Katharine of Bohemia
Encyclopedia
Catherine of Bohemia was an Electress of Brandenburg, the second daughter of Emperor Charles IV
and Blanche of Valois
.
and his first wife Blanche of Valois
, a daughter of Charles of Valois
. In 1348, Catherine's mother Blanche died, aged 32, leaving Charles IV without a male heir. In 1349, Charles married Anna of Bavaria
, who bore one son, Wenceslas, who died as a baby. Anna died in 1353 without bearing any more children. That same year, Catherine's father married Anna von Schweidnitz
, who bore Elisabeth and the son that Charles IV had waited for, Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
. Charles became a widower for the third time in 1362, when Catherine was 20 years old, and married the 16-year-old Elizabeth of Pomerania
the following year. Among Elizabeth's children were Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund
and Anne of Bohemia
, who married King Richard II of England
.
. The marriage was a political one arranged by her father to make peace between Austria and the Holy Roman Empire
. After fifteen years of marriage, Rudolph died. Catherine had not borne him any children, so his titles passed to his brother Leopold III, Duke of Austria
.
On 19 March 1366, Catherine married a second time to Otto V, Duke of Bavaria
, since the childless dukes Otto and Louis VI, Duke of Bavaria, had already promised Catherine's father the succession to Brandenburg in 1364. Otto and Louis had accepted the rule of the Electorate of Brandenburg (originally the Margraviate of Brandenburg
) in compensation for renouncing their rights as co-Dukes of Bavaria in 1351. They were promoted to the electoral diginity in 1356.
Charles invaded Brandenburg in 1371, as Otto was neglecting the administration of its territories. Two years later, Otto officially resigned his rule of Brandenburg in return for a huge financial compensation and retired to Bavaria. This was the end of the Wittelsbach
rule in Brandenburg. Otto kept the electoral dignity and was accepted as nominal co-regent of Bavaria by Duke Stephen II
of Bavaria. Otto then spent his time in Wolfstein castle in Landshut
enjoying a life of pleasure and amusements.
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
and Blanche of Valois
Blanche of Valois
Blanche of Valois was the youngest daughter of Charles of Valois and his third wife Mahaut of Châtillon.-Family:Her paternal grandparents were Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. Her maternal grandparents were Guy IV, Count of Saint-Pol and Marie of Brittany.Marie was a daughter of John...
.
Childhood and family
Catherine was born on 19 August 1342, the third child and second surviving daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman EmperorCharles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
and his first wife Blanche of Valois
Blanche of Valois
Blanche of Valois was the youngest daughter of Charles of Valois and his third wife Mahaut of Châtillon.-Family:Her paternal grandparents were Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. Her maternal grandparents were Guy IV, Count of Saint-Pol and Marie of Brittany.Marie was a daughter of John...
, a daughter of Charles of Valois
Charles of Valois
Charles of Valois was the fourth son of Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet and founded the House of Valois...
. In 1348, Catherine's mother Blanche died, aged 32, leaving Charles IV without a male heir. In 1349, Charles married Anna of Bavaria
Anna of Bavaria
Anna of Bavaria was a Queen consort of Bohemia. She was the daughter of Rudolf II, Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine, and of Anna, daughter of Otto II, Duke of Carinthia....
, who bore one son, Wenceslas, who died as a baby. Anna died in 1353 without bearing any more children. That same year, Catherine's father married Anna von Schweidnitz
Anna von Schweidnitz
Anna of Schweidnitz was Queen of Bohemia, German Queen, and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She was the third wife of Emperor Charles IV.-Biography:...
, who bore Elisabeth and the son that Charles IV had waited for, Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
. Charles became a widower for the third time in 1362, when Catherine was 20 years old, and married the 16-year-old Elizabeth of Pomerania
Elizabeth of Pomerania
Elizabeth of Pomerania was the fourth and final wife of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Bohemia. Her parents were Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania and Elizabeth of Poland,...
the following year. Among Elizabeth's children were Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
and Anne of Bohemia
Anne of Bohemia
Anne of Bohemia was Queen of England as the first wife of King Richard II. A member of the House of Luxembourg, she was the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and Elizabeth of Pomerania....
, who married King Richard II of England
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
.
Marriages
In 1350, when Catherine was eight years of age, she married Rudolf IV, Duke of AustriaRudolf IV, Duke of Austria
Rudolf IV der Stifter was a scion of the House of Habsburg and Duke of Austria and Duke of Styria and Carinthia from 1358, as well as Count of Tyrol from 1363 and first Duke of Carniola from 1364 until his death...
. The marriage was a political one arranged by her father to make peace between Austria and the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. After fifteen years of marriage, Rudolph died. Catherine had not borne him any children, so his titles passed to his brother Leopold III, Duke of Austria
Leopold III, Duke of Austria
Duke Leopold III of Austria from the Habsburg family, was Duke of Austria from 1365 to 1379, and Duke of Styria and Carinthia in 1365–1386.-Life:...
.
On 19 March 1366, Catherine married a second time to Otto V, Duke of Bavaria
Otto V, Duke of Bavaria
Otto V, Duke of Bavaria , was a duke of Bavaria and Elector of Brandenburg as Otto VII. Otto was the fourth son of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV by his second wife Margaret II of Avesnes, countess of Hainaut and Holland.-Biography:...
, since the childless dukes Otto and Louis VI, Duke of Bavaria, had already promised Catherine's father the succession to Brandenburg in 1364. Otto and Louis had accepted the rule of the Electorate of Brandenburg (originally the Margraviate of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
) in compensation for renouncing their rights as co-Dukes of Bavaria in 1351. They were promoted to the electoral diginity in 1356.
Charles invaded Brandenburg in 1371, as Otto was neglecting the administration of its territories. Two years later, Otto officially resigned his rule of Brandenburg in return for a huge financial compensation and retired to Bavaria. This was the end of the Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria.Members of the family served as Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria , Counts Palatine of the Rhine , Margraves of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland , Elector-Archbishops of Cologne , Dukes of...
rule in Brandenburg. Otto kept the electoral dignity and was accepted as nominal co-regent of Bavaria by Duke Stephen II
Stephen II, Duke of Bavaria
Duke Stephen II of Bavaria , after 1347 Duke of Bavaria. He was the second son of Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian by his first wife Beatrix of Świdnica and a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty.-Biography:During the reign of Emperor Louis IV his son Stephen served as vogt of Swabia and Alsace...
of Bavaria. Otto then spent his time in Wolfstein castle in Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
enjoying a life of pleasure and amusements.