Louis I of Hungary

Louis I of Hungary, also called Louis the Great, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1342 and King of Poland from 1370 until he died in 1382. He was the first child of Charles I of Hungary and Elizabeth of Poland to live past infancy. Because of a treaty, he was supposed to inherit Poland if his uncle, Casimir III of Poland, died without a son.

When Louis became king, he inherited a strong kingdom and a full treasury. He led wars against many neighbors, including the Lithuanians, Serbia, and the Golden Horde. He also tried to control lands around the Black Sea and in places like Bosnia and Moldavia. Some leaders agreed to his rule, but many people did not like his attempts to change their religions.

In Hungary, Louis made laws to protect noblemen and peasants. He also set up a university in Pécs, though it closed not long after because it lacked money. When he inherited Poland, he tried to make sure his daughters could become rulers, but many Polish noblemen were unhappy with his rule.

Later in life, Louis suffered from a skin disease and became even more devoted to his faith. He supported a particular pope during a big church disagreement and helped place a relative on the throne of Naples. Historians often remember Louis as one of Hungary's strongest kings, ruling lands that touched three seas.

Childhood and youth (1326–1342)

Louis was born on 5 March 1326. He was the third son of Charles I of Hungary and his wife, Elizabeth of Poland. Louis became his father's heir when his older brother Ladislaus died in 1329.

Louis learned French, German, and Latin. He liked history and astrology. In 1330, two of his tutors protected him and his brother Andrew when someone tried to harm the royal family in Visegrád. Later, Louis helped make treaties with other leaders, agreeing to marry a young girl named Margaret.

Reign

Charles I passed away on July 16, 1342. Five days later, Csanád Telegdi, Archbishop of Esztergom, crowned Louis as king with the Holy Crown of Hungary in Székesfehérvár. Louis was old enough to rule, but his mother Elizabeth still had a strong influence on him for many years. Louis inherited a wealthy kingdom from his father, who had made the royal power stronger and ruled without holding Diets in the last years of his reign.

Louis changed the rules for land grants. He made sure that if a person who was given land died without sons, the land could not go to their brothers or other relatives. He also allowed daughters to inherit their father's land, which was not common at the time. He often gave this right to the wives of his close friends. Louis also let landowners decide to punish people with death on their estates, which took power away from local magistrates.

Family

Louis married his first wife, Margaret, the oldest child of Charles, Margrave of Moravia, and his wife, Blanche of Valois. They married between 1342 and 1345, but Margaret died in 1349 without any children.

Later, Louis married Elizabeth around June 20, 1353. She was the daughter of Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia, and Elizabeth of Kuyavia. They had four children together. Their first daughter, Catherine, was born in 1370 and passed away in 1378. Their next daughter, Mary, born in 1371, later became queen of Hungary. The youngest, Jadwiga, born in 1373, grew up to be the queen of Poland.

Legacy

Louis the Great was called "Great" because he was a brave and honorable king. He won many battles and led his people well. Writers from the 1400s and 1500s praised him for his good rule.

People in Hungary thought their land touched three seas — the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas. In Poland, some people felt uneasy under his rule, while others saw him as a protector.

He built lovely palaces and began work on a special book called the Illuminated Chronicle. This book showed the talent of artists in his kingdom.