Poland is rich in its kings. Cruel and good-natured, brave and cowardly, fair and capricious. Some struck with their intelligence and courage, others - with their beauty and tyranny. But all of them, without exception, left their mark on the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. And, probably, we would not see Poland exactly the way it is, if not for their actions. And among them there are monarchs who admired with their greatness not only the inhabitants of the Polish state, but also made the many enemies of the Crown tremble with fear. But, like every person, these greatest autocrats had their own secrets and secrets that history textbooks will not tell us about.

The history of the greatest Polish kings is full of secrets.

Vladislav II Yagailo- a personality of the greatest scale. Everyone knows that he was an excellent politician, an excellent strategist and a practical tactician. After all, it was he who was able to repulse the crusaders, who held the whole of Europe in fear. And not just to fight back, but to defeat them in the famous one, which put an end to the Teutonic terror. It was he who became the founder of the greatest royal dynasty of the Jagiellons, which ruled the European states for two hundred years. Lithuanian prince, who became the king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A pagan who turned into a passionate champion of the faith of Christ. But is it really that simple? What do historians keep silent from us and what little secrets surround the life of this great king?

Vladislav Jagiello is the greatest king of Poland.

1386 year. A procession from the Principality of Lithuania enters the streets. Among the numerous knights, nobles and servants, a 24-year-old boy sits at the head of the procession on a thoroughbred trotter. He was scanty in stature, with a long face and thin with a slightly tapered chin. His head was small and showed early bald patches. Small black eyes ran incessantly, examining onlookers standing on both sides of the street. Big ears, long neck, slender waist. When the young man approached the representatives of the nobility and, dismounting from the horse, spoke to them, a barely audible laugh flashed over the crowd - although his voice was low, he spoke in a hurry and confusing words. It never occurred to anyone from the crowd that this young Lithuanian prince, who had arrived in Krakow to marry Jadwiga of Anjou, would soon make the whole of Europe tremble with fear.

Why then secular and completely European Poland decided on such a seemingly humiliating alliance with the "semi-savage" pagans Litvin? The answer is quite trivial. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) has long been a direct enemy of the Commonwealth. The political situation in Europe developed in such a way that the Polish Crown needed a certain strategic move that would neutralize at least one potential enemy. And the young Jadwiga, although formally considered the heir to the Polish throne, still could not rule on her own. So the gentry came up with the idea of ​​marrying her to the son of Prince Olgerd and Princess Juliania. This feint solved two problems at once - Poland and Lithuania were united into one powerful principality, and a worthy autocrat would reign not on the throne. In addition, the marriage of Yagaila with Yadviga would have become the main reason for the baptism of Lithuania into Catholicism (until that time, the Lithuanians were ardent pagans and did not accept the Christian faith at all).

Jadwiga's marriage to the Lithuanian prince provided Poland with a reliable alliance.

On February 14, 1386, Jagiello was baptized in the Krakow Cathedral. This is how this event is described in the chronicles: “On Thursday, the 14th day of February, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Yagailo and his brothers, already trained in the rules and dogmas of the Catholic faith, arrived at the church in order to confess the faith of Christ and reject the filthy fornication. And they took the Holy Cross from the hands of Bishop Bodzanta and instead of the names of the pagans, new ones were given to them - Jagiello became Vladislav, Vigund became Alexander, Korigello - Casimir, and Svidrigailo - Boleslav. "

But why did Lithuania need Poland? The answer is obvious. Orthodox Russia did not consider the Grand Duchy of Lithuania a full-fledged neighbor and in every possible way tried to take away the northern lands from him. In addition, Yagailo, being the son of Princess Julianna of Tverskaya, had the right to the princely throne and, therefore, could become a huge competitor to the local princelings. Moreover, in his 24 years he has already managed to become famous as a successful military leader. Prince Dmitry of Moscow, trying to get rid of the enemy, tried in every possible way to lure Jagiello to his son-in-law and christen Lithuania into the Orthodox faith, thus annexing it to Russia. Naturally, the Lithuanians did not really like this alignment and they preferred an equal alliance with the Polish Crown.

Lithuania remained pagan for many years.

But did the newly-made Vladislav become such a fierce Catholic after his baptism? Or was the new faith trick just one step towards success?

