Editing Sigismund II Augustus (section)

==First marriage==
[[File:Cranach the Younger Elizabeth of Austria.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Elizabeth of Austria (1526–1545)|Queen Elizabeth]], by [[Lucas Cranach the Younger]]]]
When Sigismund Augustus was co-crowned, Chancellor [[Krzysztof Szydłowiecki]] organized a preliminary marriage treaty between the young king and [[Elizabeth of Austria (1526–1545)|Elizabeth of Austria]], daughter of King [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand of Bohemia and Hungary]]. The marriage was signed on 10–11 November 1530 in [[Poznań]], however, the arrangement was delayed by Queen [[Bona Sforza]], who detested the new bride. The treaty was renewed on 16 June 1538 in [[Wrocław]] by [[Johannes Dantiscus]] and the betrothal ceremony took place on 17 July 1538 in [[Innsbruck]]. Bona continued to lobby against the marriage and instead proposed [[Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry|Margaret of France]] to potentially form an alliance with the French against the [[Habsburgs]].

On 5 May 1543, Elizabeth's escorted convoy entered [[Kraków]] and was greeted with enthusiasm by both the nobles and the townsfolk. The same day 16-year-old Elizabeth married 22-year-old Sigismund Augustus, whom she met for the first time shortly before marriage vows.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://polishhistory.pl/sigismund-ii-augustus-a-renaissance-portrait-of-a-melancholic-man/ |title=SIGISMUND II AUGUSTUS: A RENAISSANCE PORTRAIT OF A MELANCHOLIC MAN |website=polishhistory.pl |author=Wojciech Stanisławski |date=7 July 2023 |access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref> The ceremony was performed at the [[Wawel Cathedral]] and the wedding continued for two weeks. Bona began to plot against the new queen. As a result, the newly wedded couple decided to reside in [[Vilnius]], far from the royal court.

[[File:Child armour of Žygimantas Augustas, exhibited in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Child [[armour]] of Sigismund II Augustus, which was commissioned by [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Ferdinand I]] for his daughter's Elizabeth of Austria marriage with Sigismund II Augustus<ref>{{cite web |title=Intriguojanti vieno šedevro istorija – Žygimanto Augusto vaikiškų šarvų paroda |url=https://www.valdovurumai.lt/lt/naujienos/i/2635/intriguojanti-vieno-sedevro-istorija-zygimanto-augusto-vaikisku-sarvu-paroda/ |website=Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania |access-date=23 April 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>]]
Despite the initial euphoria demonstrated by royal subjects, the marriage was unsuccessful from the very beginning. Sigismund Augustus did not find Elizabeth attractive and continued to have extramarital affairs with several mistresses, the most famous being [[Barbara Radziwiłł]]. Elizabeth was also known to be timid, meek and apprehensive due to strict upbringing. The young and garrulous king was also repulsed by Elizabeth's newly diagnosed [[epilepsy]] and subsequent seizures. Only Sigismund the Old and some nobles showed compassion towards the new Queen, who was disregarded by her husband and scorned by Bona. Sigismund Augustus was indifferent to her health condition; when the seizures continued to intensify he abandoned Elizabeth and returned to Kraków to collect her [[dowry]]. He also sent for Ferdinand's doctors to travel the long distance from [[Vienna]] knowing that Elizabeth was ailing and deteriorating fast. She eventually died unattended and exhausted from the epileptic attacks on 15 June 1545 at the age of 18.