Background
He was the eight and youngest son of Bolesław IV of Warsaw and Barbara Olelkovna of Slutsk-Kapy, a Lithuanian princess, (granddaughter of Vladimir Olgerdovich). He was born posthumously, because his father died on 10 September 1454.
He was the eight and youngest son of Bolesław IV of Warsaw and Barbara Olelkovna of Slutsk-Kapy, a Lithuanian princess, (granddaughter of Vladimir Olgerdovich). He was born posthumously, because his father died on 10 September 1454.
As the youngest brother, in the division of the paternal domains, he received the small districts of Ciechanów, Łomża and Różan. To this end, Janusz II joined the Teutonic Order in 1472. The relationship with them must be extremely close, since the Grand Master of the Order Johann von Tiefen granted to Janusz II the title of familiaris since 1489.
The King, however, had other plans, and finally Masovian Piasts had to abandon their ambitious plans.
On 7 August 1492 King Casimir IV of Poland died, and the Dukes of Masovia (who wantd to escape from the shadow of the Jagiellonian dynasty) proposed Janusz II as candidate for the croen. However, when Janusz II arrived to Krakow, it was too late: Casimir IV"s son John I Albert was elected new King.
Janusz II died on 16 February 1495 in Płock, and was buried in the local Cathedral. His sudden death (contemporary sources claimed that "one day was healthy, the other was dead") caused rumors about poisoning.
However, this never can be proved.
