Margarete Weißkirchner (1460-1500), was the common-law-spouse of

Philip I, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...

from 1477 until their death in 1500. They openly lived together after the death of Philip's spouse in 1477. They could not marry, because she was a commoner. Margaret was not considered Philip's royal mistress, but was treated as if though they were married. He appeared with her in public. The most representative testimony is probably the first large-scale double-

portrait A portrait is a portrait painting, painting, portrait photography, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressions are predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, Personality type ...

art history Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...

, the so-called ''Gotha Lovers''. Their relationship is exceptionally well documented. The couple had three children: * Elsa of Hanau, married around 1508 with Heinrich Rabe. * John of Hanau-Münzenberg, a priest in Ober-Roden. * Anne of Hanau, married in 1517 with Dietz Reuter, a publican at Ortenberg. These children could not inherit the county, because they did not belong to the

high nobility Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another's grand duke) ...

. Nevertheless, Philip and Margareta included them in their

will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

References

* Johann Adam Bernhard: Acta & Historiae der Hern und Grafen von Hanau. andschrift des 18. Jahrhunderts im Staatsarchiv Marburg: H 146{{DEFAULTSORT:Weisskirchner, Margarete 1460 births 1500 deaths Morganatic spouses of German royalty 15th-century German people