Sibylle Christine of Anhalt-Dessau
Encyclopedia
Sibylle Christine of Anhalt-Dessau (Dessau
, 11 July 1603 – Hanau
, 21 February 1686), was by birth a member of the House of Ascania and princess of Anhalt-Dessau
. Through her two marriages she became Countess of Hanau-Münzenberg and Hanau-Lichtenberg.
Sibylle Christine was the sixth daughter of John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
, but third-born daughter of his second wife Dorothea, daughter of John Casimir of Simmern
.
on 26 December 1627 Sybille Christine married Philip Maurice, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg. They had five children, 2 sons and 3 daughters, but all of them, except the eldest son and heir, Philip Louis III, died before their first year of life.
After the death of her husband in 1638, she acted as regent on behalf of his son Philip Louis III. After the premature death of her son in 1641, Sybille Christine moved to the official dower house of the House of Hanau, Schloss Steinau in Steinau an der Straße
.
Philip Louis III was succeeded by his uncle John Ernest (cousin of his late father and the last surviving male of the branch of Hanau-Münzenberg); however, he died in 1642 unmarried and childless. His successor was Frederick Casimir
, head of the Lutheran branch of the Hanau-Lichtenberg family.
The accession of Frederick Casimir took place during the Thirty Years' War
, which left him in a financially awkward situation. As Dowager Countess, Sibylle Christine put considerable strains on the county for her upkeep. To minimize her own expenses and avoid the required financial support for a new wife, she and Frederick Casimir were married on 13 May 1647. This union with the Dowager Countess had the effect of calming Frederick Casimir's Reformist subjects in Hanau-Münzenberg who looked upon the new Lutheran Count with suspicion. The marriage remained childless probably due to the great difference in age between the spouses: Sybille Christine was 20 years older than Frederick Casimir. The union was characterized by other differences as well, partly because Frederick Casimir relied on his wife's property to subsidize his spending habits.
After the death of her second husband in 1685, Sibylle Christine withdrew again to her dower house, Schloss Steinau. She died there one year later and was buried on 25 March 1686 in the family vault of the Marienkirche in Hanau
.
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
, 11 July 1603 – Hanau
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
, 21 February 1686), was by birth a member of the House of Ascania and princess of Anhalt-Dessau
Anhalt-Dessau
Anhalt-Dessau was a principality and later a duchy located in Germany. It was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. The capital of the state was Dessau. Anhalt-Dessau experienced a number of partitions throughout its existence with Anhalt-Köthen being...
. Through her two marriages she became Countess of Hanau-Münzenberg and Hanau-Lichtenberg.
Sibylle Christine was the sixth daughter of John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George I of Anhalt-Dessau was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the unified principality of Anhalt...
, but third-born daughter of his second wife Dorothea, daughter of John Casimir of Simmern
Johann Casimir of Simmern
John Casimir of the Palatinate-Simmern was a German prince and a younger son of Elector Frederick III, Count Palatine of the Rhine. A firm Calvinist, he was a leader of mercenary troops in the religious wars of the time, including the Dutch Revolt...
.
Life
In DessauDessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
on 26 December 1627 Sybille Christine married Philip Maurice, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg. They had five children, 2 sons and 3 daughters, but all of them, except the eldest son and heir, Philip Louis III, died before their first year of life.
After the death of her husband in 1638, she acted as regent on behalf of his son Philip Louis III. After the premature death of her son in 1641, Sybille Christine moved to the official dower house of the House of Hanau, Schloss Steinau in Steinau an der Straße
Steinau an der Straße
Steinau an der Straße is a town in the Main-Kinzig district, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated on the river Kinzig, 32 km southwest of Fulda.-History:...
.
Philip Louis III was succeeded by his uncle John Ernest (cousin of his late father and the last surviving male of the branch of Hanau-Münzenberg); however, he died in 1642 unmarried and childless. His successor was Frederick Casimir
Frederick Casimir, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Frederick Casimir of Hanau was a member of the Hanau-Lichtenberg branch of the House of Hanau...
, head of the Lutheran branch of the Hanau-Lichtenberg family.
The accession of Frederick Casimir took place during 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....
, which left him in a financially awkward situation. As Dowager Countess, Sibylle Christine put considerable strains on the county for her upkeep. To minimize her own expenses and avoid the required financial support for a new wife, she and Frederick Casimir were married on 13 May 1647. This union with the Dowager Countess had the effect of calming Frederick Casimir's Reformist subjects in Hanau-Münzenberg who looked upon the new Lutheran Count with suspicion. The marriage remained childless probably due to the great difference in age between the spouses: Sybille Christine was 20 years older than Frederick Casimir. The union was characterized by other differences as well, partly because Frederick Casimir relied on his wife's property to subsidize his spending habits.
After the death of her second husband in 1685, Sibylle Christine withdrew again to her dower house, Schloss Steinau. She died there one year later and was buried on 25 March 1686 in the family vault of the Marienkirche in Hanau
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
.