Barbara Radziwell (1520–1551)

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Barbara Radziwell (1520–1551)

Queen of Poland. Name variations: Radziwill. Born 1520; died 1551; dau. of a Lithuanian Hetman (general); sister of Nicholas the Black Radziwell and cousin of Nicholas the Red Radziwell, both princes of Lithuania; married the last of the Gasztolds (died); became 2nd wife of Zygmunt August also known as Sigismund II Augustus, king of Poland (r. 1548–1572).

Secretly eloped with Sigismund, shocking her mother-in-law Bona Sforza, as well as the Polish Sejm (Parliament).

See also Women in World History.

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