Kunigunda of Halych

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.

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.

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.

She was married in Bratislava in 25 October 1261 to King 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.

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.

Kunigunda bore Otakar several children, the youngest of them being his only legitimate son Wenceslaus (Vaclav, 1271-1305).

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 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 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 Venceslaus 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.