Jagiellonian Dynasty


Jagiellonian Dynasty

 

(also Jagellonian dynasty), a dynasty that ruled Poland from 1386 to 1572, Lithuania (with brief interruptions) from 1377 to 1572, Bohemia from 1471 to 1526, and Hungary from 1440 to 1444 and from 1490 to 1526. In Poland the members of the dynasty held the title of king; in Lithuania they were grand dukes.

The founder of the Jagiellonian dynasty was Jagiello, or Jogaila. Wladyslaw III Warneńczyk was king of Poland from 1434 to 1444 and, as Ulászló I, king of Hungary from 1440 to 1444. Casimir was grand duke of Lithuania from 1440 to 1492; as Casimir IV Jagiellończyk he was king of Poland from 1447 to 1492. His son Wladyslaw, as Vladislav II, was king of Bohemia from 1471 to 1516 and, as Ulászló II, was king of Hungary from 1490 to 1516. Louis II was king of Hungary and Bohemia from 1516 to 1526; with his death in the battle of Mohács in 1526, the Hungarian-Bohemian dynastic line expired.

John I Albert ruled as king of Poland from 1492 to 1501. Alexander Kazimirovich was grand duke of Lithuania from 1492 to 1506 and king of Poland from 1501 to 1506; with his election to the Polish throne, the Polish-Lithuanian union was restored. Sigismund I the Old was king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania from 1506 to 1548, and Sigismund II Augustus was king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania from 1548 to 1572.