Marie Elisabeth, Abbess of Quedlinburg

Princess-Abbess Marie Elsiabeth

Duchess Marie Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (21 March 1678 – 17 July 1755) was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1718 until her death.

Duchess Marie Elisabeth was born in Hamburg as the youngest child of Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and his wife, Princess Frederica Amalia of Denmark.

In 1718, she was elected Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg. However, the Kings in Prussia, who obtained the guardianship of the abbey-principality as electors of Brandenburg in 1698, tried to impose their authority over this small state of the Holy Roman Empire by attempting to influence the election of new princess-abbess in favour of their own relatives. Marie Elisabeth was elected several times during the interregnum, while the abbey-principality was ruled by the provost Maria Aurora von Königsmarck, but King Frederick William I of Prussia refused to consent to each election and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI consequently refused to confirm the elections. The election, however, eventually went ahead but the selection of a duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp instead than a princess of Prussia caused quite a stir. Due to her territorial disputes with the King in Prussia, Marie Elisabeth turned to the Holy Roman Emperor, but without success.

As the ruler, Princess-Abbess Marie Elisabeth restored the castle, the abbey and the Abbey Church of St. Servatius, where she was buried upon her death in Quedlinburg. After her death, a princess of Prussia was finally elected and Marie Elisabeth was succeeded by Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia.

Ancestry

Marie Elisabeth's ancestors in three generations

Marie Elisabeth, Abbess of Quedlinburg	Father: Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp	Paternal grandfather: Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp	Paternal great-grandfather: John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
			Paternal great-grandmother: Augusta of Denmark
		Paternal grandmother: Marie Elisabeth of Saxony	Paternal great-grandfather: John George I, Elector of Saxony
			Paternal great-grandmother: Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia
	Mother: Frederica Amalia of Denmark	Maternal grandfather: Frederick III of Denmark	Maternal great-grandfather: Christian IV of Denmark
			Maternal great-grandmother: Anne Catherine of Brandenburg
		Maternal grandmother: Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg	Maternal Great-grandfather: George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
			Maternal great-grandmother: Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt

Bibliography

• H. Lorenz: Werdegang von Stift und Stadt Quedlinburg. Quedlinburg 1922.

External links

• guide2womenleaders

Marie Elisabeth House of Holstein-Gottorp Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg
Regnal titles
Vacant Office of provost held by Maria Aurora von Königsmarck Title last held by Anna Dorothea	Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg 1718–1755	Succeeded by Anna Amalia