Uladislaus becomes

lowed on..

ly the title

of duke.

not think of polluting his hands with the death of his Poland. brother, notwithstanding all he had yet done. Nay, he even took him back to Poland, and appointed him a maintenance suitable to his rank: but he soon had reason to repent of his kindness; for his unnatural brother who is at in a short time began to raise fresh disturbances, in last put to consequence of which he soon met with the death which death. he deserved.

Poland. implicitly in the will of the pope; and therefore accept ed the terms offered, sending at the same time an embas39 sy to Rome, earnestly intreating the removal of the interdict. The request was granted; but all his endeasovereign, vours to recover the regal dignity proved fruitless, the but is al- pope having in conjunction with the emperor of Germany, conferred that honour on the duke of Bohemia. This was extremely mortifying to Uladislaus, but it was absorbed in considerations of the utmost consequence to himself and his dominions. Russia took the opportunity of the late civil disturbances to throw off the yoke; and this revolt drew after it the revolt of Prussia, Pomerania, and other provinces. The smaller provinces, however, were soon reduced; but the duke had no sooner returned to Poland, than they again rebelled, and hid their families in impenetrable forests. Uladislaus marched against them with a considerable army; but was entirely defeated, and obliged to return back with disgrace. Next year, however, he had better fortune; and, having led against them a more numerous army than before, they were content to submit and deliver up the ringleaders of the revolt to be punished as the duke thought proper.

40 Boleslaus

nions be

No sooner were the Pomeranians reduced, than civil dissensions took place. Sbigneus, the son of Uladislaus by a concubine, was placed at the head of an army by the discontented nobility, in order to subvert his father's government, and dispute the title of Boleslaus, the legitimate son of Uladislaus to the succession. The war was terminated by the defeat and captivity of Sbigneus; who was at first confined, but afterwards released on condition that he should join his father in punishing the palatine of Cracow. But before this could be done, the palatine found means to effect a reconciliation with the duke; with which the young princes being displeased, a war took place between them and their father. The end of all was, that the palatine of Cracow was banished, and the princes submitted; after which, Uladislaus, having chastised the Prussians and Pomeranians who had again revolted, died in the year 1103, the 59th of his age. Uladislaus was succeeded by his son Boleslaus III. III. divides who divided his dominions equally betwixt his brother his domi- Sbigneus and himself. The former being dissatisfied with his share, raised cabals against his brother. A civil war twixt Sbig- was for some time prevented by the good offices of the illegitimate primate: but at last Sbigneus, having privately stirred brother and up the Bohemians, Saxons, and Moravians, against his brother, made such formidable preparations as threatened the conquest of all Poland. Boleslaus, being unprovided with forces to oppose such a formidable power, had recourse to the Russians and Hungarians; who readily embraced his cause, in expectation of turning it to their own advantage. The event was, that Sbigneus was entirely defeated; and might easily have been obliged to surrender himself at discretion, had not Boleslaus generously Generosity left him in quiet possession of the duchy of Mazovia, in of Boleorder to maintain himself suitably to the dignity of his slaus, and birth. This kindness the ungrateful Sbigneus repaid by ingratitude of Sbigneus, entering into another conspiracy; but the plot being discovered, he was seized, banished, and declared a traitor if ever he set foot again in Poland. Even this severity did not produce the desired effect: Sbigneus persuaded the Pomeranians to arm in his behalf; but he was defeated, taken prisoner, and again banished. Almost all the nobility solicited the king to put such an ungrateful traitor to death; however, that generous prince could

neus his

himself.

41

A civil war.

42

IV.

