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ST HEDWIG, QUEEN OF POLAND - 17 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 17th of July

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SAINT HEDWIG, QUEEN OF POLAND 

Saint Hedwig (Jadwiga) was born in 1374 in Buda, Hungary as the youngest daughter of the Hungarian king Louis I of Anjou (1342-82) and his wife Elisabeth of Bosnia. Louis in 1370 became King Louis the Great of Poland (1370-82). He had no sons, only daughters. King Louis died unexpectedly in 1382, when Hedwig was only eight years old. After considerable diplomatic activity and political intrigue, Hedwig was chosen by the Poles as their queen and crowned on October 16, 1384 as rex ("king"). 

SHE WAS CHOSEN AS QUEEN

The only thing left now was to get her married, so that the succession could be secured. The Polish nobles decided that she should marry Jogaila (Jagiello), Grand Duke of Lithuania and Rutenia, who was not yet a Christian.

THE ROYAL WEDDING

Jagiello, his brothers and the leading Lithuanian nobles were baptised on February 15, 1386 in Krakow Cathedral, and the royal wedding took place on February 18.

THE ALLIANCE

Through his marriage in 1386, Jagiello became King Ladislas II of Poland (Wladyslaw II Jagiello), and with this began the 400-year alliance between Poland and Lithuania. The dynasty ruled until 1572 over Poland and Lithuania, occasionally also over Bohemia and Hungary.

SHE GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED CHURCHES

Hedwig generously supported churches and monasteries and helped the poor, widows and orphans, which made her highly respected by the people. In 1297, the 23-year-old queen received permission from Pope Boniface IX to establish the Faculty of Theology at the University of Krakow, which was founded in 1364 and which she restored. Krakow was then the capital of Poland. All her life she was known as the queen who cared for the poor. She became known for her charity, and her asceticism.

SHE WAS EXPECTING A CHILD

Early in 1399, Hedwig withdrew from public life because she was expecting a child. A daughter was born prematurely in June, but died after only three days. Four days later, on July 17, 1399, Hedwig also died in Krakow, only 25 years old. She was buried in the city's 14th century cathedral. 

She was officially canonised on June 8, 1997 by Pope John Paul II in Krakow.

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