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Constance (d. 1351), was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast and sovereign Duchess of Wodzisław Śląski since 1324 until her death.

Her name appears twice in contemporary sources: firstly, in a letter of Pope John XXII dated 22 September 1321, where she is named "Duchess of Racibórz",^[1] and secondly in the Chronicle of Racibórz, who give her the title of "Duchess of Wodzisław" (księżną wodzisławską) and mentions her death in 1351.^[2] None of this sources showed Constance's parentage. Historians and sources are agreed that she was a member of the Piast dynasty; however, the difficult of establishing who was her father, caused that two theories emerged about her origins.

The first hypothesis^[3] states that Constance was the daughter of Duke Władysław of Opole. Married with Henry IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław, who repudiated her after several years of union. She moved to Racibórz at the court of her brothers Mieszko I and Przemysław, who given to her the district of Wodzisław as her own Duchy, where she remained until her death. Historians who dispute this theory alleged that Władysław of Opole had a daughter of unknown name, who died shortly after her marriage with Henry IV,^[4] or between her repudiation and Henry IV's subsequent marriage.^[5]

According to the second hypothesis,^[6] based on Constance's titles showed in sources: Duchess of Racibórz and Duchess of Wodzisław, she was the daughter of Duke Przemysław of Racibórz. Certainly she remained unmarried and settled in Wodzisław (who probably was her own independent Duchy) until her death.

Life

Daughter of Władysław of Opole

Problems about her identification

In medieval sources is only known that from the marriage between Euphemia, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland, and Władysław, Duke of Opole, was born a daughter who married with Henry IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław. Any source directly specified her name, and therefore the historiography is divided about this fact and her correct identification in the Piast dynasty. Some historians shares the view that she was Constance of Wodzisław,^[7] but the opponents of this idea argue that her name remains unknown.^[8] Also, not gained universal approval hypothesis who argued that Władysław of Opole's daughter was named either Margareta^[9] or Grzymisława.^[10] In the absence of proper sources who could clarify this matter, all the informations and theories only created more difficulties in resconstructed her life.

References

^ "Constantie Ducisse Ratiboriensi". Ref: Vetera monumenta Poloniae et Lithuaniae, ed. by A. Theiner, Rome 1860, vol. I, p. 170, No 259.
^ "Anno MCCCLI feria quinta obiit Constantina preclarissima princeps Ladislawiensis". Ref: Ratiborer Chronik [in:] "Zeitschrift des Vereins für Geschichte und Alterthum Schlesiens", ed. by A. Weltzel, vol. IV, 1862, p. 115.
^ This theory is supported by: J. Tęgowski, Konstancja, "Poczet żon królewskich", [in:] "Magazyn Razem", 1987, No 1, pp. 31–32; J. Sperka, Konstancja, [in:] Książęta i księżne Górnego Śląska, red. by A. Barciak, Katowice 1995, pp. 78–79; S.A. Sroka, Konstancja, [in:] Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny, red. by K. Ożóg and S. Szczur, Kraków 1999, pp. 728–729. Kazimierz Jasiński treated this as a conjecture; K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543, note 3.
^ T. Jurek, Plany koronacyjne Henryka Probusa, [in:] Śląsk w czasach Henryka IV Prawego (Wratislavia antiqua 8), ed. by K. Wachowski, Wrocław 2005, pp. 27–29.
^ R. Grodecki, Dzieje polityczne Śląska do r. 1290, [in:] Historia Śląska od najdawniejszych czasów do roku 1400, ed. by S. Kutrzeba, vol. I, Kraków 1933, pp. 293–294; K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 524–526.
^ This theory is supported by: K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543; M. Furmanek, S. Kulpa, Zamek wodzisławski i jego właściciele, Wodzisław Śląski 2003, pp. 21–22; J. Horwat, Piastowie górnośląscy, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No. 8, Bytom 2007, p. 46.
^ J. Tęgowski, Konstancja, "Poczet żon królewskich", [in:] "Magazyn Razem", 1987, No 1, pp. 31–32; J. Sperka, Konstancja, [in:] Książęta i księżne Górnego Śląska, ed. by A. Barciak, Katowice 1995, pp. 78–79; S. A. Sroka, Konstancja, [in:] Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny, ed. by K. Ożóg and S. Szczur, Kraków 1999, pp. 728–729.
^ K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, , Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 524–526 (although he later presented the conjecture of the identification of Władysław of Opole as Constance; K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, , Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543, note 3); J. Horwat, Piastowie górnośląscy, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No 8, Bytom 2007, pp. 45–48 (although he put forward the hypothesis -which later retreated- about the possible name of Władysław of Opole's daughter as Grzymisława, in basis of the Obituary of the St. Vincent Abbey; J. Horwat, Grzymisława, księżniczka opolska, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum w Gliwicach", vol. VII-VIII, Gliwice 1991–1992, pp. 380–384); T. Jurek, Plany koronacyjne Henryka Probusa, [in:] Śląsk w czasach Henryka IV Prawego, ed. by K. Wachowski, Wrocław 2005, pp. 27–29.
^ Eva Maleczyńska, Wrocławskie panie piastowskie i ich partnerzy, Wrocław 1966, p. 79. See P. Boroń, Wizerunki Henryka Probusa w historiografii, [in:] Piastowie śląscy w kulturze i europejskich dziejach, ed. by A. Barciak, Katowice 2007, pp. 353–354.
^ J. Horwat, Grzymisława, księżniczka opolska, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum w Gliwicach", vol. VII-VIII, Gliwice 1991–1992, pp. 380–384, identified her with certain Grzymisława, which appears in the Obituary of the St. Vincent Abbey with the title of Duchess of Opole. J. Horwat, Piastowie górnośląscy, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No 8, Bytom 2007, p. 46, rejected this hypothesis, stating that if Grzymisława was the wife of Henry IV Probus she wouldn't styled Duchess of Opole, but Duchess of Wrocław and Silesia.

