Agnes of Hesse

Agnes of Hesse ( born May 31, 1527 Marburg, † November 4, 1555 in Weimar) was Electress of Saxony.

Life

Agnes, daughter of the Landgrave Philip of Hesse, and his first wife Christine of Saxony, married on January 9, 1541 the Duke and later Elector Moritz of Saxony. From their marriage two children were born: Anna of Saxony ( * December 23, 1544, † December 18, 1577 ) and Albrecht (* November 28, 1545, † April 12, 1546 ). The marriage between the two was not arranged, but enforced by Moritz and Agnes itself, which was very unusual at that time. The letters still preserved to document the continuing friendship and mutual trust between the spouses. Agnes was also informed about the political plans of her husband. After her mother Christine 1549 death, they tried very hard to educate their younger siblings.

Elector Moritz died on July 9, 1553 from the effects of his wound at the Battle of Sievershausen. His widow Agnes was married on May 26, 1555 Duke John Frederick of Saxony, was at this time but already of poor health and died six months later from the effects of a miscarriage. In the choir of the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Weimar, however, an unknown author complains to a murder by poison. Over the actual cause of death can currently only be speculated. For the murder, the fact that Agnes of Hesse was married in the rival princely family. The Albertine had feared that Agnes Secret carries the enemy camp of Ernestine.

Source

• Political Correspondence of the Duke and Elector Moritz of Saxony, 6 vols, Berlin 1902-2006