= Wladyslaw III = '''Wladyslaw III''' was king of [[Poland/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Poland|Poland]], [[Hungary/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Hungary|Hungary]], and [[Croatia/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Croatia|Croatia]]. In Hungary he is known as ''Wladyslaw I''. <> ---- == History == Wladyslaw III was the son of [[Poland/WladyslawII|Wladyslaw II]]. When Wladyslaw succeeded the throne in 1434, at the age of 10, he also inherited the '''Polish-Teutonic War''' and the '''Lithuanian Civil War'''. The latter was triggered by a coup against '''Švitrigaila''', co-ruler of Wladyslaw II, that was organized by '''Sigismund Kęstutaitis'''. The two wars merged when Švitrigaila sought the aid of the Teutons. Therefore they were both largely settled by the '''Battle of Wiłkomierz'''. This decisive defeat for the Livonion Order, and the subsequently negotiated '''Peace of Brześć Kujawski''', permanently ended their interventions into Polish geopolitics. The situation in Lithuania continued to be complicated, as following Sigismund's death in 1440, Wladyslaw's brother '''Casimir IV''' proclaimed himself grand duke. Also in 1440, at the death of Albert II, the [[Hungary/Monarchs#Habsburg|Habsburg dynasty]] of [[Hungary/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Hungary|Hungary]] was reduced to the unborn [[Hungary/LadislausV|Ladislaus V]]. Local nobility instead elected Wladyslaw as king. Securing his reign in Hungary diverted his attention away from Lithuania, enabling Casimir to consolidate power there. Wladyslaw led the '''Crusade of Varna''' against the [[WorldHistory/OttomanEmpire|Ottoman Empire]] in 1444. He was however killed in the '''Battle of Varna'''. ---- CategoryRicottone