[1] "Constantie Ducisse Ratiboriensi". Ref: Vetera monumenta Poloniae et Lithuaniae, ed. by A. Theiner, Rome 1860, vol. I, p. 170, No 259.

[2] "Anno MCCCLI feria quinta obiit Constantina preclarissima princeps Ladislawiensis". Ref: Ratiborer Chronik [in:] "Zeitschrift des Vereins für Geschichte und Alterthum Schlesiens", ed. by A. Weltzel, vol. IV, 1862, p. 115.

[3] This theory is supported by: J. Tęgowski, Konstancja, "Poczet żon królewskich", [in:] "Magazyn Razem", 1987, No 1, pp. 31–32; J. Sperka, Konstancja, [in:] Książęta i księżne Górnego Śląska, red. by A. Barciak, Katowice 1995, pp. 78–79; S.A. Sroka, Konstancja, [in:] Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny, red. by K. Ożóg and S. Szczur, Kraków 1999, pp. 728–729. Kazimierz Jasiński treated this as a conjecture; K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543, note 3.

[4] T. Jurek, Plany koronacyjne Henryka Probusa, [in:] Śląsk w czasach Henryka IV Prawego (Wratislavia antiqua 8), ed. by K. Wachowski, Wrocław 2005, pp. 27–29.

[5] R. Grodecki, Dzieje polityczne Śląska do r. 1290, [in:] Historia Śląska od najdawniejszych czasów do roku 1400, ed. by S. Kutrzeba, vol. I, Kraków 1933, pp. 293–294; K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 524–526.

[6] This theory is supported by: K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543; M. Furmanek, S. Kulpa, Zamek wodzisławski i jego właściciele, Wodzisław Śląski 2003, pp. 21–22; J. Horwat, Piastowie górnośląscy, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No. 8, Bytom 2007, p. 46.

[7] J. Tęgowski, Konstancja, "Poczet żon królewskich", [in:] "Magazyn Razem", 1987, No 1, pp. 31–32; J. Sperka, Konstancja, [in:] Książęta i księżne Górnego Śląska, ed. by A. Barciak, Katowice 1995, pp. 78–79; S. A. Sroka, Konstancja, [in:] Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny, ed. by K. Ożóg and S. Szczur, Kraków 1999, pp. 728–729.

[8] K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, , Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 524–526 (although he later presented the conjecture of the identification of Władysław of Opole as Constance; K. Jasiński, Rodowód Piastów śląskich, , Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543, note 3); J. Horwat, Piastowie górnośląscy, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No 8, Bytom 2007, pp. 45–48 (although he put forward the hypothesis -which later retreated- about the possible name of Władysław of Opole's daughter as Grzymisława, in basis of the Obituary of the St. Vincent Abbey; J. Horwat, Grzymisława, księżniczka opolska, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum w Gliwicach", vol. VII-VIII, Gliwice 1991–1992, pp. 380–384); T. Jurek, Plany koronacyjne Henryka Probusa, [in:] Śląsk w czasach Henryka IV Prawego, ed. by K. Wachowski, Wrocław 2005, pp. 27–29.

[9] Eva Maleczyńska, Wrocławskie panie piastowskie i ich partnerzy, Wrocław 1966, p. 79. See P. Boroń, Wizerunki Henryka Probusa w historiografii, [in:] Piastowie śląscy w kulturze i europejskich dziejach, ed. by A. Barciak, Katowice 2007, pp. 353–354.

