Casimir III the Great, the last king of Poland from the Piast dynasty, died on November 5, 1370, in Cracow due to injuries sustained from falling off a horse while hunting. His death marked the end of the 400-year reign of the Piast dynasty on the Polish throne.
The Piast Dynasty shaped Polish history for centuries, being one of the most important royal families in medieval Europe. Their reign began with the legendary Piast the Wheelwright and ended with the death of the dynasty's last representative on the Polish throne.
Although many Poles associate the end of the Piast Dynasty with Casimir the Great, who died in 1370, the last Piast on the Polish throne was actually Casimir III of Płock. The history of his reign and the circumstances of his death constitute a fascinating chapter in medieval Polish history, which continues to interest historians and history enthusiasts.
Casimir III the Great - The Last King of the Piast Dynasty
#Casimir III the Great died on November 5, 1370, in Kraków, ending the era of Piast rule on the Polish royal throne. His death resulted from injuries sustained during a fall from a horse while hunting near Przedbórz.
Circumstances of Death
#- The fall from the horse occurred on September 9, 1370
- Transport of the injured king to Kraków took 3 days
- Casimir III died after 8 weeks of suffering
- The funeral took place at Wawel Cathedral on November 7, 1370
Succession and Legacy
#| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Age at death | 60 years |
| Length of reign | 37 years |
| Successor | Louis of Hungary |
| Number of castles built | 53 |
| Number of cities founded | 27 |
King's Achievements
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Reformed the legal system by introducing the Statutes of Wiślica and Piotrków
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Founded the Kraków Academy in 1364
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Doubled Poland's territory by incorporating Ruthenia
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Modernized the country's defense system by building a network of castles
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Introduced the first Polish gold coin - florins
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Lack of legitimate male heir
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Succession agreement with the Angevins from 1355
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Attempts to legitimize offspring from the last marriage
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Power transition to his nephew - Louis of Hungary
Internal and Foreign Policy of Casimir the Great
#Internal and Foreign Policy of Casimir the Great
#Casimir III the Great led an effective policy of modernizing the Polish state in the 14th century. His actions focused on administrative reforms, economic development, and strengthening Poland's position in the international arena.
Administrative and Legal Reforms
#Casimir III introduced fundamental changes to the legal system of medieval Poland:
- Codification of land law through the Statutes of Wiślica and Piotrków (1346-1347)
- Establishment of a network of royal courts in each territory
- Creation of the Supreme Court of German Law at the Royal Castle in Kraków
- Institution of the office of starosta as representative of royal authority
Economic Development of the Country
#Casimir the Great's economic initiatives brought significant growth to the state's prosperity:
| Area of Activity | Results |
|---|---|
| Town foundations | 65 new towns |
| Castle construction | 53 fortresses |
| Trade development | 27 new trade routes |
| Colonization | 1,000 new villages |
- Modernization of the customs system with uniform rates
- Establishment of salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia
- Development of mining and metallurgy in the Holy Cross Mountains
- Construction of royal granaries network securing food supplies
The King's Final Years
#In his last years, Casimir III the Great faced serious political challenges and succession issues. The king's situation became complicated after the death of his daughter Kunegunda in 1357.
Succession Problems
#The lack of a male heir was the main challenge for Casimir III the Great. The king entered into four marriages:
- Aldona Anna of Lithuania (1325-1339) - bore two daughters
- Adelaide of Hesse (1341-1356) - marriage was childless
- Christina Rokiczana (1356-1363) - union unrecognized by the Church
- Hedwig of Żagań (1365-1370) - bore three daughters
The agreement with the Angevins from 1339 designated Louis of Hungary as heir to the throne. Casimir III tried to change this situation through:
- Efforts to legitimize offspring from the third marriage
- Attempts to invalidate the succession agreement
- Actions to recognize throne rights for grandsons through daughters
Final Years of Reign
#The late period of Casimir III's rule was characterized by intense activity:
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Establishment of the Kraków Academy in 1364
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Organization of the congress of monarchs in Kraków
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Continuation of administrative reforms
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Strengthening of the state's defensive system
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Accident date: September 9, 1370
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Location: near Przedbórz
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Cause: fall from horse
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Result: broken leg and complications
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Date of death: November 5, 1370
Death of Casimir the Great in 1370
#Casimir III the Great died on November 5, 1370, in Kraków at Wawel Castle. The immediate cause of the king's death was complications from falling off a horse while hunting in Przedbórz. The injuries proved so severe that despite the efforts of court physicians, the 60-year-old monarch did not recover.
