Monday, August 25, 2008

Wladyslaw Jagiello

Władysław II Jagiełło (1362-1434), was Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle, Kęstutis. In 1386, he converted to Christianity, was baptized as Władysław, married the young Queen Jadwiga of Poland, inducted into the Order of the Dragon and was crowned Polish king as Władysław Jagiełło. His reign in Poland lasted a further forty-eight years and laid the foundation for the centuries-long Polish-Lithuanian union. He gave his name to the Jagiellon branch of the established Lithuanian Gediminids dynasty, which ruled both states until 1572, and became one of the most influential dynasties in medieval Central and Eastern Europe.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Urus


The urus (or aurochs) was a very large type of cattle that was prevalent in Europe until its extinction in 1627. more...

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Wladyslaw the Elbow-high

Władysław the Elbow-high (or Ladislaus I of Poland) 1261 - March 2, 1333, was a King of Poland. He was a Duke until 1300, and Prince of Kraków from 1305 until his coronation as King on January 20, 1320.