Władysław Konstanty Vasa

Władysław Konstanty Vasa, Count of Wasenau (c. 1635 – 19 March 1698), was a member of the House of Vasa as the illegitimate son of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Władysław IV Vasa, and his mistress, Jadwiga Łuszkowska.

Władysław Konstanty was born in 1635, he was the illegitimate son of Władysław IV Vasa by his mistress Jadwiga Łuszkowska.^[1][2][a] After the death of his father, it is likely Władysław was appointed to the care of his paternal uncle, John II Casimir Vasa, who was childless.^[3] Thereafter, Władysław was free to traverse various European countries.

Władysław first left Poland to reside in the Kingdom of France, where he lived life as a libertine and led a dissolute life under the name Count of Wasenau.^[3] According to the will of his uncle, the count inherited 30,000 livres, secured by claims to the Spanish King, Charles II.^[3]

During his visit spent in the capital of Italy, Rome, Władysław was assigned the position Captain of the Guard for his second cousin, the former Queen Christina of Sweden. There he was nominated Papal Chamberlain by Pope Alexander VIII, an arrangement confirmed by his successor, Pope Innocent XII.^[1] Following the death of Christina in 1689, Władysław did not receive the benefits she had intended to leave for him and was reduced to abide living in poverty.

On 19 March 1698, Władysław died, he was the last representative of the Polish Vasa Lineage and last known descendant of line Sigismund I the Old by his second wife, Bona Sforza.^[3] His gravestone was erected by Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Albani (later known as Pope Clement XI), the gravestone was placed for him in the walls near the entrance of the sacristy of the Holy Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi (Italian: Santissime Stimmate di San Francesco.)^[3]

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