Clara of Saxe-Lauenburg
Encyclopedia
Clara of Saxe-Lauenburg (1518–1576) was a Princess of Saxe-Lauenburg and Duchess of Brunswick-Gifhorn by marriage.
, a daughter of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg (1470–1543) and his wife Catherine
(1488–1563), daughter of Duke Henry I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
She married Duke Francis of Brunswick-Gifhorn (1508–1549) on 29 September 1547 in the Saxe-Lauenburgian castle at Neuhaus in Darzing
. The couple were greatly loved by their subjects even if their short marriage of convenience was unlucky. Clara, who was very benevolent and went into medicine, used to prepared a herbal beer (Kräuterbier) for the poor and sick, which was produced long after her death.
Following the untimely death of her husband, Clara lived at the dower
pledged to her as a life annuity
in Fallersleben., where she finished building work on her castle
in 1551 and presided over a boom in the local economy. Later she went to the court of her daughter in Barth, where she died on 27 March 1576. Clara was interred in St. Mary's Church there. Her tomb in the castle chapel in Gifhorn
is empty.
Life
Clara was born on 13 December 1518 in Lauenburg upon ElbeLauenburg/Elbe
Lauenburg/Elbe is a town in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated at the northern bank of the river Elbe, east of Hamburg. It is the southernmost town of Schleswig-Holstein. Lauenburg belongs to the Kreis of Herzogtum Lauenburg and had a population of 11,900 as of 2002...
, a daughter of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg (1470–1543) and his wife Catherine
Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg
Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a member of the house of Welf and a Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.- Life :...
(1488–1563), daughter of Duke Henry I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
She married Duke Francis of Brunswick-Gifhorn (1508–1549) on 29 September 1547 in the Saxe-Lauenburgian castle at Neuhaus in Darzing
Amt Neuhaus
Amt Neuhaus is a municipality in the District of Lunenburg , in Lower Saxony, Germany.- History :In the course of the eastern colonisation the area of today's Amt Neuhaus became a part of the Duchy of Saxony...
. The couple were greatly loved by their subjects even if their short marriage of convenience was unlucky. Clara, who was very benevolent and went into medicine, used to prepared a herbal beer (Kräuterbier) for the poor and sick, which was produced long after her death.
Following the untimely death of her husband, Clara lived at the dower
Dower
Dower or morning gift was a provision accorded by law to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband...
pledged to her as a life annuity
Life annuity
A life annuity is a financial contract in the form of an insurance product according to which a seller — typically a financial institution such as a life insurance company — makes a series of future payments to a buyer in exchange for the immediate payment of a lump sum or a series...
in Fallersleben., where she finished building work on her castle
Fallersleben Castle
Fallersleben Castle is located in Wolfsburg in the German state of Lower Saxony and, together with Neuhaus and Wolfsburg Castles, is one of the most important historic buildings in the town. It is in the district of Fallersleben and forms an historic setting along with the castle lake, St...
in 1551 and presided over a boom in the local economy. Later she went to the court of her daughter in Barth, where she died on 27 March 1576. Clara was interred in St. Mary's Church there. Her tomb in the castle chapel in Gifhorn
Gifhorn Castle
Gifhorn Castle is a castle in Gifhorn, Germany, built between 1525 and 1581 in the Weser Renaissance style. The castle was fortified until 1790 with moats, ramparts and bastions and was never captured...
is empty.
Descendants
Clara had two daughters from her marriage:- Catherine (1548–1565)
- ∞ 1564 Burgrave Henry VI of Meißen (1536–1572)
- Clara (1550–1598)
- ∞ 1. 1565 Prince Bernhard VII of Anhalt (1540–1570)
- ∞ 2. 1572 Duke Bogislaw XIII of Pomerania (1544–1606)
Ancestry
Source
- Johann H. Steffens: Johann Henry Steffens Auszug aus der Geschichte des Gesammthauses Brunswick-Lüneburg, Bartsch, 1785, S. 381