Maria of the Palatinate (24 July 1561 – 29 July 1589), also known as Anna Maria, was a Swedish princess and Duchess of Södermanland by marriage, the first spouse of the future King Charles IX of Sweden. She died before he became king.
Maria was born in Heidelberg, to Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse. In April 1578, the Swedish Prince Charles, Duke of Södermanland, visited her home town Heidelberg and proposed. Maria was brought up to be an ardent Lutheran, and her religion and upbringing according to the principles of the Augsburg Confession was one reason why she was chosen by the sternly Protestant Charles.[1] She also spoke Latin. Her father accepted the marriage proposal on the condition that she be secured the right to practice her faith in Sweden which was then ruled by Charles' brother John III, who was known for his Catholic sympathies.[1] The wedding took place in Heidelberg 11 May 1579. Afterwards, she followed him to Sweden, where they resided in his Duchy in Södermanland. They left Germany in July, and in September 1579, Maria received the oath of loyalty from the subjects in her dower lands Gripsholm, Tynnelsö and Rävsnäs estates, Strängnäs city with the parishes Åkers, Selebo and Daga as well as Överenhörna and Ytterenhörna.
No portrait exists of Maria. She is described as beautiful, gentle and diplomatic, but also sickly. Her marriage to Charles IX of Sweden is described as happy.[2] Her calmness was said to be the opposite of the fierce temperament of her consort.[2] Maria is said to have influenced the rule of Charles in the Duchy, intervening on behalf of supplicants and to ask him to show mercy.[1] Because she had a reputation for being able to control the feared temperament of Charles, she was often approached by supplicants.[2] She accompanied him around the Duchy as long as her pregnancies allowed for that possibility. Maria remained a committed Lutheran: in letters to her father, she expressed her discontent with the spread of Calvinism in Simmern, and in 1585 asked him to send her a Lutheran preacher.[1] Charles described her as more educated in religion than anyone to be found, and she is believed to have affected Charles to adopt an even stronger pro-Lutheran political view.[1]
Maria bore six children, but only one survived for more than a few years. She herself died in Eskilstuna Palace after a long-term illness in 1589, and was buried in the Strängnäs Cathedral. Later examinations of her remains showed her to have been a small, fragile brunette.
Duke Charles was said to have mourned her greatly. The town Mariestad, founded in 1583, and the royal estate Marieholm [sv] are named for her.
Issue
Margareta Elisabet (24 September 1580 – 26 August 1585)
maria, palatinate, duchess, södermanland, maria, palatinate, july, 1561, july, 1589, also, known, anna, maria, swedish, princess, duchess, södermanland, marriage, first, spouse, future, king, charles, sweden, died, before, became, king, princess, mariaduchess,. Maria of the Palatinate 24 July 1561 29 July 1589 also known as Anna Maria was a Swedish princess and Duchess of Sodermanland by marriage the first spouse of the future King Charles IX of Sweden She died before he became king Princess MariaDuchess of SodermanlandBorn 1561 07 24 24 July 1561HeidelbergDied29 July 1589 1589 07 29 aged 28 EskilstunaSpousePrince Charles Duke of Sodermanland m 1579 IssuePrincess MargaretaPrincess ElisabethPrince LouisCatherine Countess Palatine of KleeburgPrince GustavPrincess MariaHouseWittelsbachFatherLouis VI Elector PalatineMotherElisabeth of HessePrincess Maria and her branch of the Vasa Dynasty were interred in Strangnas Cathedral Contents 1 Biography 2 Issue 3 Ancestors 4 ReferencesBiography EditMaria was born in Heidelberg to Louis VI Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse In April 1578 the Swedish Prince Charles Duke of Sodermanland visited her home town Heidelberg and proposed Maria was brought up to be an ardent Lutheran and her religion and upbringing according to the principles of the Augsburg Confession was one reason why she was chosen by the sternly Protestant Charles 1 She also spoke Latin Her father accepted the marriage proposal on the condition that she be secured the right to practice her faith in Sweden which was then ruled by Charles brother John III who was known for his Catholic sympathies 1 The wedding took place in Heidelberg 11 May 1579 Afterwards she followed him to Sweden where they resided in his Duchy in Sodermanland They left Germany in July and in September 1579 Maria received the oath of loyalty from the subjects in her dower lands Gripsholm Tynnelso and Ravsnas estates Strangnas city with the parishes Akers Selebo and Daga as well as Overenhorna and Ytterenhorna No portrait exists of Maria She is described as beautiful gentle and diplomatic but also sickly Her marriage to Charles IX of Sweden is described as happy 2 Her calmness was said to be the opposite of the fierce temperament of her consort 2 Maria is said to have influenced the rule of Charles in the Duchy intervening on behalf of supplicants and to ask him to show mercy 1 Because she had a reputation for being able to control the feared temperament of Charles she was often approached by supplicants 2 She accompanied him around the Duchy as long as her pregnancies allowed for that possibility Maria remained a committed Lutheran in letters to her father she expressed her discontent with the spread of Calvinism in Simmern and in 1585 asked him to send her a Lutheran preacher 1 Charles described her as more educated in religion than anyone to be found and she is believed to have affected Charles to adopt an even stronger pro Lutheran political view 1 Maria bore six children but only one survived for more than a few years She herself died in Eskilstuna Palace after a long term illness in 1589 and was buried in the Strangnas Cathedral Later examinations of her remains showed her to have been a small fragile brunette Duke Charles was said to have mourned her greatly The town Mariestad founded in 1583 and the royal estate Marieholm sv are named for her Issue EditMargareta Elisabet 24 September 1580 26 August 1585 Elisabet Sabina 12 March 1582 6 July 1585 Ludvig 17 March 26 May 1583 Catharina 10 November 1584 13 December 1638 Gustav 12 June 4 December 1587 Maria 18 December 1588 24 April 1589 Ancestors EditAncestors of Maria of the Palatinate Duchess of Sodermanland8 John II Count Palatine of Simmern4 Frederick III Elector Palatine9 Beatrix of Baden2 Louis VI Elector Palatine10 Casimir Margrave of Brandenburg Bayreuth5 Marie of Brandenburg Kulmbach11 Susanna of Bavaria1 Maria of the Palatinate Simmern12 William II Landgrave of Hesse6 Philip I Landgrave of Hesse13 Anna of Mecklenburg Schwerin3 Elisabeth of Hesse14 George Duke of Saxony7 Christine of Saxony15 Barbara JagiellonReferences Edit a b c d e Tegenborg Falkdalen Karin 2010 Vasadottrarna in Swedish 2nd ed Falun Historiska Media ISBN 978 91 85873 87 6 a b c Maria urn sbl 9105 Svenskt biografiskt lexikon article by Lars Olof Skoglund retrieved 19 September 2016 Stalberg Wilhelmina Berg P G Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor in Swedish p 260 Swedish royaltyPreceded byIngeborg of Norway Duchess of Sodermanland1579 1589 Succeeded byChristina of Holstein Gottorp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maria of the Palatinate Duchess of Sodermanland amp oldid 1133908524, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
