Sophia of Halshany

Sophia of Halshany (Belarusian: Соф'я Гальшанская, "Sofja Halšanskaja"; Lithuanian: "Sofija Alšėniškė"; Polish: "Zofia Holszańska") (c. 1405-1461), was a Lithuanian princess of Halshany, Queen of Poland from (1422-1461), and the last wife of Jogaila.

Biography

Vytautas the Great helped arrange the marriage between Sophia and Jogaila. Sophia was a daughter of Vytautas's brother-in-law, Andrew of Halshany. Jogaila was already at the advanced age of 71 when, on February 24 (or 7), 1422, he married Sophia, his fourth wife, who was then at the approximate age of 17. The marriage took place in the city of Navahrudak and was carried out by Matthias of Trakai, Bishop of Samogitia. Finally, she bore him the male heirs he desired. From previous marriages he had two daughters, one who died as a baby, the other, Jadwiga of Lithuania, the last of his children with Piast blood, died in 1431 at 23, amidst rumors of poisoning. Sophia was the mother of:
*Wladislaus III of Poland (1424-1444), King of Poland 1434-1444 and Hungary 1440-1444
*Casimir IV of Poland (1427-1492), Grand Duke of Lithuania 1440-1492, King of Poland 1447-1492

Another son, also named Casimir, died at the age of one. Initially there was resistance from the Polish nobility to recognise Jogaila's and Sophia's sons as the heirs to the Polish throne. Jogaila had to make concessions and grant them new privileges in exchange for this recognition.

Sophia sponsored the translation of the Bible into the Polish language (1453–1461). She was the grandmother of Saint Casimir.

Ancestors

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1= Sophia of Halshany
2= Andrew of Halshany
3= Alexandra Drucka
4= Ivan of Halshany
5= Agrippina of Smolensk
6= Dimitri Olgierdowic
7= Anastasia of Ryazan

Patronage

References

ee also

* Wawel Cathedral
* Olshanski

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