Jagiellon dynasty (redirected from Jagiellons)

Jagiellon dynasty

Family of monarchs of Poland-Lithuania, Bohemia, and Hungary that became one of the most powerful in east-central Europe in the 15th–16th centuries. It was founded by Jogaila, grand duke of Lithuania, who became Wladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland after marriage to Queen Jadwiga (1373?–99) in 1386. Wladyslaw III Warnenczyk (1424–44) extended the dynasty by also assuming the throne of Hungary (1440). He was succeeded by Casimir IV, who placed his son on the thrones of Bohemia (1471) and Hungary. During the reigns of Casimir's sons John Albert (1459–1501) and Alexander (1461–1506), the Jagiellon rulers lost much of their power in Poland to the nobility. When Sigismund I succeeded Alexander in 1506, he strengthened the government and saw the Teutonic Order convert its lands into the secular duchy of Prussia (1525), a Polish fief. In 1526 the death of Louis II ended Jagiellon rule in Bohemia and Hungary. In 1561 Sigismund II Augustus incorporated Livonia into Poland, but when he died, leaving no heirs, the Jagiellon dynasty ended (1572).