Marie of Prussia (23 January 1579 – 21 February 1649) was a

Prussian Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...

duchess by birth and Margravine of

Brandenburg-Bayreuth The Principality of Bayreuth (german: Fürstentum Bayreuth) or Margraviate of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (''Markgraftum Brandenburg-Bayreuth'') was an immediate territory of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by a Franconian branch of the Hohenzollern dynas ...

by marriage.

Life

Born in

Königsberg Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was name ...

, Marie was the second daughter of Duke Albert Frederick of Prussia (1553–1618) from his marriage to

Marie Eleonore of Cleves Duchess Marie Eleonore of Cleves (16 June 1550 – 1 June 1608) was the Duchess of Prussia by marriage to Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia. She was the eldest child of William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg and Maria of Austria. Life She was ...

(1550–1608), daughter of Duke William the Rich of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. The princess grew up with her sisters in

Königsberg Castle The Königsberg Castle (german: Königsberger Schloss, russian: Кёнигсбергский замок, Konigsbergskiy zamok) was a castle in Königsberg, Germany (since 1946 Kaliningrad, Russia), and was one of the landmarks of the East Prussi ...

. On 29 April 1604 she married Margrave

Christian of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (30 January 1581 in Cölln – 30 May 1655 in Bayreuth) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (later renamed ''Brandenburg-Bayreuth''). He was the eldest ...

(1581–1655) in

Plassenburg Plassenburg is a castle in the city of Kulmbach in Bavaria. It is one of the most impressive castles in Germany and a symbol of the city. It was first mentioned in 1135. The Plassenberg family were ministerial of the counts of Andechs (later th ...

Castle. Since her father left no male heirs, a dispute arose between Prussia and Jülich-Cleves-Berg about Mary's compensation. In 1613, Marie acquired the manors of Schreez and Culmbach in Haag (Oberfranken). She used the income from these manors to expand Unternschreez Castle, her

Wittum Wittum (), Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law. Provide for a widow at the wedding The term referred initially to steps taken by a husband to provide for his wife if she became a widow. The wi ...

. Mary and her family in

Franconia Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian languages, Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch''). The three Regierungsbezirk, administrative ...

had to flee their homes during the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle ...

, and the manors were lost. Marie died in 1649 and was buried in the City Church in Bayreuth; she had donated the high altar in this church.

Offspring

From her marriage, Marie had the following children: * Margravine Elisabeth Eleonore of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (born and died 1606) * Margrave George Frederick of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (born and died 1608) * Margravine Anna Maria of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1609–1680); married in 1639 Prince Johann Anton I von Eggenberg (1610-1649) *

Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (27 October 1612 – 20 March 1687) was Electress of Saxony from 1656 to 1680 as the wife of John George II.Fritz Roth: Restlose Auswertungen von Leichenpredigten für genealogische und kulturhistorische ...

(1612–1687); married in 1638

John George II of Saxony Johann George II (31 May 1613 – 22 August 1680) was the Elector of Saxony from 1656 to 1680. He belonged to the Albertine line of the House of Wettin. Biography He was the third (fourth in order of birth) but eldest surviving son of the Elector ...

(1613-1680) * Margravine Agnes Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (born and died 1611) * Margrave Christian Ernest of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1613–1614) * Erdmann August (1615–1651), Hereditary Prince of Brandenburg-Bayreuth; married in 1641 princess Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1614-1646) * Georg Albrecht (1619–1666), (not ruling) Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (junior line); married firstly in 1651 Princess Marie Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1628-1664). Married secondly in 1665 Countess Marie Sophie of Solms-Baruth (1626-1688) * Margrave Frederick William of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (born and died 1620) , -

References

* Julius Mebes: ''Contributions to the history of Brandenburg-Prussian state and army'', Lüderitz, 1861, p. 863

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marie Of Prussia House of Hohenzollern 1579 births 1649 deaths Margravines of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Nobility from Königsberg Daughters of monarchs