piast. He was Duke of Płock from 1313 until his death and was a vassal of Bohemia from 1329.

Duke of Płock

Wenceslaus of Płock was a son of Boleslaus II of Masovia and his second wife Kunigunde, daughter of Ottakar II of Bohemia and sister of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. Unlike his older brothers from his father's first marriage, Wenceslaus did not obtain the Duchy of Masovia on the death of his father in 1313.

Political neutrality

Early in his reign, the Duke of Płock tried to pursue a policy of good neighborly relations with his two powerful neighbors, the Teutonic Order and Poland. Thus, in order not to quarrel with a neighbor, he avoided testifying at the trial of Inowrocław which opposeed the Teutonic Knights to Poland. Also to stay on good terms with his neighbors, he signed an agreement with the Teutonic Knights on 14 April 1321, by which the dukes of Masovia would help prevent an attack from Lithuania, who would attack the Order. Initially Wenceslaus also maintained good relations with Lithuania. In 1323 he allowed the Lithuanians, who led a military expedition against the duchy of Dobrzyń to cross his territory. He also married Elizabeth, daughter of Gediminas. He was active at the diplomatic level. From his marriage Wenceslaus maintained good relations with Boleslaw-Yuri II of Galicia.

Ally of the Teutonic Order

In 1325, Wenceslaus was obliged to renounce his policy of neutrality when Ladislaus the Short launched a surprise attack against the Duchy of Płock. The reasons for this attack are unknown. On 2 January 1326 at Brodnica the dukes of Masovia (Trojdener and Siemowit II) concluded an alliance with the Teutonic Knights, directed against Poland. A year later, war between the Teutonic Knights and Poland broke. Wenceslaus fell into the camp of the Teutonic Order. Ladislaus the Short took revenge by seizing the city of Plock and burning it. With the support of the Teutonic rejected the army of Ladislaus.

Vassal of Bohemia

In 1329, Wenceslaus suddenly changed sides and allied with Ladislaus the Short. After this betrayal, an army of Teutonic and Czechs commissioned by John of Bohemia invaded the Duchy of Płock and Wenceslaus was forced to surrender. On 29 March 1329 he was forced to make a tribute of vassalage to John, who was a candidate for the throne of Poland.

Death and descendants

Wenceslaus of Płock died on 23 May 1336. He is buried in the Cathedral of Płock.

From his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Gediminas and Jewna, he had two children:^[1]

1. Boleslaus III of Płock (1322/30–20 August 1351) he succeeded his father in 1336 as Prince of Płock.
2. Anna (1324-16 February 1363) married Henry V of Iron and was mother of Jadwiga, Queen consort of Poland

References

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