Margaret of Austria, Electress of Saxony
Encyclopedia
Margaret of Austria was the elder daughter of Ernest, Duke of Austria
and his second wife Cymburgis of Masovia
. From her marriage she was Electress of Saxony. She was sister of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
.
in 1428, not long after his accession; the wedding took place on 3 June 1431 at Leipzig
. She reconciled her husband with his brother, William III, Landgrave of Thuringia and also took part in the otherwise intense government. Margaret received her own coinage.
Margaret was regarded as a Christian-influenced women. After a war that claimed the life of her brother-in-law, she set up a spiritual foundation. In 1453, she had laid the foundation for the fourteen Holy Helpers sacred sanctuary in a desolate village in Jena
.
In July 1455, her two sons Ernst and Albrecht, Knights of Kunz Kauffungen were taken from the castle of Altenburg, but were saved.
After the death of her husband on 7 September 1464, she received an extensive dowry, including the city of Altenburg
as well as: Leipzig, Liebenwerda, Colditz
, Eilenburg
and Liebenwerda. Until her death she lived in Altenburg, where she exercised her sovereign rights and thus was under the jurisdiction. In the Old Castle in 1468, she set up a grain house, which was destroyed by fire in 1868. With the support of the Altenburg civil servants who cared for her household plot, Margaret gave generous supplies industries.
Margaret died in Altenburg and was buried in the Castle's local church, she was outlived by six of her eight children.
Ernest, Duke of Austria
Ernest the Iron was Duke of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola from 1406 until his death. He was a member of the Habsburg dynasty, of the Leopoldian line, whose head of the family he was from 1411 to 1424.-Biography:...
and his second wife Cymburgis of Masovia
Cymburgis of Masovia
Cymburgis of Masovia in January 1412 became the second wife of the Habsburg Duke Ernest the Iron of Austria and thus a Duchess/Archduchess of the Inner Austrian line in Styria, Carinthia and Carniola.Cimburgis was born at Warsaw in the Duchy of Masovia to Duke...
. From her marriage she was Electress of Saxony. She was sister of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
.
Life
Margaret was betrothed to Frederick II, Elector of SaxonyFrederick II, Elector of Saxony
Frederick II was Elector of Saxony and was Landgrave of Thuringia .-Biography:...
in 1428, not long after his accession; the wedding took place on 3 June 1431 at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. She reconciled her husband with his brother, William III, Landgrave of Thuringia and also took part in the otherwise intense government. Margaret received her own coinage.
Margaret was regarded as a Christian-influenced women. After a war that claimed the life of her brother-in-law, she set up a spiritual foundation. In 1453, she had laid the foundation for the fourteen Holy Helpers sacred sanctuary in a desolate village in Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
.
In July 1455, her two sons Ernst and Albrecht, Knights of Kunz Kauffungen were taken from the castle of Altenburg, but were saved.
After the death of her husband on 7 September 1464, she received an extensive dowry, including the city of Altenburg
Altenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
as well as: Leipzig, Liebenwerda, Colditz
Colditz
Colditz is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, near Leipzig, located on the banks of the river Mulde. The town has a population of 5,188 ....
, Eilenburg
Eilenburg
Eilenburg is a town in Germany. It lies in the district of Nordsachsen in the Free State of Saxony, approximately 20 km northeast of the city of Leipzig.- Geography :...
and Liebenwerda. Until her death she lived in Altenburg, where she exercised her sovereign rights and thus was under the jurisdiction. In the Old Castle in 1468, she set up a grain house, which was destroyed by fire in 1868. With the support of the Altenburg civil servants who cared for her household plot, Margaret gave generous supplies industries.
Margaret died in Altenburg and was buried in the Castle's local church, she was outlived by six of her eight children.
Family
Margaret and Frederick had eight children:- Amalia (b. Meissen, 4 April 1436 - d. Rochlitz, 19 October 1501), married on 21 March 1452 to Louis IX, Duke of BavariaLouis IX, Duke of BavariaLouis IX , was Duke of Bavaria-Landshut from 1450. He was a son of Henry XVI the Rich and Margaret of Austria.-Biography:Louis succeeded his father in 1450...
. - Anna (b. Meissen, 7 March 1437 - d. Neustadt am Aisch, 31 October 1512), married on 12 November 1458 to Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg.
- Frederick (b. Meissen, 28 August 1439 - d. Meissen, 23 December 1451).
- Ernest, Elector of SaxonyErnest, Elector of SaxonyErnst, Elector of Saxony was Elector of Saxony from 1464 to 1486.-Biography:Ernst was founder of the Ernestine line of Saxon princes, ancestor of George I of Great Britain, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as well as his wife and cousin Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and their...
(b. Meissen, 24 March 1441 - d. Colditz, 26 August 1486). - Albert, Duke of SaxonyAlbert, Duke of SaxonyAlbert III was a Duke of Saxony. He was nicknamed Albert the Bold or Albert the Courageous and founded the Albertine line of the House of Wettin....
(b. Grimma, 31 July 1443 - d. Emden, 12 September 1500). - Margaret (b. Meissen?, 1444 - d. Seusslitz?, ca. 19 November 1498), Abbess of Seusslitz.
- Hedwig (b. Meissen?, 31 October 1445 - d. Quedlinburg, 13 June 1511), Abbess of QuedlinburgQuedlinburg AbbeyQuedlinburg Abbey was a house of secular canonesses in Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It was founded in 936 on the initiative of Saint Mathilda, the widow of Henry the Fowler, as his memorial...
(1458). - Alexander (b. Meissen, 24 June 1447 - d. Meissen, 14 September 1447).