43

Boleslaus was scarcely freed from the intrigues of his brother, when he found himself in greater danger than 44 ever from the ambition of the emperor Henry IV. The War with emperor had attacked the king of Hungary, with whom the empeBoleslaus was in close alliance, and from whom he had ror Henry received assistance when in great distress himself. The king of Poland determined to assist his friend; and therefore made a powerful diversion in Bohemia, where he repeatedly defeated the Imperialists: upon which, the emperor collecting all his forces, ravaged Silesia, and even entered Poland, where he laid siege to the strong town of Lubusz; but was at last obliged to abandon the enterprise, after having sustained much loss. However, Henry was not discouraged, but penetrated still farther into Poland, and was laying waste all before him, when the superior skill of Boleslaus compelled him to retire, after having almost destroyed his army with fatigue and famine, without once coming to action. Enraged at this disappointment, Henry laid siege to Glogaw, in hopes of drawing the Poles to an engagement before he should be obliged to evacuate the country. The fortifications of the place were weak; but the spirit of the inhabitants supplied their deficiencies, and they gave the Imperialists a most unexpected and vigorous reception. At last, however, they were on the point of surrendering to superior force; and actually agreed to give up the place, provided they did not receive any succours during that time. Boleslaus determined, however, not to let such a brave garrison fall a sacrifice to their loyalty; and therefore prevailed on the besieged to break the capitulation rather than surrender when they were on the point of being delivered. All this was transacted with the utmost secrecy; so that the emperor advanced, without thoughts of meeting with any resistance, to take possession of the city; but, being received by a furious discharge of arrows and javelins, he was so incensed, that he resolved to storm the place, and give no quarter. On the approach of the army, the Imperialists were astonished to see not only the breaches filled up, but new walls, secured by a wet ditch, reared behind the old, and erected during the suspension of hostilities by the industry of the besieged. The attack, however, went on; but the inhabitants, animated by despair, defended themselves Who is with incredible valour, and at last obliged the Imperia-worsted. lists to break up the siege with precipitation. Next day Boleslaus arrived, and pursued the emperor with such vigour, that he obliged him to fly with disgrace into his own country. This soon brought on a peace, which was confirmed by a marriage between Boleslaus and the emperor's sister.

45

46

into diffi

Hitherto the glory of Boleslaus had equalled, or even Boleslaus eclipsed, that of his namesake and predecessor Boleslaus brought the Great; but about the year 1135 he was brought culties by into difficulties and disgrace by his own credulity. He his own was imposed upon by an artful story patched up by a credulity certain Hungarian, who insinuated himself so far into and genehis affections, that he gave him the government of Wi-rosity. slica,

I

47

Poland divided among the

Boleslaus, by his will, left his dominions equally divided among his four sons. Uladislaus, the eldest, had children of the provinces of Cracow, Sirad, Lencici, Silesia, and Boleslaus. Pomerania. Boleslaus, the second son, had for his share the palatinates of Culm and Cujavia, with the duchy of Mazovia. The palatinates of Kaleszh and Posnania fell to Mieczslaus the third son; and to Henry, the fourth son, were assigned those of Lublin and Sandomir. Casimir the youngest child, then an infant in the cradle, was entirely forgotten, and no provision made for him. There have been but very few instances where dominions were thus divided, that the princes remained satisfied with their respective shares; neither did the sons of Boleslaus long continue at peace with one another. By the will of the late duke, all the brothers were obliged to own the supremacy of Uladislaus, who was declared duke of all Poland: they were restrained from forming alliances, declaring war, or concluding peace, without his approbation: they were obliged to take the field with a certain number of troops, whenever the duke required it; and they were forbid to meddle with the guardianship of the infant prince Casimir, his education being left entirely to the sovereign. The harmony of the princes was first disturbed by the ambition of Christina, the wife of Uladislaus, who formed a scheme to get possession of all Poland, and deprive the younger children of the benefit of their father's will. Having obtained her husband's concurrence, she assembled the states of Poland, and made a long speech, showing the dangers which might arise from a partition of the ducal dominions among so many; and concluded with attempting to show the necessity of revoking the ratification of the late duke's will, in order to ensure the obedience of the princes and the tranquillity of the republic. Many of the nobility expressed their resentment against this speech, and fully refuted every article in it; but they were all afterwards gained over, or intimidated by Uladislaus; so that none appeared to take the part of the young princes except a noble Dane, who lost his life for so doing.

