Elizabeth Richeza of Poland
A Polish princess whose strategic marriages made her a queen twice over, weaving her through the tangled dynastic wars of Central Europe.
1288–1335 (age 47)·Queen of Bohemia and Poland·Birthday: September 1
Biography
Elizabeth Richeza's life was one of high-born tragedy and resilience. Born the only child of a Polish king, she was a precious dynastic asset from infancy. Her first marriage to Wenceslaus II of Bohemia made her Queen of Bohemia and Poland while still in her teens, but this position was shattered by his death and the subsequent murder of her son. Thrust into the heart of the Habsburg-Bohemian power struggles, she later married Rudolf I of Austria, becoming a duchess and navigating the volatile politics of the region. While often a pawn in larger games, Richeza used her resources to become a noted patron, founding a significant Cistercian monastery in Brno that served as her final resting place and a testament to her influence.
#1 When Elizabeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1288
Elizabeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1288Born
1293Started school
1301Became a teenager
1304Could drive
1306Could vote
1309Turned 21
1318Turned 30
1328Turned 40
1335Died at 47
Key Achievements
- Became Queen consort of both Bohemia and Poland through her marriage to Wenceslaus II.
- Later became Duchess consort of Austria and Styria through her marriage to Rudolf I of Habsburg.
- Founded the Queen Richeza's Monastery, a Cistercian abbey in Brno, which became her burial site.
Did You Know?
She was the only child of Przemysł II, who was crowned King of Poland in 1295.
Her mother, Richeza of Sweden, was the daughter of a deposed Swedish king, Valdemar.
After her second husband's death, she lived primarily in Brno, in the modern Czech Republic, for the remainder of her life.
“I wore the crowns of two kingdoms, yet buried two husbands and fought for my son's birthright.”
