Origins & Early Life

Mary, also known as Maria of Anjou (Hungarian: Anjou Mária, Croatian: Marija Anžuvinska, Polish: Maria Andegaweńska; 1371 – 17 May 1395), reigned as Queen of Hungary and Croatia between 1382 and 1385, and from 1386 until her death. She was the daughter of Louis the Great, King of Hungary and Poland, and his wife, Elizabeth of Bosnia. Mary's marriage to Sigismund of Luxembourg, a member of the imperial Luxembourg dynasty, was already decided before her first birthday. A delegation of Polish prelates and lords confirmed her right to succeed her father in Poland in 1379.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Having no male siblings, Mary was crowned "king" of Hungary on 17 September 1382, seven days after Louis the Great's death. Her mother, who had assumed the regency, absolved the Polish noblemen from their oath of loyalty to Mary in favour of Mary's younger sister, Jadwiga (herself subsequently crowned "king" of Poland), in early 1383. The idea of a female monarch remained unpopular among the Hungarian noblemen, the majority of whom regarded Mary's distant cousin, Charles III of Naples, as the lawful heir. To strengthen Mary's position, the queen mother wanted her to marry Louis, the younger brother of Charles VI of France...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Vasily I of Moscow — Contemporary (Born in 1371) (1371): Grand Prince of Moscow, pivotal figure in consolidating Russian statehood.
• Zheng He — Contemporary (Born in 1371) (1371): Ming Dynasty admiral whose voyages expanded China's Indian Ocean influence.
• Adrien Brody — Shared historical date (04-14 · Born) (1973): Acclaimed American actor known for intense, emotionally charged character portrayals.
• Ali Akbar Khan — Shared historical date (04-14 · Born) (1922): Master sarod virtuoso who popularized Hindustani classical music in the West.
• Alan Kay — Shared historical date (05-17 · Born) (1940): Pioneer of GUI, Object-Oriented Programming, and modern computing paradigms.
• Alfonso XIII — Shared historical date (05-17 · Born) (1886): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• Louis I of Hungary — Historical peer (Died in 1382) (1382): King of Hungary and Croatia, known for military expansion and Polish union.
• Nicole Oresme — Historical peer (Died in 1382) (1382): Influential French philosopher of the later Middle Ages, known for works on science and economics.
• Donatello — Historical peer (Born in 1386) (1386): Master sculptor of the Italian Renaissance, known for expressive works.
• Henry V of England — Historical peer (Born in 1386) (1386): Warrior-King of England, whose victories marked the zenith of English power in the Hundred Years' War.
• 1371 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1371
• April 14 (04-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 14
• 1395 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1395
• May 17 (05-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 17