Ludgarda (wife of Przemysł II)

Ludgarda of Mecklenburg (c. 1260/61 – 1283) was a Duchess of Greater Poland and the Queen consort of Poland as the first wife of Przemysł II.

Ludgarda was the daughter of Henry I the Pilgrim, Lord of Mecklenburg, and his wife Anastasia of Pomerania, daughter of Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania. Her exact birthdate is unknown, but it is estimated to have been around 1260 or 1261.

She married Przemysł II, then Duke of Greater Poland, in 1273 or 1275. The marriage was likely arranged to strengthen Przemysł II's position and secure alliances in the region.

The marriage remained childless. Ludgarda died in 1283 under suspicious circumstances. Popular belief, fueled by chroniclers like Jan Długosz, attributed her death to Przemysł II, accusing him of either ordering her execution or directly causing her death through harsh treatment. Długosz portrays Ludgarda as a pious and virtuous woman mistreated by a cruel and unfaithful husband. However, the contemporary sources are scarce and offer no conclusive evidence of Przemysł II's involvement. Other theories suggest she may have died of natural causes or been a victim of courtly intrigue.

Ludgarda's death had significant political implications. Przemysł II remarried in 1285 to Richeza of Sweden, seeking to secure an heir and further solidify his reign. Ludgarda is remembered primarily for the circumstances of her death and the mystery surrounding it, rather than for specific political achievements during her lifetime.