Gertrud von Plettenberg

Gertrud von Plettenberg († October 26, 1608 in Arnsberg ) was manager of several castles electors of Cologne in the Duchy of Westphalia and was the mistress of Ernest of Bavaria.

Life

Gertrud von Plettenberg came from the manor Serkenrode. Her father was the eldest son of Ulrich von Plettenberg and Catharina of Thülen. Her mother was a " person from Livonia ". The family seems to have often been in financial difficulties because the estate of the family was too small and insignificant to make a noble life. Siblings were Anton, Anna and Eva. Anton was at times Gograf in the Official Fredeburg, while Eva was 1599-1602 Abbess in the monastery Drolshagen. Anna lived at this time in the monastery Oelinghausen, where he held the office of " waitress ".

Gertrud von Plettenberg was in the service of the Elector of Cologne as the administrator ( " Beschließerin " ) of the castles in Arnsberg, Hirschberg and Höllinghofen.

She was also the lover of the Archbishop of Cologne, Ernst of Bavaria, and since 1605 his secret wife. Her account that the Archbishop since 1595 almost constantly in Arnsberg on. He took it into account that his nephew and later successor, Ferdinand of Bavaria, he was asked as coadjutor to the side a short time later. Thus Ernst retained although the title, but no longer had the full political and religious rights of an archbishop and elector.

For more information on the life of Gertrude of Plettenberg are few. A source are the diaries of the country bailiff Kaspar von Furstenberg. There she appeared for the first time in 1598 as " jungfrauw Gertraut of Plett Bergh " in its capacity as manager of the Hirschberg Palace on. Once she hosted Von Furstenberg with pies and pheasant, who had come from Liege. There was serious at that time also ruler. Another time she is mentioned in connection with the Board of the estates. 1605 gave her the Archbishop Landsberger Hof was later called in the city of Arnsberg. There is evidence that the elector who had never received the priestly ordinations, has in the same year Gertrud von Plettenberg officially married.

According to Caspar von Fürstenberg Gertrude died on October 26, 1608 in Arnsberg. Beginning in 1612 also died in Arnsberg Archbishop Ernst in the age of 58.

Gertrude had by him two children, a son and a daughter. In Landsberger Hof (now Sauerland - Museum ) is a picture that shows Gertrud with her young son. The son of William of Bavaria or William de Bavaria was 1618-1624 Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia and thus the chief magistrate and deputy of the elector. Later, Wilhelm pursued a clerical career and became prince-abbot of the monasteries of Stavelot and Malmedy. After her death in 1608 her daughter Catherine inherited the estate Arnsberg.

Various legends are told about the early death of Gertrude. She was murdered by relatives of her lover at Schloss Brühl. Although the diary entry Kaspar von Fürstenberg speaks against it, as seems to have been held so little after all possible. Only a few years ago was how to make sure did not believe wrongly, the Duchess of Cleves by her sister had been poisoned.

Quite unlike Archbishop Ernst in temperament and character was his successor, Ferdinand of Bavaria. In the same year, when his uncle died, he began to enforce the celibacy of priests emphatically in the Duchy of Westphalia. Many priests were married there at that time. Priest could now be only who no longer lived with a " concubine ", as we learn in 1612 from the traditional visitation protocols.