Viola, Duchess of Opole

Viola, Duchess of Opole, also known as Veleslava (Bulgarian: Венцислава), Polish: Wencisława-Wiola; d. 7 September 1251) was a Duchess consort of Opole-Racibórz through her marriage to Casimir I.

Viola's father's origins are disputed by historians. Chronicler Jan Długosz noted that she was originally from Bulgaria. A more popular hypothesis about Viola's parentage was given by Władysław Dziewulski, who stated that she could be the daughter of either Kaloyan of Bulgaria or his successor Boril, but this theory has been challenged by Wincenty Swoboda.Jerzy Horwat put forward another hypothesis, under which Viola could have been a daughter of either King Béla III from his second marriage to Margaret of France or his son and successor, Emeric. Today is widely favored by historians the view that the origins of Viola are unknown.

Viola was married to Casimir I, Duke of Opole-Racibórz sometime between the years 1212 and 1216.

Arguments for Viola's Bulgarian origin involve her marriage to Casimir I, because she was not mentioned in any Polish source before the duke's departure on the Fifth Crusade. According to one hypothesis, the marriage of Casimir I and Viola may have been arranged by King Andrew II of Hungary. On his way home, the Hungarian King arranged several marriage contracts at the courts he visited for various of his children. One such contract may have been the engagement of his daughter Anna Maria to the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II. As a near kinswoman of the Tsar of Bulgaria, Viola could have become engaged to Casimir I, a close associate of King Andrew II, and returned with the King to meet her future husband.

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