Kinga of Poland or Kinga of Hungary, also Saint Kinga (also known as Cunegunda; Polish: Święta Kinga, Hungarian: Szent Kinga, Lithuanian: Šv. Kunigunda) (5 March 1224– 24 July 1292) was a Hungarian princess at birth and gained the title of Grand Duchess Of Poland, once the marriage pact between her and Boleslaw V ("the chaste") was completed. Kinga is a saint in the Catholic Church and patroness of Poland and Lithuania.
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Biography
Kinga was born in Esztergom, Kingdom of Hungary, the daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. She was a niece of Elizabeth of Hungary and great-niece of Hedwig of Andechs. Kinga's sisters were Margaret of Hungary and Jolenta of Poland. She married Bolesław V ("the Chaste"), and became duchess when her husband ascended the throne as High Duke of Poland. Despite the marriage, the devout couple took up a vow of chastity. Their marriage served as a point of pride for the Polish people; the couple's vow of chastity being viewed as a divine sacrifice for God's favor during a time of crisis in Poland and eastern Europe. Kinga was described by 15th century writer Jan Dlugosz as “a girl of fifteen” who was “considered unusually beautiful and virtuous”. The marriage was an alliance between Krakow and the Kingdom of Hungary to prepare for an upcoming Mongol threat to both regions.
Beginning in 1240, the Mongols conducted a series of raids into Poland and Hungary. On April 9, 1241, Mongol forces defeated Polish forces, causing Kinga and Boleslaw to flee to safety in Hungary. Earlier, in March 1241, the Mongols had sacked and burned the city of Krackow, Poland's chief seat of power at the time. Kinga is credited by multiple sources as being instrumental in keeping Polish faith and identity alive in the aftermath of the Mongol raids.