Janusz III of Masovia

Infobox Person
name = Janusz III Mazowiecki


image_size = 166px
caption = Janusz III Mazowiecki
birth_date = 1526
birth_place =
death_date = 9 or 10 March 1526
death_place =
education =
occupation = Duke
spouse = no
parents = Konrad III Rudy & Anna Radziwiłł
children = none

Janusz III Mazowiecki or Janusz III of Masovia (1502 – 1526) was a Polish duke of Masovia, last male of the Masovian Piast dynasty. Son of Konrad III Rudy. Until 1518 Masovia was under regency of his mother Anna Radziwiłł, then he was a co-regent with his brother Stanisław until Stanisław's death in 1524. After his heirless death in 1526, the Duchy of Masovia was annexed into the Kingdom of Poland.

Biography

Janusz was the younger son of Konrad III Rudy and Anna Radziwiłł, born in winter 1502. After his father's death in 1503 Janusz and his brother Stanisław inhertited the Czersk Land, and with support of Alexander Jagiellon, the throne of Duchy of Masovia, but due to their young age the throne was taken by their mother, Anna, who became the regent.

In 1518, both brothers were invited to the wedding of Sigismund I the Old and Bona Sforza. Janusz and Stanisław fought on the Polish side during the Polish-Teutonic War (1519–1521).

Anna reigned until 1518, past the time both brothers reached the age in which they could became rulers. Eventually the disapproval of local nobility resulted in her officially transferring the power to her sons, but in fact she continued to rule the Duchy until 1522.

After their mother's death, both brothers quickly became known for their love of "women and wine". Both brothers acted as co-rulers until Stanisław's death in 1524. However Janusz ruled only until his death in the night of 9 to 10 March, 1526. He was buried in the St. John's Cathedral, Warsaw. With his death, the male line of Masovian Piasts - originating from Siemowit III of Masovia - died out.

The death of both brothers caused unrest, as accusations that they were murdered became widespread. Eventually king Sigismund himself looked into the matter, and concluded that there was no foulplay. A contemporary historian, Marcin Bielski, suggested that both brothers died due to alcohol poisoning; others suggested tuberculosis.

Soon after his death, the Duchy of Masovia was annexed into the kingdom of Poland, despite resistance from some of the Masovian nobility. They tried to retain their independence and argued that the Duchy should be inherited by the female relatives (such as Anna of Masovia). The Polish king refused to recognize their demands, and stood by the agreements that made him the heir to the Duchy, reuniting it with Poland. The Duchy, which would became a significant asset of the Polish Jagiellon dynasty, would retain some autonomy till 1576.

Janusz III Mazowieckipoly 416 726 475 677 404 613 408 490 363 346 340 346 329 314 415 264 480 119 496 55 544 45 567 94 646 216 678 632 627 650 600 743 Stanisław Mazowieckipoly 663 740 732 659 780 356 776 303 820 189 840 173 845 58 887 41 920 65 946 123 1002 177 1027 239 1101 712 1141 737 1141 774 705 772 Anna of Masoviarect 0 0 1149 774 Click on button to enlarge imagedesc none

References

*pl icon Samuel Orgelbrand, Encyklopedja Powszechna, S. Orgelbranda Synów, [http://books.google.com/books?id=w64YAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA52&dq=Janusz+1526&ei=S57lRrHiBIqa6gKkxNSaCA#PPA52,M1 p.54 (public domain via Google Print)]
*pl icon Józef Szujski, "Historyi polskiéj treściwie opowiedzianéj ksiąg dwanaście", 1880, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pPoKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA167&dq=Janusz+1526&as_brr=3&ei=YZ7lRvnzD4v07gLqtrWVCA p.167, (public domain via Google Print)]
*Polish|Janusz III Mazowiecki|9 September 2007