Helen of Znojmo
| Helen of Znojmo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| High Duchess consort of Poland | |
| Reign | 1177–1194 |
| Born | 1141? |
| Died | 1202/1206 |
| Spouse | Casimir II the Just |
| Issue Detail |
Maria, Grand Princess of Kiev Leszek the White Konrad I of Masovia |
| House |
Přemyslid dynasty (by birth) Piast dynasty (by marriage) |
| Father | Conrad II of Znojmo |
| Mother | Maria of Serbia |
Helena of Znojmo (Czech: Helena Znojemská; Polish: Helena znojemska; c. 1141–1202/06), was a Bohemian princess, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty. She was the daughter of Duke Conrad II of Znojmo and his Serbian wife Maria of Rascia (daughter of Uroš I). Helena was probably named after her maternal aunt, Queen Helena of Hungary, wife of King Béla II.
Born as princess of the Znojmo Appanage (named after its centre, the town of Znojmo in southern Moravia), later became thanks to marriage Duchess of Masovia (1186–1194) and Duchess-regent of Cracow (Kraków), Sandomierz and Masovia on behalf of her minor son during 1194–1199/1200.
Helen married the Casimir II the Just, youngest son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, probably shortly after his return from captivity.
When on 1 May 1194 Helen's husband died, presumably as a result of a heart attack, he left her with their two minor sons on whose behalf she took regency of Lesser Poland and Masovia with blessings from Bishop of Kraków Fulko and Kraków Voivode.
Helen's regency was not an easy one, because other princes threatened the minors., their own uncle Mieszko III the Old was after Kraków. Bloody stocks, which were the culminating moment of the Battle of Mozgawa between Helen and Mieszko, it lasted until 1198 when they reached an agreement with Duke of Greater Poland. Mieszko would take Kraków, in return for which he gave Helen and her sons Kuyavia. Independent authority over the inheritance was taken on by Leszek the White who took over in 1199 or 1200. The great political and intelligent Helen testied words written in the chronicle of Vincent Kadlubek, who certainly knew the princess in person. According to him Helen was "a woman with greater wisdom than usually women have".
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