Sophia of Poland
Encyclopedia
Sophia of Poland was a Polish and Lithuanian princess by birth and Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Kulmbach by her marriage to Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
.
, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his wife Elizabeth of Austria and Bohemia. Sophia's paternal grandparents were King Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila)
of Poland
and his fourth wife Sophia of Halshany
. Her maternal grandparents were Albert II of Germany
and his wife Elizabeth of Bohemia.
Sophia received her name in honour of her paternal grandmother. She was the sixth of thirteen children born to her parents. Sophia's siblings included King Vladislas II of Hungary, Jadwiga, Duchess of Bavaria, Saint Casimir
, John I Albert of Poland
, Alexander Jagiellon
, Sigismund I the Old
, Anna of Poland, Barbara, Duchess of Saxony and three sisters named Elizabeth.
Sophia was baptised by John Gruszczynski, Bishop of Krakow. There is no information available concerning Sophia's upbringing or education.
, son of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III
, and a future Holy Roman Emperor himself. Then, the same year, there was an offer from Matthias Corvinus, though Matthias soon tried for the hand of Sophia's elder sister, Jadwiga. A marriage to Maximilian seemed more likely for Sophia. She and her sisters were all attractive brides for European nobility, since they all had claims to the thrones of Austria
and Luxembourg
through their mother Elisabeth. There could have been a chance that one could become Duchess of Austria or Luxembourg and transfer their patrimony to a husband and his family.
Sophia's marriage plans with Matthias fell through when her father made an alliance with Matthias' main enemy, George of Poděbrady
. The plans between Maximilian and Sophia similarly fell through for different reasons.
, was brought forth is not known. There is a presumption that this occurred in the summer of 1470, when Polish deputies visited Brandenburg. An agreement was finally signed on 7 December 1473 in Cadolzburg
.
As for the political motives of this marriage, Sophia's father Casimir sought allies among the Germans, since he was concerned with the influence of the Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick III and Frederick I's father, Albrecht III, Elector of Brandenburg, had taken note of the growing power of Sophia's once betrothed Matthias Corvinus, who was threatening to take some of Albrecht's lands. Thus, the marriage was seen as a means to benefit both families.
Terms concerning the marriage had been negotiated almost two years earlier. Finally, in October 1475, the marriage contract was signed at Poznan
. Sophia's family gave a dowry to Frederick's family worth 32,000 florins.
Originally, the wedding of Sophia and Frederick was to take place in Poznan, but Albrecht opted for Frankfurt
instead.
On 13 January 1479, Sophia left Poland, accompanied by family, for Frankfurt.
On 14 February 1479, Sophia and Frederick were married. According to the Polish chronicler Jan Długosz, the wedding was not extravagant and even the royal courtiers were not banqueted. In addition, he claimed that the king's senators, knights and other clerics, who had traveled with his daughter to Frankfurt, hardly received any gifts.
Difficulties arose with the payment of Sophia's dowry. According to the marriage contract, Casimir IV was supposed to pay the first installment of 6,000 guilders by 25 December. Unable to do so, the Polish king asked for a deferment, to which Albrecht agreed.
In 1486, Frederick and Sophia took over Ansbach
from Emperor Frederick III of Austria.
All this time, there was a continuing problem with payment of Sophia's dowry. In 1489, Sophia's brother Vladislas II of Hungary promised Frederick he would pay the rest of the money his father owed. In 1493, Frederick sent envoys to Poland on payment of dowry. On 30 September 1495, Sophia personally wrote a letter to her brother asking for the promised money. The dowry was never completely paid off until after Sophia and Frederick's deaths. The last of the money was paid to their children.
To strengthen family ties even more, Sophia's sister Barbara married one of Frederick's cousins, George, Duke of Saxony
.
It is known that in 1505, shortly before the death of her mother, Sophia was seriously ill; we know this from a letter written by Sophia's mother-in-law, Anna of Saxony.
Sophia died on 5 October 1512 in Ansbach
. She was buried in the monastery of Heilsbronn
. After the death of Sophia, her husband arranged an extremely boisterous wake
: 1,500 cups of wine were drunk and 2 oxen and 600 fish were eaten over the course of the night.
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Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Frederick I of Ansbach and Bayreuth was born at Ansbach as the eldest son of the Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg by his second wife Anna, daughter of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. His elder half-brother was the Elector Johann Cicero of Brandenburg...
.
Early life and family
Sophia was the daughter of Casimir IV JagiellonCasimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his wife Elizabeth of Austria and Bohemia. Sophia's paternal grandparents were King Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila)
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and his fourth wife Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany , was a Lithuanian princess of Halshany, Queen of Poland from , and the last wife of Jogaila.-Biography:...
. Her maternal grandparents were Albert II of Germany
Albert II of Germany
Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna...
and his wife Elizabeth of Bohemia.
