Premyslid Queens of Bohemia: 3/8
Kunigunde of Halych, Queen of Bohemia (c.1245-9 September 1285)
Kunigunde of Halych is known by a variety of names; she can also be called Kunigunde of Slavonia or Kunigunde Rostislavna. Her first name can be written as Kunigunde, Kunigunda, Cunigunde, or Cunigunda. Her father, Rostislav Mikhailvich, was a prince of the Rurik dynasty, who at various times he ruled the Rus principalities of Halych, Novgorod, Lutsk, and Chernigov. He also held the Hungarian noble titles, Ban of Slavonia and Duke of Macso. He also once styled himself as Tsar of Bulgaria. Kunigunde’s mother was Anna of Hungary, the daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary and the Byzantine princess, Maria Laskarina.
Kunigunde had at least four siblings: Aggripina, High Duchess of Poland, Anna, Empress Consort of Bulgaria, Michael, Duke of Bosnia, and Bela, Duke of Bosnia and Macso.
Since her father followed the Eastern Orthodox faith, Kunigunde was probably raised in this faith. If so, it is likely that she converted to Catholicism on her marriage, since her husband was Catholic.
Kunigunde married King Ottokar II of Bohemia on 25 October, 1261. She would of been about 16, while her husband was about 28. She was Ottokar’s second wife, his first being Margaret of Austria, the widow of King Heinrich VII of Germany. Margaret was about 26 years Ottokar’s senior, and the marriage was childless. Ottokar and Margaret’s marriage was annuled the year he married Kunigunde.
Kunigunde and Ottokar had 4 children; Henry, who died in infancy, Kunigunde, Duchess of Masovia, Agnes, Duchess of Austria and King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia.
Ottokar was killed in battle in 1278. Their only surviving son, Wenceslaus was not yet seven, so Kunigunde acted as Regent of Bohemia. Tensions rose between her and Margrave Otto of Brandenburg. He imprisoned Kunigunde and Wenceslaus in Bezdez Castle. Fortunately, she was able to escape. Her son was not released until 1383.
After Kunigunde escaped, she allied herself with a Bohemian lord, Zavis of Falkenstein, who was an enemy of her late husband. Zavis and Kunigunde probably became lovers shortly afterwards. In 1385, Wenceslaus married Judith, the daughter of the first Habsburg king. Kunigunde and Zavis also married in 1385, but she died later that year, aged around 40.
Zavis seems to have continued ruling as regent for his stepson. However, they seem to have not enjoyed a good relationship, and in 1390, Wenceslaus had Zavis executed for treason.
