JAGIELLO (WLADISLAUS), KING OF POLAND - 22 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 22nd of March

JAGIELLO (WLADISLAUS), KING OF POLAND  

Jagellus (also Jagal, Jagello, Jagiello and Jagyello) was Grand Duke of Lithuania and later Wladislaus King of Poland. In 1381, he succeeded his father Oljierd (Olgerdus) as Grand Duke of Lithuania. 

HIS MARRIAGE

In 1386 he married Hedwig [Jadwiga], the second daughter of King Ludwig I of Hungary and Poland, whom the crown of Poland had been transferred to in 1382 on condition that the wishes of the nation be taken into account in the choice of her husband. Then, at the urgent request of the Polish magnates, she accepted Jagiello, who promised, above all, to accept the Roman Catholic religion himself and to introduce the same in Lithuania, which was to be united with Poland. 

THE CONVERSION OF THE LITHUANIAN PEOPLE

Jagiello was baptised by the Archbishop of Gniezno on February 14, 1386 along with several Lithuanian princes. In baptism, he received the name Wladislaus. He then began - with the eager cooperation of his wife Hedwig - to work seriously for the conversion of the Lithuanian people. He  was helped by some Franciscans. who were able to speak the language, and he joined as a Franciscan Tertiary.  

THEY DECLARED THEMSELVES READY FOR BAPTISM

In 1387 he himself travelled to Vilna with his wife, had the sacred fire extinguished before the eyes of the people, had sacred groves set on fire and snakes, which were considered sacred, were killed. The Lithuanians now awaited the vengeance of their gods; but since this did not happen, they declared themselves ready for baptism. 

HE HIMSELF TAUGHT THE PEOPLE THE CREED AND THE LORD'S PRAYER

Due to the vast number of people it could only be granted individually to some few distinguished personages. The rest were present in such large numbers that they had to be divided into several groups, which were then sprinkled with holy water. Each of the first group received the name Peter, the second group the name Paul, the third group the name John, etc., and it was the same with the women, of which one group was named Mary and another the name Anna etc. Jagiello took it upon himself to teach the people the Creed and the Lord's Prayer.

A WORTHY RULER

He also erected churches, parishes, and bishoprics, while his pious wife encouraged him in his meritorious endeavours. Jagiello died on May 31, 1434 and, despite some downsides, he always remains a worthy ruler.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, 1858)