Elizabeth of Pomerania
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth of Pomerania (1347 – 15 April 1393) was the fourth and final wife of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
and king of Bohemia
. Her parents were Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania
and Elizabeth of Poland, (died 1361). Her maternal grandparents were Casimir III, King of Poland
and Aldona of Lithuania.
, only one year after the death of Charles' third wife Anne of Schweidnitz. The bride was 16 years old while the groom was 47. Charles married Elizabeth mainly for diplomatic reason, as the marriage helped to break the anti-Czech coalition led by Duke Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria
, with Polish and Hungarian kings as participants. On 18 June 1363 in the Bohemian capital Prague
Elizabeth was crowned Queen of Bohemia and 5 years later on 1 November 1368 she was also crowned empress of the Holy Roman Empire
in Rome by Pope Urban V
.
She bore six children :
, son of Charles's previous wife, ascended the throne. Elizabeth then cared for her own two sons, mainly the older Sigismund, whom she supported in his efforts to become the king of Hungary
.
Elizabeth outlived Charles IV by 15 years. She died on 14 February 1393 in Königgrätz Hradec Králové
and was buried next to her husband in St. Vitus Cathedral
.
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
and king of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. Her parents were Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw V was a Duke of Pomerania.Eldest son of Duke Wartislaw IV and Elisabeth of Silesia, Bogislaw had two brothers, Barnim IV and Wartislaw V. The brothers were joint rulers from their father's death in 1326. They allied with King Casimir III of Poland, whose daughter Elisabeth married...
and Elizabeth of Poland, (died 1361). Her maternal grandparents were Casimir III, King of Poland
Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III the Great , last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty , was the son of King Władysław I the Elbow-high and Hedwig of Kalisz.-Biography:...
and Aldona of Lithuania.
Marriage
The marriage of Charles and Elizabeth was held on 21 May 1363 in KrakówKraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, only one year after the death of Charles' third wife Anne of Schweidnitz. The bride was 16 years old while the groom was 47. Charles married Elizabeth mainly for diplomatic reason, as the marriage helped to break the anti-Czech coalition led by Duke Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria
Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria
Rudolf IV der Stifter was a scion of the House of Habsburg and Duke of Austria and Duke of Styria and Carinthia from 1358, as well as Count of Tyrol from 1363 and first Duke of Carniola from 1364 until his death...
, with Polish and Hungarian kings as participants. On 18 June 1363 in the Bohemian capital Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
Elizabeth was crowned Queen of Bohemia and 5 years later on 1 November 1368 she was also crowned empress of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in Rome by Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
.
She bore six children :
- Anne of BohemiaAnne of BohemiaAnne of Bohemia was Queen of England as the first wife of King Richard II. A member of the House of Luxembourg, she was the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and Elizabeth of Pomerania....
(1366–1394), who was married to Richard II of EnglandRichard II of EnglandRichard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III... - SigismundSigismund, Holy Roman EmperorSigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
(1368–1437), the Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman EmperorThe Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
and King of Bohemia and HungaryKingdom of HungaryThe Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. - John of Görlitz (1370–1396), margrave of Moravia and duke of Görlitz, who married Richardis Catherine of Sweden.
- Charles (13 March 1372–24 July 1373).
- Margaret of BohemiaMargaret of Bohemia (1373-1410)Margaret of Bohemia was the younger daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and his fourth wife Elizabeth of Pomerania. Her siblings included Anne of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund.- Biography :...
(1373–1410), who was married to John III, Burgrave of NurembergBurgrave of Nuremberg- Further reading :* Sigmund Benker, Andreas Kraus : Geschichte Frankens bis zum Ausgang des 18. Jahrhunderts . 3rd edition. Beck, Munich 1997. ISBN 3-406-39451-5...
. - Henry (1377–1378).
Queen and Empress
Elizabeth is reputed to have been a very vigorous, self-confident and physically strong person.The relationship between Elizabeth and Charles is described to have been good and harmonius. During the serious illness of Charles in 1371, Elizabeth made a miniature pilgrimage by walking on foot to the cathedral and offering gifts in a prayer to his health. Their good relationship has been portrayed in art, such as in Noc na Karlštejně (A Night at Karlstein). She does not seem to have vieled any influence, however: she was tormented by the fact that Charles preferred his children form his former marriage, but was unable to change his mind.Widowhood
After her husband's death at 29 November 1378 in Prague, Elizabeth's stepson Wenceslaus IVWenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
, son of Charles's previous wife, ascended the throne. Elizabeth then cared for her own two sons, mainly the older Sigismund, whom she supported in his efforts to become the king of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
.
Elizabeth outlived Charles IV by 15 years. She died on 14 February 1393 in Königgrätz Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
and was buried next to her husband in St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus' Cathedral is as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral...
.