After marrying Jadwiga, coronation to the Polish throne, imminent widowhood, subsequent three marriages and a war with the crusaders, Jagiello still did not completely renounce his pagan beliefs. The first sign of this was that the king kept the "pagan" name for himself and used it along with his new name - Vladislav. He continued to practice rather strange, from the point of view of Christians, customs that seemed, if not pagan, then certainly magical. Every morning, leaving the bedroom, he always broke a branch of straw with his fingers, he always left his bed with only his right foot, hair cut from his beard or head, he always folded into a knot and burned. Leaving the house, he always turned around three times over his left shoulder and threw a broken willow twig behind him. Today it is difficult to understand whether these were ancient Lithuanian traditions or the usual protection from the evil eye. But one thing remains certain - all the feigned religiosity of Vladislav was only a mask under which pagan habits were hidden.

Jagiello remained a pagan, but he carefully concealed it from his subjects.

A certain mystery also circles over the grave of King Vladislav. The sarcophagus was created during his lifetime (isn't it pagan traditions?). In addition to the traditional heraldic symbols - the coats of arms of Poland and the Principality of Lithuania, figures of lions, denoting belonging to the monarchical dynasty, dogs and falcons are conveniently located around the pedestal. Everyone knew about the king's passion for hunting, but why such strange figures adorn the king's tomb? We are looking for the answer from the pagans. According to their beliefs, the body of a warrior should have been burned along with favorite things or animals. Pre-Christian Lithuania adhered to these rules and it is quite possible that the king took care of his afterlife, remaking his folk traditions in such a simple way.

By the way: the grave of King Vladislav II Yagaila was never opened even for research, which is very strange. Almost all the royal tombs located in the Wawel Cathedral were carefully studied by scientists at one time. But the Lithuanian Yagailo is an exception. Coincidence? Or pagan gods, even after death, take care of their prince?

Even after death, the pagan gods take care of Jagiello.

King Vladislav Jagailo had neither education nor theoretical knowledge. He was raised as a warrior and raised as a warrior. But despite his harshness and primitiveness, he deservedly appreciated the role of science and knowledge. He loved painting, was fond of music, was extremely sensitive to the beauty of nature. As a politician, Jagiello was quite smart and flexible, but not always loyal. His straightforwardness and simplicity in communication often plunged representatives of the aristocracy into a state of shock. Irritability, stubbornness, jealousy and constant suspicion - this is how you can characterize the character of the Polish-Lithuanian king. He did not like Wawel and tried to be there as little as possible. Jagaila's real home was his residence in Korchina.

Jagiello surprised his subjects with the fact that he was extremely clean - a very rare occurrence in medieval Europe, when even noble ladies disdained daily hygiene procedures. Every morning, immediately after waking up, he went to the restrooms, where he cleaned himself up for several hours. Jagiello loved to take baths and did it every day.

Vladislav II loved to sleep - he devoted all his free time from worries to this ritual. He never consumed alcoholic beverages (to his credit), he hated the smell and taste of apples, but he ate pears with great pleasure.

But the real meaning of Jagaila's life was hunting. He indulged in her with great passion. In the end, because of her (partly) and died.

Favorite residence of Vladislav Yagaila.

In 1419, a strange event happened that made Vladislav doubt what he had done - his own baptism and the baptism of Lithuania. During one of the trips, a huge lightning struck the king's carriage, killing two nobles and seven knights along with horses. The king escaped with only partial deafness, and his clothes were soaked through and through with the smell of sulfur. Contemporaries gossiped that after this Jagiello secretly brought the miraculously survived Lithuanian sorcerer to Krakow and did not make a single decision without previously consulting him. Most likely, the king took this sign of Perunas as a warning. More than once he regretted that he had drawn himself and his people into Catholic bondage, but there was nowhere to go. The king of the Polish-Lithuanian principality simply had to bow to the cross. At least - before the eyes of their subjects.

The death of the king was as banal as it was mystical. On a cool spring evening, Vladislav came out of his chambers and heard a nightingale singing in a nearby grove. The king was so fascinated by the singing of this inconspicuous bird that he went straight to the forest without taking care of a warm robe. He stayed there for several hours, and when he returned, he began to fever. The court doctor stated the diagnosis was pneumonia.

Jagiello lay in bed, wrapped in warm feather beds. He dispersed all the healers and courtiers, leaving only the old Litvinka maid by his side. The maid was sitting at his head, singing drawn-out songs in his native language, and his whole life flashed before Vladislav's eyes. For 48 years he wore a Polish crown on his head, was married 4 times, was able to escape from the clutches of his cousin Vitovt and defeated the crusaders. He christened Lithuania, annexed the Western Ukrainian lands to the Grand Duchy, did everything for Poland and Lithuania that he could do. Suddenly, he noticed an indistinct shadow. Looking closely, he recognized in the ghost his uncle Kestut - Vitovt's father. Once, they together ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but squabbles and intrigues led to irreconcilable enmity. Prince Keistut was strangled by order of Jagaila in 1382 in Krevo (Belarus). The ghost approached the weakened nephew, kissed his sweaty brow and slowly covered his eyes with his palm ... The old maid, holding in her fist a gray motanka (a ritual doll made of threads), approached the still warm body of the great king and whispered in her ear: "Now you are at home." ...

The king is dead. Long live the king…

, Poland

Genus: Gediminovichi,
Jagiellones (founder) Father: Olgerd Mother: Juliania Alexandrovna Tverskaya Spouse: Jadwiga
Anna Celskaya
Elzhbeta Granovskaya
Sofya Golshanskaya Children: Elizaveta Bonifatsia, Yadviga Yagailovna, Vladislav III Varnenchik, Casimir IV Jagiellonchik

Name

Power struggle

He became Grand Duke after the death of his father, Grand Duke Olgerd in 1377. After a conflict with his brother Andrey, he took possession of Polotsk. After Bryansk (1371) and Smolensk (1375), Volyn, Podillia (1377) and Severshchina (1379/1380) came out of the control of the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

Marriage to Yadwiga

Died in 1434. According to Jan Dlugosz, he caught a cold while listening to a nightingale singing.

A family

Wives and children

  • 1st wife from 1386 Jadwiga (Queen of Poland) one daughter
  1. Elizabeth Boniface (1399)
  • 2nd wife from 1402 Anna Celskaya one daughter
  1. Jadwiga (1408-1431)
  • 3rd wife since 1416 Elzhbeta Granovskaya had no children
  • 4th wife since 1422 Sofya Golshanskaya three children
  1. Vladislav III (1424-1444)
  2. Casimir (1426-1427)
  3. Casimir IV (1427-1492)

Ancestors

Jagailo - ancestors
Gediminas Lithuanian
Olgerd Lithuanian
Jagiello (Vladislav Jagiello)
Yaroslav Yaroslavich Tverskoy
Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy
Ksenia Yurievna
Alexander Mikhailovich Tverskoy
Dmitry Borisovich Rostovsky
Anna Kashinskaya
Ulyana Alexandrovna Tverskaya
Anastasia

Influence and ratings

Jagailo was the first of the Lithuanian princely dynasty of the Gediminids, who also bore the title of kings of Poland. The Jagiellonian dynasty founded by him ruled both states until 1572. Russian historians and writers of the 19th century, as a rule, tend to regard him as a man of small intelligence and weak character, who could not play an outstanding role in his contemporary life. On the contrary, in Polish historiography he is usually credited with great ability and a strong influence on the course of historical events.

Among the events of enormous importance of the era of his reign, the baptism of Lithuania and the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, which put an end to the expansion of the German knights, stand out.

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Notes (edit)

Links

Literature

  • Karl Shainoha, "Jadwiga i Jagiełło 1374-1413", 1861, t. 1-4 (reprint: Warszawa, 1974).
  • V. Novodvorskiy,.// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
  • J. Caro, "Geschichte Polens" (2nd movement, Gotha, 1863)
  • M. Smirnov, "Jagiello-Yakov-Vladislav and the first connection of Lithuania with Poland" (Odessa, 1868, "Notes of the Novorossiysk University")
  • St. Smolka, "Kiejstut i Jagiełło" (Krakow, 1888)
  • F. Koneczny, "Jagiełło i Witold" ("Przewodnik naukowy", 1892)
  • A. Lewicki, "Powstanie Świdrygiełły" ("Rozpr. Ak. It.", XXIX)
  • J. Jakštas, Z. Ivinskis, S. Sužiedėlis, A. Šapoka, P. Šležas. "Jogaila", red. A. Šapoka, Kaunas, 1935.
  • Sruogienė-Sruoga, Vanda, "," Lituanus, vol. 33 (4) (Winter 1987), p. 23-34.
  • Tymovsky, Michal. History of Poland. M .: Ves mir, 2003.

The image in the cinema

  • "Crusaders" / "Krzyzacy" (Poland;) directed by Alexander Ford, in the role of King Vladislav Jagiello - Emil Karevich.

