Ludmila (wife of Mieszko I Tanglefoot)

Ludmila
High Duchess consort of Poland
Tenure	1210?
Died	20 October, after 1210
Spouse	Mieszko I Tanglefoot
Issue	Casimir I of Opole Agnes Ludmila Euphrosyne Ryksa?
House	House of Piast

Ludmila (d. October 20 after 1210) was the wife of Mieszko I Tanglefoot. Her origins are disputed.

Mieszko I Tanglefoot married Ludmila between 1170-1178. Given her name, scientists think that Ludmila came from Bohemia, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty, since this was one of the only families to have women in it called Ludmila. However researchers have different opinions. It was suggested that she was daughter of Otto III, Duke of Olomouc and his wife Durantia, probably the daughter of Mstislav I of Kiev by his second wife Liubava Dmitrievna.^[1] There was also a minority hypothesis that Ludmila was daughter of Soběslav I, Duke of Bohemia, Conrad II, Duke of Znojmo^[2] or Vladimir, Duke of Olomouc.^[3]

Ludmilla contributed to the foundation of the Norbertine monastery in Rybnik, who was later transferred to Czarnowąsy.

Mieszko and Ludmila had the following children:

1. Casimir I (b. ca. 1179/80 - d. 13 May 1230).
2. Ludmilla (d. 24 January aft. 1200).
3. Agnes (d. 9 May aft. 1200).
4. Euphrosyne (d. 25 May aft. 1200).
5. Ryksa (d. aft. 24 September 1239).^[4]

References

1. W. Brzezinski, The origins of Ludmila, wife of Mieszko Tanglefoot. Contribution to the Czech-Polish history in the second half of the twelfth century [in:] Central and Eastern Europe in politics Piast, edited by K. Zielinska-Melkowskiej, Torun, 1997, pp. 213-219. With the view that agreed to D. Dabrowski, Genealogy Mścisławowiczów. The first generation (the early fourteenth century), Krakow 2008, p. 650.
2. J. Horwat, Górnośląscy princes of the Piast dynasty, pp. 21-22.
3. N. Mika, Mieszko, son of Wladyslaw II the Exile, and Duke of Raciborz and Krakow - Polish policeman ruler, Raciborz 2006, pp. 86-90.
4. Her parentage is uncertain, she is only known from a document of Mieszko II the Fat, who called her his aunt (Amita), which means that she could be also the sister of his mother Viola. See MIESZKO I (IV) PLĄTONOGI (LASKONOGI, RACIBORSKI)