On October 16, 1325, the wedding of King Casimir the Great and Lithuanian Princess Aldona Anna, daughter of Grand Duke Gediminas, took place in the Wawel Cathedral. This marriage sealed the Polish-Lithuanian alliance and led to the release of 24,000 Polish prisoners.

The Marriage of Casimir the Great and Aldona Anna is one of the most significant dynastic events in medieval Poland. This union had enormous political importance for the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century.

This royal wedding, organized in 1325 in Krakow, was not only a marriage ceremony but above all a manifestation of the Polish-Lithuanian alliance. Aldona Anna, as the daughter of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, brought to the marriage not only a dowry but also hope for lasting peace between both states. This strategic union was meant to secure Poland's northern borders against Teutonic invasions.

The marriage of Casimir the Great and Aldona Anna occurred during a period of intensive political changes in Central-Eastern Europe. This union was an element of a broader dynastic strategy of the Piast dynasty.

Poland in the 14th century struggled with growing threats from the Teutonic Order in the north. The Polish state under the rule of Władysław Łokietek pursued a policy of territorial consolidation, striving to regain lands lost during the period of feudal fragmentation. The key challenges of this period included:

• The expansion of the Teutonic Order in the Pomerania region

• Conflicts with Brandenburg over supremacy in Western Pomerania

• Disputes with Bohemia over control of Silesia

• Internal problems related to the unification of Polish lands

• Release of 25,000 Polish prisoners from Lithuanian captivity

• Military cooperation against the Teutonic Order

• Trade exchange between the states

• Mutual diplomatic support in the international arena

Benefits of the Alliance	Poland	Lithuania
Military	Securing the northern border	Support against the Teutonic Knights
Political	Strengthening international position	Closer ties to Christian Europe
Economic	New trade routes	Access to western markets

Aldona Anna was born around 1309 in Vilnius as the daughter of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas and his wife Jewna. Her ancestry connected her to one of the most powerful families in Eastern Europe at that time.

Aldona grew up at the grand ducal court in Vilnius in a pagan Lithuanian environment. She received a careful upbringing according to the Lithuanian aristocratic standards of the time, which included:

• Learning languages: Lithuanian and Ruthenian
• Knowledge of Lithuanian pagan traditions
• Equestrian skills typical for Lithuanian nobility
• Basics of diplomacy and court protocol

Aldona's conversion to Christianity involved the following changes:

• Baptism took place in Kraków in 1325
• Change of name from pagan Aldona to Christian Anna
• The additional name symbolized full integration into Polish Christian culture
• The new name referenced Saint Anne, mother of Mary

Name Form	Occurrence in Sources
Aldona	Lithuanian chronicles
Anna	Polish documents
Aldona Anna	Official documents

The solemn marriage between Casimir and Aldona Anna took place on October 16, 1325, in Kraków. The ceremony united two significant royal families - the Piast dynasty with the Lithuanian Gediminid dynasty.

The wedding ceremony took place at Wawel Cathedral in the presence of the most important state and church dignitaries. The service was presided over by Janisław, Archbishop of Gniezno, accompanied by Jan Grot, Bishop of Kraków, and representatives of the cathedral chapter. Aldona was baptized immediately before the wedding ceremony, which formed an integral part of the celebration. The wedding festivities lasted 7 days, including feasts, knight tournaments, and troubadour performances.

• Formation of a military alliance against the Teutonic Knights
• Release of 24,000 Polish prisoners from Lithuania
• Opening of trade routes between Poland and Lithuania
• Securing Poland's northern border
• Strengthening Poland's position in the international arena

Political Aspect	Result
Prisoners of War	24,000 released
Alliance Duration	15 years
Trade Routes	3 new routes
Military Support	1,200 Lithuanian warriors

The marriage of Casimir the Great and Aldona Anna lasted 14 years, from 1325 to 1339. The royal couple lived mainly at Wawel Castle, where Aldona Anna maintained her own court consisting of Lithuanian and Polish ladies.

The marriage of Casimir and Aldona produced two daughters:

• Elizabeth (born 1326) - later wife of Pomeranian Duke Bogislaw V
• Cunigunde (born 1328) - married to Louis VI Wittelsbach

Information	Date/Number
Number of children	2
Elizabeth's birth year	1326
Cunigunde's birth year	1328

• Establishment of permanent diplomatic communication between courts
• Development of trade contacts along northeastern routes
• Cultural exchange between Polish and Lithuanian communities
• Stabilization of situation on Poland's northeastern borders

Cooperation Effects	Result
New trade routes	3
Alliance duration	15 years
Number of released prisoners	24,000
Military support	1,200 warriors

The marriage alliance between Casimir the Great and Aldona Anna brought long-lasting consequences for both states. The impact of this union encompassed both political and cultural aspects.

The marriage strengthened Poland's strategic position in the region through:

• Establishment of permanent diplomatic communication between the courts in Krakow and Vilnius

• Acquisition of 1,200 Lithuanian warriors to defend northern borders

• Securing trade routes between Poland and Lithuania

• Reduction of border tensions between the states

• Weakening of the Teutonic Order's position in the region

• Creation of Aldona's bilingual court at Wawel

• Development of trade exchange on northeastern routes

• Integration of Lithuanian customs with Polish court culture

• Increased mobility of merchants and craftsmen between states

• Transfer of knowledge and craft skills

Aspect of cooperation	Numerical value
Number of released prisoners	24,000
Size of military contingent	1,200 warriors
New trade routes	3
Duration of alliance	15 years

• The wedding of Casimir the Great and Aldona Anna took place on October 16, 1325, in Wawel Cathedral in Krakow
• The marriage was political in nature and led to the release of 24,000 Polish prisoners from Lithuanian captivity
• This union resulted in a military alliance between Poland and Lithuania against the Teutonic Knights
• The couple had two daughters: Elizabeth (b. 1326) and Cunegunda (b. 1328)
• Before the wedding, Aldona Anna converted to Christianity, changing her pagan name to a Christian one
• The marriage lasted 14 years (1325-1339) and contributed to strengthening Poland's position in the international arena

The marriage of Casimir the Great to Aldona Anna in 1325 marked a pivotal moment in medieval Polish history. This strategic union brought significant political, military, and economic benefits to both states.

This alliance not only strengthened Poland's position in the international arena but also contributed to the development of trade and cultural exchange between Poland and Lithuania. The fourteen-year marriage resulted in the birth of two daughters and laid the groundwork for future Polish-Lithuanian cooperation.

This alliance demonstrates how effective marriage diplomacy can influence the fate of states and nations, shaping the history of Central and Eastern Europe for centuries to come.