Hedwig of Andechs, a member of the Bavarian comital House of Andechs, was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and of Greater Poland from 1231, as well as High Duchess consort of Poland from 1232 until 1238.

Hedwig married Henry I at the age of twelve. Henry died in 1238 and was buried at a Cistercian monastery of nuns, Trzebnica Abbey, which he had established in 1202 at Hedwig's request. She accepted the death of her beloved husband with faith and moved into the monastery, which was led by her daughter Gertrude, assuming the religious habit of a lay sister, but she did not take vows.

Hedwig and Henry had seven children, though only one surviving son, Henry II the Pious, who succeeded his father as Duke of Silesia and Polish High Duke. Henry II was killed during the Mongol invasion of Poland at the Battle of Legnica (Wahlstatt) in 1241.

Following his death, Hedwig and her daughter-in-law, Henry II's widow Anna of Bohemia, established a Benedictine abbey at the site of the battle in Legnickie Pole, settled with monks coming from Opatovice in Bohemia.

Hedwig and Henry had lived very pious lives, and Hedwig had great zeal for her faith. She always helped the poor, the widows and the orphans, founded several hospitals for the sick and the lepers and donated all her fortune to the Church. She allowed no one to leave her uncomforted, and once she spent ten weeks teaching the Our Father to a poor woman.

Hedwig died on 15 October 1243, and was buried in Trzebnica Abbey with her husband, while relics of her are preserved at Andechs Abbey and St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin.

Hedwig was canonized in 1267 by Pope Clement IV. In March 2020 remains of Hedwig that had been missing for centuries, were discovered. They were found in her sanctuary in Trzebnica, in a silver casket bearing a lead tablet with an inscription confirming Hedwig's identity.

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