Duchess Sophia of Saxe-Weissenfels
Encyclopedia
Sophia of Saxe-Weissenfels (also: Sophie; born: 23 June 1654 in Halle an der Saale , died: 31 March 1724 in Zerbst
) was a member of the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin, and a princess of Saxe-Weissenfels and Querfurt
by birth and by marriage Duchess of Anhalt-Zerbst
.
and his wife Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
, daughter of Duke Adolf Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
. She was named after her paternal great-grandmother, Sophie of Brandenburg
, Electress of Saxony.
from his marriage to Sophie Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Unlike most royal couples of the era, Charles William and Sophia shared a bedroom in their new baroque palace. This suggests that they may have married out of love.
They had the following children:
. In 1899 Duke Duke Frederick I
of Anhalt, the orderen implementation of a princely family vault in the Castle Church in Zerbst Castle. After the destruction of the castle in 1945, the remains of the damaged coffins were transferred back to St. Bartholomew.
Zerbst
Zerbst is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.It is not clear when was it founded;...
) was a member of the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin, and a princess of Saxe-Weissenfels and Querfurt
Saxe-Weissenfels
Saxe-Weissenfels was a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire from 1656/7 until 1746 with its residence at Weißenfels. Ruled by a cadet branch of the Albertine House of Wettin, the duchy passed to the Electorate of Saxony upon the extinction of the line....
by birth and by marriage Duchess of Anhalt-Zerbst
Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst was a principality located in Germany. It was established for the first time in 1252 following the partition of the principality of Anhalt. The capital of the state was located at Zerbst. Anhalt-Zerbst ceased to exist in 1396 when it was partitioned between Anhalt-Dessau and...
.
Family
Sophia was the third daughter of the Duke August of Saxe-WeissenfelsAugust, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Augustus of Saxe-Weissenfels , was a duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt of the House of Wettin and administrator of the archbishopric of Magdeburg....
and his wife Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a German noblewoman, a member of the House of Mecklenburg and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weissenfels....
, daughter of Duke Adolf Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
. She was named after her paternal great-grandmother, Sophie of Brandenburg
Sophie of Brandenburg
Sophie of Brandenburg was a Princess of Brandenburg and by marriage Electress of Saxony. From 1591 she was the regent of Saxony during the minority of her son Christian II.- Biography :...
, Electress of Saxony.
Marriage and issue
She married on 18 June 1676 in Halle with Charles William, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, a son of John VI, Prince of Anhalt-ZerbstJohn VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
John VI of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst....
from his marriage to Sophie Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Unlike most royal couples of the era, Charles William and Sophia shared a bedroom in their new baroque palace. This suggests that they may have married out of love.
They had the following children:
- John AugustusJohn Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-ZerbstJohn Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst....
(1677–1742), Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst - Charles Augustus (born: July 2, 1678 in Zerbst, died: 1 September 1693 ibid), Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
- Magdalena Augusta (1679–1740), Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst
- married Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-AltenburgFrederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-AltenburgFrederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.He was the fifth child and first son of Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels....
Death and burial
Sophia died at the age of 69 years in her rooms at Zerbst Castle and was buried on 7 June 1724 the princely tomb in the St. Bartholomew's Church in ZerbstZerbst
Zerbst is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.It is not clear when was it founded;...
. In 1899 Duke Duke Frederick I
Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt
Frederick I was a German prince of the house of Ascania who ruled the Duchy of Anhalt from 1871 to 1904.-Early life:...
of Anhalt, the orderen implementation of a princely family vault in the Castle Church in Zerbst Castle. After the destruction of the castle in 1945, the remains of the damaged coffins were transferred back to St. Bartholomew.