Elizabeth of Bosnia ( – January 1387) was
queen consort and later
regent of
Hungary and
Croatia, as well as queen consort of
Poland. Daughter of
Ban Stephen II of
Bosnia, Elizabeth married
King Louis I of Hungary in 1353. In 1370, she gave birth to a long-anticipated heir,
Catherine, and became Queen of Poland when Louis succeeded his uncle,
Casimir III. The royal couple had two more daughters,
Mary and
Hedwig, but Catherine died in 1378. Initially a powerless consort with no substantial influence, Elizabeth then started surrounding herself with noblemen loyal to her, led by her
favourite, Nicholas I Garai. When Louis died in 1382, Mary ascended to the
throne of Hungary with Elizabeth as regent. Unable to preserve the
personal union of
Hungary and Poland, the
queen dowager secured the
Polish throne for her youngest daughter, Hedwig.