Henry of Masovia

Henry of Masovia (Polish: Henryk mazowiecki) (1368/1370–1392/1393) was a noble and a bishop of the Kingdom of Poland.

Henry of Masovia, born between 1368 and 1370 in Rawa Mazowiecka was the youngest child of one of the Piast dynasty princes of Masovia, Siemowit III of Masovia, and his second wife, the princess of Ziębice, Anna (or Ludmiła, sources vary). His childhood was rather tragic, as described by several contemporary chroniclers, including Janko z Czarnkowa, although as the facts vary depending on the chronicle, it is assumed parts of that story became dramatised in the years that passed. According to Janko z Czarnkowa, when Anna became pregnant, Siemowit accused her of adultery and imprisoned her in the castle. After the birth of Henry, despite weak evidence, Siemowit ordered his wife strangled and the boy cast away from his court, and raised by a peasant family.

After several years, Siemowit's daughter from his first marriage, Margareta, then wife of Casimir IV of Pomerania, decided to rescue her brother and took him to her mansion in Słupsk. Eventually, when Henry was about 10 years old and it became evident he was physically very similar to Siemowit, the latter accepted him back as his son. Siemowit, who had already divided his estates among his other sons in his last will, decided that Henry should become a priest. Nonetheless, possibly driven by feelings of guilt, he convinced his other sons to agree that if Henry would ever abandon the way of priesthood, they would share his inheritance with him.

Eventually all indicated that Henry would become a priest. On 30 May 1378, he received a parish in Płock. A few years later Siemowit, who wanted Henry to obtain a parish in Łęczyca, became involved in a conflict with the archbishop of Gniezno, Janusz Suchywilk, who had already given that parish to one of his supporters. Siemowit did not accept this and, as the Polish kingdom was weakened and in a state of disarray after the death of the King of Poland (Louis I of Hungary), he took control of the disputed parish with his army and occupied it for several years.

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