Elizabeth Lucretia, Duchess of Cieszyn
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Lucretia of Cieszyn , was a reigning Duchess of Cieszyn
since 1625 until her death.
She was the third child and second daughter of Adam Wenceslaus, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gotthard Kettler
, Duke of Courland.
faith, in 1611 she converted to the Catholicism
together with her whole family.
On 13 July 1617 her father Adam Wenceslaus died and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Frederick William. On 23 April 1618 Elizabeth Lucretia was married against her will with the also ex-Lutheran Gundakar of Liechtenstein
(b. Lednice (Eisgrub), 30 January 1580 – d. Wilfersdorf, 5 August 1658), a widower almost twenty years her senior. They had three children: Maria Anna of Liechtenstein (b. 13 August 1621 – d. 5 October 1655), Ferdinand Johann of Liechtenstein (b. 27 December 1622 – d. 9 January 1666) and Albert of Liechtenstein (b. 8 March 1625 – d. 1627). Gundakar was a younger brother of Karl I
, Duke of Opava
and Krnov
, one of the members of the Regency council who ruled the Duchy of Cieszyn during Frederick William's absence; however, this arrangement was short-lived, and the de facto
rule was held by Elizabeth Lucretia, even after Frederick William returned to Cieszyn and assumed the effective government in 1624, because the Duke almost immediately after his return made a trip with the Emperor to the Netherlands. During this journey, Frederick William became suddenly ill and died on 19 August 1625 in Köln
, unmarried and without legitimate issue.
Initially, Emperor Ferdinand II
tried to join Cieszyn to his domains, using his rights as King of Bohemia; but the end, he accepted Elizabeth Lucretia as reigning Duchess, by right of the Privilege granted by King Władysław II Jagiellon to Duke Casimir II of Cieszyn in 1498, under which was secured the female succession over Cieszyn until the fourth generation.
During her reign, Cieszyn passed through one of the most difficult periods in his history. It was the Thirty Years' War
, during which Cieszyn was regularly plundered by foreign forces (during 1626-1627 by Danish troops of Ernest of Mansfeld, during 1642-1643 and 1645-1647 by Swedish troops under the commands of Colonel Rochowa and General Königsmarck, respectively), both in terms of infrastructure and finances. In addition plague and hunger
also affected the Duchy and many citizens died. Eventually, this led Cieszyn economically and demographically destroyed for the next 100 years. Elizabeth Lucretia's life was seriously threatened on several occasions: for example, in 1642, when she had to found refuge in Jablunkov
and in 1645, when she escape to Kęt
, after the Swedish forces took the capital (which capitulated only in 1646). Only the Peace of Westphalia
on 24 October 1648 finally established the peace in her domains.
The marriage of the Duchess with Gundakar of Liechtenstein proved to be unsuccessful, despite the fact that they had three children together. In 1626 they were formally separated, and remained in this way until her death.
Elizabeth Lucretia died on 19 May 1653 and was buried in the Ducal crypt in the Dominican
church in Cieszyn
.
After her death, the Duchy of Cieszyn reverted to the Bohemian Crown
as a completed fiefdom
of the Kingdom of Bohemia
and was ruled by members of House of Habsburg. Subsequent members of the Habsburg family bore the title until the fall of the Empire and the liquidation of the Duchy of Cieszyn in 1918.
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
since 1625 until her death.
She was the third child and second daughter of Adam Wenceslaus, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gotthard Kettler
Gotthard Kettler
Gotthard von Kettler was the last Master of the Livonian Order and the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia....
, Duke of Courland.
Life
Originally raised in the LutheranLutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
faith, in 1611 she converted to the Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
together with her whole family.
On 13 July 1617 her father Adam Wenceslaus died and was succeeded by his only surviving son, Frederick William. On 23 April 1618 Elizabeth Lucretia was married against her will with the also ex-Lutheran Gundakar of Liechtenstein
Gundakar, Prince of Liechtenstein
Gundakar of Liechtenstein was a member of the House of Liechtenstein and as such the owner of a large estate. He also served the Habsburg dynasty.- Family :...
