Margaret of Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Margaret of Brandenburg-Salzwedel (1270 – 1 May 1315) was a Polish queen consort
as the spouse of king Przemysł II of Poland and later a Saxon duchess consort as spouse of Albert III of Saxe-Ratzeburg. She was daughter of Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel and Matilda, daughter of Christopher I of Denmark
.
, this marriage had produced a daughter, Elisabeth Richeza of Poland
. Rikissa and Przemysł II were only married for a few years before Rikissa died, leaving her young daughter. For his third wife, Przemysł chose Margaret. This marriage was made for political reasons and was expected to secure the succession of Przemysl. Given the relatively close relationship between husband and wife (both were great-grandchildren of Přemysl Otakar I of Bohemia), they needed a papal dispensation in order to marry. Some historians consider that on the occasion of the wedding, Przemysł betrothed his daughter to Margaret's brother, Otto.
The coronation of the couple took place on June 26, 1295 in Poznan
at Gniezno Cathedral
. Margaret was the first undisputed Queen consort of Poland since Richeza of Lotharingia during the 11th century.
The celebrations did not last long. In 1296, Przemysł was kidnapped by men of Margaret's family, with some help from the Polish noble families of Nałęcz and Zaremba, he was murdered on February 8 in Rogoźno
by Jakub Kaszuba. Margaret, now a widow, stayed in Poland
with her stepdaughter Elisabeth Richeza. After a while, Margaret went back to her homeland of Brandenburg
, were she became engaged to Nicholas, Duke of Rostock. The marriage plans fell through and the marriage was cancelled.
in 1296. Already in the following year Albert and his brothers divided Saxe-Lauenburg into three branch duchies. Albert III and Margaret then held Saxe-Ratzeburg
, however, he already deceased in 1308. Her brother-in-law Eric I inherited part of Albert's share, while Margaret retained the other part, in order to bring up their children. On her death Eric I also achieved her share.
From her second marriage, Margaret had two sons:
Margaret died in 1315 and was buried in Ratzeburg
.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
as the spouse of king Przemysł II of Poland and later a Saxon duchess consort as spouse of Albert III of Saxe-Ratzeburg. She was daughter of Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel and Matilda, daughter of Christopher I of Denmark
Christopher I of Denmark
Christopher I was King of Denmark between 1252 and 1259. He was the son of Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal. He succeeded his brothers Eric IV Plovpenning and Abel of Denmark on the throne. Christopher was elected King upon the death of his older brother Abel in...
.
First Marriage
Przemysł II wished to marry for a third time in order to have a son, his first wife Ludgarda, daughter of Henry I the Pilgrim had given him no children. His second wife was Rikissa, daughter of Valdemar I of SwedenValdemar I of Sweden
Valdemar, English also Waldemar; , was King of Sweden 1250–1275.-Biography:Valdemar was the son of princess Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden and Birger jarl, from the House of Bjelbo. During the first sixteen years of his reign, it was Birger Jarl who was the real ruler...
, this marriage had produced a daughter, Elisabeth Richeza of Poland
Elisabeth Richeza of Poland
Elisabeth Richenza of Poland was a daughter and the only surviving child of Przemysl II of Poland and his second wife Richenza of Sweden, herself a daughter of Valdemar I of Sweden and Sofia of Denmark.Her name at birth was Richeza; she adopted the name Elisabeth after her first marriage...
. Rikissa and Przemysł II were only married for a few years before Rikissa died, leaving her young daughter. For his third wife, Przemysł chose Margaret. This marriage was made for political reasons and was expected to secure the succession of Przemysl. Given the relatively close relationship between husband and wife (both were great-grandchildren of Přemysl Otakar I of Bohemia), they needed a papal dispensation in order to marry. Some historians consider that on the occasion of the wedding, Przemysł betrothed his daughter to Margaret's brother, Otto.
The coronation of the couple took place on June 26, 1295 in Poznan
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
at Gniezno Cathedral
Gniezno Cathedral
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Adalbert is a Gothic cathedral in Gniezno, Poland. The Cathedral is known for its twelfth-century , two-winged bronze doors decorated with scenes of martyrdom of St. Wojciech and a silver relic coffin of that saint...
. Margaret was the first undisputed Queen consort of Poland since Richeza of Lotharingia during the 11th century.
The celebrations did not last long. In 1296, Przemysł was kidnapped by men of Margaret's family, with some help from the Polish noble families of Nałęcz and Zaremba, he was murdered on February 8 in Rogoźno
Rogozno
Rogoźno is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship, about 40 km north of Poznań. Its population is 11,337 . It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Rogoźno....
by Jakub Kaszuba. Margaret, now a widow, stayed in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
with her stepdaughter Elisabeth Richeza. After a while, Margaret went back to her homeland of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, were she became engaged to Nicholas, Duke of Rostock. The marriage plans fell through and the marriage was cancelled.
Second marriage and issue
In 1302 Margaret married instead the Saxon Duke Albert III, who ruled with his brothers Eric I and John II the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, partitioned from SaxonyDuchy of Saxony
The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
in 1296. Already in the following year Albert and his brothers divided Saxe-Lauenburg into three branch duchies. Albert III and Margaret then held Saxe-Ratzeburg
Ratzeburg
Ratzeburg is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is surrounded by four lakes—the resulting isthmuses between the lakes form the access lanes to the town. Ratzeburg is the capital of the Kreis of Lauenburg.-History:...
, however, he already deceased in 1308. Her brother-in-law Eric I inherited part of Albert's share, while Margaret retained the other part, in order to bring up their children. On her death Eric I also achieved her share.
From her second marriage, Margaret had two sons:
- Albrecht (died 1344), married Sophie of Ziegenhain
- Eric (died 1338)
Margaret died in 1315 and was buried in Ratzeburg
Ratzeburg
Ratzeburg is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is surrounded by four lakes—the resulting isthmuses between the lakes form the access lanes to the town. Ratzeburg is the capital of the Kreis of Lauenburg.-History:...
.