An excerpt characterizing Jagiello

- I humbly thank you, prince, - answered one of the officers, talking with pleasure with such an important staff official. - Beautiful place. We passed the park itself, saw two deer, and what a wonderful house!
“Look, prince,” said another, who really wanted to take another pie, but was ashamed, and who therefore pretended to look around the area, “look, our infantrymen have already got there. Over there, on a meadow, behind the village, three are dragging something. "They're going to ransack this palace," he said with visible approval.
"Both that, and that," said Nesvitsky. “No, but what I would like,” he added, chewing a pie in his beautiful wet mouth, “is to get over there.
He pointed to a monastery with towers visible on the mountain. He smiled, his eyes narrowed and lit up.
- But it would be good, gentlemen!
The officers laughed.
- If only to scare these nuns. There are Italian women, they say, there are young ones. Indeed, I would give five years of my life!
“They’re bored, after all,” said the bolder officer, laughing.
Meanwhile, the officer of the suite, standing in front, was pointing something out to the general; the general looked through the telescope.
- Well, it is, it is, - the general said angrily, lowering the pipe from his eyes and shrugging his shoulders, - it is, they will start hitting the crossing. And why are they lingering there?
On the other side, the enemy and his battery were visible with the naked eye, from which a milky white smoke appeared. A long-range shot rang out in the wake of the smoke, and it was clear how our troops hurried along the crossing.
Nesvitsky, panting, got up and, smiling, went up to the general.
- Would you like to have a snack for your Excellency? - he said.
- It's not a good thing, - said the general, without answering him, - ours hesitated.
- Shouldn't I go, Your Excellency? - said Nesvitsky.
“Yes, go, please,” the general said, repeating what was already ordered in detail, “and tell the hussars to cross the last and light the bridge, as I ordered, so that the combustible materials on the bridge are still inspected.
“Very well,” answered Nesvitsky.
He called a Cossack with a horse, ordered to remove his purse and flask, and easily threw his heavy body onto the saddle.
“Really, I'll go to the nuns,” he said to the officers, who were looking at him with a smile, and drove along the winding path downhill.
- Noot ka, where he will report, captain, stop ka! - said the general, referring to the gunner. - Have fun with boredom.
- Servant to the guns! - commanded the officer.
And a minute later the gunners merrily ran out of the fires and loaded them.
- First! - the command was heard.
The 1st number bounced briskly. Metallic, deafening, the gun rang, and over the heads of all our people under the mountain, whistling, a grenade flew and, not reaching the enemy far, showed the place of its fall with a smoke and burst.
The faces of the soldiers and officers cheered up at the sound; everyone got up and started observing the movements that were visible, as in the palm of your hand, the movements below our troops and in front - the movements of the approaching enemy. The sun at that very moment completely came out of the clouds, and this beautiful sound of a lonely shot and the glitter of the bright sun merged into one cheerful and cheerful impression.

