Catherine of Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Catherine of Brandenburg (Königsberg
, May 28, 1604 – August 27, 1649, Schöningen
) was ruler of Transylvania between 1629 and 1630.
She was the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
and Anne of Prussia.
On March 2, 1626 she married Gabriel Bethlen
, prince of Transylvania, who made her his successor in June 1626.
When the prince died on November 25, 1629, she tried in vain for a year to hold on to the throne, supporting herself on her favorite Istvan Csaky
. Her policy was to bring Transylvania back under the influence of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II
, but she was forced to abandon power on September 21, 1630.
The Sublime Porte, first chose her brother-in-law István Bethlen as successor, but finally she was succeeded by George I Rákóczi
. The new prince George I Rákóczi
was elected on December 1, 1630.
Catherine of Hohenzollern moved back to Germany where she converted to Catholicism in 1633 and married in 1638 Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg
. She died on August 27, 1649.
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, May 28, 1604 – August 27, 1649, Schöningen
Schöningen
Schöningen is a town of about 13,000 inhabitants in the district of Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located near the border with Saxony-Anhalt, on the southeastern rim of the Elm hill range...
) was ruler of Transylvania between 1629 and 1630.
She was the daughter 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:...
and Anne of Prussia.
On March 2, 1626 she married Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel 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, who made her his successor in June 1626.
When the prince died on November 25, 1629, she tried in vain for a year to hold on to the throne, supporting herself on her favorite Istvan Csaky
István Csáky
Count István Csáky de Körösszeg et Adorján was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1938 and 1941.-Political career:...
. Her policy was to bring Transylvania back under the influence of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, but she was forced to abandon power on September 21, 1630.
The Sublime Porte, first chose her brother-in-law István Bethlen as successor, but finally she was succeeded by George I Rákóczi
George I Rákóczi
György Rákóczi I was elected Hungarian prince of Transylvania from 1630 until his death. During his influence Transylvania grew politically and economically stronger.-Biography:...
. The new prince George I Rákóczi
George I Rákóczi
György Rákóczi I was elected Hungarian prince of Transylvania from 1630 until his death. During his influence Transylvania grew politically and economically stronger.-Biography:...
was elected on December 1, 1630.
Catherine of Hohenzollern moved back to Germany where she converted to Catholicism in 1633 and married in 1638 Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg
Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg
Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg was a prince of Saxe-Lauenburg and a general during the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
. She died on August 27, 1649.