Inter-regional marital alliances as an element of marriage strategies of the Greater Polish higher nobility in late medieval times (from the late fourteenth to the early sixteenth centuries)

This chapter outlines some features and tendencies concerning inter-regional marital alliances that are reflected in various ways in marriage strategies pursued by the particular individuals and families under study. The marriages of Greater Polish higher noble families from the group under study provide us with more examples of marital alliances arranged within the same circle of politically allied families. Although it is more typical of the early modern period nobility, also for late medieval times the preference for marriage partners of equal social rank and wealth is noticeable for both the higher nobility of Greater Poland and those of other regions. There are families whose time of prosperity and political significance is mainly related either to the late fourteenth and the first half of the fifteenth century or to the second half of the fifteenth and the early sixteenth century.