Love for this woman made the Polish king go against the morals of the court, the interests of the state and the fear of the world of the dead.
Thanks to the work of the writers of the XIX century. this woman has become the Polish counterpart of Shakespeare's Juliet. Her biography and tragic love illustrated the cruel customs of the Middle Ages. Contemporaries did not romanticize her image. On the contrary, they considered this lady an immoral and destructive person for the state.
Childhood
Yuri Radzvill was one of the most powerful people in Lithuania. This knight received the nickname Hercules for his heroic physique and valor on the battlefield. The tycoon was married to the daughter of the Podolsk governor, who gave him three children. The youngest in the family was Barbara. She was born in 1520 in the Radziwills' family castle in Vilna.
A noble father made grandiose plans for the fate of his offspring. Basya was pampered with the most expensive and sophisticated outfits, taught to dance and play music. The parents also took care of their daughter's education. By the age of 18, the girl blossomed and could decorate any of the royal courts of Europe. This would have happened if the eldest son of Yuri had not entered into confrontation with the famous commander Albrecht Gashtold. Old Radziwill, in order to settle the conflict and prevent strife, married his daughter to the son of a potential adversary.
Unsuccessful marriage
Having become related, the two gentry families escaped the war. But the young Radziwill soon tired of her life partner. The offspring of the warlike family of Gashtolds was straightforward - he said that he had made his contribution to the peace in his native land, and considers himself absolutely free. After the honeymoon, Barbara returned to her father's house, and her faithful, not wanting to make a military career, went on a journey to the hot places of Lithuania and Poland.
The Radziwills' house in Vilna was hospitable. The appearance there of a formally married beauty became the reason for gossip. In the light, it was argued that Barbara is a match for her hubby - she never misses an opportunity to have an affair with the first person she meets. In 1542 the mournful news of the death of the younger Gashtold spread. The newly-made widow did not even try to portray grief, she received guests and was cheerful, as usual.
Meeting with the prince
The king of the Commonwealth planned to transfer the throne to his son Sigismund Augustus. To begin with, the young man had to be made a prince of Lithuania. He was hastily married to Elizabeth of Austria and, without even allowing him to really get to know her, they escorted him to Vilna. Parents insisted that the interests of the state are more important than personal life. The envious and power-hungry queen Bona ordered her daughter-in-law to stay in Krakow, fearing that the young would conspire and try to overthrow the ruling couple.
In the capital of Lithuania, the prince stayed with the Radziwills. One look at Barbara was enough for him to fall in love with her. The charming woman answered him in return, and soon the whole city knew about their relationship. Yuri Radziwill was no longer alive, and the title of the head of the clan was inherited by his nephew Nikolai Cherny. Being very pious, this nobleman did not want to endure debauchery in his house. He took the lustful cousin to the Nesvizh castle and forbade her to receive guests.
Secret marriage
The lovers did not suffer for long in separation. In 1544 Sigismund August became the head of the Lithuanian principality and became addicted to hunting. Every day our hero saddled his horse and went to the castle hidden in the forest. Penetration into the high tower where Barbara was imprisoned was not difficult. In 1547 Nikolay Radziwill visited his possessions. He was stunned when he heard a voluptuous whisper outside his cousin's dungeon door. Opening the door, the gentry exposed the adulterers.
The heir to the throne was not at a loss - he announced that he was ready to marry his chosen one. Saving the honor of the family for Nicholas was in the first place, so he immediately invited a familiar priest, who performed the ceremony. The fact that the prince becomes a bigamist did not bother Radziwill at all, as did Sigismund Augustus, who from now on could visit Barbara without hiding from anyone.
Accession to the throne
In 1545, Elizabeth, the legal wife of the heir to the throne, died, and after 3 years the king was no more. Sigismund Augustus returned to Krakow and was crowned. The monarch immediately announced his secret marriage and demanded that Barbara be recognized as his legal wife. His mother Bona Sforza opposed this. She hoped that her son would enter into a dynastic alliance, and did not want to see a lady with a dubious reputation on the throne.
In 1550, contrary to the opinion of the Diet and the will of the parent, Sigismund II Augustus crowned his beloved. Happiness did not stay at the Wawel Castle for a long time - Barbara fell seriously ill. The court doctors, having examined the unfortunate woman, found an abscess on her stomach. No one could make an accurate diagnosis: some argued that this was a venereal disease, which the lady was awarded either by her first husband, or one of the many lovers, others believed that the reason was the wrong treatment for infertility. It was rumored that the unwanted daughter-in-law was poisoned by Bona Sforza, who was related to the infamous Medici family.
Death and posthumous adventures
Barbara's health was deteriorating. A stench emanated from her body, but her husband did not leave her for a minute. In 1551 the young queen died. Sigismund II Augustus ordered to bury her in Vilna, where they met and were happy.
Unable to endure loneliness, the monarch turned for help to the alchemist Pan Tvardovsky with a request to summon the spirit of his Basi. The magician arrived at the Nesvizh castle, where he set to work. From Sigismund II Augustus, the word was taken that he would not try to speak to the ghost, or touch him. At exactly midnight, a pale shadow appeared in the hall full of mirrors. The king recognized her as Barbara and could not restrain himself. He tried to hug the woman, and she turned into a skeleton. The men fled in horror, and the disturbed soul of the deceased since then wanders at night through the halls of the castle.
