Elizabeth of Poland | |
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Elizabeth of Poland with her sons
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Queen consort of Hungary | |
Tenure | 1320–1342 |
Born | 1305 |
Died | 29 December 1380 |
Spouse | Charles I of Hungary |
Issue |
Louis I of Hungary and Poland Andrew, Duke of Calabria Stephen, Duke of Slavonia Charles of Hungary Ladislaus of Hungary |
House | House of Piast |
Father | Władysław I the Elbow-high |
Mother | Jadwiga of Greater Poland |
Elizabeth of Poland (Polish: Elżbieta Łokietkówna) (1305 – 29 December 1380) was Queen consort of Hungary and regent of Poland.
She was a member of the Polish royal House of Piast, the daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, prince of Kujavia, later King of Poland, and Jadwiga of Greater Poland, she was the sister of Casimir III of Poland, who died in 1370. Her older sister was Cunigunde of Poland, who was married to Bernard of Świdnica.
She was married on 6 July 1320 to Charles I Robert, King of Hungary. Elizabeth was Charles' third wife. The marriage brought an alliance between Poland and Hungary.
Charles' two previous marriages are believed not to have left surviving issue, at least no surviving sons. Charles' first wife Maria of Bytom was believed to have been barren but it is also believed she bore two daughters: Catherine and Elizabeth. Others however believe that the two girls were daughters of Queen Elizabeth.
While at court in Hungary, Elizabeth is credited as having been the first to introduce perfume, then known as Hungary Water, to Europe and the western world.
Elizabeth and Charles Robert had five sons and possibly two daughters:
Charles Robert died 16 July 1342.
Elizabeth wished to make a good marriage for her eldest surviving son, who ascended the Polish throne on her husband's death. She had her son betrothed to Margaret of Bohemia, daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. They married in 1342 but the marriage didn't last because, seven years into the marriage, the fourteen-year-old Margaret died, childless. Elizabeth now needed for her son to remarry and produce and heir.