Saint Hedwig (St. Jadwiga)
Saint Hedwig (St. Jadwiga)
Saint Hedwig (St. Jadwiga) Youngest daughter of King Louis I of Hungary. Because she was great-niece to the Polish King Casimir III the Great who died childless, she became Queen of Poland in 1382 upon her father's death. She was engaged to William, Duke of Austria, whom she loved, but broke off the relationship in order to marry Jogaila, pagan Duke of Lithuania, at the age of 13, which she did of political necessity. She offered her misery in this marriage to Christ and Poland, and she eventually converted her husband together with his lieges. Jogaila was later known as King Vladislaus II of Poland after the unification of the two states. The union lasted over 400 years. Among the Queens of Poland, Hedwig was noted for excellent reign, great patronage of education and pious life, which helped to strengthen the Christianity in Poland. She funded the diocese in Vilnius and devoted great funds for the restoration of the University in Cracow. Hedwig was canonised in 1997.
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