nabooqueen: history meme | one out of nine kings and queens ↳ King Jadwiga of Poland (reigning Octob

nabooqueen:history meme | one out of nine kings and queens↳ King Jadwiga of Poland (reigning October 16 1384 - July 17 1399)King Jadwiga of Poland, also known as King Hedwig, was the first female ruler of The Kingdom of Poland. With her ancestry connecting back to the native Piast dynasty of Poland, she is said to be the most Polish of all of Poland’s rulers. After her father’s death and much dispute over who was to be the next ruler of Poland, at roughly age eleven Jadwiga was crowned King of Poland as Polish law did not specify whether a King could be male or female – although this title is thought to have been given to her to distinguish the fact that she was not a queen consort but rather a queen regent.Due to the fact that Jadwiga was a minor during the first years of her reign, she was merely a tool for her advisers to exploit. Jadwiga, however, matured quickly (particularly her charm and kindness) and strengthened her position and soon became a ruler in her own right. A notable part of her early rule includes her marching at the head of Polish troops to Ruthenia where all but one governors submitted her without opposition after a group of rebels murdered her mother. During the last years of her reign, Jadwiga’s strength as a leader continued to show as she was a skilled mediator – famed for her intelligence and impartiality. She strived to create peace between her country and the threats to it.Jadwiga attended many charities and cultural festivals as ruler. She sponsored writers and artists and donated much of her personal wealth, including her royal insignia, to charity, for purposes including the founding of hospitals. She financed a scholarship for twenty Lithuanians to study at Charles University in Prague to help strengthen Christianity in their country, to which purpose she also founded a bishopric in Vilnius. Among her most notable cultural legacies was the restoration of the Kraków Academy.Jadwiga gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Bonifacia, on June 23 1399. Elizabeth died on July 13 1399. Jadwiga passed away soon after on July 17 1399. She was buried with her daughter in Wawel Cathedral on August 24 1399.Jadwiga often prayed before a large black crucifix hanging in the north aisle of Wawel Cathedral. During one of these prayers, the Christ on the cross is said to have spoken to her. The crucifix, “Saint Jadwiga’s cross,” is still there, with her relics beneath it. Because of this event, she is considered a medieval mystic. According to another legend, Jadwiga took a piece of jewelry from her foot and gave it to a poor stonemason who had begged for her help. When the king left, he noticed her footprint in the plaster floor of his workplace, even though the plaster had already hardened before her visit. The supposed footprint, known as “Jadwiga’s foot”, can still be seen in one of Kraków’s churches. On June 8 1997, Jadwiga was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II. [x] -- source link

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