Barbara of Brandenburg, Duchess of Brieg
Encyclopedia
Barbara of Brandenburg was a German princess member of the House of Hohenzollern
and by marriage Duchess of Brzeg
.
She was the second child but eldest daughter of Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
, by his first wife Magdalena, daughter of George, Duke of Saxony
.
, second son of Duke Frederick II of Legnica
as a part of the alliance signed between her father and Frederick II. The wedding took place eight years later, on 15 February 1545 in her homeland, Berlin
. In the same ceremony, was also performed the marriage of her brother John George
with Frederick II's daughter, Sophie. As a dowry, Barbara received the amount of 20,000 Rhenish florin
s, who was provided by the citizens of Brzeg.
Two years later (1547), Duke Frederick II died and George inherited the Duchy of Brzeg
, who included the towns of Oława, Strzelin
, Niemcza
, Kluczbork
, Byczyna
, Wołów and Ścinawa
. In all, Barbara bore her husband seven children, two sons and five daughters.
Duke George II died on 7 May 1586, after forty-one years of marriage. In his will, he left the Duchy of Brzeg to his wife as her Oprawa wdowia with the full sovereignty over this land until her own death. The Duchies of Oława and Wołów were received by her sons Joachim Frederick and John George as co-rulers, and because Barbara was the Regnant Duchess in Brzeg, both brothers decided to settle his residence in Oława.
After Barbara's death, Brzeg was inherited by her only surviving son Joachim Frederick, because her other son, John George, already died in 1592.
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
and by marriage Duchess of Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
.
She was the second child but eldest daughter of Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim II Hector was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg . A member of the House of Hohenzollern, Joachim II was the son of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg, and his wife Elizabeth of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden...
, by his first wife Magdalena, daughter of George, Duke of Saxony
George, Duke of Saxony
George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony , was duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539.Duke George was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.-Early life:...
.
Life
In 1537 Barbara was betrothed to George (later George II the Pious)George II the Pious
George II of Brieg , was a Duke of Brzeg since 1547 until his death.He was the second son of Frederick II, Duke of Legnica-Brzeg, by his second wife Sophie, daughter of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.-Life:After the death of his father in 1547, George II inherited the Duchy of Brzeg...
, second son of Duke Frederick II of Legnica
Frederick II of Legnica
Frederick II of Legnica , also known as the Great of Legnica , was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 , of Brzeg from 1521...
as a part of the alliance signed between her father and Frederick II. The wedding took place eight years later, on 15 February 1545 in her homeland, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In the same ceremony, was also performed the marriage of her brother 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...
with Frederick II's daughter, Sophie. As a dowry, Barbara received the amount of 20,000 Rhenish florin
Florin
Florin derives from the city of Florence in Italy and frequently refers to the gold coin struck in 1252.This money format was plagiarized in other countries and the word florin is used, for example, in relation to the Dutch guilder and the coin first issued in 1344 by Edward III of England, then...
s, who was provided by the citizens of Brzeg.
Two years later (1547), Duke Frederick II died and George inherited the Duchy of Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
, who included the towns of Oława, Strzelin
Strzelin
Strzelin is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is located on the Oława river, a tributary of the Oder, about south of the region's capital Wrocław. The town is the seat of Strzelin County and also of the smaller municipality of Strzelin...
, Niemcza
Niemcza
Niemcza is a town in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Niemcza....
, Kluczbork
Kluczbork
Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...
, Byczyna
Byczyna
Byczyna is a town in Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,708 inhabitants .The town of Byczyna was first mention in 1054 when it temporarily served as the capital of the Bishopric of Wrocław...
, Wołów and Ścinawa
Scinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
. In all, Barbara bore her husband seven children, two sons and five daughters.
Duke George II died on 7 May 1586, after forty-one years of marriage. In his will, he left the Duchy of Brzeg to his wife as her Oprawa wdowia with the full sovereignty over this land until her own death. The Duchies of Oława and Wołów were received by her sons Joachim Frederick and John George as co-rulers, and because Barbara was the Regnant Duchess in Brzeg, both brothers decided to settle his residence in Oława.
After Barbara's death, Brzeg was inherited by her only surviving son Joachim Frederick, because her other son, John George, already died in 1592.