Elizabeth of Poland (1305–1380)

Queen of Hungary. Name variations: Elizabeth Lokietek; Elizabeth of Hungary. Born in 1305 in Poland; died in 1380 in Hungary (some sources cite 1386); daughter of Elizabeth of Bosnia (d. 1339) and Ladislas I Lokietek (1260–1333), king of Poland (r. 1306–1333); married Charles Robert of Anjou (1288–1342) also known as Charles I, king of Hungary (r. 1307–1342), in 1320; children: Louis I (b. 1326), king of Hungary (r. 1342–1382), king of Poland (r. 1370–1382); Andrew of Hungary (d. 1345, who married Joanna I of Naples).

A princess of the Polish royal house, Elizabeth of Poland was married as a child to Charles Robert of Anjou (who was also known as Charles I, king of Hungary) in 1320. The marriage was intended to forge a political alliance between her father, Ladislas I Lokietek, and Hungary. Elizabeth, who gave birth to two children, Louis and Andrew, had great hopes for her elder son Louis. Among other schemes, she petitioned the pope unsuccessfully to award Louis the crown of Naples. She did manage, however, to wed her younger son Andrew to the ruler whom the pope supported, Joanna I of Naples .

Besides her political aspirations for her family, the Hungarian queen became well-known for her charity and deep piety; she was also very interested in science and medicine. When Elizabeth's brother Casimir (III), who had succeeded their father as king of Poland, died in 1370, he left the throne to Elizabeth's son Louis. Not interested in ruling it himself, Louis appointed his mother regent of Poland. Elizabeth retained the regency until her death. She was also influential in the upbringing of her powerful granddaughter, Jadwiga (1374–1399), queen of Poland.

Laura York , Riverside, California