Sigismund II Augustus
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Sigismund II. August (Polish Zygmunt II. August, Lithuanian Žygimantas Augustas; * 1 August 1520 in Kraków, Poland; † 7 July 1572 in Knyszyn, Poland) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1529, King of Poland from 1530 and sole ruler from 1548, after the death of his father. He was the first regent of the state of Poland-Lithuania from 1569.
The member of the Order of the Golden Fleece remained childless, which caused the extinction of the dynasty of the Jagiellonians. After that, the elective monarchy was introduced and a French prince was elected King and Grand Duke of Poland-Lithuania as Henry I.
King Sigismund II. August of Poland (before 1572)
Family and marriages
Sigismund was the son of King Sigismund I and his second wife, Bona Sforza. He had been Grand Duke of Lithuania since 1529, but did not assume independent responsibility of state affairs until 1544. In 1530, reluctantly accepted by the Polish nobility, he was crowned King of Poland by Vivente Rege during his father's lifetime, but did not assume the kingship until after his death in 1548.
Sigismund II remained childless in his three marriages to Elizabeth (1526-1545), Barbara Radziwiłł (1520-1551) and Catherine (1533-1572). With his death, the royal dynasty of the Jagiellons became extinct in the male line, so the succession was settled in the Union of Lublin in 1569. The mortal remains of Sigismund II. August were buried in the Wawel Cathedral in Krakow.
Lublin Union
On 1 July 1569, the parliament convened by Sigismund II, the Sejm, decided on the Lublin Union:
- the transformation of the states of the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and Royal Prussia, which until then had been connected in personal union, into a single state through a real union, the so-called Rzeczpospolita;
- uniform legislation, official language (Polish and Latin) and currency;
- a parliament and a monarch;
- Introduction of the elective monarchy;
Questions and Answers
Q: Who was Sigismund II Augustus?
A: Sigismund II Augustus was a Polish king and the last member of the Jagiellon dynasty, who was also the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1548 to 1572.
Q: What was Sigismund II Augustus' role in Polish history?
A: Sigismund II Augustus was a significant figure in Polish history as he was the last king of the Jagiellon dynasty, which had ruled Poland for almost two centuries.
Q: When did Sigismund II Augustus live and reign?
A: Sigismund II Augustus was born in 1520 and reigned as king of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1548 until his death in 1572.
Q: What was Sigismund II Augustus' status within Lithuania?
A: Sigismund II Augustus was not only a Polish king but also the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1548 to 1572.
Q: What was the significance of the Jagiellon dynasty in Polish history?
A: The Jagiellon dynasty was significant and had ruled Poland for almost two centuries before Sigismund II Augustus. They had helped create a strong centralized state and had also brought about a period of cultural and economic growth.
Q: How did Sigismund II Augustus' reign contribute to the history of Poland?
A: Sigismund II Augustus' reign marked the end of the Jagiellon dynasty's rule in Poland and the beginning of the elective monarchy period, which significantly altered Poland's political and social structures.
Q: How did Sigismund II Augustus' reign impact Polish-Lithuanian relations?
A: Sigismund II Augustus' dual role as king of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania helped ease tensions between the two countries and helped foster closer political and cultural ties.