48 A civil war.

49 Vladislaus

Uladislaus now having got the nobility on his side, drives out first drove Boleslaus out of his territories; next, he all the rest, marched against Henry, and dispossessed him also, forcing both to take refuge with Mieczslaus in Posnania, where all the three brothers were besieged. Several of the nobility interposed, and used all their influence to effect a reconciliation, but in vain; for Uladislaus was as inexorable as if he had received an injury; and therefore insisted that the besieged princes should surrender at discretion, and submit to the will of the conqueror.

The new duke began his administration with an act of generosity to his brother Uladislaus, to whom he gave the duchy of Silesia, which thus was separated from Poland, and has never since been re-annexed to it. This had no other effect upon Uladislaus than the putting him in a condition to raise fresh disturbances; for he now found means to persuade the emperor Conrade to invade Poland: but Boleslaus so harassed and fatigued his army by perpetual marches, ambuscades, and skirmishes, that he was obliged in a short time to return to his own country; and for some years Poland enjoyed profound tranquillity.

Poland in

During this interval Henry entered on a crusade ; and, though he lost almost all his army in that enthusiastic undertaking, he is celebrated by the superstitious writers of that age, as the bulwark of the church, and one of the greatest Christian heroes: however, in all probability, the reason of this extraordinary fame is, that he made large donations to the knights of St John of Jerusalem. Soon after the return of Henry, Po- st land was invaded by the emperor Frederic Barbarossa, vaded by who was persuaded to this by the solicitations of Ula- the empedislaus and his wife Christina. The number of the Im- ror Barba perialists was so great, that Boleslaus and his brothers rossa, did not think proper to oppose them in the field; they contented themselves with cutting off the convoys, placing ambuscades, harassing them on their march, and keeping them in perpetual alarms by false attacks and skirmishes. With this view the three brothers divided their forces, desolated the country before the enemy, and burnt all the towns and cities which were in no condition to stand a siege. Thus the emperor, advancing into the heart of a desolated country where he could not subsist, was at last reduced to such a situation that he could neither go forward nor retreat, and was obliged to solicit a conference with Boleslaus. The lat- who is ob ter was too prudent to irritate him by an unseasonable figed to haughtiness, and therefore went to the German camp sue for attended only by his brothers and a slight guard. This peace. instance of confidence was so agreeable to the emperor, that a treaty was soon entered upon, which was confirmed by a marriage between Adelaide, niece to the emperor, and Mieczslaus duke of Posnania.

Boleslaus having thus happily escaped from so great a danger, took it into his head to attempt the conquest of Prussia, for no other reason but because the inhabitants were heathens. Having unexpectedly invaded the country with a very numerous army, he succeeded in his enterprise; great numbers of infidels were converted, and many churches set up: but no sooner was Boleslaus

gone,

52

Poland. gone, than the inhabitants returned to their old religion. Upon this Boleslaus again came against them with a formidable power; but being betrayed by some Prussians whom he had taken into his service and raised to posts of honour, his army was led into defiles and almost entirely cut off, Duke Henry was killed, and Boleslaus and Mieczslaus escaped with great difficulty.

53

A civil war.

54

Casimir, an excellent prince,

This misfortune was quickly followed by another; for now the children of Uladislaus laid claim to all the Polish dominions which had been possessed by their father, most of which had been bestowed upon young Casimir. They were supported in their pretensions by a great number of discontented Poles, and a considerable body of German auxiliaries. Boleslaus, finding himself unable to withstand his enemies by force, had recourse to negotiation, by which means he gained time to recruit his army and repair his losses. An assembly of the states was held, before which the duke so fully refuted the claims of the children of Uladislaus, that it was almost unanimously voted that they had kindled an unjust war; and to take away every pretence for renewiog the civil discords of Poland, they were a second time invested with the duchy of Silesia, which for the present put an end to all disputes. After this, Boleslaus applied himself to promote, by all means, the happiness of his subjects, till his death, which happened in the year 1174. On the death of Boleslaus, the states raised his brother Mieczslaus to the ducal throne, on account of the great opinion they had of him. But the moment that Mieczslaus ceased to be a subject, he became a tyrant, and a slave to almost every kind of vice; the consequence of which was, that in a very short time he was deposed, and his brother Casimir elected in his stead.

