Info| Persons, originating from Poland
Barbara Radziwiłł |
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Born: about 1520-1521 in VilniusDied: 8 May 1551 in Cracow.
Polish name: Barbara Radziwiłłówna
Lithuanian name: Barbora Radvilaitė,
She was queen of Poland and grand duchess of Lithuania, and consort to king Sigismund II August. Barbara was the daughter of a powerful magnate of the Radziwiłł family, voivode and hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Jerzy Radziwiłł, and Barbara Koła.
Painting by Lucas Cranach -->
Her marriage in 1547 to Grand Duke of
Lithuania and king of Poland Sigismund II August, the last monarch of
the Jagiellon Dynasty, greatly increased the power of the Radziwiłł
family in Poland and Lithuania. Barbara was crowned Queen on
December 7, 1550. She died in Cracow, five months after
her coronation. Her death was a severe loss to the king, and there was
an unproven suspicion that she had been poisoned by the queen Mother,
Bona. She was burried in Vilnius, in the crypt of the Vilnius Cathedral.Barbara's life and death have inspired legends, paintings, literary works and films.
More information
Polonica stamps:
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Lithuania 1996, 27 IV |
