Margareta of Celje was a noblewoman member of the Slovenian House of Celje and by marriage Duchess of both half Głogów and Ścinawa.
Background
She was the only child of Herman III, Count of Celje (b 1380? - d after falling from his horse, 30 July 1426), by his first wife, Elisabeth (b 1377? - d bef 1423), daughter of Baron Johann II of Abensberg and widow of Ulrich II of Schauenburg. From her mother"s first marriage, Margareta had two older half-brothers, Johann I (d 16 November 1453) and George I of Schauenburg (d young, 1404). From her father"s side, she was a niece of Barbara of Celje, known as the Messalina of Germany, second and last wife of Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia.
Career
On 15 March 1430 Margareta married firstly with Herman I, Count of Montfort-Pfannberg-Bregenz. Count Hermann I died on 24 July 1435. They had no children.
Władysław died on 14 February 1460.
Recognized her authority (although purely formal) over her Oprawa wdowia, Margareta had to faced the ambitions of January II the Mad, Duke of Żagań, who wanted to obtain the direct control over half Głogów and Ścinawa. Soon, he was sworn by the Głogów city council ruler of the city as guardian of Margareta.
However, he was defeated by January II"s forces shortly after. At the end, Casimir II renounced to all his claims over Władysław"s inheritance in exchange of a monetary compensation from King Matthias Corvinus in 1479.
She maintained the resistance in Głogów until 1 May 1480, when, after a siege of seven weeks, January II finally conquered the city, and the Duchy of Głogów was finally reunited after almost 150 years of separation.
Margareta died two months later.
Views
Now Margareta was forced to defend the city alone from January II the Mad.
Membership
In December 1444 Margareta married secondly with Władysław, Duke of both half Głogów and Ścinawa, member of the Cieszyn branch of the House of Piast.