Casimir was a prince of the greatest justice and benevolence, insomuch that he scrupled to accept of the honour which the states had conferred upon him, lest it should be a trespass against the laws of equity. How ever, this scruple being soon got over, he set himself about securing peace and tranquillity in all parts of his dominions. He redressed all grievances, suppressed exorbitant imposts, and assembled a general diet, in which it was proposed to rescue the peasants from the tyranny of the nobility; an affair of such consequence, that the duke could not enter upon it by his own authority, even though supported by the clergy. Yet it proved less difficult than had been imagined, to persuade the nobility to relinquish certain privileges extremely detrimental to natural right. They were influenced by the example of their virtuous sovereign, and immediately granted all that he required; and to secure this declaration in favour of the peasants, the archbishop of Gnesna thundered out anathemas against those who should endeavour to regain the unjust privileges which they had now renounced; and to give still greater weight to this decision, the acts of the diet were transmitted to Rome, and were confirmed by the pope.

But though the nobility in general consented to have their power somewhat retrenched, it proved matter of discontent to some, who for this reason immediately became the partisans of the deposed Mieczslaus. This unfortunate prince was now reduced to such indigence, that he wrote an account of his situation to his brother Casimir; which so much affected him, that in an assembly of the diet he proposed to resign the sovereignty in favour of his brother. To this the states replied in

the most peremptory manner: they desired him never Poland. more to mention the subject to them, lest they should be under the necessity of deposing him and excluding his brother, who, they were determined, should never more have the dominion of Poland. Casimir, however, was so much concerned at the account of his brother's misfortunes, that he tried every method to relieve him, and even connived at the arts practised by some discontented noblemen to restore him. By a very singular generosity, he facilitated the reduction of Gnesna and Lower Poland, where Mieczslaus might have lived in peace and splendour, had not his heart been so corrupted that it could not be subdued by kindness. The consequence was, that he used all his art to wrest from his brother the whole of his dominions, and actually conquered the provinces of Mazovia and Cujavia; but of these he was soon dispossessed, and only some places in Lower Poland were left him. After this he made another attempt, on occasion of a report that Casimir had been poisoned in an expedition into Russia. He surprised the city of Cracow; but the citadel refused to surrender, and his hopes were entirely blasted by the return of Casimir himself; who, with an unparalleled generosity and magnanimity, asked peace of his brother whom he had vanquished and had in a manner at his mercy. The last action of this amiable prince was the conquers conquest of Russia, which he effected rather by the reputation of his wisdom and generosity than by the force of his arms. Those barbarians voluntarily submitted to a prince so famed for his benevolence, justice, and humanity. Soon after his return, he died at Cracow, lamented as the best prince in every respect who had ever filled the throne of Poland.

55

Russia.

56

Civil war between Lechus and

Casimir left one son, named Lechus, an infant; and the states, dreading the consequences of a long minority, hesitated at appointing him sovereign, considering how many competitors he must necessarily have, and how dubious it must be whether he might be fit for the sovereignty after he had obtained it. At last, however, Lechus was nominated, chiefly through the interest he had obtained on account of the reputation of his father's the deposed virtues. The consequence of his nomination was pre- Mieczslaus cisely what might have been expected. Mieczslaus formed an alliance against him with the dukes of Oppelen, Pomerania, and Breslau; and having raised all the men in Lower Poland ht to bear arms, took the road to Cracow with a very numerous army. A bloody battle was fought on the banks of the river Mozgarva; in which both sides were so much weakened, that they were unable to keep the field, and consequently were forced to retire for some time in order to repair their forces. Mieczslaus was first ready for action, and therefore had the advantage: however, he thought proper to employ artifice rather than open force; and therefore having attempted in vain to corrupt the guardians of Lechus, he entered into a treaty with the duchess-dowager his mother. To her he represented in the strongest manner the miseries which would ensue from her refusal of the conditions he proposed. He stipulated to adopt Lechus and Conrade, her sons, for his own; to surrender the province of Cujavia for their present support; and to declare them heirs to all his dominions. The principal nobility opposed this accommodation, but 57 it was accepted by the duchess in spite of all their re- Mieczslaus monstrances; and Mieczslaus was once more put in pos- restored, I 2 session

