Agnes of Hesse
Encyclopedia
Agnes of Hesse was a princess of Hesse by birth and by marriage Electress of Saxony
.
of Hesse and his first wife Christine of Saxony
. She married on 9 January 1541 the Duke and later Elector Maurice
of Saxony. From this marriage, she had two children: Anna of Saxony
(born: 23 December 1544; died 18 December 1577) and Albert (born: 28 November 1545; died: 12 April 1546). The marriage between the two was not arranged by their parent, but was initiated by Maurice and Agnes themselves, which at the time was highly unusual. Their surviving letters document the continuing friendship and mutual trust between the spouses. Agnes was also informed about the political plans of her husband. After her mother Christine 's death in 1549, she took up the education of her younger siblings. Elector Maurice died on 9 July 1553 from his injuries in the battle of Sievershausen
.
On 26 May 1555, Agnes married her second husband, Duke John Frederick II
of Saxony. She was already of poor health at the time, and died six months later from a miscarriage. In the choir of St. Peter and Paul Church in Weimar, however, an unknown author states her death was due to poisoning. We can only speculate about the actual cause of her death. The fact the Agnes of Hesse had married into a rival family, is consistent with the murder theory: members of the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin may have suspected her of revealing state secrets to the rival Ernestine branch.
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Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
.
Life
Agnes was a daughter of Landgrave PhilipPhilip I, Landgrave of Hesse
Philip I of Hesse, , nicknamed der Großmütige was a leading champion of the Protestant Reformation and one of the most important of the early Protestant rulers in Germany....
of Hesse and his first wife Christine of Saxony
Christine of Saxony
Christine of Saxony was a German noble, landgravine of Hesse. She was the regent of Hesse in 1547-1549....
. She married on 9 January 1541 the Duke and later Elector Maurice
Maurice, Elector of Saxony
Maurice was Duke and later Elector of Saxony. His clever manipulation of alliances and disputes gained the Albertine branch of the Wettin dynasty extensive lands and the electoral dignity....
of Saxony. From this marriage, she had two children: Anna of Saxony
Anna of Saxony
Anna of Saxony was the only child and heiress of Maurice, Elector of Saxony, and Agnes, eldest daughter of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. She was the second wife of William the Silent.Anna was born and died in Dresden...
(born: 23 December 1544; died 18 December 1577) and Albert (born: 28 November 1545; died: 12 April 1546). The marriage between the two was not arranged by their parent, but was initiated by Maurice and Agnes themselves, which at the time was highly unusual. Their surviving letters document the continuing friendship and mutual trust between the spouses. Agnes was also informed about the political plans of her husband. After her mother Christine 's death in 1549, she took up the education of her younger siblings. Elector Maurice died on 9 July 1553 from his injuries in the battle of Sievershausen
Battle of Sievershausen
The Battle of Sievershausen occurred on 9 July 1553 in Sievershausen , between the Catholic Imperial troops and those of the Protestant Schmalkaldic League. 4,000 soldiers were killed, including Maurice, Elector of Saxony, the Protestant commander of the Catholic side...
.
On 26 May 1555, Agnes married her second husband, Duke John Frederick II
John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony
John Frederick II of Saxony , was duke of Saxony, and briefly, Elector of Saxony .He was the eldest son of John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, and Sybille of Cleves.-Reign and military ambitions:...
of Saxony. She was already of poor health at the time, and died six months later from a miscarriage. In the choir of St. Peter and Paul Church in Weimar, however, an unknown author states her death was due to poisoning. We can only speculate about the actual cause of her death. The fact the Agnes of Hesse had married into a rival family, is consistent with the murder theory: members of the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin may have suspected her of revealing state secrets to the rival Ernestine branch.
Footnotes
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