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Euphemia of Masovia (Polish:Eufemia mazowiecka; 1395/97[1] – before 17 September 1447), was Duchess of Cieszyn by marriage toBolesław I, Duke ofCieszyn, and regent of the Duchy of Cieszyn during the minority of her sons from 1431.
She was the third daughter ofSiemowit IV, Duke of Masovia andAlexandra, daughter ofAlgirdas,Grand Duke of Lithuania and sister of KingWładysław II Jagiełło ofPoland, and thus a Polish princess member of theHouse of Piast in theMasovian branch.
According to the Chronicle ofJan Długosz, Euphemia had a great and natural charm, and because of this she was also known asOfka. King Władysław II, Euphemia's uncle, wanted to make a close bond betweenKraków andUpper Silesia, and for this reason he was probably instrumental in her marriage withBolesław I, Duke ofCieszyn. Because Euphemia and Bolesław I were related in the third degree of consanguinity, a Papal dispensation was needed for the union, which was granted on 27 January 1412. The wedding took place ten months later, on 20 November, probably in the town ofWiślica. In 1424, Euphemia and her husband took part in the coronation of King Władysław II's fourth and last wife,Sophia of Halshany.
After Bolesław I's death on 6 May 1431, Euphemia took the regency of the Duchy of Cieszyn on behalf of her minor sons, who inherited the lands as a co-rulers. She continued her husband's policies supporting the towns and in 1438 co-decided, with her son Wenceslaus I, to giveCieszyn the right to mint coins.
Despite her sons becoming legally able to rule by themselves, Euphemia continued to hold supreme authority over the Duchy. With her consent, her sons were allowed to sell theDuchy of Siewierz toZbigniew Oleśnicki,Bishop of Kraków, on 24 December 1443.
On 29 November 1442 the co-Dukes of Cieszyn made a formal division of their domains; however, the unity of the Duchy was maintained during Euphemia's lifetime. She died before 17 September 1447 and was presumably buried alongside her husband inDominican church inCieszyn.
Euphemia gave birth to five children:
