Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt
Encyclopedia
Landgravine Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt (28 April 1652 – 11 August 1712) was regent of the Duchy of Württemberg
from 1677 to 1693, and was a prominent German composer of baroque
hymns.
, the daughter of Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
and Duchess Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp
. She was born in Darmstadt. As a child she lost her mother and came into the care of her aunt, the Queen Dowager Hedwig Eleonora of Sweden. In Stockholm
, she manifested deep religious beliefs. On the occasion of a visit to the Württemberg crown prince William Louis she became engaged to him. They married on 6 November 1673 in Darmstadt, and had the following children:
Just six months after the ceremony Duke Eberhard III
died and her husband Wilhelm Ludwig inherited the throne of Württemberg. In 1677 he, too, died of a heart attack. Thus, the 25-year-old Magdalena Sibylla became reigning Duchess of Württemberg and regent for her minor son Eberhard Ludwig, who would take the throne in 1693, at the of 16.
Through piety and prudence in all decisions, she enjoyed great popularity. Her religion is reflected in the numerous hymns she wrote, quite a few of which found a permanent place in Protestant hymnals. From 1690 to 1692, she employed the composer Johann Pachelbel
. After the accession of the heir apparent, she retreated to Kirchheim castle
, where she died.
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
from 1677 to 1693, and was a prominent German composer of baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
hymns.
Life
Magdalena Sibylla, Duchess of Württemberg was born in DarmstadtDarmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, the daughter of Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1661 to 1678.He was the eldest of three sons of the Landgrave George II of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony.- Marriage and children :...
and Duchess Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp
Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp
Maria Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp , was by marriage landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt- Life :...
. She was born in Darmstadt. As a child she lost her mother and came into the care of her aunt, the Queen Dowager Hedwig Eleonora of Sweden. In Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, she manifested deep religious beliefs. On the occasion of a visit to the Württemberg crown prince William Louis she became engaged to him. They married on 6 November 1673 in Darmstadt, and had the following children:
- Eleonore Dorothea (1674–1683)
- Eberhardine Luise (1675–1707)
- Eberhard Louis (1676–1733), the next Duke of Württemberg
- Magdalena WilhelmineMagdalena Wilhelmine of WürttembergMagdalena Wilhelmine of Württemberg was a margravine of Baden. She had a place in the regency during the minority of her grandson in 1738-42....
(born November 7, 1677 – died October 30, 1742) - married to Charles III William
Just six months after the ceremony Duke Eberhard III
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1628 until his death in 1674....
died and her husband Wilhelm Ludwig inherited the throne of Württemberg. In 1677 he, too, died of a heart attack. Thus, the 25-year-old Magdalena Sibylla became reigning Duchess of Württemberg and regent for her minor son Eberhard Ludwig, who would take the throne in 1693, at the of 16.
Through piety and prudence in all decisions, she enjoyed great popularity. Her religion is reflected in the numerous hymns she wrote, quite a few of which found a permanent place in Protestant hymnals. From 1690 to 1692, she employed the composer Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher, who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most...
. After the accession of the heir apparent, she retreated to Kirchheim castle
Schloss Kirchheim (Teck)
Schloss Kirchheim is situated near the old town of Kirchheim unter Teck. This Renaissance castle is the best preserved example of Württemberg duchy strongholds.- History :...
, where she died.
Works
- Christian view of the troubled times., Nuremberg 1680 (prose devotions with additional verse)
- New increased ... devotional sacrifice, Stuttgart 1683 (184 hymns, and further editions under different titles)
- The heart crucified with Jesus, 3 vols, Stuttgart and elsewhere in 1691 (Prayers and songs)
- Spiritual apothecary for the sick, Stuttgart 1703 (devotional book)
Sources
- Gerhard DünnhauptGerhard DünnhauptGerhard Dünnhaupt, FRSC is a German bibliographer, literary historian, emeritus professor of the University of Michigan, an honorary life member of the Modern Language Association of America, and an Elected Fellow of the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada...
: "Magdalena Sibylla of Württemberg (1652-1712)", in:Personal bibliographies of the pressures of the Baroque, Vol 4, Stuttgart: Hiersemann 199l, p. 2633-37. ISBN 3-7772-9122-6