Sophia of Saxony (died 1244) was a member of the

House of Ascania The House of Ascania (german: Askanier) was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ''Schloss ...

, and the abbess of

Gernrode Gernrode () is a historic town and former municipality in the Harz District, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2014, it has been part of Quedlinburg.House of Ascania The House of Ascania (german: Askanier) was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ''Schloss ...

. Her parents were Bernard III of Saxony and Judith/Jutta of Poland, daughter of

Mieszko III of Poland Mieszko III the Old (c. 1126/27 – 13 March 1202), of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death. He was the fourth and second surviving son of Duke Bolesław I ...

. Sophia was brought up in the abbey of

Gernrode Gernrode () is a historic town and former municipality in the Harz District, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2014, it has been part of Quedlinburg.Albert I of Saxony Albert (23 April 1828 – 19 June 1902) was the monarch, King of Kingdom of Saxony, Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin. He was the eldest son of Prince John of Saxony, John (who succeeded his brother Frederick Augustus II on the Saxon ...

and Henry I of Anhalt, the latter of whom was the

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, ...

for the abbey of Gernrode. Sophia succeeded Adelaide II as abbess of Gernrode in late 1220. The first recorded reference to Sophia as abbess is found in a

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...

issued in 1221. In order to protect the abbey's wealth from embezzlement or theft, Sophia purchased extensive goods in

Rieder Rieder is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 December 2013, it is part of the town Ballenstedt. Between 1 January 2011 and 19 February 2013, it was part of the town Quedlinburg. There ...

. This purchase was confirmed by Sophia's brother, Henry I, in

Aschersleben Aschersleben () is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approximately 22 km east of Quedlinburg, and 45 km northwest of Halle (Saale). Geography Aschersleben lies near the confluence of the r ...

in 1223. A confirmation of all of the abbey's property and rights, issued by

Pope Gregory IX Pope Gregory IX ( la, Gregorius IX; born Ugolino di Conti; c. 1145 or before 1170 – 22 August 1241) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 March 1227 until his death in 1241. He is known for issuing the '' Decre ...

in June 1227 also referred to the property in Rieder. Sophia most likely died on 16 July 1244.Schulze, ''Das Stift Gernrode'', p. 45.

Notes

Literature

* Andreas Popperodt: ''Historia Ecclesiae Gerenrodenses'' 1560, erste Fassung bei Johann Christoph Bekmann in ''Accesiones Historia Anhaltinae'' 1716 als ''Annales Gernrodensis''. * O. von Heinemann, ''Geschichte der Abtei und Beschreibung der Stiftskirche zu Gernrode''. (H. C. Huch, Quedlinburg 1877). * H.K. Schulze, ''Das Stift Gernrode''. Unter Verwendung eines Manuskriptes von Reinhold Specht. Mit einem kunstgeschichtlichen Beitrag von Günther W. Vorbrodt. (Mitteldeutsche Forschungen Bd. 38), Böhlau, Köln 1965. *A. Thiele, "Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln zur europäischen Geschichte", Band I, Teilband 1 Deutsche Kaiser-, Königs-, Herzogs- und Grafenhäuser I

External links

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Dokumentation der Ausstellung SchleierHaft
House of Ascania People from the Duchy of Saxony Year of birth unknown 13th-century German abbesses 12th-century Saxon people 13th-century German nobility 12th-century Roman Catholics 12th-century German women 1244 deaths Daughters of monarchs {{Germany-noble-stub