Wladislaus II Jagiello ( Polish : Wladyslaw II Jagiello , Lithuanian : Jogaila , Belarusian : Jahajla (ßãàéëà) ) (c. 1351 – 1 June 1434 Grodek Jagiellonski ), Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1377 (or 1378 ) – 1381 , 1382 – 1392 (or 1401 ), became King of Poland as Wladislaus II in 1386 after converting to Christianity and marrying Jadwiga , second of Poland 's Angevin rulers .
His original name was Jogaila ( Jagiello ) and his Christian name was Wladislaus (Polish: Wladyslaw also seen Vladislaus , Ladislaus , Ladislas or Vladislav ). Lancelot, is an English version of the name.
Please note that Wladislaus' title was 'supreme duke/prince of Lithuania ' while as the same time the traditional title of 'high duke/prince of Lithuania ' was reserved for his cousin Vytautas .
Jogaila (or Jagiello ) was from the Gediminid dynasty of dukes and grand dukes of Lithuania . His father was Algirdas (or Olgierd, ruled 1345-1377), duke of Lithuania , a son of Gediminas . He was born in Vilnius , Lithuania .
With the Union of Krewo in 1385 , Jagiello married Queen Jadwiga of Poland (who was then only 11 years old) and established the Jagiellonian dynasty, which would rule in Poland and Lithuania until 1572 . At the same time, Jagiello accepted Roman Catholicism , as did some other Lithuanian nobles. Thus he became King Wladyslaw II Jagiello (Wladislaus II) of Poland , and reigned 49 years. After the death of Jadwiga and their newborn daughter in 1399 , Jagiello continued to rule, for yet 35 years. Many regarded that he had lost his entitlement to the crown with the death of Jadwiga. However, there were no obvious heirs of ancient Polish monarchs - all potential competitors, of which there existed a vast number, were distant relatives, and although Jagello faced from time to time difficulties, he remained king more or less by default. He tried to strengthen his position and rights by next marrying Anna of Cilli , granddaughter of Casimir III of Poland (d. 1370), whose mother Anna, Countess of Cilli (died 1425), daughter of king Casimir, tried to obtain influence. Anna of Cilli also died childless in 1416. Jegello did not yet have any heirs. His next marriages were with ladies from Polish and Lithuanian dominions, apparently having nothing to do with ancestors among Polish monarchs.
The Jagiellonian era is usually characterised as the start of Poland 's "golden age", and saw the country become a major European power and extend its frontiers to the north and east.
Jagiello's conversion marked the establishment of Catholic Christianity as the official religion of Lithuania following a brief period of Catholic kingship in the 1250s . Though pagan beliefs continued in the country for some time, the Lithuanian nobility gave its support to the new order upon being promised (in 1401) a voice in the election of the future Polish-Lithuanian rulers.
In military terms, his reign is noted for the crushing defeat inflicted on the Teutonic Knights in neighbouring Province of Prussia by Polish and Lithuanian forces at the Battle of Grunwald 1410 (the military leader of this battle was his cousin Grand Duke Vytautas of LIthuania).
Jagiello was the first of the dynasty of Lithuanian princes who were also kings of Poland (1386-1572). He was succeeded by his son Wladislaus III , and after his death at the battle of Varna by second son Casimir IV . Previously rulers from this dynasty, called Gediminaiciai , were grand princes of Lithuania , and after the Krewo Union , Jogaila adopted both titles (Supreme duke of Lithuania and King of Poland). Later, however, up until the Union of Lublin , the title of Grand duke of Lithuania was sometimes under dispute and not always belonged to the King of Poland. However, both titles, if separate, were used to be held by members of same Gediminaiciai dynasty who were related to each other in close family ties.
Before that the Piasts were monarchs of Poland , in last century intermitting with the Bohemian Przemysls and followed by a brief period of Angevins .
Although Jagiellonian dynasty was not hereditary and in theory each king of this dynasty was elected, in reality every time when the father died, his son (or brother) was elected as new king.
After the last male member of the Jagiellonian dynasty died out, the kings of Poland were elected by the Polish nobles.