Countess Palatine Elisabeth of Simmern-Sponheim
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth of the Palatinate (born: 30 June 1540 in Birkenfeld
; died: 8 February 1594 in Wiener Neustadt
) was the second wife of Duke John Frederick II
of Saxony.
and his wife Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
. She was the third child of the couple and the second who reached adulthood.
On 12 June 1558 in Weimar
, Elizabeth married Duke John Frederick II of Saxony, the eldest son of the Elector John Frederick "the Magnanimous" of Saxony. He selected Grimmenstein Castle in Gotha
as their residence. During the Gotha War, Elector Augustus
of Saxony besieged Gotha and Grimmenstein Castle and conquered them on 13 April 1567. John Frederick was taken prisoner and would spent the rest of his life (29 years) in imperial captivity. He was brught to Dresden
and in June 1567 to Wiener Neustadt
. Duchess Elisabeth and her children fled to Eisenach
and then to her sister Dorothea Susanne of Simmern
, who was married to her husband's brother, Duke John William
of Saxe-Weimar. At the end of 1568, she moved back to Eisenahch, initially to the Zollhof court, the to the Wartburg
and finally into the castle at Eisenberg
In the following years, Elisabeth wrote a number of petitions to, among others, Emperor Maximilian II
, Empress Maria and Electress Anne
of Saxony, trying to obtain the release of her husband. With the help of her father and brothers, she appeared before the Diet of Speyer (1570)
. She was allowed to prostrate in front of Emperor Maximilian II at her father's Heidelberg Castle
. The Emperor then reinstated her sons as Imperial Princes. Duke John William I acterd as their guardian until the Division of Erfurt was made on 6 November 1572. After that Division, their guardians were Elector John George
of Brandenburg (succeeded in 1578 by his nephew Margrave George Frederick I of Brandenburg-Ansbach) and Elector Palatine Frederick III
and Elector Augustus
of Saxony, who provided them with an education under his supervision and in his spirit.
In the summer of 1572 Elizabeth moved in with her husband in captivity in the castle of Wiener Neustadt
. From there, she has returned twice more to Coburg. On 5 August 1572, her son Frederick Henry died in Eisenberg. Her two youngest sons John Casimir and John Ernest moved into the Ehrenburg Palace
at Coburg
on 5 December 1572, where they were raised by under the governorship of Count Barby, who was a confidant of Augustus.
In June and July 1578, Elisabeth traveled via Prague, where they unsuccessfully tried to meet Dowager Empress Maria, to Coburg where she met with her younger sister Dorothea Susanna. In 1583, Elizabeth traveled in the period from March to August, via Prague and Coburg to Weimar to attend on 5 May at the wedding of Friedrich Wilhelm I
with Sophie of Württemberg May 5, and to meet Elector Augustus. However, the Elector cancelled the appointment. On her return journey, she visited her brother Elector Palatine Louis VI
in Heidelberg, where she was accompanied by her sons.
On 8 Elizabeth died February 1594 in the armory of Wiener Neustadt. Her body was repatriated to Coburg at the end of the year and buried in the St. Maurice Church on 30 December 1594. In 1598, Duke John Casimir had atwelve meter high alabaster
tomb by the sculptor Nikolaus Bergner erected on the tomb of Elisabeth and John Frederick, who had died in 1595. The tomb is considered to be among the most beautiful Renaissance
tombs in Germany.
, Elizabeth married Duke John Frederick II of Saxony, the eldest son of the Elector John Frederick "the Magnanimous" of Saxony. They had four sons:
Birkenfeld
Birkenfeld is a town and the district seat of the Birkenfeld district in southwest Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is also the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde.-Location:...
; died: 8 February 1594 in Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
) was the second wife of 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.
Life
Elizabeth's parents were Elector Palatine Frederick IIIFrederick III, Elector Palatine
Frederick III of Simmern, the Pious, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach, branch Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim. He was a son of John II of Simmern and inherited the Palatinate from the childless Elector Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine in 1559...
and his wife Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach was a Princess of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and by marriage Electress Palatine.- Biography :...
. She was the third child of the couple and the second who reached adulthood.
On 12 June 1558 in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, Elizabeth married Duke John Frederick II of Saxony, the eldest son of the Elector John Frederick "the Magnanimous" of Saxony. He selected Grimmenstein Castle in Gotha
Gotha
-Places:* Gotha , a town in Thuringia, Germany* Gotha , in Thuringia, Germany* Gotha, Ethiopia* Gotha, Florida, a town in the United States* Saxe-Gotha, a former Thuringian duchy* Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, a former Thuringian duchy...
as their residence. During the Gotha War, Elector Augustus
Augustus, Elector of Saxony
Augustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family...
of Saxony besieged Gotha and Grimmenstein Castle and conquered them on 13 April 1567. John Frederick was taken prisoner and would spent the rest of his life (29 years) in imperial captivity. He was brught to Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and in June 1567 to Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
. Duchess Elisabeth and her children fled to Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
and then to her sister Dorothea Susanne of Simmern
Dorothea Susanne of Simmern
Dorothea Susanne of Simmern was a princess of the Electoral Palatinate and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.- Life :...
, who was married to her husband's brother, Duke John William
John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
John William , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was also the last Duke of Saxony and Landgrave of Thuringia.He was the second son of John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, and Sybille of Cleves....
of Saxe-Weimar. At the end of 1568, she moved back to Eisenahch, initially to the Zollhof court, the to the Wartburg
Wartburg
The Wartburg is a castle overlooking the town of Eisenach, Germany.Wartburg may also refer to:* Wartburgkreis, a district in Germany named after the Wartburg* Wartburg , former East German brand of automobiles, manufactured in Eisenach...
and finally into the castle at Eisenberg
Eisenberg, Thuringia
Eisenberg is a town in Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the district Saale-Holzland.Neighboring municipalities are Jena and Gera . West of Eisenberg runs the motorway A 9 from Berlin to Munich...
