Kunigunde of Austria
Encyclopedia
Kunigunde of Austria (16 March 1465 – 6 August 1520) was an Austria
n Archduchess member of the House of Habsburg and by marriage Duchess of Bavaria
-Munich
and since 1503 over all Bavaria.
She was the daughter of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
and King of Germany, by his wife Eleanor, daughter of King Edward of Portugal.
, Kunigunde was the fourth of five children born to the Imperial couple; however, only she and her older brother Maximilian
survived to adulthood. She grew up in an informal and open atmosphere, without rigid court etiquette. Contrary to former practice, she learned not only to read, write, and embroider, but also received instruction in riding and hunting
, astronomy
and mathematics
.
Like most daughters of royal families, since her early years Kunigunde was involved in the political intrigues of her time. In 1470 King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
requested her hand; however, Frederick III refused him. At the age of fifteen, in 1480, Kunigunde made her formal presentation in Vienna
during the visit of George, Duke of Bavaria, called "the Rich" to Frederick III's court. After the celebrations she was sent to Burggraf Ulrich III von Graben
to Graz
for her safety; however, after a plot against the Emperor was discovered, he moved to Linz
and sent Kunigunde to Innsbruck
with Sigismund
, Archduke of Further Austria
and ruler of Tirol
, Frederick III's first cousin and former guardian.
-Munich
in 1487 against the will of her own father, and served as joint regent for son Wilhelm IV
. In spite of her resignation from court life, she tried to influence the politics of the state as she acted in favour of the rights of her younger sons. She was in close contact with her brother, Emperor Maximilian I
, and with other rulers and relatives in Europe.
With Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria-Munich she had eight children:
After the death of Albert in 1508 she later joined the Convent
of Püttrich which she favoured and lived there until her death in 1520.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Archduchess member of the House of Habsburg and by marriage Duchess of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
-Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and since 1503 over all Bavaria.
She was the daughter of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
and King of Germany, by his wife Eleanor, daughter of King Edward of Portugal.
Early life
Born in Wiener NeustadtWiener 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...
, Kunigunde was the fourth of five children born to the Imperial couple; however, only she and her older brother Maximilian
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
survived to adulthood. She grew up in an informal and open atmosphere, without rigid court etiquette. Contrary to former practice, she learned not only to read, write, and embroider, but also received instruction in riding and hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
Like most daughters of royal families, since her early years Kunigunde was involved in the political intrigues of her time. In 1470 King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
requested her hand; however, Frederick III refused him. At the age of fifteen, in 1480, Kunigunde made her formal presentation in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
during the visit of George, Duke of Bavaria, called "the Rich" to Frederick III's court. After the celebrations she was sent to Burggraf Ulrich III von Graben
Ulrich III von Graben
Ulrich III von Graben was a member of the Austrian nobility and a important member of the court of emperor Frederick III of Austira.- Biography :...
to Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
for her safety; however, after a plot against the Emperor was discovered, he moved to Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
and sent Kunigunde to Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
with Sigismund
Sigismund, Archduke of Austria
Sigismund of Austria, Duke, then Archduke of Further Austria was a Habsburg archduke of Austria and ruler of Tirol from 1446 to 1490....
, Archduke of Further Austria
Further Austria
Further Austria or Anterior Austria was the collective name for the old possessions of the House of Habsburg in the former Swabian stem duchy of south-western Germany, including territories in the Alsace region west of the Rhine and in Vorarlberg, after the focus of the Habsburgs had moved to the...
and ruler of Tirol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
, Frederick III's first cousin and former guardian.
Marriage
Kunigunde married Albert IV, Duke of BavariaAlbert IV, Duke of Bavaria
Duke Albert IV of Bavaria-Munich , , from 1467 Duke of Bavaria-Munich, from 1503 Duke of the reunited Bavaria.-Biography:...
-Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1487 against the will of her own father, and served as joint regent for son Wilhelm IV
William IV, Duke of Bavaria
William IV of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria from 1508 to 1550, until 1545 together with his younger brother Louis X, Duke of Bavaria....
. In spite of her resignation from court life, she tried to influence the politics of the state as she acted in favour of the rights of her younger sons. She was in close contact with her brother, Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, and with other rulers and relatives in Europe.
With Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria-Munich she had eight children:
- Sidonie (1 May 1488 – 27 March 1505). Betrothed to Louis V, Elector PalatineLouis V, Elector PalatineLouis V, Count Palatine of the Rhine ; a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was prince elector of the Palatinate....
, she died before the wedding took place. - Sibylle (16 June 1489 – 18 April 1519), married in 1511 to Louis V, Elector PalatineLouis V, Elector PalatineLouis V, Count Palatine of the Rhine ; a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was prince elector of the Palatinate....
. - SabinaSabina of BavariaSabina of Bavaria-Munich was born Duchess of Bavaria and became wife of Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg.-Family:...
(24 April 1492 – 30 April 1564), married in 1511 to Duke Ulrich I of WürttembergUlrich, Duke of WürttembergHerzog Ulrich von Württemberg succeeded his kinsman Eberhard II as Duke of Württemberg in 1498, being declared of age in 1503.-Early life:...
. - William IV, Duke of BavariaWilliam IV, Duke of BavariaWilliam IV of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria from 1508 to 1550, until 1545 together with his younger brother Louis X, Duke of Bavaria....
(13 November 1493 – 7 March 1550). - Louis X, Duke of BavariaLouis X, Duke of BavariaLouis X , was Duke of Bavaria , together with his older brother William IV, Duke of Bavaria...
(18 September 1495 – 22 April 1545). - Susanna (1499–1500).
- ErnestErnest of Bavaria (1500–1560)Duke Ernest of Bavaria was Administrator of the dioceses of Passau and Salzburg and pledge Lord of Glatz.- Background and education :Ernest was a member of the Bavarian noble Wittelsbach family...
(13 June 1500 – 1560), an ecclesiastical official in PassauPassauPassau is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt or "City of Three Rivers," because the Danube is joined at Passau by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north....
(1517–40), ArchbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
in SalzburgSalzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
(1540–54) and EichstädtEichstädtEichstädt is a village in Brandenburg, Germany. It is not to be confused with Eichstätt, Bavaria....
. - SusannaSusanna of BavariaSusanna of Bavaria was a German noblewoman. Born in Munich, she was the daughter of Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria, and Kunigunde of Austria, herself the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal...
(2 April 1502 – 23 April 1543), married firstly in 1518 to Margrave Casimir of BrandenburgCasimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthCasimir of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was Margrave of Bayreuth from 1515 to 1527.- Family background :...
and secondly in 1529 to Otto Henry, Elector PalatineOtto Henry, Elector PalatineOtto-Henry, Elector Palatine, a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was Count Palatine of Palatinate-Neuburg from 1505 to 1559 and prince elector of the Palatinate from 1556 to 1559...
.
After the death of Albert in 1508 she later joined the Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Püttrich which she favoured and lived there until her death in 1520.