Anna Dorothea, Abbess of Quedlinburg

Last updated
Anna Dorothea
AnnaDorotheaSaWeiQued.jpg
Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg
Reign4 September 1684–24 June 1704
Predecessor Anna Sophia II, Abbess of Quedlinburg
Successor Maria Aurora von Königsmarck (provost)
Marie Elisabeth, Abbess of Quedlinburg
BornDuchess Anna Dorothea of Saxe-Weimar
12 November 1657
Weimar
Died24 June 1704
Burial
House Wettin
Father John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Mother Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg

Duchess Anna Dorothea of Saxe-Weimar (12 November 1657 - 24 June 1704) reigned as Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1684 until her death.

Born in Weimar, Duchess Anna Dorothea was the daughter of John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.

Her father decided she should pursue an ecclesiastical career when she was still a child. From 1681 until 1684, Anna Dorothea was provost of the Quedlinburg monasteries. Upon the death of Princess-Abbess Anna Sophia II, Anna Dorothea was chosen to succeed her, though not without difficulties that required the intervention of the abbey-principality's guardian and fellow Wettin, John George III, Elector of Saxony. The Elector consented to her election on 4 September 1684 and Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I confirmed it on 29 January 1685.

In 1698, Frederick Augustus I, who had succeeded to the Electorate of Saxony in 1694 and had been elected King of Poland in 1697, found himself in need of money as the election had cost him a fortune. The King of Poland therefore decided to sell his rights of guardianship of the abbey-principality to Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg. The change was not welcomed by the citizens of Quedlinburg nor by the Princess-Abbess, as it led to diminishing of her power and loss of many of the abbey-principality's possessions. The Princess-Abbess protested against the sale and refused to recognise the Elector of Brandenburg as the abbey-principality's new guardian until military occupation the same year forced her to do so. As many of her predecessors, she often came into conflicts with the Council of the City of Quedlinburg and her guardian.

Anna Dorothea suffered poor health in 1703 and went to Carlsbad to recover, but without success. She died the next year. She is buried in Weimar.

Bibliography

Anna Dorothea
Regnal titles
Preceded by Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg
1684–1704
Vacant
Office of provost held by
Maria Aurora von Königsmarck
Title next held by
Marie Elisabeth

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg</span> Princess consort of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

Duchess Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was a princess of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Duchess in Saxony by birth, and by marriage a Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrich Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar</span> Duke of Saxe-Weimar

Friedrich Wilhelm I was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was the eldest son of Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Dorothea Susanne of Simmern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gandersheim Abbey</span>

Gandersheim Abbey is a former house of secular canonesses (Frauenstift) in the present town of Bad Gandersheim in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was founded in 852 by Duke Liudolf of Saxony, progenitor of the Liudolfing or Ottonian dynasty, whose rich endowments ensured its stability and prosperity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elisabeth II, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg

Countess Elisabeth of Regenstein-Blankenburg was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg. As such, she is numbered Elisabeth II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Sophia II, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg

Landgravine Anna Sophia of Hesse-Darmstadt was a German noblewoman who reigned as a Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg under the name Anna Sophia II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothea Sophia, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg

Duchess Dorothea Sophia of Saxe-Altenburg was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie of Brandenburg</span> Regent of Saxony (1568–1622)

Sophie of Brandenburg was Electress of Saxony by marriage to Christian I, Elector of Saxony. She was regent from 1591 to 1601 during the minority of their son Christian II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothea Susanne of Simmern</span> Duchess of Saxony and Saxe-Weimar

Dorothea Susanne of Simmern was a princess of the Electorate of the Palatinate and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.

Dorothea of Brandenburg was a princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Countess Palatine Elisabeth of Simmern-Sponheim</span> Duchess consort of Saxony

Elisabeth of the Palatinate was the second wife of John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Sophia I, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span>

Countess Palatine Anna Sophia of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld reigned as Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg and, as such, she is referred to as Anna Sophia I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothea, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg (1591–1617)

Princess Dorothea of Saxony reigned as Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1610 until her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg

Duchess Maria of Saxe-Weimar was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1601 until her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna III, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span>

Anna III, also known as Anna of Stolberg was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1584 until her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hedwig, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg

Hedwig of Saxony was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1458 until her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie Elisabeth, Abbess of Quedlinburg</span> Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp

Duchess Marie Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp was Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1718 until her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothea of Saxe-Altenburg</span> Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg by births and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Eisenach (1601–1675)

Dorothea of Saxe-Altenburg, was a princess from the House of Wettin by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Eisenach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie of Württemberg, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar</span> Duchess consort of Saxe-Weimar

Sophie of Württemberg, was a German noblewoman member of the House of Württemberg and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.

Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, was a German noblewoman member of the House of Oldenburg and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.