Władysław the White: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Władysław Biały seal 1355.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Władysław Biały seal from 1355]] |
[[File:Władysław Biały seal 1355.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Władysław Biały seal from 1355]] |
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'''Władysław (Włodko) the White''' or '''Władysław of Gniewkowo''' ({{lang-pl|Władysław (Włodko) Biały (Gniewkowski)}}; ca. 1327/1333 – 29 February 1388), was a Polish prince member of the [[House of Piast]], Duke of [[Gniewkowo]] during 1347/1350–1363/1364 (his final and official resignation was in 1377) and last male representative of the [[Kujawy|Kujavian]] line. |
'''Władysław (Włodko) the White''' or '''Władysław of Gniewkowo''' ({{lang-pl|Władysław (Włodko) Biały (Gniewkowski)}}; ca. 1327/1333 – 29 February 1388), was a Polish prince member of the [[House of Piast]], Duke of [[Gniewkowo]] during 1347/1350–1363/1364 (his final and official resignation was in 1377) and last male representative of the [[Kujawy|Kujavian]] line. |
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===Pilgrimage. Ordination as Cistercian and Benedictine Monk=== |
===Pilgrimage. Ordination as Cistercian and Benedictine Monk=== |
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After leaving his Duchy, Władysław began a long pilgrimage; he visited [[Malbork]] (where he met the Grand Master of the [[Teutonic Order]], [[Winrich von Kniprode]] and joined his expedition to Lithuania), [[Prague]], the [[Holy Land]] and finally went to [[Avignon]], where he met [[Pope Urban V]]. In June 1366 he decided to entered in the Cistercian [[Cîteaux Abbey]]; however, after only one year, he moved to the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine]] monastery at [[Dijon]]. |
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===Candidate for the Polish Crown. Fight in Kujawy=== |
===Candidate for the Polish Crown. Fight in Kujawy=== |
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After King Casimir III's death in 1370, Władysław unexpectedly decided to take this opportunity to return to his ancestral Gniewkowo. To this end, he began several efforts before [[Pope Gregory XI]] to be released from his [[holy vows]], but without results. Finally in November 1371 the Pope, under the pressure of King [[Louis I of Hungary]], definitely refused the dispensation of his vows, and Władysław was forced to return to Dijon. |
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However, Władysław didn't give up to his pretentions, and on 8 September 1373 he secretly arrived to [[Gniezno]] and, with the support to the opposition of the Angevin rule, he quickly capture [[Włocławek]], [[Inowrocław]], [[Złotoria, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship|Złotoria]] and even his former land of Gniewkowo; from them, he advanced his claims for the Polish crown as one of the closest Piast relatives of Casimir III. The response of King Louis I was inmediate: Władysław, betrayed by his previous supporters was forced by the starost of Greater Poland, Sędziwój Pałuka, to leave the country. |
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After Casimir's death (1370), he decided to return to his former Duchy, even through he failed to obtain a release from his [[holy vows]]. When the new king of Poland, [[Louis I of Hungary]], refused to support him, Władysław even claimed the Polish throne for himself and begun a civil war against Louis. |
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Władysław took refuge in the border city of [[Drezdenko]], owned by the knight Ulrich von Osten. He remained there until 1375, when with the help of von Oseten and even Burgundian troops send by [[Philip the Bold]] invaded the fortresses of Złotoria, [[Raciąż]] and Gniewkowo. This time, both sides are better prepared for an armed conflict and in they clashed at the Battle of Gniewków, where Władysław's forces defeated the Angevin troops. Władysław retreats to [[Nieszawa]] and then to Złotoria, where he organized marauded raids to the near suburbs and villages of Inowrocław and Greater Poland. |
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The counter-attack of King Louis I took place in June 1376, when he besieged with his army the fortress of Złotoria, where Władysław was injured during a duel with Bartosz Wezenborg. During the siege was also wounded the ally of Louis I and grandson of Casimir III, Duke [[Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania|Casimir IV of Pomerania]]; he died some months later at the consecuence of his injuries. |
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===Abdication. Return to France. Death=== |
===Abdication. Return to France. Death=== |
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The final abandonment of Władysław's claims over the inheritance of Casimir III the Great and his ancestral domains came in March 1377, as a result of an agreement concluded at [[Brześć Kujawski]]: in exchange for the withdrawal of his claims Władysław received 10,000 florins (in annual payments of 1,000 florins), and the post of Abbey in [[Pannonhalma Archabbey]] in [[Hungary]]. A restless spirit, when the King failed to paid the annual amount, in October 1379 Władysław suddelnly appeared in [[Gdańsk]]; only them the alarmed Louis I paid him the rest of the promised amount. After this, Władysław moved to [[Lübeck]] and around April 1381 returned to the monastery at Dijon, where he purchased from the Abbot the [[Prebendary|prebend]], a proper house and a lifetime maintenance. |