In the following years, Elisabeth wrote a number of petitions to, among others, Emperor Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
, Empress Maria and Electress Anne
Anne of Denmark, Electress of Saxony
Anne of Denmark or Anna was Electress of Saxony and Margravine of Meissen. She was a member of the House of Oldenburg.- Life :...
of Saxony, trying to obtain the release of her husband. With the help of her father and brothers, she appeared before the Diet of Speyer (1570)
Diet of Speyer (1570)
The Diet of Speyer or the Diet of Spires was a diet of the Holy Roman Empire in 1570 in the Imperial City of Speyer . The diet condemned the results of the Diet of Speyer of 1526 and prohibited future reformation...
. She was allowed to prostrate in front of Emperor Maximilian II at her father's Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle
The Heidelberg Castle is a famous ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps....
. The Emperor then reinstated her sons as Imperial Princes. Duke John William I acterd as their guardian until the Division of Erfurt was made on 6 November 1572. After that Division, their guardians were Elector John George
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
of Brandenburg (succeeded in 1578 by his nephew Margrave George Frederick I of Brandenburg-Ansbach) and Elector Palatine Frederick III
Frederick III, Elector Palatine
Frederick III of Simmern, the Pious, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach, branch Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim. He was a son of John II of Simmern and inherited the Palatinate from the childless Elector Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine in 1559...
and Elector Augustus
Augustus, Elector of Saxony
Augustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family...
of Saxony, who provided them with an education under his supervision and in his spirit.
In the summer of 1572 Elizabeth moved in with her husband in captivity in the castle of Wiener Neustadt
Burg Wiener Neustadt
-History:The first castle in Wiener Neustadt was built in 1193/94, when at the same time, the city walls of Wiener Neustadt were built. The costs were paid from the ransom of Richard the Lionheart...
. From there, she has returned twice more to Coburg. On 5 August 1572, her son Frederick Henry died in Eisenberg. Her two youngest sons John Casimir and John Ernest moved into the Ehrenburg Palace
Ehrenburg Palace
Ehrenburg Palace is a palace in Coburg, Germany.The palace was built by John Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg in 1543.The new city palace was built around a dissolved Franciscan monastery....
at Coburg
Coburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
on 5 December 1572, where they were raised by under the governorship of Count Barby, who was a confidant of Augustus.
In June and July 1578, Elisabeth traveled via Prague, where they unsuccessfully tried to meet Dowager Empress Maria, to Coburg where she met with her younger sister Dorothea Susanna. In 1583, Elizabeth traveled in the period from March to August, via Prague and Coburg to Weimar to attend on 5 May at the wedding of Friedrich Wilhelm I
Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Frederick William I , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was the eldest son of John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Dorothea Susanne of Simmern.-Life:...
with Sophie of Württemberg May 5, and to meet Elector Augustus. However, the Elector cancelled the appointment. On her return journey, she visited her brother Elector Palatine Louis VI
Louis VI, Elector Palatine
In the history of the Holy Roman Empire, Louis VI, Elector Palatine was an Elector from the Palatinate-Simmern branch of the house of Wittelsbach. He was the first-born son of Frederick III, Elector Palatine and Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach...
in Heidelberg, where she was accompanied by her sons.
On 8 Elizabeth died February 1594 in the armory of Wiener Neustadt. Her body was repatriated to Coburg at the end of the year and buried in the St. Maurice Church on 30 December 1594. In 1598, Duke John Casimir had atwelve meter high alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
tomb by the sculptor Nikolaus Bergner erected on the tomb of Elisabeth and John Frederick, who had died in 1595. The tomb is considered to be among the most beautiful Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
tombs in Germany.
Marriage and issue
On 12 June 1558 in WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, Elizabeth married Duke John Frederick II of Saxony, the eldest son of the Elector John Frederick "the Magnanimous" of Saxony. They had four sons:
- John Frederick (b. Weimar, 30 November 1559 - d. Weimar, 8 August 1560)
- Frederick Henry (b. Heldburg, 3 February 1563 - d. Eisenberg, 4 August 1572)
- John Casimir, Duke of Saxe-CoburgJohn Casimir, Duke of Saxe-CoburgJohn Casimir of Saxe-Coburg , was a duke of Saxe-Coburg.He was the third but eldest surviving son of John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony, and Countess Palatine Elisabeth of Simmern-Sponheim....
(b. Gotha, 12 June 1564 - d. Coburg, 16 July 1633), Duke of Saxe-Coburg, married- in 1586 (divorced in 1593) Anna of Saxony
- in 1599 Margaret of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- John Ernest, Duke of Saxe-EisenachJohn Ernest, Duke of Saxe-EisenachJohann Ernst of Saxe-Eisenach , was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach and later of Saxe-Coburg.He was the fourth and youngest son of Johann Frederick II, Duke of Saxony and Countess Palatine Elisabeth of Simmern-Sponheim.His grandfather, Johann Frederick I, had still held the title of Elector of Saxony, but...
(b. Gotha, 9 July 1566 - d. Eisenach, 23 October 1638), Duke of Saxe-Eisenach, married:- in 1591 Elisabeth of Mansfeld
- in 1598 Christine of Hesse-Kassel