Two enemy cannonballs had already flown over the bridge, and there was a crush on the bridge. In the middle of the bridge, getting off his horse, pressed by his fat body to the railing, stood Prince Nesvitsky.
He, laughing, looked back at his Cossack, who, with two horses in the bit, stood a few steps behind him.
As soon as Prince Nesvitsky wanted to move forward, again the soldiers and carts pressed on him and again pressed him to the railing, and he had no choice but to smile.
- What you, brother, my! - said the Cossack to the Furshtat soldier with a cart, who was pressing on the infantry crowded with wheels and horses. No, to wait: you see, the general has to go through.
But the furshtat, not paying attention to the name of the general, shouted at the soldiers who blocked his way: - Hey! fellow countrywomen! keep left, wait! - But fellow countrywomen, huddling shoulder to shoulder, clinging with bayonets and without interruption, moved across the bridge in one continuous mass. Looking down over the railing, Prince Nesvitsky saw the fast, noisy, low waves of Ens, which, merging, rippling and bending around the piles of the bridge, overtook one another. Looking at the bridge, he saw the equally monotonous living waves of soldiers, kutases, shako with covers, knapsacks, bayonets, long guns and from under shako faces with wide cheekbones, sunken cheeks and carefree tired expressions and moving legs along the sticky mud drawn on the bridge boards ... Sometimes between the monotonous waves of soldiers, like a splash of white foam in the waves of Ens, an officer in a cloak squeezed between the soldiers, with his physiognomy different from the soldiers; sometimes, like a splinter winding along a river, a foot hussar, a batman or a resident was carried away across the bridge by waves of infantry; sometimes, like a log floating on a river, surrounded on all sides, a company or officer's carriage, laid to the top and covered with leather, sailed across the bridge.
“See, they burst like a dam,” the Cossack said, hopelessly stopping. "Are there many of you still there?"
- Melion without one! - a cheerful soldier walking close by in a torn greatcoat said with a wink and was hiding; another old soldier walked behind him.
“How he (he is the enemy) will start frying taperich across the bridge,” said the gloomy old soldier, turning to his comrade, “you will forget to scratch.
And the soldier passed by. Another soldier followed him in a cart.
- Where, the devil, did you stuff the rolls? - said the orderly, running at a run after the cart and groping in the rear.
And this one passed by with a cart. This was followed by cheerful and, apparently, drunk soldiers.
“How can he, my dear man, blaze with a butt in the very teeth…” one soldier in a high-tucked greatcoat said happily, waving his hand widely.
- That is it, that sweet ham. - answered the other with a laugh.
And they passed, so that Nesvitsky did not recognize who had been hit in the teeth and what the ham belonged to.
- Ek are in a hurry that he let the cold one, you think so, everyone will be killed. The non-commissioned officer said angrily and reproachfully.
- As it flies past me, uncle, the core is, - said, barely holding back from laughing, with a huge mouth, a young soldier, - I just died out. Really, by God, I was so frightened, trouble! - said this soldier, as if bragging that he was frightened. And this one passed. He was followed by a wagon unlike any that had passed until now. It was a German foreskin on steam, loaded with what seemed to be a whole house; behind the forespan, which the German was carrying, was tied to a beautiful, motley cow with a huge udder. On the feather beds sat a woman with a baby, an old woman and a young, crimson-faced, healthy German girl. Apparently, these evicted residents were allowed through by special permission. The eyes of all the soldiers turned to the women, and as the wagon passed, moving step by step, and all the soldiers' remarks referred to only two women. Almost the same smile of obscene thoughts about this woman was on all faces.
- Look, the sausage is also removed!
“Sell your mother,” another soldier said, striking on the last syllable, addressing the German, who, with downcast eyes, walked angrily and frightenedly with a wide step.
- Ek cleaned up like that! That is the devils!
“I wish you could stand by them, Fedotov.
- We did, brother!
- Where are you going? Asked the infantry officer, who was eating an apple, also half-smiling and looking at the beautiful girl.
The German, closing his eyes, showed that he did not understand.
“If you want, take it for yourself,” the officer said, handing the girl an apple. The girl smiled and took it. Nesvitsky, like everyone else on the bridge, did not take his eyes off the women until they passed. When they passed, the same soldiers were walking again, with the same conversations, and finally everyone stopped. As is often the case, at the exit of the bridge, the horses in the company carriage were huddled, and the whole crowd had to wait.
- And what do they become? There is no order! - said the soldiers. - Where are you going? Damn! There is no way to wait. It will be even worse when he sets fire to the bridge. You see, the officer was pinned down, - said the stopped crowds from different sides, looking at each other, and they all huddled forward towards the exit.
Looking back under the bridge at the Ens water, Nesvitsky suddenly heard a sound that was still new for him, rapidly approaching ... something big and something plopping into the water.
- Look where he is! - Sternly said a soldier standing nearby, looking around at the sound.
“Encourages us to pass it as soon as possible,” said the other uneasily.
The crowd started again. Nesvitsky realized that this was the core.
- Hey, Cossack, give me a horse! - he said. - Well you! stay away! step aside! road!
With great effort he reached the horse. Without ceasing to scream, he started forward. The soldiers shrugged to give him a way, but again pressed on him so that they crushed his leg, and the nearest ones were not to blame, because they were pressed even harder.
- Nesvitsky! Nesvitsky! You, g "ozhha!" - a hoarse voice was heard from behind at that time.
Nesvitsky looked around and saw, fifteen paces away from him, separated from him by a living mass of moving infantry, red, black, shaggy, wearing a cap on the back of his head and valiantly draped over his shoulder Vaska Denisov.
- Tell them, why "tam, devils, give the dog" ogu, - shouted. Denisov, apparently in a fit of fervor, shining and moving his eyes, black as coal, in inflamed squirrels and waving a saber that was not drawn from its scabbard, which he held with his bare little hand as red as his face.
- NS! Vasya! - answered Nesvitsky happily. - What are you?
- The squadron "onu pg" is not allowed to go, - shouted Vaska Denisov, angrily opening his white teeth, spurring his handsome black, blooded Bedouin, who, blinking his ears from the bayonets, which he stumbled upon, snorting, splashing around him with foam from the mouthpiece, ringing, kicked the planks of the bridge with his hooves and seemed ready to jump over the railing of the bridge, if the rider would allow him. - What is it? like a bug "any! exactly the same bug" ana! Pg "oh ... give me the dog" oh! ... Stay there! you are a cart, chog "t! saber exiled" I will kill you! - he shouted, really taking out his saber bald and starting to wave it.
Soldiers with frightened faces pressed against each other, and Denisov joined Nesvitsky.
- Why aren't you drunk today? - Nesvitsky said to Denisov when he drove up to him.

