Margaret of Münsterberg
Encyclopedia
Margaret of Münsterberg (25 August 1473, Breslau – 28 June 1530, Dessau
) was a Silesian princess of the house of Münsterberg by birth and Duchess of Anhalt
by marriage to Prince Ernest I
of Anhalt-Dessau (1474–1516). After her husband's death she ruled the principality as a regent
for her underage sons.
(1448–1498) and his wife Ursula of Brandenburg (1450–1508). She received a strictly religious education from her parents. In 1494, she married Prince Ernest I of Anhalt from the line of Anhalt-Zerbst. After the other lines of the Anhalt family died out, Ernest could reunite the Principality of Anhalt for the first time since 1252. They took up their residence in Dessau.
Ernest died in 1516 and margaret took up the regency of the principality for her underage sons John IV
and George III
. Her regency was characterized by thrift and deep religiosity. She strictly opposed the Reformation
, which started spreading from neighbouring Wittenberg
in 1517. She found an ally in her first cousin Albert, who was Archbishop of Magdeburg
. In 1525, Margaret launched the League of Dessau
, an alliance of Catholic princes opposed to the Reformation. Her oldest son, John IV, who had been co-regent since 1522 and her second son George, who later became co-ruler as Geroge III, had already built up contacts with Martin Luther
, but they did not lead their Principality into the Reformation until 1534 (with George III as the driving force), well after Margaret's death.
Margarethe of Münsterberg managed to regain some manors located east of Wörlitz
, that had been pedged to neighbouring Electoral Saxony
. For this reason, the Folwark
Münsterberg in Griesen
was named after her.
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
) was a Silesian princess of the house of Münsterberg by birth and Duchess of Anhalt
Anhalt
Anhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
by marriage to Prince Ernest I
Ernest I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Ernest I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau....
of Anhalt-Dessau (1474–1516). After her husband's death she ruled the principality as a regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for her underage sons.
Life
Margaret was the fourth child of the Duke Henry the Elder of MünsterbergHenry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry the Elder of Münsterberg was an Imperial Count and Count of Kladsko. He was also Duke of Silesian duchies Münsterberg and Oels and 1465–1472 Duke of Opava...
(1448–1498) and his wife Ursula of Brandenburg (1450–1508). She received a strictly religious education from her parents. In 1494, she married Prince Ernest I of Anhalt from the line of Anhalt-Zerbst. After the other lines of the Anhalt family died out, Ernest could reunite the Principality of Anhalt for the first time since 1252. They took up their residence in Dessau.
Ernest died in 1516 and margaret took up the regency of the principality for her underage sons John IV
John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
John V of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
and George III
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
George III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
. Her regency was characterized by thrift and deep religiosity. She strictly opposed the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
, which started spreading from neighbouring Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
in 1517. She found an ally in her first cousin Albert, who was Archbishop of Magdeburg
Diocese of Magdeburg
The Diocese of Magdeburg is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church located in the Germany. Its seat is Magdeburg; it is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Paderborn....
. In 1525, Margaret launched the League of Dessau
League of Dessau
The League of Dessauer was a short-lived Association of Catholic rulers in northern Germany during the time of the German Reformation. Its goals were to stop both the rebellion and the proliferation of Martin Luther's teachings...
, an alliance of Catholic princes opposed to the Reformation. Her oldest son, John IV, who had been co-regent since 1522 and her second son George, who later became co-ruler as Geroge III, had already built up contacts with Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, but they did not lead their Principality into the Reformation until 1534 (with George III as the driving force), well after Margaret's death.
Margarethe of Münsterberg managed to regain some manors located east of Wörlitz
Wörlitz
' is a town and a former municipality in the district of Wittenberg, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Oranienbaum-Wörlitz. It is situated on the left bank of the Elbe, east of Dessau...
, that had been pedged to neighbouring Electoral Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
. For this reason, the Folwark
Folwark
Folwark is a Polish word for a primarily serfdom-based farm and agricultural enterprise , often very large. Folwarks were operated in the Crown of Poland from the 14th century and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century, from the second half of the 16th century in the joint...
Münsterberg in Griesen
Griesen
Griesen is a village and a former municipality in the district of Wittenberg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Oranienbaum-Wörlitz....
was named after her.
Descendants
- Thomas (1503-1503)
- JohnJohn V, Prince of Anhalt-ZerbstJohn V of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
(1504-1550 or 1551)
- married Margaret of Brandenburg (1511-1577), daughter of Elector Joachim I, Elector of BrandenburgJoachim I, Elector of BrandenburgJoachim I Nestor was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg . A member of the House of Hohenzollern, his nickname was taken from King Nestor of Greek mythology.- Biography :...
of Brandenburg (1484-1535)- GeorgeGeorge III, Prince of Anhalt-DessauGeorge III, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
(1507–1553) - JoachimJoachim I, Prince of Anhalt-DessauJoachim I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
(1509–1561)
- George
External links
- http://www.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=8909