Ludowika Margaretha of Zweibrücken-Bitsch
Encyclopedia
Ludowika Margaretha of Zweibrücken-Bitsch (19 July 1540, Ingwiller
– 15 December 1569, Bouxwiller
), was the only child of Count James of Zweibrücken-Bitsch (born: 19 July 1510; died: 22 March 1570) and his heiress. She was buried in Ingwiller
.
and Philip I of Leiningen-Westerburg, respectively. The disputed territories include the Lordship of Bitsch
, the district and castle of Lemberg, the Lordship of Ochsenstein and half of the Lordship of Lichtenberg
(the other half was already held by the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg). Bitsch was formally a fief of the Duchy of Lorraine and could in theory only be inherited in the male line.
Initially, Philip V appeared successful. However, he immediately introduced the Lutheran faith in his newly gained territory and the made the powerful and Catholic
Duke of Lorraine unhappy. The Duke terminated the fief and in July 1572 Lorraine troops occupied the county. Since Philip V's army was no match for Lorraine, he took his case to the Reichskammergericht
. During the trial, Lorraine argued that, firstly, a significant part of the territory of Zweibrücken-Bitsch had been obtained in an exchange with Lorraine in 1302 and, secondly, the Counts of Leiningen had sold their hereditary claims to Lorraine in 1573.
In 1604, Hanau-Lichtenberg and Lorraine decided to settle out of court. In a treaty signed in 1606, it was agreed that Bitsch would revert to Lorraine and Hanau-Lichtenberg would retain Lemberg. This was reasonable, as it corresponded approximately to the religious realities of the territories.
with Count Philip V of Hanau-Lichtenberg
(1541–1599). This was the first of his three marriages. They had the following children:
Ingwiller
Ingwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The commune lies within the North-Vosges natural park.-History:The first known mention of Ingwiller dates from the year 742 a.C...
– 15 December 1569, Bouxwiller
Bouxwiller, Bas-Rhin
Bouxwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Among the city's sight is the Musée Judéo-Alsacien, dedicated to the History of Jews in Alsace, and located in the former synagogue.-References:*...
), was the only child of Count James of Zweibrücken-Bitsch (born: 19 July 1510; died: 22 March 1570) and his heiress. She was buried in Ingwiller
Ingwiller
Ingwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The commune lies within the North-Vosges natural park.-History:The first known mention of Ingwiller dates from the year 742 a.C...
.
Inheritance
Her father, Count James of Zweibrücken-Bitsch (1510–1570), was the last male member of the House of Zweibrücken. His older brother, Simon V Wecker, had already died in 1540. Both James and Simon had only one daughter, Ludowika Margaretha and Amalie, respectively. A dispute over the inheritance ensued between their husbands, Philip V of Hanau-LichtenbergPhilip V, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Philip V of Hanau-Lichtenberg was Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg from 1590 until his death.- Life :...
and Philip I of Leiningen-Westerburg, respectively. The disputed territories include the Lordship of Bitsch
Bitche
Bitche is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is known for its large citadel. The surrounding territory is known as le Pays de Bitche in French and Bitscherland in German.-Geography:...
, the district and castle of Lemberg, the Lordship of Ochsenstein and half of the Lordship of Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg, Bas-Rhin
Lichtenberg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The village forms a part of the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord.-Geography:...
(the other half was already held by the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg). Bitsch was formally a fief of the Duchy of Lorraine and could in theory only be inherited in the male line.
Initially, Philip V appeared successful. However, he immediately introduced the Lutheran faith in his newly gained territory and the made the powerful and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Duke of Lorraine unhappy. The Duke terminated the fief and in July 1572 Lorraine troops occupied the county. Since Philip V's army was no match for Lorraine, he took his case to the Reichskammergericht
Reichskammergericht
The Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was one of two highest judicial institutions in the Holy Roman Empire, the other one being the Aulic Council in Vienna. It was founded in 1495 by the Imperial Diet in Worms...
. During the trial, Lorraine argued that, firstly, a significant part of the territory of Zweibrücken-Bitsch had been obtained in an exchange with Lorraine in 1302 and, secondly, the Counts of Leiningen had sold their hereditary claims to Lorraine in 1573.
In 1604, Hanau-Lichtenberg and Lorraine decided to settle out of court. In a treaty signed in 1606, it was agreed that Bitsch would revert to Lorraine and Hanau-Lichtenberg would retain Lemberg. This was reasonable, as it corresponded approximately to the religious realities of the territories.
Marriage and issue
She married on 14 October 1560 in BitschBitche
Bitche is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is known for its large citadel. The surrounding territory is known as le Pays de Bitche in French and Bitscherland in German.-Geography:...
with Count Philip V of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Philip V, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Philip V of Hanau-Lichtenberg was Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg from 1590 until his death.- Life :...
(1541–1599). This was the first of his three marriages. They had the following children:
- Johanna Sybille (born: 6 July 1564 in LichtenbergLichtenberg, Bas-RhinLichtenberg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The village forms a part of the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord.-Geography:...
; died on 24 March 1636 RunkelRunkelRunkel is a town on the Lahn River in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany.- Location :Runkel lies in the Lahn Valley on both sides of the river between the Westerwald and the Taunus, some eight kilometres east of Limburg....
), married to Count William V of Wied-Runkel and Isenburg (died: 1612) - Philip (born: 7 October 1565 in Bouxwiller; died: 31 August 1572 in StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
; buried in Neuwiller-lès-SaverneNeuwiller-lès-SaverneNeuwiller-lès-Saverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
) - Albert (born: 22 November 1566 in Bouxwiller; died: 13 February 1577 in HaguenauHaguenau-Economy:The town has a well balanced economy. Centuries of troubled history in the buffer lands between France and Germany have bequeathed to Haguenau a rich historical and cultural heritage which supports a lively tourist trade. There is also a thriving light manufacturing sector centred on the...
; buried in Neuwiller) - Catherine (born: 30 January 1568 in Bouxwiller; died 6 August 1636), married Schenk Eberhard of Limpurg-Speckfeld (1560–1622)
- Johann Reinhard IJohann Reinhard I, Count of Hanau-LichtenbergCount Johann Reinhard I of Hanau-Lichtenberg Count Johann Reinhard I of Hanau-Lichtenberg Count Johann Reinhard I of Hanau-Lichtenberg (13 February 1569, Bitche – 19 November 1625, Lichtenberg ruled the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg from 1599 to 1625.- Life :...
(born: 13 February 1569 in Bitsch, died: 19 November 1625 in LichtenbergLichtenberg, Bas-RhinLichtenberg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The village forms a part of the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord.-Geography:...
)