Ana Vasa was said to be “the wisest woman in Poland”. This is how the historian of Swedish origin, Herman Lidqvist, described her in his book entitled “Across the Baltic Sea. 1000 Years of Polish-Swedish Wars and Love”. Indeed, the Polish woman distinguished herself with her special intelligence and education. She mastered 5 languages fluently and was comprehensively educated. “The Polish king has a sister with him whose common sense is greater than his” – this is how the papal nuncio, who met her in Krakow, wrote about her.
Anna Vasa, also known as Anna Wasa, was born on May 17, 1568 in Eskilstuna. She was a Swedish princess from the Vasa dynasty, the daughter of John III Vasa, King of Sweden, and Catherine Jagiellon. She was also the sister of Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and Sweden.
Anna Wazówna was considered the most intelligent woman in Poland
She is remembered in Polish history for many special reasons. Above all, she was very involved in religious matters. Anna Wazówna was a Protestant, which did not put her in an easy position in Catholic Poland. Despite religious differences, she was open and tolerant – in her circle there were both Catholics and Lutherans. Despite their different faiths, she enjoyed great respect. In times when all power was held exclusively by men, Anna Wazówna had an influence on both the politics and cultural life of the country.
Her activity left a lasting mark both in Poland and Sweden. Anna Wazówna was a patron of the arts and a well-known promoter of literature and science. After returning from Scandinavia to Poland, she settled in Brodnica. There, she also actively worked for the development of the city and the entire region. Anna Wazówna was always sensitive to the fate of the poor and tried to help them. This exceptional woman left behind a legacy that is worth remembering.
She helped the poor, made medicines from herbs and financed scientists’ projects.
In 1594, Sigismund III Vasa, brother of Anna Vasa, returned to Poland. This was immediately after he was crowned King of Sweden. Anna stayed in the Swedish kingdom and settled in Stegeborg Castle. There, she founded a herbal pharmacy and herbal garden famous throughout the country. The princess devoted a huge part of her life to researching herbs and their use in medicine. She experimented and used herbal mixtures for various diseases. She distributed the medicines she had developed to the needy in nearby villages.
Anna Vasa’s Castle in Brodnica By Kazimierz Mendlik, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53775962
As we read on the website wielkiehistoria.pl, Anna did not trust court physicians. In the aristocrat’s garden, after returning to Poland, tobacco began to be grown for the first time in our country, which was then considered a medicinal plant. Anna also financed numerous botanical ventures. For example, the publication of the largest botanical work of the time, 5 volumes written by professor Szymon Syreński. They contained illustrations and descriptions of 765 plants found in Europe, mainly medicinal ones. In order to complete scientific projects, the duchess often sold her own valuables. She was honored by the Jagiellonian University with the title of “queen of Polish botany”.
She spent her entire life educating and developing herself. Mainly in fields such as nature and biology, but she was also interested in theology and many others. She never married. Although there was no shortage of suitors trying to win the duchess’s favor, her life was so rich and exciting that the aristocrat decided to devote it to other goals.
She helped Poles and Swedes
She was not indifferent to human fate. After Charles IX, also known as Charles of Sudermania, became the king of Sweden, Anna lifted the spirits of his family and the victims of his bloody rule. She helped the Swedes who were expelled to Poland because of their cooperation with Sigismund III Vasa and financed the education of many of them. The castles she received in Poland served as a refuge and a place of support. Anna was born in Sweden, but Poland was always close to her heart. It is worth remembering that it was her mother’s native country.
The Duchess also believed that women’s education was extremely important. In Warsaw, in 1925, a Protestant school for girls was founded, which was named after her. The students were called “wazowianki”. Anna Wazówna kept up correspondence with scholars and scientists from many different countries throughout her life.
She couldn’t rest at Wawel.
Despite religious differences and Anna’s deep attachment to the Protestant faith, she was liked by practically everyone. Her only enemy was Karol Sudermański, who could not stand her loyalty to Sigismund. So he created an offensive chronicle about the princess. He used a method that has been used against all strong women since the dawn of time. He accused Anna of promiscuity, pointing out her alleged lovers. He also called her a “disgusting scumbag”, pointed out her alleged “lust for power” and love of “luxury” – we read on the pages of Wielkahistoria.pl.
Anna Vasa remained faithful to the Lutheran faith until the end of her life. The distinguished duchess died in 1625 in Brodnica. Sigismund III Vasa greatly regretted that he could not bury his beloved sister among his own people, in the Catholic Wawel. A dispensation was asked from the Pope himself. However, the head of state refused. Anna Vasa was therefore buried in the basement of the castle in Brodnica.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
