Casimir III (1310-1370), known as Casimir the Great, was king of Poland from 1333 to 1370. In Polish, his name is spelled Kazimierz. During his long reign, he expanded the kingdom of Poland, formed a strong central government, and encouraged cultural development. Under Casimir, Poland experienced political stability and economic prosperity.
Through treaties and conquests, Casimir more than doubled Poland’s territory. He established more than 50 fortresses throughout the kingdom. During his reign, many new towns developed. He encouraged the construction of large new cathedrals and public buildings. He developed the country’s salt mines and other mineral resources. Under Casimir, Poland developed a code of laws that served as its legal foundation for hundreds of years. Casimir founded the country’s first university, the University of Kraków (now Jagiellonian University), in 1364.
Casimir was born on April 30, 1310. He succeeded his father, Władysław I, to the throne. Casimir was the last monarch in the Piast family, whose members had ruled Poland for hundreds of years. When he died on Nov. 5, 1370, without a direct heir, the throne passed to his nephew Louis of Hungary.
