- Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
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Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach Electress Palatine Tenure 1559–1567 Spouse Frederick III, Elector Palatine Issue Alberta
Louis VI, Elector Palatine
Elizabeth
Hermann Louis
Johann Casimir of Simmern
Dorothea Susanne, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar
Albert
Anne Elizabeth
Christopher
Charles
Cunigunde, Countess of Nassau-DillenburgFather Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Mother Susanna of Bavaria Born 14 October 1519
AnsbachDied 31 October 1567
HeidelbergMarie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (born 14 October 1519 in Ansbach – died 31 October 1567 in Heidelberg) was a Princess of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and by marriage Electress Palatine.
Contents
Biography
Marie was the oldest child of the Margrave Casimir of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1481–1527) from his marriage with Susanna of Bavaria (1502–1543), daughter of Duke Albert IV of Bavaria. After her father's death Marie was raised in the Lutheran faith by her uncle George Frederick.
On 21 October 1537, in Kreuznach, Marie married Frederick of Simmern (b. 1515), later Elector Palatine (1559–1576). The marriage was happy. Marie, who is described as intelligent and religious, influenced her Catholic husband toward Protestantism. In 1546, Frederick finally adopted Lutheranism and assumed the administration of the Franconian territories from his brother-in-law Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. Since their family was living in reduced circumstances, Marie repeatedly turned to her uncle Albert of Prussia for financial assistance.
After the death of Marie's stepfather Otto-Henry in 1559, her consort Frederick became Elector Palatine. As Electress, she was closely involved in governmental affairs, though Frederick tolerated no direct interference. She had influence in religious questions, and as a strong Lutheran she was a determined opponent of the Zwinglians.
The Electress spent the last year of her life suffering from gout and was mostly confined to her bed.
She was buried in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Heidelberg.
Descendants
By her marriage, Marie had the following children:
- Alberta (1538–1553)
- Louis VI, Elector Palatine (1539–1583)
- m. (1) 1560 Princess Elizabeth of Hesse (1539–1582)
- m. (2) 1583 Princess Anne of Ostfriesland (1562–1621)
- Elizabeth (1540–1594)
- m. 1558 Duke John Frederick II of Saxony (1529–1595)
- Hermann Louis (1541–1556)
- John Casimir (1543–1592), Count Palatine of Simmern
- m. 1570 Princess Elizabeth of Saxony (1552–1590)
- Dorothea Susanne (1544–1592)
- m. 1560 Duke John William I of Saxe-Weimar (1530–1573)
- Albert (1546–1547)
- Anne Elizabeth (1549–1609)
- m. (1) 1569 Landgrave Philip II of Hesse-Rheinfels (1541–1583)
- m. (2) 1599 Count Palatine John Augustus of Veldenz-Lützelstein (1575–1611)
- Christopher, killed
- Charles (1552–1555)
- Cunigunde Jacobæa (1556–1586)
- m. 1580 Count John VI of Nassau-Dillenburg (1536–1606)
Ancestors
Marie's ancestors in three generations Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach Father:
Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthPaternal Grandfather:
Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachPaternal Great-grandfather:
Albrecht III, Elector of BrandenburgPaternal Great-grandmother:
Anna of SaxonyPaternal Grandmother:
Sophia of PolandPaternal Great-grandfather:
Casimir IV JagiellonPaternal Great-grandmother:
Elisabeth of AustriaMother:
Susanna of BavariaMaternal Grandfather:
Albert IV, Duke of BavariaMaternal Great-grandfather:
Albert III, Duke of BavariaMaternal Great-grandmother:
Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-EinbeckMaternal Grandmother:
Kunigunde of AustriaMaternal Great-grandfather:
Frederick III, Holy Roman EmperorMaternal Great-grandmother:
Eleanor of PortugalReferences
- August Kluckhohn (Hrsg.): Briefe Friedrich des Frommen, Kurfürsten von der Pfalz, C.A. Schwetschke und Sohn, 1868, S. 38 ff.
- August Kluckhohn: Wie ist Kurfürst Friedrich III von der Pfalz Calvinist geworden?, F. Straub, 1866, S. 427 f.
External links
Preceded by
Dorothea of DenmarkElectress Palatine
1559–1567Succeeded by
Amalia of NeuenahrCategories:- 1519 births
- 1567 deaths
- Electresses Palatine
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