CASIMIR, kas-i-iner, properly KAZI MIERZ ("founder of peace"), was the name of many Polish princes and kings. (1) CASIMIR I: b. 1015; d. 1058. During his minority he was under the regency of his mother and was driven from the kingdom with her. In 1041 his power was re-established, and through his efforts the predominance of Christianity was decided in Poland. (2) CASIMIR II, the Just: b. 1145; d. d. 1194. He was a son of Boleslas III, and ascended the throne in 1179. He pushed his armies into Volhynia and Lithuania and re conquered several places formerly belonging to Poland. He abolished tithes and other illegal imports and in 1180 convened an assembly at Lenczyca, which in time became the Polish Senate. In 1185 he repulsed an attack by the Hungarians and four years later was in con flict with his brother Micislas, who aimed to seize the throne. In 1192 he fought the Prus sians. He renewed with the Hungarians the treaty fixing the Carpathians as the boundary between the two nations. (3) CASIMIR III: b. 1309; d. 5 Nov. 1370, called Casimir the Great, who succeeded his father, Vladislav Loketek, as king of Poland in 1333, was the most distinguished of this name. He added Little Russia and Red Russia to his do minions, and repelled the Tartars, who then threatened Poland. He founded the University of Cracow (1364), as well as several schools and hospitals, and showed great anxiety for the advancement of the arts and of learning in his kingdom. In 1347 he caused a new code of laws to be compiled, and protected the peasants, on which account he was called the peasants' king. He had a Jewish mistress who pro cured for her nation great liberties and protec tion. With him the line of the Piasti, which had ruled in Poland for nearly 530 years, be came extinct. (4) CASIMIR IV: b. 1427; d. 1492. He was the second son of Ladislaus II Jagiello; was crowned King of Poland in 1447, three years after the death of his elder brother, Ladislaus III, at the battle of Varna. His reign was epoch-making for Poland. The kingdom was threatened from three sides. On the south the Turks were encroaching and aiming to capture Constantinople. On the north east the Muscovites were beginning to spread and make their weight felt, while on the north west the Teutonic Knights were ever seeking aggrandizement at the expense of Poland. After 13 years of conflict Casimir finally subdued the Teutonic order and by the Treaty of Thorn (1466) compelled them to cede West Prussia to Poland. Casimir was one of the great states
men of his age, was possessed of profound political sagacity, great common sense and great patience and moderation. His only sub jects gave him more trouble than his power ful enemies from without. The nobles threat ened to depose him and from his time onward Poland became more and more an aristocracy. His personal character was marked by extreme simplicity and sobriety. Consult Morfill, 'Po land' (New York 1893) ; Sokolowski, A., 'Illustrated History of Poland) (Vienna 1904).
pa'ryi, Jean Paul Pierre, fifth President of the French Republic: b. Paris, 8 Nov. 1847; d. there, 11 March 1907. He was the grandson of Casimir Pierre Perier, famous Premier of Louis Philippe. He entered public life as secretary to his father, A. V. C. Perier, who was Minister of the Interior dur ing the presidency of Thiers. In 1871 he was decorated with the Legion of Honor for bravery in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1874 he became general councillor of the Aube and two years later was sent to the Chambre des Deputes as representative of that department, and was always re-elected until he reached the presidency. He also held under-secretaryships in the departments of Public Instruction and War. Despite the monarchist traditions of his family Casimir-Perier sided with the Re publican group of the Left. He refused to vote the expulsion of the princes in 1883, and resigned as deputy when the law was enacted. In 1890-92 he was vice-president and in 1893 president of the chamber. On 3 December of the latter year he became Prime Minister un der Carnot and president of the council. He resigned in May 1894 and was re-elected presi dent of the chamber. On 24 June 1894, after the assassination of Carnot, Casimir-Perier was elected, on the first ballot, to the presi dency of the republic. He retained the office only six months, surprising the world by re signing on 15 Jan. 1895 and retiring to private life. The reasons impelling him to resign were stated by him to be the restrictions imposed on the President under the constitution. He found himself ignored by his ministers who failed to consult him or even to keep him in formed on important questions and business of state. He remained strictly aloof from politics for the remainder of his life, and en gaged in mining. At the Dreyfus trial, Casi mir-Perier's evidence, as opposed to that of Mercier, greatly aided the cause of the accused