Mary I of Hungary
Who was Mary I of Hungary?
Queen of Hungary (1371-1395)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Mary I of Hungary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Mary of Anjou (1371-1395) was the Queen of Hungary and Croatia during a particularly chaotic time in Hungarian medieval history. Born in Buda to Louis the Great, King of Hungary and Poland, and Elizabeth of Bosnia, Mary became queen at the age of eleven after her father's death in 1382. With no male heirs, she was crowned as "king" of Hungary on September 17, 1382, highlighting her authority in a male-dominated society.
Her reign faced constant political turmoil and challenges to her rule. Her mother, Elizabeth, acted as regent while Mary was still a minor, but many in the Hungarian nobility were against a female ruler. They backed Charles III of Naples, who was related to the Angievins, claiming he was the rightful male heir. This opposition led to a succession crisis during Mary's reign, sparking civil conflict.
By 1385, the political tensions were dire. To bolster Mary's position, her mother initially planned her engagement to Louis, brother of the French king Charles VI. But when Charles III arrived in Dalmatia with military backing in September 1385, Elizabeth had to drop this plan. Instead, she quickly married Mary to Sigismund of Luxembourg in October 1385. This marriage had been intended since Mary was young but was now needed urgently for political reasons.
Despite these moves, Charles III managed to enter Buda and made Mary give up her throne. He was crowned king on December 31, 1385, though his rule was brief. Elizabeth arranged for Charles's assassination in February 1386, leading to Mary's return to power. However, shortly after, supporters of Charles captured Mary and her mother in July 1386. Elizabeth was killed in January 1387, while Mary was held captive until June 1387.
After her release, Mary was back on the throne but ruled alongside Sigismund, who had been crowned king while she was imprisoned. Her influence was limited, as Sigismund essentially ran the government. Mary's reign ended tragically in 1395 when she died from injuries in a riding accident while pregnant, leading to the loss of both her and her unborn child. This event ended the direct Angevin line in Hungary, leaving Sigismund as the sole ruler.
Before Fame
Mary's path to the throne was shaped by lineage rather than personal ambition. As the eldest daughter of Louis the Great, she was next in line to inherit the thrones of Hungary and Poland due to the lack of male heirs in the Angevin family. Her future was influenced by royal marriage negotiations from a young age. She was engaged to Sigismund of Luxembourg before she turned one year old, as part of larger diplomatic strategies.
The late 1300s were a time of uncertainty across Central Europe, where female succession was still a controversial and often contested issue. Mary's situation highlighted the broader challenges faced by medieval kingdoms when the traditional male line of succession was not available. This forced royal families to deal with complex political and legal questions about women's rights to rule.
Key Achievements
- Became Queen of Hungary and Croatia at age eleven following her father's death in 1382
- Successfully reclaimed her throne after briefly being forced to abdicate to Charles III of Naples
- Maintained the Angevin dynasty's hold on Hungary despite strong noble opposition to female rule
- Survived nearly a year of imprisonment and political persecution following her mother's assassination of a rival claimant
- Ruled Hungary for over twelve years during a period of significant political instability and dynastic crisis
Did You Know?
- 01.She was crowned 'king' rather than 'queen' of Hungary, using the masculine title to emphasize her sovereign authority
- 02.A delegation of Polish nobles confirmed her right to inherit Poland in 1379, but her mother later transferred this claim to Mary's younger sister Jadwiga
- 03.Her engagement to Louis, brother of the French king, was announced in May 1385 but abandoned within months due to the political crisis
- 04.She was imprisoned for nearly eleven months by supporters of the murdered Charles III of Naples
- 05.Both Mary and her unborn child died from injuries sustained when she fell from her horse while pregnant in 1395