Jagailo was born in the 1350s into the family of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd and the Tver princess Juliana. According to some reports, he was baptized in his youth. Olgerd significantly expanded the boundaries of his state: the prince annexed the Chernigov and Kiev lands. Olgerd died in 1377. For Lithuania, his death was marked by a series of civil strife; he bequeathed his part of the Grand Duchy not to the eldest heir, but to his beloved son from his second wife Jagaila. In 1381, a bloody civil war began in the principality. Jagiello fought for the throne with his cousin Vitovt; it is known that he entered into a secret agreement with the Teutonic Order. By order of Jagiello, his uncle Keistut, who was pursuing a course of rapprochement with Moscow, was killed. Keistut's wife Biruta was also killed. After her death, the cult of Biruta developed in Lithuania, sanctuaries were built in different parts of the principality in memory of the deceased. Vitovt managed to escape to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order.

Jagiello in front of Madonna, fresco from 1418

It is known that Jagailo planned to marry Dmitry Donskoy's daughter, but later "reoriented" to an alliance with Poland. In 1385, the Krevsk Union was concluded. The agreement provided for the marriage of the prince with the Polish queen Jadwiga. Jagiello pledged to facilitate the return of the lands lost by Poland, annex Russian territories and pay compensation to the Duke of Austria, who had previously been Jadwiga's fiancé. The Krevo Union operated for 184 years.


Jagiello's wife - Jadwiga

Jagailo pledged to accept the Catholic faith and baptize the inhabitants of Lithuania, as well as free the captured Poles. In a short time, about 30 thousand people were baptized. These events led to riots in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Vitovt stood at the head of the protesters. Jagiello's ascent to the Polish throne was also opposed by the Teutonic Order; thus, Master Konrad Zellner argued that a pagan would lead Christians to destruction. In 1389, Prince Vitovt, with the support of the Order, tried to capture Vilna. The attempt ended in failure, but the next year Vitovt still captured the capital of the principality. More than 10 thousand Teutonic knights fought on his side. Vitovt achieved recognition as the Grand Duke of Lithuania under the supreme power of Jagailo.


Polish knights at war

Contemporaries left scant information about Jagaila's lifestyle and character. It is known, however, that he was an avid hunter. His favorite place for this activity was the reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha"; in accordance with the king's decree, only the ruling elite of Poland could hunt here. Jagiello announced that during the hunt, 100 thousandth Polish army would be provided with provisions. Numerous images in medieval castles tell about the king's pastime in "Belovezhskaya Pushcha".

After the death of Jadwiga, the ruler became engaged to Anna - the granddaughter of the King of Poland Casimir the Great (in total, Jagiello was married 4 times). In 1409, he started a war with the Teutonic Order. Three years later, he won the victory, having achieved the payment of a significant contribution. Jagiello ruled until his death in 1434. According to one version, he died as a result of complications from a cold. The Jagiellonian dynasty remained on the Polish throne until 1572.

He bequeathed the throne not to his eldest son, but to the first son from his second marriage - Yagailo. Thus, he provoked civil strife, which broke out between the brothers after his death. The older Olgerdovichs believed that they had more rights to the throne, but on the side of Yagaila was the most authoritative uncle, who was once faithful to his promise. With the support of his uncle, Yagailo captured Polotsk (fled to Moscow), but the brothers who were in other cities were not going to obey him. Bryansk (patrimony), Smolensk, Volyn, Podolia and Severshchina (patrimony) were deposited from Lithuania.

However, in the depths of his soul, Jagiello must have envied and feared him. In addition, there were contradictions in foreign policy views between the uncle and nephew: he sympathized with Moscow, and Jagiello sought an alliance with the Germans and Tatars. In February 1380, Jagiello secretly signed a five-month truce with the Livonian Order, and on May 31 he signed a secret Davidishkov treaty with the Teutonic Order. Jagiello and the crusaders agreed on a non-aggression, while the Order retained the right to attack the lands, and Jagailo - to help that just enough so as not to arouse suspicion of betrayal. The Teutons also pledged to maintain neutrality in Jagiello's wars with the Russian princes. Having secured its western borders, Yagailo united with the Golden Horde against the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In September 1380, Jagiello sent a Lithuanian army to the Kulikovo field to help Mamai, but did not have time to fight. Nevertheless, the Lithuanians attacked the Russian wagon train returning to Moscow and took rich booty.

