Władysław was the son of Casimir I of Kujawy, the ruler of one of the numerous small principalities formed after the Old Polish realm had been divided up two centuries earlier. Władysław succeeded his father in 1275 and was elected by the nobles of Great Poland as their prince in 1296; however, they later transferred their allegiance to King Wenceslas II of Bohemia, who was then crowned king of Poland at Gniezno in 1300.

Władysław, seeking to press his claim to the throne, went to Rome and secured the support of Pope Boniface VIII. Then, in 1305, with Hungarian help, he began a war with Wenceslas II. He occupied Little Poland in 1305 and Great Poland in 1314 and also gained control of the northern areas along the Baltic Sea, including Pomerania and Gdańsk (Danzig). The Knights of the Teutonic Order, however, captured Pomerania in 1308, and, despite a good deal of maneuvering by Władysław, it remained in German hands. Having partially reunited the Polish lands, Władysław was crowned king of Poland on Jan. 20, 1320, at Kraków.

Władysław became involved in further conflicts with the Knights of the Teutonic Order. In September 1331 war again broke out between Poland and the Teutonic Order, and at the Battle of Płowce on Sept. 27, 1331, Władysław inflicted a serious defeat on the Knights.

On the diplomatic front Władysław sought to strengthen his friendship with Hungary, and for a time he was able to halt Lithuanian raids into Poland by marrying his son to a daughter of a Lithuanian nobleman. When Władysław died, he had established a solid base for the future growth of the Polish nation.