Barbara Radziwiłł

Barbara Radziwiłł was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as consort of Sigismund II Augustus, the last male monarch of the Jagiellon dynasty. Barbara, a great beauty and already widowed, became a royal mistress most likely in 1543 and they married in secret in July or August 1547. The marriage caused a scandal; it was vehemently opposed by Polish nobles, including Queen mother Bona Sforza. Sigismund Augustus, assisted by Barbara's cousin Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł and brother Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł, worked tirelessly to gain recognition of their marriage and to crown Barbara as Queen of Poland. They succeeded and Barbara's coronation was held on 7 December 1550 at Wawel Cathedral. However, her health was already failing and she died just five months later. Even though it was brief, her reign propelled the Radziwiłł family to new heights of political power and influence.

6 December 1520

Born on the same birth day (6 December): Adam Eaton (outfielder) • Anne Begg • Craig Newmark • Gary Goodman • Hasan al-Askari • James Elphinston • Jasprit Bumrah • Lynn Fontanne • Mall Nukke • Maria de Dominici • Sandra Nurmsalu • Steve Lovell • Steven Wright • Tony Lazzeri

Born in the same month (December 1520): Martha Leijonhufvud