Hedwig of Legnica
Hedwig of Legnica (Polish: Jadwiga Legnicka) (ca. 1351 – 1 August 1409) was a Polish princess and member of the Piast dynasty, in the Legnica branch. By marriage Hedwig was Duchess of Żagań.
Hedwig of Legnica | |
|---|---|
| Duchess of Żagań | |
 Coat-of-arms of Silesian Piasts | |
| Born | c. 1351 Poland |
| Died | 1409 |
| Noble family | Piast dynasty |
| Husband | Henry VI the Older |
| Father | Wenceslaus I of Legnica |
| Mother | Anna of Cieszyn |
She was the fourth child and only daughter of Wenceslaus I, Duke of Legnica and his wife Anna, daughter of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn.
Life
Hedwig married on 10 February 1372 to Henry VI the Older, Duke of Głogów-Żagań. Their union was an unhappy one; after the premature death of their only daughter, the Ducal couple became formally separated. Hedwig remained in Żagań and Henry VI moved to Krosno Odrzańskie, where he died on 5 December 1393.
Despite their many years of estrangement, in his will Henry VI left all his lands to Hedwig as her dower, these included the towns of: Żagań, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin. Hedwig ruled over the lands until 1403, when she renounced her government over them on behalf of Henry VI's nephews.
References
- Cawley, Charles, SILESIA, Medieval Lands database, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy,
- Marek, Miroslav. "Complete Genealogy of the House of Piast". Genealogy.EU.
- Chronological Dates in Stoyan
| Preceded by Henry VI the Older |
Duchess of Żagań 1393–1403 |
Succeeded by Jan I Henry IX the Older Henry X Rumpold Wenceslaus |