Sophia of Galshany. 600 Years

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Source of image: www.nbrb.by	Sophia of Galshany (Drutsk) Sophia of Galshany (Drutsk) (1405-21.09.1461), a Belarusian duchess, ranks among renowned women that left a remarkable trace in ancient history of Belarus. She became the Queen of Poland and the founder of a powerful European dynasty of the Jagiellons. Sophia was born into the family of Duke Andrei of Galshany and Alexandra of Drutsk. As a child, she was brought up by her uncle Syamion of Drutsk. It was in the town of Drutsk that she met the Polish King Jogaila, The 71 -year-old widowed king was deeply impressed by the young duchess' beauty, intellect, and benevolence. "I had three wives, two Poles and a third one was German, but I have no offspring, and I now ask you to seek Duke Syamion's consent to match his youngest niece Sophia with me, so that I could marry her perhaps, God will give me children of at least Russian origins," so noted the Bykhovets chronicler Jogaila's request to the Grand Duke Vytautas. Jogaila married 17-year-old Sophia on March 24, 1422, in Navagradak, and two years later, on February 12, 1424, Sophia's solemn coronation ceremony took place in Cracow. Despite her husband's age, she gave birth to two sons, Wladislaw and Casimir, future Hungarian and Polish kings. Fighting for the crown for her sons was Sophia's whole life. In doing so, she showed political talent and feminine wisdom and persistence. During Casimir's reign (1447-1492), she was his most trusted adviser. In implementing foreign policy, Casimir relied on his mother's authority and supporters. Sophia was noted for her tolerance, she did not sever ties with the land of her ancestors and backed the Orthodox Church of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania all her life. She was buried at the Wawel Cathedral in the Holy Trinity Chapel which was founded by her. Sophia of Galshany (Drutsk) occupies a proper niche in Belarusian history thanks to her intellect, femininity, and toleration. After all, she was the mother of well-known sons, to whom she imparted her best qualities and in whom she inculcated love for homeland and respect for their history. Let this commemorative coin, issued in the Year of Mother, be a reminder of the sacredness, beauty, and life-giving that embody Woman... Lubou Sobaleva Research Assistant, Institute of History of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences Text from the official flyer “Sophia of Galshany (Drutsk)” of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus	Date : 17.08.2006 Metal :  Cu/Ni Diameter, mm :  33.00 Weight, g :  15.50 Mintage, St. :  5000 Minted by : CJSC "Lithuanian Mint", Vilnius, Lithuania Design : S.Zaskevich     Ebay-Statistic (Prices in Euro): Year Count Ave rage Min. Max. 2006 21 7,90 3,08 13,00 2007 31 9,15 1,99 18,31 2008 16 11,75 7,16 23,57 2009 5 8,38 4,20 12,50 2010 5 9,60 9,00 11,70 2011 2 10,14 9,05 11,23
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