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Failing to win it, in the years 1375–1377 he reached and agreement with Louis, who paid him 10,000 florins (and granted him the rank of an abbot in the monastery in [[Pannonhalma]]) for the final abdication and rejection of all rights as a Duke and pretender to the crown. Władysław stayed at Pannohalma until 1379; then as Louis was failing to pay the promised amount returned to Kujawy, pressured Louis to pay up the remaining sum, and finally returned to Dijon monastery in France. Due to his adventurous life, he gained a nickname ''Le Roy [[Lancelot]]'' (King Lancelot) in France (Lelewel, p. 194). In 1382 after the death of Louis the [[Avignon Pope Clement VII]] released Władysław from his vows, but Władysław did not regain his duchy; he died Dijon in 1388. |
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His turbulent life didn't end in Dijon, because when King Louis I died in 1382, Władysław again raised hopes to recover his patrimony; this could be the only explanation to the fact that by a document date 15 September 1382 he finally obtained the dispensation of his vows from [[Antipope Clement VII]]. However, and for unknown reasons, never made another attempt to recover his Polish lands. |
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Certainly after 3 March 1383 Władysław leave again the monastery of Dijon, this time for good; he died on 29 February in the city of [[Strasbourg]]. Until recently, the death date of the prince was established on 1 March 1388; this was rightly corrected by Kazimierz Jasiński: on his tombstone inscription was noted ''Dni MCCC octuagesimo octavo 1 Kal. Martii'', which means that Władysław died the day before 1 March 1388; since 1388 was a [[Leap year]], ''1 Kal. Martii'' was 29 February 1388. |
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According to Władysław's last will, he was buried in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Benignus in Dijon (now [[Dijon Cathedral]]), where to this day was preserved his beautiful tombstone. A conmemorative plate was placed in in the 19th century by Prince [[Władysław Czartoryski]]. The inscription of the plate states that Władysław the White obtained the release of his vows in connection with his possible succession to the Polish crown. |
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The turbulent life of the last Piast Kujawy prince fascinated even to his contemporaries; for this reason, the monks of the Benedictine monastery in Dijon called him ''Le Roy [[Lancelot]]'' (King Lancelot) in France (Lelewel, p. 194), which referred to the hero of the seires of Arthurian tales, one of the knights of the Round Table. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 23:14, 20 February 2015
Władysław (Włodko) the White or Władysław of Gniewkowo (Polish: Władysław (Włodko) Biały (Gniewkowski); ca. 1327/1333 – 29 February 1388), was a Polish prince member of the House of Piast, Duke of Gniewkowo during 1347/1350–1363/1364 (his final and official resignation was in 1377) and last male representative of the Kujavian line.
He was the only surviving son of Casimir III of Gniewkowo by his unknown wife.
Life
Government of the Duchy of Gniewkowo
After his father's death, which occurred between 1347 and 1350, Władysław succeeded him as the las independent ruler of Gniewkowo, having recognized the overlordship of King Casimir III of Poland. Currently existed eight documents issued by Władysław during his reign as Duke of Gniewkowo; they showed the full latin version of his title: Wladislaus dei gracia dux Cuyavie et dominus Gnewkovie nec non Slonensis terrarum (thus, is known that Władysław styled himself as Duke of Kujawy and ruled over Gniewkowo and Słońsko). The Ducal court of Gniewkowo had its own administrative apparatus, and the Ducal palace was builded in the model of Wawel Castle.
Around 1 December 1359 Władysław married with Elizabeth, the only daughter of Duke Albert of Strzelce. One year later, in March 1360, King Casimir III returned him the ancestral district of Inowrocław, although only as a lifetime fief.
His wife, Elisabeth, died unexpectedly ca. 17 April 1361; Władysław, who deeply loved her, was grief-stricken and decided never to marry again. Some time later (13 February 1362/1 March 1363), the Polish King forced him to returned the fief of Inowrocław.
Between 29 May 1363/5 April 1364 Władysław decided to sell his domains to King Casimir III for for 1,000 florins.
Pilgrimage. Ordination as Cistercian and Benedictine Monk
After leaving his Duchy, Władysław began a long pilgrimage; he visited Malbork (where he met the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Winrich von Kniprode and joined his expedition to Lithuania), Prague, the Holy Land and finally went to Avignon, where he met Pope Urban V. In June 1366 he decided to entered in the Cistercian Cîteaux Abbey; however, after only one year, he moved to the Benedictine monastery at Dijon.
