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Kunigunda Rostislavna (1245 – September 9 1285) was Queen consort of Bohemia and its regent from 1278 until her death. She was a member of the House of Chernigov, and a daughter of the ruler of Slavonia.

She was presumably born in Russia, in the domains of her paternal grandfather Michael of Chernigov, Grand Prince of Kiev, to Rostislav Mihailovich, future ruler of Belgrade and Slavonia, and his wife Anna of Hungary. After the death of her father's father, Kunigunda's family relocated to Hungary, where her father's mother, Bela IV of Hungary, made her father governor of certain Serbian-speaking regions in the Danube Valley. Her father proclaimed himself King of Bulgaria in 1256 but did not stay there to defend his kingship.

Kunigunda was married to King Premysl Otakar II of Bohemia (ca. 1233 – 1278) in Bratislava on October 25 1261, following his divorce from Margaret, Duchess of Austria (ca. 1204 – 1266) who was elderly and barren, and unable to provide heirs for the King. Kunigunda, 41 years younger than her predecessor, bore Otakar several children, the youngest being his only legitimate son Wenceslaus (Vaclav, 1271-1305).

Life as Queen

Genuine heirs of the Babenberg asserted their rights against King Otakar in Austria. The young Kunigunda's grandfather Bela IV had been Otakar's rival.

The Czech king Otakar tried in 1278 to recover his lands lost to Rudolf I of Germany. He made allies and collected a large army, but he was defeated by Rudolph and killed at the Battle of Dürnkrut and Jedenspeigen on the March on August 26 1278.

Moravia was subdued and its government entrusted to Rudolph's representatives, leaving Kunigunda, now Queen Regent of Bohemia in control of only the province surrounding Prague, while the young Wenceslaus' betrothal to one of Rudolf's daughters, Judith, was arranged.

Later life

Kunigunda married secondly a Bohemian magnate, Zavish, Lord of Falkenstejn and Rozmberk in Prague June 2, 1284. Zavish survived her, married again, and was executed on August 24, 1290.

Kunigunda's son Wenceslaus II kept the kingdom of Bohemia, and also succeeded in obtaining Poland and Hungary although not very sustainably. Ultimately she is one of the pivotal ancestresses of the Luxembourg and the Habsburg.

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 {{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}}
-'''Kunigunda Rostislavna''' of the [[House of Chernigov]], daughter of ruler of [[Slavonia]] (1245 - 9 September 1285) (whom some genealogistist inconsistently dub as Kunigunda of [[Halych]]) was [[Queen consort]] of Bohemia and its [[regent]] 1278-85.
+'''Kunigunda Rostislavna''' ([[1245]] &ndash; [[September 9]] [[1285]]) was [[Queen consort]] of Bohemia and its [[regent]] from 1278 until her death. She was a member of the [[House of Chernigov]], and a daughter of the ruler of [[Slavonia]].
-She was born (presumably in Russia in the domains of her paternal grandfather [[Michael of Chernigov]], grand prince of Kiev) as a daughter of [[Rostislav Mihailovich]], the future ruler of Belgrade and Slavonia, and his wife Anna of Hungary.
+She was presumably born in Russia, in the domains of her paternal grandfather [[Michael of Chernigov]], Grand Prince of Kiev, to [[Rostislav Mihailovich]], future ruler of Belgrade and Slavonia, and his wife Anna of Hungary. After the death of her father's father, Kunigunda's family relocated to Hungary, where her father's mother, [[Bela IV of Hungary]], made her father governor of certain Serbian-speaking regions in the Danube Valley. Her father proclaimed himself [[King of Bulgaria]] in 1256 but did not stay there to defend his kingship.
+Kunigunda was married to King [[Otakar II of Bohemia|Premysl Otakar II of Bohemia]] (ca. 1233 &ndash; 1278) in Bratislava on [[October 25]] [[1261]], following his divorce from [[Margaret, Duchess of Austria]] (ca. 1204 &ndash; 1266) who was elderly and barren, and unable to provide heirs for the King. Kunigunda, 41 years younger than her predecessor, bore Otakar several children, the youngest being his only legitimate son [[Wenceslaus II, King of Bohemia|Wenceslaus]] (Vaclav, 1271-1305).
-After the death of her paternal grandfather, the family relocated in Hungary, where her maternal grandfather [[Bela IV of Hungary]] made her father governor of certain Serbian-speaking regions in Danube valley. In 1256, her father proclaimed himself [[King of Bulgaria]] but did not remain there to keep that kingdom.
+==Life as Queen==
-She was married in Bratislava in 25 October 1261 to King [[Otakar II of Bohemia|Premysl Otakar II of Bohemia]] (ca 1233- 1278), who had just divorced from his first wife, the elderly [[Margaret, Duchess of Austria]] (c 1204 - 1266). Otakar needed heirs, which he was not able to get of his earlier, barren wife.
+Genuine heirs of the [[Babenberg]] asserted their rights against King Otakar in Austria. The young Kunigunda's grandfather Bela IV had been Otakar's rival.
+The Czech king Otakar tried in 1278 to recover his lands lost to [[Rudolf I of Germany]]. He made allies and collected a large army, but he was defeated by Rudolph and killed at the [[Battle of Dürnkrut and Jedenspeigen]] on the [[March (river)|March]] on [[August 26]] [[1278]].
-Margaret was kept in Bohemia. Genuine heirs of the Babenberg asserted their rights against king Otakar in Austria. The young Kunigunda's grandfather Bela IV has been Otakar's rival.
+[[Moravia]] was subdued and its government entrusted to Rudolph's representatives, leaving Kunigunda, now Queen Regent of Bohemia in control of only the province surrounding Prague, while the young Wenceslaus' betrothal to one of Rudolf's daughters, Judith, was arranged.
-Kunigunda bore Otakar several children, the youngest of them being his only legitimate son [[Wenceslaus II, King of Bohemia|Wenceslaus]] (Vaclav, 1271-1305).
+==Later life==
-The Czech king Otakar tried in 1278 to recover his lands lost to [[Rudolf I of Germany]]. He found allies and collected a large army, but he was defeated by Rudolph and killed at the [[Battle of Dürnkrut and Jedenspeigen]] on the [[March (river)|March]] on [[August 26]], [[1278]].
+Kunigunda married secondly a Bohemian magnate, Zavish, Lord of Falkenstejn and Rozmberk in Prague June 2, 1284. Zavish survived her, married again, and was executed on August 24, 1290.
+Kunigunda's son Wenceslaus II kept the kingdom of Bohemia, and also succeeded in obtaining Poland and Hungary although not very sustainably. Ultimately she is one of the pivotal ancestresses of the [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Habsburg]].
-[[Moravia]] was subdued and its government entrusted to Rudolph's representatives, leaving Kunigunda, now Queen Regent of Bohemia in control of only the province surrounding Prague, while the young Wenceslaus' betrothal to one of Rudolf's daughters, Judith, was confirmed.
-Kunigunda married secondly a Bohemian magnate, Zavish, Lord of Falkenstejn and Rozmberk in Prague 2 June 1284. Zavish survived her, married again, and was executed on 24 August 1290.
-Kunigunda's son Wenceslaus II kept the kingdom of Bohemia, and additionally, succeeded in obtaining Poland and Hungary though not very sustainably. Ultimately she is one of the pivotal ancestresses of the [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Habsburg]].
 [[Category:Medieval women]]