(b. Lednice (Eisgrub), 30 January 1580 – d. Wilfersdorf, 5 August 1658), a widower almost twenty years her senior. They had three children: Maria Anna of Liechtenstein (b. 13 August 1621 – d. 5 October 1655), Ferdinand Johann of Liechtenstein (b. 27 December 1622 – d. 9 January 1666) and Albert of Liechtenstein (b. 8 March 1625 – d. 1627). Gundakar was a younger brother of Karl I
Karl I of Liechtenstein
Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein was the first Liechtenstein to become the Prince of Liechtenstein, thus he was the founder of the Princely Family of Liechtenstein....
, Duke of Opava
Opava
Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
and Krnov
Krnov
Krnov is an Upper Silesian city in the northeastern Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the District of Bruntál, on the Opava River, near the Polish border....
, one of the members of the Regency council who ruled the Duchy of Cieszyn during Frederick William's absence; however, this arrangement was short-lived, and the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
rule was held by Elizabeth Lucretia, even after Frederick William returned to Cieszyn and assumed the effective government in 1624, because the Duke almost immediately after his return made a trip with the Emperor to the Netherlands. During this journey, Frederick William became suddenly ill and died on 19 August 1625 in Köln
KOLN
KOLN, digital channel 10, is the CBS affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates a satellite station, KGIN, on digital channel 11 in Grand Island. KGIN repeats all KOLN programming, but airs separate commercials...
, unmarried and without legitimate issue.
Initially, Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
tried to join Cieszyn to his domains, using his rights as King of Bohemia; but the end, he accepted Elizabeth Lucretia as reigning Duchess, by right of the Privilege granted by King Władysław II Jagiellon to Duke Casimir II of Cieszyn in 1498, under which was secured the female succession over Cieszyn until the fourth generation.
During her reign, Cieszyn passed through one of the most difficult periods in his history. It was 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....
, during which Cieszyn was regularly plundered by foreign forces (during 1626-1627 by Danish troops of Ernest of Mansfeld, during 1642-1643 and 1645-1647 by Swedish troops under the commands of Colonel Rochowa and General Königsmarck, respectively), both in terms of infrastructure and finances. In addition plague and hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
also affected the Duchy and many citizens died. Eventually, this led Cieszyn economically and demographically destroyed for the next 100 years. Elizabeth Lucretia's life was seriously threatened on several occasions: for example, in 1642, when she had to found refuge in Jablunkov
Jablunkov
Jablunkov is a town in Frýdek-Místek District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 5,750 , 23% of the population are Poles. Jablunkov lies between the Silesian and Moravian-Silesian Beskids mountain ranges, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia, and is the...
and in 1645, when she escape to Kęt
Ket
Ket can also refer to:*Ket people, a people of Siberia*Ket language, the language of the Ket people*Ket River, a river in Siberia*Keť, a village in south-west Slovakia...
, after the Swedish forces took the capital (which capitulated only in 1646). Only the Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
on 24 October 1648 finally established the peace in her domains.
The marriage of the Duchess with Gundakar of Liechtenstein proved to be unsuccessful, despite the fact that they had three children together. In 1626 they were formally separated, and remained in this way until her death.
Elizabeth Lucretia died on 19 May 1653 and was buried in the Ducal crypt in the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
church in Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
.
After her death, the Duchy of Cieszyn reverted to the Bohemian Crown
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown , also called the Lands of the Crown of Saint Wenceslas or simply the Bohemian Crown or Czech Crown lands , refers to the area connected by feudal relations under the joint rule of the Bohemian kings...
as a completed fiefdom
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
of the Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
and was ruled by members of House of Habsburg. Subsequent members of the Habsburg family bore the title until the fall of the Empire and the liquidation of the Duchy of Cieszyn in 1918.