[10] J. Horwat, Grzymisława, księżniczka opolska, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum w Gliwicach", vol. VII-VIII, Gliwice 1991–1992, pp. 380–384, identified her with certain Grzymisława, which appears in the Obituary of the St. Vincent Abbey with the title of Duchess of Opole. J. Horwat, Piastowie górnośląscy, [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No 8, Bytom 2007, p. 46, rejected this hypothesis, stating that if Grzymisława was the wife of Henry IV Probus she wouldn't styled Duchess of Opole, but Duchess of Wrocław and Silesia.

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 According to the second hypothesis,<ref>This theory is supported by: K. Jasiński, ''Rodowód Piastów śląskich'', Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543; M. Furmanek, S. Kulpa, ''Zamek wodzisławski i jego właściciele'', Wodzisław Śląski 2003, pp. 21–22; J. Horwat, ''Piastowie górnośląscy'', [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No. 8, Bytom 2007, p. 46.</ref> based on Constance's titles showed in sources: Duchess of Racibórz and Duchess of Wodzisław, she was the daughter of Duke [[Przemysław of Racibórz]]. Certainly she remained unmarried and settled in Wodzisław (who probably was her own independent Duchy) until her death.
+==Life==
+===Daughter of Władysław of Opole===
+====Problems about her identification====
+In medieval sources is only known that from the marriage between [[Euphemia of Greater Poland|Euphemia]], daughter of [[Władysław Odonic]], Duke of [[Greater Poland]], and Władysław, Duke of Opole, was born a daughter who married with Henry IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław. Any source directly specified her name, and therefore the historiography is divided about this fact and her correct identification in the Piast dynasty. Some historians shares the view that she was Constance of Wodzisław,<ref>J. Tęgowski, ''Konstancja'', "Poczet żon królewskich", [in:] "Magazyn Razem", 1987, No 1, pp. 31–32; J. Sperka, ''Konstancja'', [in:] ''Książęta i księżne Górnego Śląska'', ed. by A. Barciak, Katowice 1995, pp. 78–79; S. A. Sroka, ''Konstancja'', [in:] ''Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny'', ed. by K. Ożóg and S. Szczur, Kraków 1999, pp. 728–729.</ref> but the opponents of this idea argue that her name remains unknown.<ref>K. Jasiński, ''Rodowód Piastów śląskich'', , Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 524–526 (although he later presented the conjecture of the identification of Władysław of Opole as Constance; K. Jasiński, ''Rodowód Piastów śląskich'', , Second Edition, Kraków 2007, part III, pp. 542–543, note 3); J. Horwat, ''Piastowie górnośląscy'', [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No 8, Bytom 2007, pp. 45–48 (although he put forward the hypothesis -which later retreated- about the possible name of Władysław of Opole's daughter as Grzymisława, in basis of the ''Obituary of the St. Vincent Abbey''; J. Horwat, ''Grzymisława, księżniczka opolska'', [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum w Gliwicach", vol. VII-VIII, Gliwice 1991–1992, pp. 380–384); T. Jurek, ''Plany koronacyjne Henryka Probusa'', [in:] ''Śląsk w czasach Henryka IV Prawego'', ed. by K. Wachowski, Wrocław 2005, pp. 27–29.</ref> Also, not gained universal approval hypothesis who argued that Władysław of Opole's daughter was named either Margareta<ref>Eva Maleczyńska, ''Wrocławskie panie piastowskie i ich partnerzy'', Wrocław 1966, p. 79. See P. Boroń, ''Wizerunki Henryka Probusa w historiografii'', [in:] ''Piastowie śląscy w kulturze i europejskich dziejach'', ed. by A. Barciak, Katowice 2007, pp. 353–354.</ref> or Grzymisława.<ref>J. Horwat, ''Grzymisława, księżniczka opolska'', [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum w Gliwicach", vol. VII-VIII, Gliwice 1991–1992, pp. 380–384, identified her with certain Grzymisława, which appears in the ''Obituary of the St. Vincent Abbey'' with the title of Duchess of Opole. J. Horwat, ''Piastowie górnośląscy'', [in:] "Rocznik Muzeum Górnośląskiego w Bytomiu. Historia", No 8, Bytom 2007, p. 46, rejected this hypothesis, stating that if Grzymisława was the wife of Henry IV Probus she wouldn't styled Duchess of Opole, but Duchess of Wrocław and Silesia.</ref> In the absence of proper sources who could clarify this matter, all the informations and theories only created more difficulties in resconstructed her life.
 ==References==