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Sigismund Augustus of Poland

Sigismund II Augustus
A portrait of Sigismund II Augustus, in a black hat with a white feather, a white ruff on his neck, and an ornate gold chain around his neck.
Sigismund II Augustus. Painting by Lucas Cranach the Younger.
King of Poland
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign 1 April 1548 – 7 July 1572
Predecessor Sigismund I the Old
Successor Henry III (in 1573)
Born (1520-08-01)1 August 1520
Kraków, Poland
Died 7 July 1572(1572-07-07) (aged 51)
Knyszyn, Poland
Burial 10 February 1574
Wawel Cathedral, Kraków
Spouses Elisabeth of Austria
(m. 1543–1545; her death)
Barbara Radziwiłł
(m. 1547–1551; her death)
Catherine of Austria
(m. 1553–1572; her death)
Dynasty Jagiellon
Father Sigismund I the Old
Mother Bona Sforza
Signature Sigismund II Augustus's signature

Sigismund II Augustus (Polish: Zygmunt II August, Ruthenian: Żygimont II Awgust, Lithuanian: Žygimantas II Augustas, German: Sigismund II. August) (1 August 1520 – 7 July 1572) was the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548. Married three times, the last of the Jagiellons remained childless, and through the Union of Lublin introduced a free elective monarchy.

From the outset of his reign, Sigismund came into collision with the country's nobility, who had already begun curtailing the power of the great families. The ostensible cause of the nobility's animosity to the King was his second marriage, secretly contracted before his accession to the throne, with (said to be beautiful) Lithuanian Calvinist, Barbara Radziwiłł, daughter of Hetman Jerzy Radziwiłł.

So violent was the agitation at Sigismund's first sejm (31 October 1548) that the deputies threatened to renounce their allegiance unless the King repudiated his wife Barbara. He refused and won the day.

By 1550, when Sigismund summoned his second Sejm, a reaction had begun in his favor, and the nobility was rebuked by Piotr Kmita, Marshal of the Sejm, who accused them of attempting to unduly diminish the legislative prerogatives of the crown.


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