The king's final days proceeded as follows:
- The fall from horse occurred on September 9, 1370, during hunting in the Przedbórz forests
- Transport of the ill ruler to Kraków took 3 days
- The king fought internal injuries for 8 weeks
- The will was written on October 3, 1370
- Death occurred in the afternoon hours of November 5
Details of the funeral ceremony:
| Ceremony Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Funeral date | November 7, 1370 |
| Burial place | Wawel Cathedral |
| Ceremony presider | Archbishop of Gniezno Jarosław Bogoria |
| Participants | State dignitaries, King Charles IV of Luxembourg of Bohemia |
| Tomb location | Holy Cross Chapel |
According to chroniclers' records, the mourning ceremonies lasted 7 days. The funeral was attended by representatives of all social classes of medieval Poland. The monarch's body was placed in a sarcophagus made of red Hungarian marble decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the king's life.
After the death of Casimir III, the Polish throne was taken by his nephew Louis of Hungary. The change of ruler marked the end of the Piast dynasty on the Polish throne after 400 years of uninterrupted rule. The king's testament secured the interests of his daughters from his marriage to Hedwig of Żagań by granting them significant land holdings.
End of the Piast Dynasty on the Polish Throne
#The death of Casimir III the Great on November 5, 1370, in Kraków ended the 400-year reign of the Piast dynasty on the Polish throne. This moment marked a turning point in Polish history, paving the way for the Angevin dynasty to assume power.
Transfer of Power to the Angevins
#The assumption of power by Louis of Hungary occurred based on the succession agreement of 1339. The coronation of the new ruler took place on November 17, 1370, at Wawel Cathedral, just 12 days after Casimir III's death. Key aspects of the Angevin takeover included:
- Legal basis for succession:
- The Treaty of Visegrád from 1339
- Approval by the Kraków parliament in 1355
- Support from Polish nobility through the Privilege of Koszyce
- Administrative changes:
- Establishment of regency for Louis's mother Elizabeth Łokietkówna
- Appointment of new starosts in major strongholds
- Reorganization of royal estate management system
- Louis's commitments to Poland:
- Defense of territorial integrity
- Recovery of lost territories
- Preservation of noble privileges
- Maintaining Poland's administrative independence from Hungary
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 5.11.1370 | Death of Casimir III the Great |
| 17.11.1370 | Coronation of Louis I of Hungary |
| 1374 | Issue of the Privilege of Koszyce |
| 1382 | Death of Louis I of Hungary |
The change of dynasty brought significant transformations to Poland's state power structure. The Angevins introduced a new model of governance, characterized by stronger influence of the nobility on state policy through a system of class privileges.
Key Findings
#- Casimir III the Great died on November 5, 1370, in Krakow, marking the end of the Piast dynasty on the Polish throne after 400 years of rule
- The immediate cause of the king's death was a fall from a horse while hunting in Przedbórz (September 9, 1370), followed by complications from this accident
- Among Casimir III the Great's greatest achievements were the introduction of the Statutes of Wiślica and Piotrków, the establishment of the Krakow Academy (1364), and significant expansion of the country's defensive system
- The lack of a legitimate male heir meant that Louis I of Hungary from the Angevin dynasty became the successor to the throne, according to the succession agreement of 1355
- Casimir III's funeral ceremonies took place on November 7, 1370, in Wawel Cathedral, where he was buried in a sarcophagus made of Hungarian red marble
Summary
#The death of Casimir III the Great on November 5, 1370, in Krakow marked the end of the Piast dynasty on the Polish throne. This last representative of the family left behind a significant legacy in the form of a modernized and strong Polish state.
His successor, Louis I of Hungary from the Angevin dynasty, began a new chapter in Polish history. The change of dynasty brought significant transformations to the state power structure and initiated a period of significant constitutional changes in the country.
Casimir III the Great went down in history as a ruler who transformed Poland from a wooden state into one built of stone and laid the foundations for its later development. His legal, administrative, and economic reforms shaped the face of Poland for centuries.