It is not to be supposed that a prince of such a perfidious disposition as Mieczslaus would pay much regard to the obligations of a simple contract. It was a maxim with him, that a sovereign is no longer obliged to keep his oath than while it is neither safe nor beneficial to break it. Having therefore got all the power into his hands, he behaved in the very same manner as if no treaty with the duchess had subsisted. The duchess, perceiving herself duped, formed a strong party, and excited a general insurrection. The rebellion could not be withstood: Mieczslaus was driven out of Cracow, and on the point of being reduced to his former circumstances, when he found means to produce a variance between the duchess and palatine of Cracow; and thus once more turned the scale in his favour. The forces of Mieczslaus now became superior, and he, in consequence, regained possession of Cracow, but did not long enjoy his prosperity, falling a victim to his intemperance; so that Lechus was restored to the sovereignty in the year I 206.

The government of Lechus was the most unfortunate of any of the sovereigns of Poland. In his time the Tartars made an irruption, and committed everywhere the most cruel ravages. At last they came to an engagement with the Poles, assisted by the Russians; and after an obstinate and dreadful conflict, obtained a complete victory. This incursion, however, terminated as precipitately as it commenced; for without any apparent reason they retired, just as the whole kingdom was ready to submit; but the devastations they had committed produced a famine, which was soon followed by a plague that depopulated one of the most populous countries of the north. In this unhappy situation of affairs, death ended the misfortunes of Lechus, who was murdered by his own subjects as he was bathing. A civil war took place after his death; and the history for some time is so confused, that it is difficult to say with certainty who was his successor. During this unfortunate state of the country, the Tartars made a second irruption, laid all desolate before them, and were advancing to the capital, when they were attacked and defeated with great slaughter by the palatine of Cracow with only a handful of men. The power of the enemy, however, was not broken by this victory; for, next year, the Tartars returned, and committed such barbarities as can scarce be imagined. Whole provinces were defeated, and every one of the inhabitants massacred. They were returning, laden with spoil, when the palatine fell upon them a second time, but not with the same success as before: for, after an obstinate engagement, he was defeated, and thus all Poland was laid open to the ravages of the barbarians; the nobility fled into Hungary, and the peasants sought an asylum among rocks and impenetrable forests. Cracow, being left entirely defenceless, was soon taken, pillaged, and burnt; after which the barbarians, penetrating into Silesia and Moravia, desolated these countries, destroying Breslau and other cities. Nor did Hungary escape the fury of their barbarity: the king gave battle to the Tartars, but was defeated with vast slaughter, and had the mortification to see his capital laid in ashes, and above 100,000 of his subjects perish by fire and sword. The arms of the Tartars were invincible; nothing

