Saint Hedwig, Queen of Poland

Also known as

• Jadwiga
• Jadvyga
• Hedvig
• Hedvigis

Memorial

• 28 February

Profile

Youngest daughter of King Louis I of Hungary. Because she was great-niece to King Casimir III of Poland, she became Queen of Poland in 1382 upon her father‘s death. She was engaged to William, Duke of Austria, whom she loved, but broke off the relationship in order to marry Jagiello, non-Christian Prince of Lithuania, at age 13 for political reasons. She offered her misery in this marriage to Christ, and she eventually converted her husband; Jagiello was later known as King Landislaus II of Poland after the unification of the kingdoms, a union that lasted over 400 years. Noted for her charity to all, but especially the sick and poor, and for a revision of the laws to help the poor.

Born

• 1371

Died

• 17 July 1399 during child birth
• miracles reported at her tomb

Beatified

• 31 May 1979 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized

• 8 June 1997 by Pope John Paul II

Patronage

• queens

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Online
• Kirken i Norge
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Hedwig, Queen of Poland“. Saints.SQPN.com. 17 January 2013. Web. 18 May 2013. <>