In February 1381, the Teutons invaded and plundered Samogitia. At this time, the commander Ostrode, who was a godfather, informed him about Jagaila's betrayal. Taking advantage of the fact that Jagiello was busy suppressing the uprising in Polotsk, he gathered an army and moved to Prussia, but then suddenly turned to Vilna. On the way, he met Jagiello and arrested him, and proclaimed himself the Grand Duke. Only intercession saved Jagaila. treated him quite gently and let him go, returning the patrimonial possessions - Krevo and Vitebsk. Jagiello had to acknowledge in writing the supremacy of his uncle. The rest of the Gediminovichs, in addition, were also formally recognized as the Grand Duke. But not all of them were satisfied with the situation. In May 1382 he raised a mutiny. went to him with a small detachment, but was defeated. Meanwhile, the Germans rebelled in Vilna, dissatisfied with the policy of the Grand Duke. There is no doubt that the uprising took place with the knowledge of Jagaila. On June 12, he arrived in the capital and organized the defense of the city against the advancing one. At the end of June, crusaders from the north and Jagiello from the direction of Vilna went to Troki, where he settled down. was forced to retreat to Grodno. On July 6, Jagiello signed a truce with the crusaders for a month, taking from them a commitment not to help. On July 20, Jagailo took Troki, placing him as governor.

The question of whether Vladislav-Jagiello became the Polish king remains controversial. Under his first letters there is a signature "lord and guardian of the Kingdom of Poland", in later documents he calls himself "King of Poland, Supreme Duke of Lithuania and Russian votchich", but many letters are confirmed, and some, on the contrary, are signed and confirmed by Vladislav-Jagiello. Moreover, after his death, doubts were raised about the legality of Vladislav-Jagiello's occupation of the Polish throne.

At first, Jagailo retained all power in Lithuania in his hands, although he ruled it through the governor. He died in 1385. Yagailo lured over to his side his strongest vassal, the prince of Ostrozh, and took it from Lutsk, which he got. However, he continued to hold the Troki in his hands. And in general, Yagaila's ambitious cousin was not satisfied with the position of a serving prince.

It must be said that many in Lithuania were dissatisfied with the union with Poland. found allies among the younger princes and began to prepare for war. He hoped to seize the Vilnius castle during the celebration of the wedding of his daughter Sophia with the Grand Duke of Moscow. But this plan was thwarted by a German spy. turned to the Teutons for help and confirmed the terms of the previously signed Koenigsberg Treaty with a promise to give Samogitia. In addition to the Germans, many mercenaries from other European countries arrived in his camp, including the future king of England and Marshal of France Jean le Mengra. Jagiello also gathered troops. He captured several castles in Podlasie, placing Polish garrisons in them, and after a six-month siege, in April 1390, took Grodno. At the end of the summer of the same year, he undertook a major campaign, but during the siege of Georgenburg, Grand Master Konrad Zöllner von Rothenstein died, and the crusaders lifted the siege. The siege of Vilna also ended in failure. The troops ran out of gunpowder, the service life of the mercenaries had expired, the crusaders had to elect a new master. The siege was lifted and the coalition troops returned to Prussia.

Fighting resumed the following year. The new master of the Teutonic Order, Konrad von Wallenrod, organized a crusade against Lithuania and continued to buy up Polish lands, which Jagiello claimed. In a word, the war was unsuccessful both for Jagiello and for. The lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were ruined more and more, and the Germans did not give a damn about the interests of their ally. Jagailo tried to replace his brother Wiegand as governor in Lithuania, but he died under unexplained circumstances on June 28, 1392. Then Jagiello decided to start peace negotiations with. On July 4, 1392, the cousins ​​met at the Ostrov estate near Lida and signed an agreement, according to which he became the Grand Duke of Lithuania and received back his patrimony - the Trok principality. Jagailo also received the title of the Supreme Duke of Lithuania and became a suzerain. He also promised that after his death the lands of the Grand Duchy will become the property of the King of Poland. This commitment was confirmed by the Vilna-Radom Union of 1401. Despite this, he pursued a fairly independent policy in Lithuania, and Vladislav-Jagailo concentrated on Polish affairs.

In the family of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd and his second wife Yuliana Alexandrovna, the princess of Tver, in 1362, the son of Jagailo was born. But already in 1377, Prince Olgerd died, leaving a legacy of a rather powerful state, which united the lands from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. He bequeathed the princely throne to his eldest son from his second marriage - Jagaila, who ascended the princely throne in 1377, thereby causing the discontent of 11 brothers and uncle Keistut - the brother of the deceased prince.

