Jadwiga I of Poland

Jadwiga was crowned monarch of Poland in 1384 and married Jogaila of Lithuania, who became Władysław II Jagiełło. Their union helped create the Polish–Lithuanian partnership, encouraged Lithuania’s Christianisation and made Jadwiga an enduring symbol of piety, learning and dynastic statecraft.

Jadwiga I of Poland also held the offices or ranks of Queen Consort of Poland, queen regnant, and King of Poland. Jadwiga I of Poland belonged to the Capetian House of Anjou and operated within Hungary; Kingdom of Poland. Jadwiga I of Poland was born in Buda and died in Kraków.

In Henryk Sienkiewicz’s The Knights of the Cross, Volume I, Zbyszko’s growing devotion to Danusia is therefore tied from the beginning to the political struggle that will eventually bring Poland and Lithuania into open war with the Order.