59

In this dreadful situation was Poland when Boleslaus, surnamed the Chaste, was raised to the sovereignty; but this, so far from putting an end to the troubles, only superadded a civil war to the rest of the calamities. Boleslaus was opposed by his uncle Conrade the brother of Lechus, who was provoked at becoming the subject of his own nephew. Having assembled a powerful army, he gained possession of Cracow; assumed the title of duke of Poland; and might possibly have kept possession of the sovereignty, had not his avarice and pride equally offended the nobility and peasants. In consequence of their discontents, they unanimously invited Boleslaus, who had fled into Hungary, to come and head the insurrection which now took place in every quarter. On his arrival, he was joyfully received into Knights of the capital but Conrade still headed a powerful party; the Teutoand it is reported that on this occasion the knights of nio order the Teutonic order were first called into Poland, to instal dispute the pretensions of Boleslaus. All the endea-land. vours of Conrade, however, proved unsuccessful: he was defeated in two pitched battles, and forced to live in a private situation; though he never ceased to harass his nephew, and make fresh attempts to recover the crown. However, of the reign of Boleslaus we have little account, except that he made a vow of perpetual continency, and imposed the same on his wife; that he founded near 40 monasteries; and that he died after a long reign in 1279, after having adopted Lechus duke of Cujavia, and procured a confirmation of his choice by the free election of the people.

:

called

60

the Rus

The reign of this last prince was one continued scene Poland of foreign and domestic trouble. On his first accession overrun by he was attacked by the united forces of Russia and Lisians, Tarthuania assisted by the Tartars: whom, however, he had tars and the good fortune to defeat in a pitched battle. By this Lithuani victory the enemy were obliged to quit the kingdom: ans. but Lechus was so much weakened, that civil dissensions took place immediately after. These increased to such a degree, that Lechus was obliged to fly to Hungary, the common resource of distressed Polish princes. The inhabitants of Cracow alone remained firm in their duty; and these brave citizens stood all the fatigue and danger of a tedious siege, till they were at last relieved by Lechus at the head of a Hungarian army, who defeated the rebels, and restored to his kingdom a legitimate government. He had scarce reascended the throne when the united forces of the Russians, Tartars, and Lithuanians, made a second irruption into Poland, and desolated the country with the most savage barbarity. Their forces were now rendered more terrible than ever by their having along with them a vast number of large dogs trained to the art of war. Lechus, however, with an army much inferior, obtained a complete victory; the Poles being animated by despair, as perceiving, that, if they were conquered, they must also be devoured. Soon after this, Lechus died with the reputation of a warlike, wise, but unfortunate prince. As he died without issue, his crown was contested, a civil war again ensued;

61

ged is that of incontinency; but even this the clergy Poland: declared to be a venial sin, and amply compensated by his other virtues, particularly the great liberality which he showed to the clerical order.

Poland. ensued; and the affairs of the state continued in a very declining way till the year 1296, when Premislaus, the duke at that time, resumed the title of king. However, they did not revive in any considerable degree till the year 1305, when Uladislaus Locticus, who had seized the throne in 1300, and afterwards been driven out, was War with again restored to it. The first transaction of his reign the Teuto- was a war with the Teutonic knights, who had usurped mic knights. the greater part of Pomerania during the late disturbances. They had been settled in the territory of Culm by Conrade duke of Mazovia; but soon extended their dominion over the neighbouring provinces, and had even got possession of the city of Dantzic, where they massacred a number of Pomeranian gentlemen in cold blood; which so much terrified the neighbouring towns, that they submitted without a stroke. The knights were commanded by the Pope himself to renounce their conquests; but they set at nought all his thunders, and even suffered themselves to be excommunicated rather than part with them. As soon as this happened, the king marched into the territories of the marquis of Brandenburg, because he had pretended to sell a right to the Teutonic knights to those countries, when he had none to them himself. Uladislaus next entered the territory of Culm, where he laid every thing waste with fire and sword; and being opposed by the joint forces of the marquis, the knights, and the duke of Mazovia, he obtained a complete victory after a desperate and bloody engagement. Without pursuing the blow, he returned to Poland, recruited his army, and being reinforced by a body of auxiliaries from Hungary and Lithuania, he dispersed the enemy's forces, and ravaged a second time all the dominions of the Teutonic order. Had he improved this advantage, he might easily have exterminated the whole order, or at least reduced them so low, that they could never have occasioned any more disturbances in the state; but he suffered himself to be soothed and cajoled by the promises which they made without any design of keeping them, and concluded a treaty under the mediation of the kings of Hungary and Bohemia. In a few months he was convinced of the perfidy of the knights; for they not only refused to evacuate Pomerania as had been stipulated in the treaty, but endeavoured to extend their usurpations, for which purpose they had assembled a very considerable army. Uladislaus, enraged at their treachery, took the field a third time, and gave them battle with such success, that 4000 knights were left dead on the spot, and 30,000 auxiliaries killed or taken prisoners. Yet, though the king had it once more in his power to destroy the whole Teutonic order, he satisfied himself with obtaining the territories which had occasioned the war; after which he spent the remainder of his life in peace and tranquillity.

