Barbara Jagiellon

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Barbara Jagiellon
Elizabeth of Austria

Barbara Jagiellon (15 July 1478 – 15 February 1534) was a Polish princess, member of the

Duchess of Saxony
.

Born in

Holy Roman Empress
.

Life

Barbara was married on 21 November 1496 in a glittering ceremony in Leipzig to George, Duke of Saxony (1471–1539). At the wedding, 6,286 German and Polish nobles were said to be present.[1] This marriage was a key part of maintaining good diplomatic relations between Germany and Poland. For Barbara's family, the marriage was also important due to their rivalry with the House of Habsburg.[2]

In 1513, Barbara and her husband founded Meissen Cathedral; several Masses and liturgical celebration of Easter have been recorded to have taken place since then. Barbara sent letters to her husband while he was at battles. Witnesses say the couple had a very loving and happy marriage.

Barbara died in Leipzig aged 55. Her husband was so stricken by grief that he grew a beard during this time, which was why he was nicknamed "the Bearded".[3] She was buried in the cathedral of Meissen in her husband's funeral chapel, built between 1521 and 1524. Barbara and George were the last Prince and Princess of the House of Wettin to be buried at the cathedral. The altarpiece in the funerary chapel was the work of Lucas Cranach the Elder. They are surrounded by apostles and saints.[4]

Issue

  1. Christoph of Saxony (8 September 1497 – 5 December 1497).
  2. Elisabeth of Hesse
    . This union was childless.
  3. Wolfgang of Saxony (1499 – 12 January 1500).
  4. Anna of Saxony (21 January 1500 – 23 January 1500).
  5. Christoph of Saxony (born and died 27 May 1501).
  6. Agnes of Saxony (7 January 1503 – 16 April 1503).
  7. Frederick of Saxony (15 March 1504 – 26 February 1539); married on 27 January 1539 to Elisabeth of Mansfeld. This union was childless.
  8. Christine of Saxony (25 December 1505 – 15 April 1549); married on 11 December 1523 to Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.
  9. Joachim Hector
    , then Electoral Prince of Brandenburg.
  10. Margarethe of Saxony (7 September 1508 – d. Dresden, 19 December 1510).

Ancestry

References

Bibliography

  • Z. Wdowiszewski: Genealogia Jagiellonów i Domu Wazów w Polsce, Avalon, Kraków 2005, pp. 131–132 and genealogical table in p. 210.
Barbara Jagiellon
House of Gediminas
Born: 15 July 1478 Died: 15 February 1534
German royalty
Preceded by
Sidonie Podiebrad of Bohemia
Margravine consort of Meissen

12 September 1500 – 15 February 1534
Vacant
Title next held by
Katharina of Mecklenburg-Schwerin