Sophia received her name in honour of her paternal grandmother. She was the sixth of thirteen children born to her parents. Sophia's siblings included King Vladislas II of Hungary, Jadwiga, Duchess of Bavaria, Saint Casimir
Saint Casimir
Saint Casimir Jagiellon was a royal prince of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania who became a patron saint of Lithuania, Poland, and the young.-Biography:...
, John I Albert of Poland
John I Albert of Poland
John I Albert was King of Poland and Duke of Głogów .-Life:John was the third son of Casimir IV Jagiellon, King of Poland, and Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of Albert II of Germany. As crown prince, he distinguished himself by his brilliant victory over the Tatars at Kopersztyn...
, Alexander Jagiellon
Alexander Jagiellon
Alexander of the House of Jagiellon was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and later also King of Poland. He was the fourth son of Casimir IV Jagiellon...
, Sigismund I the Old
Sigismund I the Old
Sigismund I of Poland , of the Jagiellon dynasty, reigned as King of Poland and also as the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1506 until 1548...
, Anna of Poland, Barbara, Duchess of Saxony and three sisters named Elizabeth.
Sophia was baptised by John Gruszczynski, Bishop of Krakow. There is no information available concerning Sophia's upbringing or education.
Betrothals
In 1468, Sophia was first betrothed to Prince MaximilianMaximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, son of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III
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...
, and a future Holy Roman Emperor himself. Then, the same year, there was an offer from Matthias Corvinus, though Matthias soon tried for the hand of Sophia's elder sister, Jadwiga. A marriage to Maximilian seemed more likely for Sophia. She and her sisters were all attractive brides for European nobility, since they all had claims to the thrones of 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...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
through their mother Elisabeth. There could have been a chance that one could become Duchess of Austria or Luxembourg and transfer their patrimony to a husband and his family.
Sophia's marriage plans with Matthias fell through when her father made an alliance with Matthias' main enemy, George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
. The plans between Maximilian and Sophia similarly fell through for different reasons.
Marriage
Exactly when the idea of a marriage between Sophia and Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachFrederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Frederick I of Ansbach and Bayreuth was born at Ansbach as the eldest son of the Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg by his second wife Anna, daughter of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. His elder half-brother was the Elector Johann Cicero of Brandenburg...
, was brought forth is not known. There is a presumption that this occurred in the summer of 1470, when Polish deputies visited Brandenburg. An agreement was finally signed on 7 December 1473 in Cadolzburg
Cadolzburg
Cadolzburg is a municipality in the district of Fürth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 11 km west of Fürth.In the year 2007 Cadolzburg celebrated its 850th anniversary.- Notable persons :* Albert III, Elector of Brandenburg...
.
As for the political motives of this marriage, Sophia's father Casimir sought allies among the Germans, since he was concerned with the influence of the Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick III and Frederick I's father, Albrecht III, Elector of Brandenburg, had taken note of the growing power of Sophia's once betrothed Matthias Corvinus, who was threatening to take some of Albrecht's lands. Thus, the marriage was seen as a means to benefit both families.
Terms concerning the marriage had been negotiated almost two years earlier. Finally, in October 1475, the marriage contract was signed at Poznan
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. Sophia's family gave a dowry to Frederick's family worth 32,000 florins.
Originally, the wedding of Sophia and Frederick was to take place in Poznan, but Albrecht opted for Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
instead.
On 13 January 1479, Sophia left Poland, accompanied by family, for Frankfurt.
On 14 February 1479, Sophia and Frederick were married. According to the Polish chronicler Jan Długosz, the wedding was not extravagant and even the royal courtiers were not banqueted. In addition, he claimed that the king's senators, knights and other clerics, who had traveled with his daughter to Frankfurt, hardly received any gifts.
Difficulties arose with the payment of Sophia's dowry. According to the marriage contract, Casimir IV was supposed to pay the first installment of 6,000 guilders by 25 December. Unable to do so, the Polish king asked for a deferment, to which Albrecht agreed.
Sophia as Margravine
On 11 March 1486, Sophia's father-in-law Albrecht died. Her husband Frederick inherited the title Margrave of Brandenburg and Sophia became Margravine.In 1486, Frederick and Sophia took over Ansbach
Ansbach
Ansbach, originally Onolzbach, is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is situated southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the Fränkische Rezat, a tributary of the Main river. As of 2004, its population was 40,723.Ansbach...
from Emperor Frederick III of Austria.
All this time, there was a continuing problem with payment of Sophia's dowry. In 1489, Sophia's brother Vladislas II of Hungary promised Frederick he would pay the rest of the money his father owed. In 1493, Frederick sent envoys to Poland on payment of dowry. On 30 September 1495, Sophia personally wrote a letter to her brother asking for the promised money. The dowry was never completely paid off until after Sophia and Frederick's deaths. The last of the money was paid to their children.
