Anna of Prussia
Encyclopedia
Duchess Anna of Prussia and Jülich-Cleves-Berg (3 July 1576 – 30 August 1625) was the daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
, and Marie Eleonore of Cleves
. She became the spouse of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
.
, pointed out that Anna was not beautiful, but the marriage was arranged in order to secure the incorporation of the Duchy of Prussia into the Electorate of Brandenburg through Anna, whose father had no surviving male heirs. This was a political match of exceptional importantance, since Anna was not only heir to Prussia, but also the expected heir of Cleves, Jülich
and Berg
, and Mark
and Ravensberg.
Anna was described as intellectually superior to her spouse, temperamental and strong-willed. She is reported to have thrown plates and glasses at her spouse during arguments. She fought on her own to secure her succession rights to various fiefs and handled negotiations with her competitors. In 1612, she placed her demands before the Emperor. After the conversion of her spouse to Calvinism
, Anna became the protector and spokesperson of the Lutherans
. She continued to play an important role during the reign of her son. She opposed the Habsurgs and secured the marriage of her daughter Maria Eleonora
to the King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
against her son's will in 1620.
Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
Albert Frederick was duke of Prussia from 1568 until his death. He was a son of Albert of Prussia and Anna Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was the second and last Prussian duke of the Ansbach branch of the Hohenzollern family.-Duke of Prussia:...
, and Marie Eleonore of Cleves
Marie Eleonore of Cleves
Marie Eleonore of Cleves was a Duchess consort of Prussia as the wife of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia. She was the eldest child of Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg and Maria of Austria.- Family :...
. She became the spouse of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
John Sigismund was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern. He also served as a Duke of Prussia.-Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia:...
.
Biography
Anna was married to John Sigismund on 30 October 1594. Before the marriage, his mother, Catherine of Brandenburg-KüstrinCatherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin
Catherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin was a Princess of Brandenburg-Küstrin by birth and Electress of Brandenburg by marriage.- Life :...
, pointed out that Anna was not beautiful, but the marriage was arranged in order to secure the incorporation of the Duchy of Prussia into the Electorate of Brandenburg through Anna, whose father had no surviving male heirs. This was a political match of exceptional importantance, since Anna was not only heir to Prussia, but also the expected heir of Cleves, Jülich
Jülich
Jülich is a town in the district of Düren, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Jülich is well known as location of a world-famous research centre, the Forschungszentrum Jülich and as shortwave transmission site of Deutsche Welle...
and Berg
Berg
Berg is the word for mountain in various Germanic languages, and may also refer to:-People:* Alban Berg , Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School.* Paul Berg Berg is the word for mountain in various Germanic languages, and may also refer to:-People:* Alban Berg (1885-1935), Austrian...
, and Mark
Mark
Mark may refer to:* Mark , a male given name* Mark -Business:* Service mark, trademark used to identify a service rather than a product...
and Ravensberg.
Anna was described as intellectually superior to her spouse, temperamental and strong-willed. She is reported to have thrown plates and glasses at her spouse during arguments. She fought on her own to secure her succession rights to various fiefs and handled negotiations with her competitors. In 1612, she placed her demands before the Emperor. After the conversion of her spouse to Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, Anna became the protector and spokesperson of the Lutherans
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
. She continued to play an important role during the reign of her son. She opposed the Habsurgs and secured the marriage of her daughter Maria Eleonora
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg was a German princess and queen consort of Sweden.She was the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, and Anna, Duchess of Prussia, daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia....
to the King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
against her son's will in 1620.
Issue
- George WilliamGeorge William, Elector of BrandenburgGeorge William of Brandenburg , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was margrave and elector of Brandenburg and duke of Prussia from 1619 until his death. His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' War...
(13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640). Successor of John Sigismund. - Anne Sophia of Brandenburg (15 March 1598 – 19 December 1659). Married Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgFrederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgFrederick Ulrich , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1613 until his death....
. - Maria Eleonora of BrandenburgMaria Eleonora of BrandenburgMaria Eleonora of Brandenburg was a German princess and queen consort of Sweden.She was the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, and Anna, Duchess of Prussia, daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia....
(11 November 1599 – 28 March 1655). Married Gustavus Adolphus of SwedenGustavus Adolphus of SwedenGustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
. They were parents of Christina of SwedenChristina of SwedenChristina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
. - Catherine of BrandenburgCatherine of BrandenburgCatherine of Brandenburg was ruler of Transylvania between 1629 and 1630.She was the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg and Anne of Prussia....
(28 May 1602 – 27 August 1644). Married first Gabriel BethlenGabriel BethlenGabriel Bethlen was a prince of Transylvania , duke of Opole and leader of an anti-Habsburg insurrection in the Habsburg Royal Hungary. His last armed intervention in 1626 was part of the Thirty Years' War...
, Prince of Transylvania and secondly Franz Karl of Saxe-Lauenburg. - Joachim Sigismund of Brandenburg (25 July 1603 – 22 February 1625).
- Agnes of Brandenburg (31 August 1606 – 12 March 1607).
- John Frederick of Brandenburg (18 August 1607 – 1 March 1608).
- Albrecht Christian of Brandenburg (7 March – 14 March 1609).