Margaretha von Waldeck (1533 – 15 March 1554) was the daughter of Philip IV, Count of Waldeck-Wildungen (1493–1574) and his first wife, Margaret Cirksena (1500–1537), daughter of Edzard I, Count of East Frisia. One author theorized in the 1990s that her life influenced the fairy tale of Snow White.
The situation at the court was complicated as several high ranking personalities were striving for Margaretha, including Lamoral, Count of Egmont. Charles V's son, Crown Prince Philip, arrived at his aunt's court in 1549. Tradition has it that he pursued Margaretha during the few months he was there, though there never could be any official relationship, as she was Lutheran.[3] Three surviving letters from Margaretha to her father show that her health declined steadily over the next few years and she died at the age of 21 in March 1554.[4] In Waldeck chronicles it was suggested that she had been poisoned.
Eckhard Sander, in his book Schneewittchen: Märchen oder Wahrheit? (Snow White: Is It a Fairy Tale?), alleged that Margaretha's life was inspiration for the tale of Snow White. Since, however, her father's second wife died in 1546 and he only remarried again in October 1554, her stepmother was not a suspect in the alleged poisoning case. Margaretha's father owned several copper mines; a majority of workers were children. According to Sander, the seven dwarfs were inspired by child labor in the copper mining village Bergfreiheit, now a district of Bad Wildungen that calls itself Schneewittchendorf (Snow White village). Like the fairy tale's dwarfs, the child laborers there used to live in groups of about 20 in a single room house. Sander's theory also worked in the history of Margarethe's brother's children, as well as folktales from the surrounding area - he suggested that the wicked mother figure was taken from the life of Margarethe's niece, and the magnificent wedding from the life of her nephew.[5] Professional folklorists and scholars generally view Sander's theory as unlikely and unconvincing.[6]
References
Grudrun Anne Dekker, Schneewittchen: blonde Tochter einer Adligen aus Ostfriesland: Eine historische Spurensuche, BoD 2013.
^Sander, Eckhard (1994). Schneewittchen: Märchen oder Wahrheit? : ein lokaler Bezug zum Kellerwald.
^Stewart, Sara (25 March 2012). "Snow White becomes a girl-power icon". The New York Post.
March 03, 2023
margaretha, waldeck, confused, with, magdalene, waldeck, wildungen, 1533, march, 1554, daughter, philip, count, waldeck, wildungen, 1493, 1574, first, wife, margaret, cirksena, 1500, 1537, daughter, edzard, count, east, frisia, author, theorized, 1990s, that, . Not to be confused with Magdalene of Waldeck Wildungen Margaretha von Waldeck 1533 15 March 1554 was the daughter of Philip IV Count of Waldeck Wildungen 1493 1574 and his first wife Margaret Cirksena 1500 1537 daughter of Edzard I Count of East Frisia One author theorized in the 1990s that her life influenced the fairy tale of Snow White Countess Margaretha of WaldeckBornc 1533 Holy Roman EmpireDied15 March 1554 1554 03 15 aged 20 21 Brussels Habsburg NetherlandsNoble familyHouse of WaldeckFatherPhilip IV Count of WaldeckMotherMargaret of East FrisiaLife EditAccording to Bad Wildungen city documents she was famous for her beauty 1 Since 1539 she had a very strict stepmother Katharina von Hatzfeldt 1510 1546 and perhaps soon after Margaretha was raised at Weilburg at the court of Philip III Count of Nassau Weilburg In 1545 she traveled through the Siebengebirge seven hills to live with her mother s brother Johann Cirksena 1506 1572 at Valkenburg Castle in present day Limburg Netherlands 2 In 1549 her father sent her on to the Brussels court of Mary of Hungary governor of the Habsburg Netherlands and sister of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor Margaretha s presence at the court was partially meant to improve the relationship of her father with the emperor and help the release of Philip I Landgrave of Hesse who had been imprisoned in Brussels for his role in the Schmalkaldic War 1 The situation at the court was complicated as several high ranking personalities were striving for Margaretha including Lamoral Count of Egmont Charles V s son Crown Prince Philip arrived at his aunt s court in 1549 Tradition has it that he pursued Margaretha during the few months he was there though there never could be any official relationship as she was Lutheran 3 Three surviving letters from Margaretha to her father show that her health declined steadily over the next few years and she died at the age of 21 in March 1554 4 In Waldeck chronicles it was suggested that she had been poisoned Snow White inspiration EditMain article Origin of the Snow White tale Eckhard Sander in his book Schneewittchen Marchen oder Wahrheit Snow White Is It a Fairy Tale alleged that Margaretha s life was inspiration for the tale of Snow White Since however her father s second wife died in 1546 and he only remarried again in October 1554 her stepmother was not a suspect in the alleged poisoning case Margaretha s father owned several copper mines a majority of workers were children According to Sander the seven dwarfs were inspired by child labor in the copper mining village Bergfreiheit now a district of Bad Wildungen that calls itself Schneewittchendorf Snow White village Like the fairy tale s dwarfs the child laborers there used to live in groups of about 20 in a single room house Sander s theory also worked in the history of Margarethe s brother s children as well as folktales from the surrounding area he suggested that the wicked mother figure was taken from the life of Margarethe s niece and the magnificent wedding from the life of her nephew 5 Professional folklorists and scholars generally view Sander s theory as unlikely and unconvincing 6 References EditGrudrun Anne Dekker Schneewittchen blonde Tochter einer Adligen aus Ostfriesland Eine historische Spurensuche BoD 2013 a b Dekker p 33 Dekker pp 31 32 Dekker p 35 Dekker p 40 Sander Eckhard 1994 Schneewittchen Marchen oder Wahrheit ein lokaler Bezug zum Kellerwald Stewart Sara 25 March 2012 Snow White becomes a girl power icon The New York Post Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margaretha von Waldeck amp oldid 1133950149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
