Władysław III of Poland

Władysław III inherited Poland's crown at nine after his father Władysław II Jagiełło died in 1434, ruling under a regency while nobles questioned his legitimacy and the realm fought the Teutonic Knights. He forced peace on the Teutons in 1435 after their defeat at Wiłkomierz, then took Hungary's throne in 1440 when Albert II died - a claim contested by the Habsburgs until Elizabeth of Luxembourg's death cleared the way. Ruling from the Baltic to the Balkans, he answered the papacy's call for a crusade against the Ottomans after Hungarian victories had weakened their hold. On 10 November 1444, at Varna, the outnumbered Christian army met Sultan Murad II and Władysław reportedly died in a cavalry charge at nineteen. The disappearance of his body spawned survival tales across the continent, none ever proven.