Siemowit II of Rawa (pl: Siemowit II rawski; 1283 â 18 February 1345), was a Polish prince member of the House of Piast, Duke of Warsaw and Liw during 1310âÂÂ1313, after a new division with his brothers since 1313 ruler over Rawa Mazowiecka, Sochaczew, Zakroczym, Gostynin, Ciechanów and Wizna, regent of Pà Âock during 1336âÂÂ1340.
He was the eldest son of Bolesà Âaw II of Pà Âock and his first wife Gaudemantà(Sophia), the daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania. He was probably named after his paternal grandfather, Siemowit I.
Before his father died, in 1310 Siemowit II received the districts of Warsaw and Liw. When Bolesà Âaw II died in 1313, the Duchy of Masovia was divided. As the oldest son, Siemowit II obtained the central part of Masovia, with Rawa Mazowiecka as his capital. His younger brothers Trojden I and Wenceslaus were respectively given Czersk and Pà Âock. This division didn't satisfy anybody and lead to a brief war between the three brothers in 1316. Apart from a brief mention in the Roczniku miechowskim, the exact details of this conflict are unknown.
In terms of foreign policy, Siemowit II tried to skillfully maneuver between his powerful neighbors: Wà Âadysà Âaw I the Elbow-high, the Teutonic Order, Lithuania and Bohemia. This policy was expressed, inter alia, in frequent changes of alliances.
Initially Siemowit II, along with his brothers, relied on Wà Âadysà Âaw I the Elbow-high, with whom in 1323 placed in the throne of Halych his nephew Bolesà Âaw Jerzy II (son of Trojden I). The continuation of this collaboration was further showed two years later (1325) when the Masovian Dukes participated in Wà Âadysà Âaw I's coalition against Brandenburg.
In 1325 Siemowit II and Trojden I send a letter to the Pope determined the eastern border of their possession as reaching two miles from Grodno (). Later in that year, their youngest brother Wenceslaus concluded an alliance with the Teutonic Order; therefore, Wà Âadysà Âaw I attacked and plundered Pà Âock; however this attack and destruction to a part of Masovia didn't bring the expected success: Siemowit II and his brothers, felt threatened by this action, decided to conclude an alliance with the Teutonic Knights on 2 January 1326 in the city of Brodnica, under which the Grand Master guaranteed the Masovian Dukes their independence and the integrity of their domains. Moreover, the conflict created a permanent bond between the Masovian Dukes and the enemies of Wà Âadysà Âaw I - the Teutonic Knights and the Kingdom of Bohemia, and also bring another attack of the Polish King to the Duchy of Pà Âock ub 1327 and the invasion of the Lithuanians to the domains of Siemowit II.
In 1329 Siemowit II and his brothers unexpectedly decided to support Wà Âadysà Âaw I and taken part in Kujawy in the war against the Teutonic Knights. A year later Siemowit II managed to obtain the neutrality. This move was in detriment of the youngest of the brothers, Wenceslaus of Pà Âock, in after another invasion of his Duchy was forced to pay homage to King John of Bohemia, and therefore Siemowit II and Trojden I, in fear of suffering the fate as their brother, during the later stages of the conflict decided to remain neutral.
In 1333 The Teutonic Order (in order to obtain the alliance of the Masovian rulers) offered Siemowit II the district Brzeà ÂàKujawski, they took it to Poland in exchange for a new alliance; however, he declined the offer definitely took the side of Wà Âadysà Âaw I the Elbow-high.
The conclusion of "eternal" peace between Poland and the Teutonic Order (signed in the Treaty of Kalisz on 8 July 1343) relieved Siemowit II, whose Duchy had an uncomfortable situation between the two powers. As a potential successor Casimir III the Great on the throne of Poland, he also issued a document under which he agreed to waive the rights of Cheà Âmno and Eastern Pomerania.
Siemowit II died in Rawa on 19 February 1345 at his estate of Wiskitki near Sochaczew. He was buried in either Pà Âock Cathedral (according to the reports of Jan Dà Âugosz) or in the Dominican monastery of Warka (now destroyed; according to the ). He never married or had offspring, so after his death his duchy was divided among his three surviving nephews: Bolesà Âaw III, Siemowit III and Casimir I.