Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (1597-1660)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (19 November 1597 – 26 April 1660) was the wife of George William, Elector of Brandenburg
and Duke of Prussia, and the mother of Frederick William
of Brandenburg, the "Great Elector".
, and Louise Juliana of Orange-Nassau. Her brother Frederick
became famous as the Elector-Palatine and "Winter King" of Bohemia
.
In 1616 Elizabeth Charlotte married George William, with whom she had the following children:
The marriage was arranged to unite two Protestant dynasties. In 1618, her brother's deposition from the throne of Bohemia caused the Thirty Years' War
. Her spouse was described as ambivalent and passive, but Charlotte ensured protection for her sibling when Brandenburg sided against Austria
in the affairs of Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire
. At court, she favoured the Protestant party against the pro-Austrian party. She influenced her son to sympathize with the Protestant cause, and he came to have a great affection for his mother, closer than what was usually common during that age. She spent her last years at Crossen
, where she died.
George William, Elector of Brandenburg
George William of Brandenburg , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was margrave and elector of Brandenburg and duke of Prussia from 1619 until his death. His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' War...
and Duke of Prussia, and the mother of Frederick William
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
|align=right|Frederick William was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia – and thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia – from 1640 until his death. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is popularly known as the "Great Elector" because of his military and political prowess...
of Brandenburg, the "Great Elector".
Biography
Elizabeth Charlotte was the daughter of Frederick IV, Elector PalatineFrederick IV, Elector Palatine
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine of the Rhine , only surviving son of Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse, called "Frederick the Righteous" .-Life:Born in Amberg, his father died in October 1583 and...
, and Louise Juliana of Orange-Nassau. Her brother Frederick
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
became famous as the Elector-Palatine and "Winter 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...
.
In 1616 Elizabeth Charlotte married George William, with whom she had the following children:
- Louise CharlotteLouise Charlotte of BrandenburgLouise Charlotte von Brandenburg , was a Duchess consort of Courland. She was politically active during her tenure as duchess consort....
(1617–1676), married Jacob KettlerJacob KettlerJacob Kettler was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia . Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.- Life :...
, Duke of CourlandCourlandCourland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :... - Frederick WilliamFrederick William, Elector of Brandenburg|align=right|Frederick William was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia – and thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia – from 1640 until his death. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is popularly known as the "Great Elector" because of his military and political prowess...
(1620–1688), the "Great Elector" - Hedwig SophiaHedwig Sophia of BrandenburgHedwig Sophia of Brandenburg was Landgravine consort and Regent of Hesse-Kassel. Daughter of George William, Elector of Brandenburg and Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, she married in 1649 to William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel...
(1623–1683), married William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselWilliam VI, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselWilliam VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel , known as William the Just, was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1637 to 1663.-Life:...
(or Hesse-Cassel)
The marriage was arranged to unite two Protestant dynasties. In 1618, her brother's deposition from the throne of Bohemia caused the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. Her spouse was described as ambivalent and passive, but Charlotte ensured protection for her sibling when Brandenburg sided against Austria
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...
in the affairs of Bohemia and 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...
. At court, she favoured the Protestant party against the pro-Austrian party. She influenced her son to sympathize with the Protestant cause, and he came to have a great affection for his mother, closer than what was usually common during that age. She spent her last years at Crossen
Crossen
Crossen may refer to:* Crossen an der Elster, municipality in Thuringia, Germany* Zwickau-Crossen, part of Zwickau in Saxony, Germany* Crossen , German name of Krosno Odrzańskie, Poland* part of the municipality Erlau in Saxony, Germany...
, where she died.