Candidate for the Polish Crown. Fight in Kujawy
After King Casimir III's death in 1370, Władysław unexpectedly decided to take this opportunity to return to his ancestral Gniewkowo. To this end, he began several efforts before Pope Gregory XI to be released from his holy vows, but without results. Finally in November 1371 the Pope, under the pressure of King Louis I of Hungary, definitely refused the dispensation of his vows, and Władysław was forced to return to Dijon.
However, Władysław didn't give up to his pretentions, and on 8 September 1373 he secretly arrived to Gniezno and, with the support to the opposition of the Angevin rule, he quickly capture Włocławek, Inowrocław, Złotoria and even his former land of Gniewkowo; from them, he advanced his claims for the Polish crown as one of the closest Piast relatives of Casimir III. The response of King Louis I was inmediate: Władysław, betrayed by his previous supporters was forced by the starost of Greater Poland, Sędziwój Pałuka, to leave the country.
Władysław took refuge in the border city of Drezdenko, owned by the knight Ulrich von Osten. He remained there until 1375, when with the help of von Oseten and even Burgundian troops send by Philip the Bold invaded the fortresses of Złotoria, Raciąż and Gniewkowo. This time, both sides are better prepared for an armed conflict and in they clashed at the Battle of Gniewków, where Władysław's forces defeated the Angevin troops. Władysław retreats to Nieszawa and then to Złotoria, where he organized marauded raids to the near suburbs and villages of Inowrocław and Greater Poland.
The counter-attack of King Louis I took place in June 1376, when he besieged with his army the fortress of Złotoria, where Władysław was injured during a duel with Bartosz Wezenborg. During the siege was also wounded the ally of Louis I and grandson of Casimir III, Duke Casimir IV of Pomerania; he died some months later at the consecuence of his injuries.
Abdication. Return to France. Death
The final abandonment of Władysław's claims over the inheritance of Casimir III the Great and his ancestral domains came in March 1377, as a result of an agreement concluded at Brześć Kujawski: in exchange for the withdrawal of his claims Władysław received 10,000 florins (in annual payments of 1,000 florins), and the post of Abbey in Pannonhalma Archabbey in Hungary. A restless spirit, when the King failed to paid the annual amount, in October 1379 Władysław suddelnly appeared in Gdańsk; only them the alarmed Louis I paid him the rest of the promised amount. After this, Władysław moved to Lübeck and around April 1381 returned to the monastery at Dijon, where he purchased from the Abbot the prebend, a proper house and a lifetime maintenance.
His turbulent life didn't end in Dijon, because when King Louis I died in 1382, Władysław again raised hopes to recover his patrimony; this could be the only explanation to the fact that by a document date 15 September 1382 he finally obtained the dispensation of his vows from Antipope Clement VII. However, and for unknown reasons, never made another attempt to recover his Polish lands.
Certainly after 3 March 1383 Władysław leave again the monastery of Dijon, this time for good; he died on 29 February in the city of Strasbourg. Until recently, the death date of the prince was established on 1 March 1388; this was rightly corrected by Kazimierz Jasiński: on his tombstone inscription was noted Dni MCCC octuagesimo octavo 1 Kal. Martii, which means that Władysław died the day before 1 March 1388; since 1388 was a Leap year, 1 Kal. Martii was 29 February 1388.
According to Władysław's last will, he was buried in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Benignus in Dijon (now Dijon Cathedral), where to this day was preserved his beautiful tombstone. A conmemorative plate was placed in in the 19th century by Prince Władysław Czartoryski. The inscription of the plate states that Władysław the White obtained the release of his vows in connection with his possible succession to the Polish crown.
The turbulent life of the last Piast Kujawy prince fascinated even to his contemporaries; for this reason, the monks of the Benedictine monastery in Dijon called him Le Roy Lancelot (King Lancelot) in France (Lelewel, p. 194), which referred to the hero of the seires of Arthurian tales, one of the knights of the Round Table.
References
- Władysław Biały (gniewkowski, 'Le Roy Lancelot') in poczet.com [retrieved 19 February 2015].
- Template:Pl icon Joachim Lelewel, Polska dzieje i rzeczy jej, 1859, Google Print, pp. 193–5 (public domain, full view).
- Template:Pl icon Jasiński Kazimierz, Rodowód Piastów małopolskich i kujawskich, Wydawnictwo: Wydawnictwo Historyczne, 2001, ISBN 83-913563-5-3, (excerpt, PDF).
- Template:Pl icon Władysław Biały (Gniewkowski) at poczet.com.