Magdalene of Brandenburg (1460 in

Tangermünde Tangermünde (; ) is a historic town on the Elbe River in the district of Stendal (district), Stendal, in the northeastern part of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The town has land area of around 89.87 sq.km (34.70 sq.mi) and a population of 10,283 people ...

– 17 June 1496 at

Hohenzollern Castle Hohenzollern Castle ( ) is the ancestral seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern. The third of three hilltop castle, hilltop castles built on the site, it is located atop Hohenzollern (mountain), Mount Hohenzollern, above and south of Hechin ...

) was a German noblewoman. She was a princess of

Brandenburg Brandenburg, officially the State of Brandenburg, is a States of Germany, state in northeastern Germany. Brandenburg borders Poland and the states of Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. It is the List of Ger ...

by birth and by marriage a Duchess of

Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern (, ; , ; ) is a formerly royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) German dynasty whose members were variously princes, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern, Brandenburg, Prussia, the German Empire, and Romania. ...

Life

Magdalena was the only child of Margrave Frederick III of Brandenburg-Altmark (1424–1463) from his marriage to Agnes (1436–1512), daughter of the Duke Barnim VIII of Pomerania. She married on 17 June 1482 in the

Berlin City Palace The Berlin Palace (), formerly known as the Royal Palace (), is a large building adjacent to Berlin Cathedral and the Museum Island in the Mitte (Berlin), Mitte area of Berlin. It was the main Official residence, residence of the Margraviate of ...

to Count Eitel Friedrich II of Hohenzollern (1452–1512). This marriage formed an important connection for the

House of Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern (, ; , ; ) is a formerly royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) German dynasty whose members were variously princes, Prince-elector, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern Castle, Hohenzollern, Margraviate of Bran ...

, as it strengthened the bond between the Swabian and Brandenburg branches of the house. Magdalena became the ancestress of the

Hohenzollern-Hechingen Hohenzollern-Hechingen () was a small principality in southwestern Germany. Its rulers belonged to the House of Hohenzollern#Swabian branch, Swabian branch of the House of Hohenzollern, Hohenzollern dynasty. History The County of Hohenzollern- ...

and

Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen () was a principality in southwestern Germany. Its rulers belonged to the junior House of Hohenzollern#Swabian branch, Swabian branch of the House of Hohenzollern. The Swabian Hohenzollerns were elevated to princes in 162 ...

lines. Magdalena died in 1496 and was buried in the collegiate church of St. James in Hechingen. A grave plate next to the high altar, probably sculpted by

Peter Vischer the Elder Peter Vischer the Elder (January 7, 1529) was a German sculptor, the son of Hermann Vischer, and the most notable member of the Vischer Family of Nuremberg. Biography Peter was born in Nuremberg, where he also died. He became "master" in 1489, a ...

, shows Magdalena and her husband in a traditional German costume, with a medal of the Order of Our Lady of the Swan around her neck and a dog at her feet (a symbol of feminine loyalty). The grave plate is considered a major work of art in Hechingen.Helmut Linde: ''Schwäbische Alb'', Baedeker, 2007, p. 216

Issue

The following children were born from the marriage of Eitel Frederick and Magdalena of Brandenburg: * Francis Wolfgang (1483 or 1484 – 1517), married to Margravine Rosine of Baden (1487–1554) * Wandelberta ( – 1551), married in 1507 to Count Albert III of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim (died 1551) * Joachim (1485 or 1586 – 1538), married in 1513 to Anastasia of Stoffeln (died 1530) * Maria Salome (1488–1548), married in 1507 to Count Louis XV of Oettingen (died 1557) * Eitel Frederick III (1494–1525), his successor, married Johanna of Witthem (died 1544) * Anna (1496–1530), a nun

Footnotes

References

* Ottmar F. Schönhuth: ''Die Burgen, Klöster, Kirchen und Kapellen Württembergs und der Preußisch-Hohenzollern'schen Landestheile mit ihren Geschichten, Sagen und Märchen'', Fischhaber, 1860, p. 305 ff * ''Nachrichten über die Königliche Stammburg Hohenzollern'', with 1 lithographic map and 8 woodcuts, Duncker, 1863, p. 46
Online
* Paul Theodor Marck: ''Der Gräflich Fürstlich Königliche Stamm der Hohenzollern'', G. Egersdorff, 1849, p. 49 {{DEFAULTSORT:Brandenburg, Magdalena of, Countess of Hohenzollern Countesses in Germany Magdalena 1460 births 1496 deaths 15th-century German women 15th-century German nobility Mothers of German monarchs