Ladislas {Vladklas, Vladislaf, Uladislas) II, king of Poland (1380-1434), known also imder the name of Jaf/ieUo or Jafjelln, deserves a place in our work on ac- count of his introduction of Christianity into the Polish dominions. He was born in Lithuania in 1348, the son of Olgerd and grandson of Gedimin, great princes of Lithuania. He succeeded his father in 1386, and, by the noble influence of his pious Christian wife Hedvig, was influenced to embrace Christianity ; a short time after all Lithuania became Christian, and when Poland came mider his sway Christianity became the dominant rcligidu there. He died in Grodek, near Lemberg, Ga- licia, ;May 31, 1434. See Lithuania ; Poland.
Ladislaus, king of Naples (A.D. 1386-1414), suc- ceeded to the throne on the violent death of his father, Charles HL Born in 1376, he was ten years old at the time of his accession to the disputed crown. Louis of Anjou, to whom queen Joanna, the predecessor of Charles III, had bequeathed the kingdom, was his competitor. Ladislaus and Louis were of nearly the same age. Each was left under the guardianship of a wido^ved mother, and each had on his side the authority of one of the two rival popes, between whom Christendom was divided, and whose mutual excommunications, extending to tlicir respective adherents, were the scandal of the age.
The reign of Ladislaus is historically important from its intimate connection with the great events of the time in Church and State. At an early age he devel- oped that restless energy and that unscrupulous ambi- tion which made him a model for Machiavelli's " Prince." When but sixteen years old, his mother IMargaret com- mitted him to the barons of her party to make his first essay in arms. His marriage with the richest heiress of Sicily put into his hands an immense dowry, which he employed to prosecute his designs, securing, when it ■was expended, from the ■venal pontiff a divorce from his wife, whom he bestowed upon one of his favorites.
By means of the papal sanction and his own energy he recovered Naples from the Angevin party (1400). The faction opposed to him felt the full weight of his vengeance. His security was increased by a second marriage, whicli the pontiff, Boniface IX, proposed. His ambition Avas excited by the tempting offer of the Hun- garian crown, made by those w'ho, dissatisfied with Sigismund (subsequently emperor), had seized and im- prisoned him. His expedition proved unsuccessful, and his aVisence from Naples inspired anew the hopes and efforts (if the Angevin party. His prompt return (1403) defeated their attempts. The most powerful of the dis- affected ndbilitj' felt the weight of his vengeance. Many were tlirust into prison. Numbers were strangled. Oth- ers fled. Wholesale confiscation enriched the royal treas- ury. A reign of terror prevailed throughout the king- dom.
Jealous of his powerful alh^, Boniface IX showed himself no longer disjiosed to co-operate with the ty- rant; but at this juncture he died. In spite of letters from tlie king of France deprecating a new election, that Cliristendora might be miited under one pontiff
(the French prelates supported as rival pope Benedict XIII, q. v.), the cardinals chose Innocent VII (q. v.) as his successor. Ladislaus, whose policy was opposed to the reunion of Christendom, hastened to Eorae to con- gratulate him upon his accession. He had designs, moreover, upon Kome itself, torn bj^ Guelph and Ghib- elline factions. Dissembling his purpose, he proposed himself as mediator, and secured a strong hold upon the government of the city, while his royal title was solemn- ly confirmed.
Turning from Eome, he led his army to Southern It- aly (1400), but was repelled by the yalor of the Ursini. The new pope already regarded him with mistrust. At his instigation the Poman factions were brought into colhsion. Alarmed for his safety, the pope tied. Ladis- laus ordered his generals to take possession of the city, but they were repidsed. The citizens, inclining to favor the exiled pontiff, recalled him to Pome. Ladislaus, whose attention had again been diverted to Southern Italy, where a marriage with the widow of Paymond de Ursini had accomplished more than arms, now advanced in open hostility, resolved to regain his control of the city. He was embittered against the pontiff, v,'ho re- sented his unscrupulous spoliation of churches and mon- asteries, as well as other revenues of the Church, and who complained, moreover, of his conspiracy and trea- son against himself. The charges against the king were drawn up in sixteen articles, and on the ground of these he ■\vas declared to have forfeited his kingdom, as well as the fiefs ■which he held of the Church, and ■was excommunicated by the Church. Ladislaus, however, succeeded in calming the papal resentment, and a treaty was effected which restored him to his former power and privileges; but as he evaded all the provisions which conflicted with his ambition, the excommunica- tion would have been renewed had not Innocent died suddenly (Nov. 6, 1406).
Gregory XII, successor of Innocent YII, pledged him- self on his election to promote the unity of the Church. His disinclination to meet his rival in conference ■was encouraged by Ladislaus, ■who assured him of protection. The miscrupulous proceedings of the king stood in need of the papal sanction, and he was willing to make some efforts to secure a pope for himself. Gregory XII dis- appointed the expectations of his cardinals. Alarmed by the sedition at Pome, he fled to Yiterbo (August 3, 1407), and afterwards to- Sienna and Lucca. Ladislaus seized the occasion to make inroads upon the States of the Church. Gregory comjilained of his conduct, and menaced him with the thunders of the Church. He found himself forced, ho^wever, to accept the plausible excuses of the king, whose support he needed. Ladis- laus now resolved to prosecute his long-cherished desire of possessing himself of Pome. By means of force and treachery he succeeded in his project. On the 2oth of April, 1408, Pome opened its gates to him, and the ty- rant of Naples was welcomed by the shouts of the people.