Kazimierz IV Jagiello, King
of Poland 1445-1492, Grand Duke of Lithuania, (1427-1492)
son of Wladyslaw II Jagiello, King of Poland 1386-1434,
Grand Duke of Lithuania and Zofia (Sonka) Holszanska
Born 30 November 1427
Died 7 June 1492 Grodno
Married 10 February 1454 Cracow
Elisabeth of Austria
Born 1437
Died 30 August 1505 Cracow
His brother and predecessor, King Ladislaus III, died in battle aged
only twenty-one. Already Grand Duke of Lithuania, Kazimierz IV was elected
King of Poland in 1445. As Grand Duke he wanted to have the provinces of
Volhynia and Podolia restored to Lithuania. These provinces were governed
by Polish governors and, when he became King of Poland, he was forced by
the magnates to continue in this situation.
After his coronation he curbed the power of the clergy and pursued the
crowns of Bohemia and Hungary after the childless death of King Ladislaus.
However, the Bohemians chose George Podiebrad while Hungary elected Matthias
Corvinus. George Podiebrad was a Hussite and therefor
resented by the Catholics of Bohemia who then approached Poland for
support. As a result, Kazimierz's son, Ladislaus V, became King of Bohemia
and, when the childless Matthias Corvinus died, Ladislaus became King of
Hungary as well. When Kazimierz died, his second son, Johann I, was the
next Polish King.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
