Barbara Sophie of Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Barbara Sophia of Brandenburg (16 November 1584 – 13 February 1636) was the daughter of the Catherine of Küstrin
(1549–1602) and Elector of Joachim Frederick
of Brandenburg. She was married to Duke John Frederick of Württemberg and after his death guardian for their minor son, Duke Eberhard III of Württemberg
.
and Sibylla of Anhalt
. On the occasion of this marriage he had the Urach Palace in Bad Urach
renovated: the Golden Hall was constructed, which is today one of the most beautiful Renaissance
ballrooms in Germany. They apparently had a very happy marriage.
Her husband died in 1628. In 1630, she began an extensive renovation of Brackenheim Castle, which was promised to her as her wittum
. The castle contained an art room with 155 paintings, at the time the second largest collection in Württemberg. The art room was well preserved until her death, despite the Thirty Years' War
ravaging the country around it. During the renovation of her castle, she lived at Schloss Kirchheim
Castle in Kirchheim unter Teck
and in Stuttgart
. She never lived in Brackenheim
, despite the Castle, the city and the district forming her wittum. Nevertheless, she was considered a benefactor of the city, due to her dedication to the city during the Thirty Years' War and to the foundations she founded.
When her husband died, her 14 year old son Eberhard III
was still a minor and his uncle Frederick Louis, Duke of Württemberg-Montbéliard acted as regent. After Frederick Louis died on 26 January 1631, the regency was taken up by Sophie Barbara and Julius Frederick, Duke of Württemberg-Weiltingen, with Sophie Barbara being "high regent". She therefore moved back to Stuttgart in 1632 and became politically active. After the Battle of Lutzen
in late 1632, Julius Frederick joined the war on the Swedish side. His goal was to drive enemy troops out of the country, as well as the Catholic former owners of secularized church properties. Despite his successes, he was accused of acting selfishly. The councillors and the Estates
managed to drive him out of the regency.
After Emperor Ferdinand II
declared Eberhard III to be an adult, he took up government on 8 May 1633. He joined the Protestant Heilbronn League
which on suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Nördlingen
of 6 September 1634. Württemberg was then looted and pillaged. Duke Eberhard and his entire court hastily fled into exile in Strasbourg
.
Barbara Sophia died in Strasbourg in 1636 and was buried in the Stiftskirche
in Stuttgart.
Catherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin
Catherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin was a Princess of Brandenburg-Küstrin by birth and Electress of Brandenburg by marriage.- Life :...
(1549–1602) and Elector of Joachim Frederick
Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim III Frederick , of the House of Hohenzollern, was Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1598 until his death.-Biography:...
of Brandenburg. She was married to Duke John Frederick of Württemberg and after his death guardian for their minor son, Duke Eberhard III of Württemberg
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1628 until his death in 1674....
.
Life
On 5 November 1609 she married Duke John Frederick of Württemberg (1582-1628), eldest son of Frederick IFrederick I, Duke of Württemberg
Friedrich I of Württemberg was the son of Georg of Mömpelgard and his wife Barbara of Hesse, daughter of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse....
and Sibylla of Anhalt
Sibylla of Anhalt
Sibylla of Anhalt was an Ascanian princess of Anhalt who became Duchess of Württemberg by marriage to Duke Frederick I. She was the fourth daughter of Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt, by his first wife Agnes, daughter of Wolfgang I, Count of Barby-Mühlingen.-Life:Sibylla was born in Bernburg in...
. On the occasion of this marriage he had the Urach Palace in Bad Urach
Bad Urach
Bad Urach is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 14 km east of Reutlingen, at the foot of the Swabian Alb, and is known for its spa and therapeutic bath.-History:...
renovated: the Golden Hall was constructed, which is today one of the most beautiful Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
ballrooms in Germany. They apparently had a very happy marriage.
Her husband died in 1628. In 1630, she began an extensive renovation of Brackenheim Castle, which was promised to her as her wittum
Wittum
Wittum , Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law.- Provide for a widow at the wedding :...
