Duchess Anna of Prussia

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An allegory of the union of the lands united under Brandenburg through the inheritence rights of Anna of Prussia.

Duchess Anna of Prussia and Jülich-Cleves-Berg (3 July 1576 - 30 August 1625) was the daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia and Marie Eleonore of Cleves and became the spouse of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg.

[edit] Biography

Anna was married to John Sigismund 30 October 1594. The mother of John Sigismund had before the marriage pointed out that Anna was not beautiful. The marriage was arranged to secure Prussia's incorporation with Brandenburg through Anna. Anna was a politically important match as the expected heir of Kleve, Jülich and Berg, and Mark and Ravensberg. Anna was described as intellectually superior to her spouse, and described as a temperamental and strongvilled person. She is reported to have thrown plates and glasses toward her spouse during arguments. She fought herself to secure her succession rights of the different fiefs, and handled the negotiations with her competitors. In 1612, she placed her demands before the Emperor. After the conversion of her spouse to Calvinism, Anna became the protector and spokesperson of the Lutherans. She continued to play an important role during the reign of her son. She opposed the Habsurgs and secured the marriage of her daughter Maria Eleonora to the king of Sweden against her son's consent in 1620.

[edit] Issue

• George William (13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640). His successor.
• Anne Sophia of Brandenburg (15 March 1598 – 19 December 1659). Married Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
• Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg (11 November 1599 – 28 March 1655). Married Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. They were parents of Christina of Sweden.
• Catharina of Brandenburg (28 May 1602 – 27 August 1644). Married first Gabriel Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania and secondly Franz Karl of Saxe-Lauenburg.
• Joachim Sigismund of Brandenburg (25 July 1603 – 22 February 1625).
• Agnes of Brandenburg (31 August 1606 – 12 March 1607).
• John Frederick of Brandenburg (18 August 1607 – 1 March 1608).
• Albrecht Christian of Brandenburg (7 March – 14 March 1609).

[edit] References

• This page is a translation of its German equivalent.

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