| Cymburgis of Masovia | |
|---|---|
| Duchess of Austria | |
 Posthumous portrait byAnton Boys,c. 1580 | |
| Reign | 1412–1424 |
| Born | 1394 or 1397 Warsaw,Masovia |
| Died | (1429-09-28)28 September 1429 Türnitz,Austria |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Ernest, Duke of Austria |
| Issue | Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Margaret Albert VI, Archduke of Austria Alexander of Austria Rudolf of Austria Catherine of Austria Leopold of Austria Anna of Austria Ernest of Austria |
| House | Piast dynasty |
| Father | Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia |
| Mother | Alexandra of Lithuania |
Cymburgis of Masovia (Polish:Cymbarka mazowiecka;German:Cimburgis von Masowien; 1394 or 1397 – 28 September 1429), also spelledZimburgis orCimburga, was aPrincess of Masovia of the PolishPiast dynasty and aDuchess of Austria from 1412 until 1424, by her marriage with theHabsburg dukeErnest the Iron. As the mother of later EmperorFrederick III, Cymburgis, afterGertrude of Hohenberg, became the second female ancestor of all later Habsburgs, as only her husband's Ernestine branch of the family survived in the male line.
She was the second daughter of DukeSiemowit IV, a scion of theMasovian branch of the Piasts, and his consortAlexandra, a daughter of Grand DukeAlgirdas of Lithuania from the dynasty ofGediminids and sister of KingWładysław II Jagiełło of Poland.
Though his elder brotherWilliam's engagement with the Polish princessJadwiga had mortifyingly failed, Duke Ernest the Iron, after the death of his first wife Margaret of Pomerania, proceeded toKraków in disguise to court Cymburgis. According to legend, he won her love when he participated in aroyal hunt and saved the princess from an attacking bear. Actually, her uncle King Władysław II, stuck in thePolish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War and struggling with theLuxembourg kingSigismund of Hungary took the occasion to strengthen ties with the Habsburg dynasty and gave his consent.
The wedding took place on 25 January 1412 inBuda (German:Ofen), the residence of King Sigismund, in connection with Sigismunde hosti the peace negotiations betweenPoland and theTeutonic Order.[1] afterthe Peace of Thorn (1411). where lavish feasts, tournaments, and hunts were organized.[1] Present at the wedding were not only Cymburgis parents Siemowit and Alexandra, but also other notable guests like the bride's maternal uncleWładysław II Jagiełło, withAnna of Cilli, but alsoVytautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania,Barbara of Cilli andSigismund Korybut.[1]
Though not approved by the Habsburg family, the marriage turned out to be a happy one. Upon the death of his brothers William andLeopold IV, Ernest became the sole ruler of theInner Austrian territories, while his cousinAlbert V ruled over theDuchy of Austria proper.
Although controversial, it has been claimed (since at least byRobert Burton in 1621[2]) that she brought the distinctive protruding lower lip (prognathism) into the family, a particular physical characteristic of most members of the family for many generations until the 18th century.[3] It can even be recognized in some of her distant descendants (though not as markedly) as KingAlfonso XIII of Spain (1886–1941).[4]
Tradition has it that she was also known for her exceptional strength, which, for example, she showed by driving nails into the wall with her bare hands and cracking nuts between her fingers.[5] Cymburgis outlived her husband and died on a pilgrimage toMariazell while staying atTürnitz (in present-dayLower Austria). She is buried atLilienfeld Abbey.
Cymburgis was constantly pregnant during her marriage to Ernest, giving birth to nine children in just nine years, of whom only four survived childhood:[6][7][8]
Cymburgis of Masovia is referenced to in theMaximilian miniseries.
In the Polish historical dramaKorona królów (2018) season 4, she is depicted by the actress Aniela Płudowska.
Cymburgis of Masovia Born: 1394/1397 Died: 28 September 1429 | ||
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Duchess consort of Austria 25 January 1412 – 10 June 1424 | Succeeded by |
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