Wladislaus III of Varna (Polish: Władysław Warneńczyk) also seen as Vladislaus, Ladislaus, Ladislas or Vladislav) (October 31, 1424 - November 10, 1444) was King of Poland from 1434 and of Hungary from 1440 until his death.

Names in other languages: Slovak/Bulgarian/Czech: Vladislav I, Hungarian: I. Ulászló).

Royal titles

• Royal title in Latin: Wladislaus Dei gracia Polonie, Hungarie, Dalmacie, Croacie etc. rex necnon terrarum Cracouie, Sandomirie, Syradie, Lancicie, Cuyauie, Lithuanie princeps supremus, Pomeranie, Russieque dominus et heres etc.

• English translation: Vladislaus by God's grace king of Poland, Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, and lands of Cracow, Sandomierz, Sieradz, Łęczyca, Kuyavia, grand duke of Lithuania, lord and heir of Pomerania and Ruthenia

• Polish translation: Władysław, z Bożej łaski Król Polski, Węgier, Dalmacji, Chorwacji, ziemi krakowskiej, sandomierskiej, sieradzkiej, łęczyckiej, kujawskiej, Wielki Książę Litewski, pan i dziedzic Pomorza i Rusi

Biography

Wladyslaw was the firstborn son of Wladislaus II Jagiełło of Poland and Zofia Holszańska. He ascended the throne at the age of ten and was immediately surrounded by a group of advisors headed by Cardinal Zbigniew of Oleśnica, who wanted to continue to enjoy his high status at court. In spite of that, the young ruler and his ambitious mother were aware that there was opposition to them. Despite the agreements signed between Władysław Jagiełło and the Polish magnates to ensure the succession for his sons, the opposition wanted another candidate for the Polish throne - Friedrich of Brandenburg, who was betrothed to Jadwiga, Jagiełło's daughter by his second wife. However, the conspiracy was resolved by the death of the princess, rumoured to have been poisoned by Zofia Holszańska.

The young king's reign was difficult from the very outset. His coronation was interrupted by a hostile nobleman, one Spytko of Melsztyn. On the next day, the customary homage of the townsfolk of Cracow did not take place due to a dispute between the temporal and spiritual lords of Mazovia over their place in the retinue. Neither did Wladyslaw have much to say later about matters of state, which were run by the powerful Cardinal Zbigniew of Oleśnica. The situation did not change even after parliament gathered in Piotrków in 1438, and declared the fourteen-year-old king to have attained his majority.

This situation continued until 1440, when Wladyslaw was offered the crown of Hungary. However, accepting it would have led to numerous problems. Hungary was under a growing threat from Turkey, and some Polish magnates did not want to agree to the king of Poland also being the monarch of Hungary, while Elisabeth, widow of the deceased king of Hungary, Albert II Habsburg, attempted to keep the crown for her yet unborn child. Such inconveniences aside, Wladyslaw finally took the Hungarian throne, having engaged in a two-year civil war against Elisabeth. He had received significant support from Pope Eugenius IV, in exchange for his help in organising an anti-Turkish crusade. The eighteen-year-old king, although thus far a king solely by title, became deeply involved in the crusade, paying no heed to the interests of Poland and of the Jagiellonian dynasty.

The "bulwark of Christianity" and other slogans put forward by the papal envoy Giuliano Cesarini, together with an enticing promise of victory in a glorious crusade for God, persuaded Wladyslaw to engage in a two-year war against the Ottoman Empire. He also accepted the argument that the ten-year truce signed in 1443 in Szeged was not valid since the infidel Turks could not be trusted to keep their word. Despite their significant military advantages, Vladislaus failed to recognise the serious threat which the Turkish empire posed to Europe as a whole. Therefore, when the Battle of Varna began on 10 November 1444, the Polish king did not sense that this would be his final fight. He was killed during the charge on the ranks of the janissaries, who were protecting their sultan.

He was succeeded in Poland by his younger brother Casimir.

Historical places

As a sign of respect, there is a boulevard in Varna, called Vladislav Varnenchik, as well as a football team in past times. There is also a symbolic Mausoleum of Wladislaus III in Varna.