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 his death in 1382. He was the first child of Charles I of Hungary and Elizabeth of Poland to survive infancy. Because of a treaty, he was set 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. Though some leaders agreed to his rule, 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)

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

Louis learned French, German, and Latin, and he was very interested in history and astrology. Two of his tutors saved him and his brother Andrew when someone tried to hurt the royal family in Visegrád in 1330. Later, Louis helped make treaties with other leaders, promising 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. Though Louis was old enough to rule, his mother Elizabeth had a strong influence on him for many years. Louis inherited a wealthy kingdom from his father, who had strengthened royal power and ruled without holding Diets in the last years of his reign.

Louis changed the way land grants were given, preventing brothers and other relatives from inheriting the land if the grantee died without male descendants. He also allowed daughters to inherit their father’s estates, which was not usual at the time. He often gave this right to the wives of his close friends. Louis also gave landowners the right to apply capital punishment on their estates, reducing the power of 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, known for his many military victories. Writers from the 1400s and 1500s praised him for his leadership and fair rule. He fought in wars almost every year, believing that peace at home needed strength abroad.

People in Hungary during his time thought of their land as reaching three seas — the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas. In Poland, some thought his rule brought chaos, while others saw him as a protector of the country's unity. He built beautiful palaces and started work on a special book called the Illuminated Chronicle, which showed the skill of artists in his kingdom.