Clara Tott

Clara Tott, in other sources also Dett Clara or Clara or Tettingen of Dettingen ( 1440, † 1520 ), wife of the Elector Palatine Frederick was I.

Life

Clara Tott, the daughter of the Augsburg Council servant Gerhard Tott, was maid of honor at the Duchess Anna (1420-1474), the wife of Duke Albrecht III. of Bavaria- Munich. Here she worked, among others began in 1459 as a singer and a love affair with the Elector Frederick I of the Palatinate. It went out 2 sons, both of which are acknowledged in a variety of documents as legitimate, but the time of his parents' marriage unclear; some sources mention the year 1462. Publik was only get married in 1472, when Frederick, the firstborn son, the recording as a cleric sought in the Domstifte of Speyer and Worms, and therefore had to demonstrate an unambiguous marital descent. In the same year, and before 1470, the future Elector Philip the righteous had his uncle, the Elector Frederick I., in documents released by the once stored in his favor promise of celibacy. For reasons of state but keeping the whole situation as secret as possible.

Clara Tott was held after the death of her husband in 1479 by his successor, Philip, even over many years on Burglinde rock in captivity, not only to let the actual family relationships penetrate to the general public. The early writer press usually unclear and very careful about the case, because they did not want to fall out of favor with the powerful Palatinate. Later historians took this obscurity in the wording of their predecessors, especially since the topic dynastic and historically lost by the progressive time in importance.

Only the legally qualified historian Johann Ludwig Klüber and August Wilhelm Heffter have in this respect a sustainable research in the 19th century and very detailed essays about writing, the I. and Clara Totts clearly demonstrate the basis of various sources a marital birth of both sons Frederick and beyond cogently demonstrated that there Clara Tott must have been even noble origin.

Clara Tott was musically very talented and had a lasting effect in shaping the musical life at Heidelberger Hof. She supported her husband in building the local church choir and prompted the appointment of the then famous singer Johannes von Soest at their head.

Progeny

Clara Tott and Elector Frederick lived a happy marriage. Her two sons were:

• Friedrich of Bavaria ( * 1460, † October 16, 1474 ); since 1472 canon of Speyer cathedral chapter, then at Worms Cathedral Chapter, died during the lifetime of his father and was - like him - buried in the Franciscan church in Heidelberg. His dortiger epitaph described him expressly as " legitimate son " of the elector. The grave, with portrait of Frederick clerics in clothes, yet 1716 was in this church, however, severely damaged by the French.

• Ludwig of Bavaria ( 1463-1523 ). He was raised on February 24, 1494 in the Imperial Count from the Roman-German King Maximilian I.. His father Elector Frederick I left him the county Lowenstein. Ludwig of Bavaria, as he was called, was the founder of the royal house Löwenstein- Wertheim. His heirs later acquired the County of Wertheim and were elevated to the rank of prince.

As Elector Frederick I. till his death only on behalf of his nephew and adopted son Philip ruled the upright, he renounced his two sons with Clara Tott on regular inheritance rights. They should only be entitled heritage in the Palatinate, if Elector Philipp and his sons would die before them. So you had in the case of extinction of Philipps Family, succession to those of Frederick and Clara Totts provided, which was the next closest, and later became the Princely House of Löwenstein.

Fame

After Clara Tott a street is named in Augsburg.