To strengthen family ties even more, Sophia's sister Barbara married one of Frederick's cousins, George, Duke of Saxony
George, Duke of Saxony
George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony , was duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539.Duke George was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.-Early life:...
.
It is known that in 1505, shortly before the death of her mother, Sophia was seriously ill; we know this from a letter written by Sophia's mother-in-law, Anna of Saxony.
Sophia died on 5 October 1512 in Ansbach
Ansbach
Ansbach, originally Onolzbach, is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is situated southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the Fränkische Rezat, a tributary of the Main river. As of 2004, its population was 40,723.Ansbach...
. She was buried in the monastery of Heilsbronn
Heilsbronn
Heilsbronn is a town in the Ansbach district of the Mittelfranken administrative region of Franconia, in the German state of Bavaria between Nuremberg and Ansbach, in the wooded valley of the Rangau...
. After the death of Sophia, her husband arranged an extremely boisterous wake
Wake
A wake is the region of recirculating flow immediately behind a moving or stationary solid body, caused by the flow of surrounding fluid around the body.-Fluid dynamics:...
: 1,500 cups of wine were drunk and 2 oxen and 600 fish were eaten over the course of the night.
Children
Sophia and Frederick had seventeen children:- Kasimir, Margrave of Bayreuth (27 September 1481, Ansbach–21 September 1527, Ofen an der Ruhr).
- Margarete (10 January 1483, Ansbach–10 July 1532).
- Georg "der Fromme" (4 March 1484, Ansbach–27 December 1534, Ansbach).
- Sofie (10 March 1485, Ansbach–24 May 1537, Liegnitz), married 14 November 1518 to Duke Frederick II of LegnicaFrederick II of LegnicaFrederick II of Legnica , also known as the Great of Legnica , was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 , of Brzeg from 1521...
. - Anna (5 May 1487, Ansbach–7 February 1539), married 1 December 1518 to Duke Wenceslaus II of CieszynWenceslaus II, Duke of CieszynWenceslaus II of Cieszyn , was a Duke of Cieszyn since 1518 until his death .He was the second son of Casimir II, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Johanna, daughter of Wiktoryn of Poděbrady, Duke of Opawa.-Life:...
. - Barbara, died young.
- Albert of Prussia (17 May 1490, Ansbach–20 March 1568, Castle Tapiau), Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and then first Duke of Prussia.
- Friedrich (13 June 1491, Ansbach–ca. 1497).
- Elisabeth, died young.
- JohannJohann of Brandenburg-AnsbachJohann of Brandenburg-Ansbach was the second husband of Germaine de Foix and viceroy of Valencia from 1523 until his death in 1525....
, Viceroy of ValenciaKingdom of ValenciaThe Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
(9 January 1493, PlassenburgPlassenburgPlassenburg is a castle in the city of Kulmbach in Bavaria. It is one of the most impressive castles in Germany and a symbol of the city. It was first mentioned in 1135. The Plassenberg family were ministerial of the counts of Andechs and used as their seat the Plassenburg...
–5 July 1525, ValenciaKingdom of ValenciaThe Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
). - Elisabeth (25 March 1494, Ansbach–31 May 1518, PforzheimPforzheimPforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
), married in Pforzheim 29 September 1510 to Margrave Ernst of Baden-Durlach. - Barbara (24 September 1495, Ansbach–23 September 1552), married in PlassenburgPlassenburgPlassenburg is a castle in the city of Kulmbach in Bavaria. It is one of the most impressive castles in Germany and a symbol of the city. It was first mentioned in 1135. The Plassenberg family were ministerial of the counts of Andechs and used as their seat the Plassenburg...
26 July 1528 to Landgrave Georg of Leuchtenberg. - Friedrich (17 January 1497, Ansbach–20 August 1536, GenoaGenoaGenoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
), a canon in WürzburgWürzburgWürzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
and SalzburgSalzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. - WilhelmWilliam of BrandenburgWilhelm von Brandenburg was the Archbishop of Riga from 1539 to 1561.A member of the House of Hohenzollern, Wilhelm was the son of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, the brother of Albert, Duke of Prussia, and the grandson of Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg and Casimir IV...
, (30 June 1498, Ansbach–4 February 1563, RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
), Archbishop of RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in 1539-63. - Johann Albrecht (20 September 1499,Ansach–17 May 1550, HalleHalle, Saxony-AnhaltHalle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
), Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1545-50. - Friedrich Abrecht, died young.
- Gumprecht (16 July 1503, Ansbach–25 June 1528, NaplesNaplesNaples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
), a canon in BambergBambergBamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
.
Ancestry
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