Power struggle

As expected, internecine conflicts began between the relatives, as a result of which part of the territory was lost, since some of the brothers with their lands joined the Moscow principality. But the prince did not dare to fight such a strong enemy, but an opportunity to take revenge and weaken the enemy soon presented itself. Yagailo entered into an agreement with the Tatar Khan Mamai and had to send his army along with his horde to Moscow. But, having learned that Mamai had lost the battle of Kulikovo, he and his soldiers turned back, never joining the battle. But the goal was achieved, albeit by alien forces: the Moscow state was weakened. Soon, this enmity faded into the background, since a civil war broke out in the Lithuanian principality itself. Uncle Keistut did not share the political views of Prince Jagiello and wanted to put his son Vitovt on the Lithuanian throne. At the end of November 1381, the uncle overthrew his nephew from the throne, and he lived under arrest for about a year in his estates - Vitebsk and Krevo. But already in 1382 he regained power in the Lithuanian principality, executed Keistut's uncle and his wife. Only his cousin Vitovt managed to escape, who, with the help of the Teutonic Order, began a struggle for power with Jagiello. As a result of this struggle, part of the territory of the Lithuanian principality was lost.

The path to the Polish crown

Feeling that he could not resist the Teutonic Order alone, the Grand Duke of Lithuania began to look for allies in the person of Poland, which in 1382 was left without a king: Louis I the Great died, leaving no heirs-sons behind. The Polish throne went to an underage daughter - Jadwiga of Anjou. Realizing that she would not be able to run the state on her own, the Polish magnates began looking for a spouse for their queen and drew attention to the Grand Duke of Lithuania. To become King of Poland was a very tempting offer for Jagiello: having united Poland and Lithuania, he became the head of a powerful state. Jadwiga, who was crowned in 1384, strongly opposed this marriage, but the Polish gentry managed to convince her. On the way to the Polish crown, the Grand Duke of Lithuania had only to sign the Krevo union. This event took place on August 14, 1385. According to this agreement, Prince Jagailo and Queen Jadwiga entered into a dynastic marriage alliance, all Lithuanian lands were annexed to Poland, the future king must convert to Catholicism and convert the entire Lithuanian people to this faith, and also contribute to the return of all lands captured from Poland.

Fulfilling the agreement, Jagailo renounced the pagan faith and on February 15, 1386 in Wawel he was baptized under the name Vladislav. On February 18, the newly-minted Catholic Vladislav married the 13-year-old Queen Yadwiga. On March 4 of the same year, the coronation of Jagiello took place, and Poland had a new king - Vladislav II Jagiello. From that moment on, a new royal dynasty of Jagiellons reigned on the Polish throne for 200 years.

Polish king Vladislav II Jagiello

After becoming king, Jagiello resided permanently in Poland, and he ruled over Lithuania, which became part of his new state, with the help of governors. According to the Union of Kreva, starting in 1386, a mass conversion of the Lithuanian people to the Catholic faith began. But all these events caused a storm of protests in Lithuania, and Vitovt, a cousin of the new Polish king, became the head of the disaffected. The struggle between the brothers lasted 3 years, and they were able to agree only when the Teutonic Order began to threaten the security of both states. In 1392 Vitovt became the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Jagailo became his suzerain - the Supreme Duke of Lithuania. At the same time, the union of the two states was preserved, and Lithuania received substantial autonomy.

All subsequent years, the Teutonic Order constantly threatened the Polish-Lithuanian state and more than once hostilities began between them. In 1410, the most grandiose battle of the Middle Ages took place - the Battle of Grunwald, in which the united Polish-Lithuanian army, with the support of Czech, Russian and Ukrainian units, defeated the forces of the crusaders. Many lands seized by the order returned to Lithuania and Poland, and the Teutonic Order lost its combat capability and was no longer a threat to the Polish state. Vladislav II Jagiello showed himself in this war as a talented military leader, but the king was unable to take full advantage of his victory - this, as usual, was the reason for the feuds of the Polish and Lithuanian nobles.

Vladislav II Jagiello ruled the country until his death. He died in 1434 at the age of 72. Among all Polish kings, he ruled the country the longest - 48 years and 4 months.
Throughout his life, Jagiello was married four times - this is also a kind of record among Polish crowned persons. The first wife, Queen Yadviga of Anjou, died in 1399. The daughter she had born died as a baby. In 1402, the king married again - to Anna Celskaya, the granddaughter of the last Polish king from the Piast dynasty. From this marriage, the daughter of Yadwiga was born. Family life with his third wife, Elzhbeta Granovskaya, lasted only three years, but this union was childless. At the age of 60, Vladislav II Jagiello married the fourth time - to Sofia Golshanskaya. And it was she who gave birth to the heirs to the Polish throne - the future kings Vladislav III and Casimir VI.

The role of Jagiello in history is very great - this Polish king, without a single drop of Polish blood, is the progenitor of a great and powerful state - the Commonwealth.