62

Russia Nigra con

Casimir

Uladislaus was succeeded by his son Casimir III. sur named the Great. He subdued the province called Rusquered by sia Nigra in a single campaign. Next he turned his the Great, arms against Mazovia; and with the utmost rapidity overran the duchy, and annexed it as a province to the crown; after which he applied himself to domestic affairs, and was the first who introduced a written code of laws into Poland. He was the most impartial judge, the most rigid observer of justice, and the most submissive to the laws, of any potentate mentioned in the bistory of Europe. The only vice with which he is char

63

Casimir was succeeded in 1370 by his nephew Louis Unhappy king of Hungary; but, as the Poles looked upon him reign of to be a foreign prince, they were not happy under his Lois. administration. Indeed a coldness between this monarch and his people took place even before he ascended the throne; for in the pacta conventa, to which the Polish monarchs were obliged to swear, a great number of unusual articles were inserted. This probably was the . reason why he left Poland almost as soon as his coronation was over, carrying with him the crown, sceptre, globe, and sword of state, to prevent the Poles from electing another prince during his absence. He left the government in the hands of his mother Elizabeth; and she would have been agreeable to the people, had her capacity for government been equal to the task. At that time, however, the state of Poland was too much distracted to be governed by a woman. The country was overrun with bold robbers and gangs of villains, who committed the most horrid disorders; the kingdom was likewise invaded by the Lithuanians; the whole province of Russia Nigra revolted; and the kingdom was universally filled with dissension. The Poles could not bear to see their towns filled with Hungarian garrisons; and therefore sent a message to the king, telling him that they thought he had been sufficiently honoured in being elected king of Poland himself, without suffering the kingdom to be governed by a woman and his Hungarian subjects. On this Louis immediately raised a numerous army, with a design fully to conquer the spirit of his subjects. His first operations were directed against the Russians; whom he defeated, and again reduced to subjection. Then he turned his arms against the Lithuanians, drove them out of the kingdom, and re-established public tranquility. However, instead of being satisfied with this, and removing the Hungarian garrisons, he introduced many more, and raised Hungarians to all the chief posts of government. His credit and authority even went so far as to get a successor nominated who was disagreeable to the whole nation, namely Sigismund marquis of Brandenburg. After the death of Louis, however, this election was set aside; and Hedwiga, daughter of Casimir the Great, was proclaimed queen.

64

and Russia

This princess married Jagello duke of Lithuania, who Hedwiga was now converted to Christianity, and baptized by the marries the name of Uladislaus. In consequence of this marriage, duke of Lithe duchy of Lithuania, as well as the vast provinces of thuania, thereby Samogitia and Russia Nigra, become annexed to the uniting that crown of Poland. Such a formidable accession of power duchy, toexcited the jealousy of the Teutonic knights, who were gether with sensible that Uladislaus was now bound to undertake the Samogitia reduction of Pomerania, and revenge all the injuries Nigra, to which Poland had sustained from thera for a great num- Poland. ber of years. From his first accession, therefore, they considered this monarch as their greatest enemy, and endeavoured to prevent his designs against them by effecting a revolution in Lithuania in favour of his brother Andrew. The prospect of success was the greater here, as most of the nobility were discontented with the late alliance, and Uladislaus had proposed to effect a revolution in religion, which was highly disagreeable.

On