. The castle contained an art room with 155 paintings, at the time the second largest collection in Württemberg. The art room was well preserved until her death, despite the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
ravaging the country around it. During the renovation of her castle, she lived at Schloss Kirchheim
Schloss Kirchheim (Teck)
Schloss Kirchheim is situated near the old town of Kirchheim unter Teck. This Renaissance castle is the best preserved example of Württemberg duchy strongholds.- History :...
Castle in Kirchheim unter Teck
Kirchheim unter Teck
Kirchheim unter Teck is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the district of Esslingen. It is located on the small river Lauter, a tributary of the Neckar. It is situated near the Teck castle, approximatively 25 km southeast of Stuttgart...
and in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. She never lived in Brackenheim
Brackenheim
Brackenheim is a town in the district of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is situated 15 km southwest of Heilbronn.With an area of 826 hectare of vineyards, it's the biggest grape-growing municipality of Württemberg....
, despite the Castle, the city and the district forming her wittum. Nevertheless, she was considered a benefactor of the city, due to her dedication to the city during the Thirty Years' War and to the foundations she founded.
When her husband died, her 14 year old son Eberhard III
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1628 until his death in 1674....
was still a minor and his uncle Frederick Louis, Duke of Württemberg-Montbéliard acted as regent. After Frederick Louis died on 26 January 1631, the regency was taken up by Sophie Barbara and Julius Frederick, Duke of Württemberg-Weiltingen, with Sophie Barbara being "high regent". She therefore moved back to Stuttgart in 1632 and became politically active. After the Battle of Lutzen
Battle of Lützen
Two major battles were fought at Lützen:*Battle of Lützen *Battle of Lützen...
in late 1632, Julius Frederick joined the war on the Swedish side. His goal was to drive enemy troops out of the country, as well as the Catholic former owners of secularized church properties. Despite his successes, he was accused of acting selfishly. The councillors and the Estates
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
managed to drive him out of the regency.
After Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
declared Eberhard III to be an adult, he took up government on 8 May 1633. He joined the Protestant Heilbronn League
Heilbronn League
The Heilbronn League was an alliance between Sweden, France, and the Protestant princes of Western Germany against the Catholic League during the Thirty Years' War. The treaty forming the League was signed at Heilbronn in Germany on April 23, 1633....
which on suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Nördlingen
Battle of Nördlingen
The term Battle of Nördlingen refers to two battles during the Thirty Years' War .*Battle of Nördlingen *Battle of Nördlingen...
of 6 September 1634. Württemberg was then looted and pillaged. Duke Eberhard and his entire court hastily fled into exile in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.
Barbara Sophia died in Strasbourg in 1636 and was buried in the Stiftskirche
Stiftskirche (Stuttgart)
The Stiftskirche Stuttgart is an inner-city church in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the main church of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg as well as the parish church of the evangelical inner-city church district of Stuttgart.-History and...
in Stuttgart.
Issue
From their marriage Barbara Sophia had the following children:- Henrietta (1610-1623)
- Frederick (1612-1612)
- AntoniaAntonia of WürttembergAntonia of Württemberg was a princess of the Duchy of Württemberg, as well as a literary figure, patroness, and Christian Kabbalist.- Life :...
(1613-1679) - Eberhard IIIEberhard III, Duke of WürttembergEberhard III, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1628 until his death in 1674....
(1614-1674), Duke of Württemberg, married- in 1637 Wild-Rhinegravine Anna Catherine of Salm-Kyrburg (1614-1655)
- in 1656 Countess Maria Dorothea of Oettingen (1639-1698)
- FrederickFrederick, Duke of Württemberg-NeuenstadtFrederick of Württemberg-Neuenstadt was Duke of Württemberg and founder of the second branch line Duchy of Württemberg-Neuenstadt.- Life :...
(1615-1682), Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt- married in 1653 Princess Clara Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1632-1700)
- Ulrich (1617-1671), Duke of Württemberg-Neuenbürg, married
- in 1647 Countess Sophia Dorothea of Solms-Sonnewalde (1622-1648)
- in 1651 Princess Isabella d'Arenberg (1623-1678)
- Anna Johanna (1619-1679)
- Sibylle (1620-1707)
- married in 1647 Duke Leopold Frederick of Württemberg-Montbéliard (1624-1662)