Electress

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An Electress (German : Kurfürstin, Latin : electrix) was the consort of a Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the Empire's greatest princes. [1]

Contents

The Golden Bull of 1356 established by Emperor Charles IV settled the number of Electors at seven. However, three of these were Roman Catholic archbishops, and so had no consorts; while of the four secular Electors, one was King of Bohemia, and his consort was always known by the more prestigious title of "Queen of Bohemia". The consorts usually referred to as Electresses, therefore, were:

To these were added, in 1623 and 1692 respectively:

In the final years of the Empire, several Electors were added, who only held their offices for less than three years before the Empire's final dissolution. The consorts of these last Electors were:

There was also an Elector of Baden, but the only ruler to use this title was married morganatically and so his spouse did not share his title.

The rulers of Hesse-Kassel continued to use the title of "Elector" until the annexation of the principality by Prussia in 1866.

Persons using or entitled to use the title of "Electress" are listed below. Spouses of Electors in morganatic or unequal marriages are given in a separate table at the bottom of the page.

Electresses

Electresses of the Palatinate

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband
Wittelsbach Dynasty
Elizabeth John I, Marquis of Namur 1340135013561382 Rupert I
Beatrice William I, Duke of Berg 1360138516 Feb 13901395
Elizabeth Frederick V, Burggrave of Nuremberg 135827 Jun 13746 Jan 139818 May 141026 Jul 1411 Rupert III
Matilda Amadeo, Prince of Achaea 139030 Nov 141730 Dec 143614 May 1438 Louis III
Margaret Amadeus VIII of Savoy 7 Aug 142018 Oct 144513 Aug 144930 Sep 1479 Louis IV
Margaret Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria-Landshut7 Nov 145621 Feb 147412 Dec 147625 Feb 1501 Philip
Sibylle Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria 16 Jun 148923 Feb 151118 Apr 1519 Louis V
Dorothea ChristinavonDaenemarkCoxcie.jpg Christian II of Denmark 10 Nov 152026 Sep 153516 Mar 154426 Feb 155620 Sep 1580 Frederick II
Line of Simmern
Marie MarieBrandKulmPfalz.JPG Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth 13 Oct 151912 Jun 153712 Feb 155931 Oct 1567 Frederick III
Amalia Gumprecht IV, Count of Neuenahrc. 154025 Apr 156926 Oct 157610 Apr 1602
Elisabeth Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse 13 Feb 15398 Jul 156026 Oct 157614 Mar 1582 Louis VI
Anne Edzard II, Count of East Frisia 26 June 156212 Jul 158322 Oct 158321 Apr 1621
Louise Juliana William I of Orange 31 Mar 157612 Jun 159319 Sep 161015 Mar 1644 Frederick IV
Elizabeth
Queen of Bohemia
Gerard van Honthorst 007.jpeg James I of England 19 Aug 159614 Feb 161323 Feb 1623
deposition
14 Feb 1662 Frederick V
House of Wittelsbach – Bavaria
Elisabeth Renata Charles III of Lorraine 9 Oct 15746 Feb 159523 Feb 16234 Jan 1635 Maximilan I
Maria Anna Joachim von Sandrart - Erzherzogin Maria Anna (1610-1665), Kurfurstin von Bayern.jpg Emperor Ferdinand II 13 Jan 161015 Jul 1635164825 Sep 1665
NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband

Electresses of Saxony

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame ElectressCeased to be ElectressDiedHusband
Ascanian Dynasty
Elizabeth Otto I, Landgrave of Hesse  ? ? ?6 Dec 137015 Nov 1373 Rudolph II
Caecilia Francis of Carrara, Duke of Padua  ?23 Jan 1367 or 137615 May 13881430–1434 Wenceslaus I
Anna Balthasar, Landgrave of Thuringia  ?1387/1389 ?4 Jul 1395 Rudolph III
Barbara Rupert, Duke of Silesia-Liegnitz  ?6 Mar 139611 Jun 141917 May 1435
Euphemia Conrad II of Silesia  ?14 Jan 140211 Jun 141912 Nov 14221444 Albert
Wettin Dynasty
Katharine Henry II of Brunswick-Lüneburg 13958 Feb 14026 Jan 14234 Jan 14281442 Frederick I
Margaret Ernest, Duke of Austria 1416/173 Jun 14317 Sep 146412 Feb 1486 Frederick II
Elizabeth Albert III, Duke of Bavaria 2 Feb 144319 Nov 14607 Sep 14645 Mar 1486 Ernest
Sybille Lucas Cranach d.A. - Bildnis der Prinzessin Sibylle von Cleve (1526, Klassik Stiftung Weimar).jpg John III, Duke of Cleves 17 Jan 15129 Feb 152716 Aug 15324 Jun 1547
husband deposed
21 Feb 1554 John Frederick I
Agnes Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse 31 May 15279 Jan 15414 Jun 15479 Jul 15534 Nov 1555 Maurice
Anna Christian III of Denmark 22 Nov 15327 Oct 154811 Jul 15531 Oct 1585 Augustus
Agnes Hedwig Joachim Ernest of Anhalt-Dessau 15733 Jan 158611 Feb 15861616
Sophia SophieBrandSachsen.jpg John George, Elector of Brandenburg 6 Jun 156825 Apr 158211 Feb 158625 Sep 15917 Dec 1622 Christian I
Hedwig Frederick II of Denmark 5 Aug 158112 Sep 160223 Jun 161126 Nov 1641 Christian II
Magdalena Sibylla (1) Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia 31 Dec 158619 Jul 160723 Jun 16118 Oct 165612 Feb 1659 John George I
Magdalena Sibylla (2) Christian of Brandenburg-Kulmbach-Bayreuth 1 Nov 161213 Nov 16388 Oct 165622 Aug 168020 Mar 1687 John George II
Anna Sophia Anna Zofia Dunska.jpg Frederick III of Denmark 1 Sep 16479 Oct 166622 Aug 168012 Sep 16911 Jul 1717 John George III
Eleonore Erdmuthe Luise Eleonore Erdmuthe Louise von Sachsen-Eisenach.jpg John George I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach 13 Apr 166217 Apr 169227 Apr 16949 Sep 1696 John George IV
Christiane Eberhardine
Queen of Poland
Christiane Eberhardine von Brandenburg-Bayreuth.PNG Christian Ernest,
Margrave of Bayreuth
29 Dec 167120 Jan 169327 Apr 16944 Sep 1727 Frederick Augustus I
Maria Josepha
Queen of Poland
Queen Maria Josepha, Wife of King Augustus III of Poland.jpg Emperor Joseph I 8 Dec 169920 Aug 17191 Feb 173317 Nov 1757 Frederick Augustus II
Maria Antonia Walpurgis Symphorosa Maria Antonia Walpurgis von Bayern, Mengs, 1752.jpg Emperor Charles VII 18 July 172420 Jun 17475 Oct 176317 Dec 176323 Apr 1780 Frederick Christian
Maria Amalia Augusta Brandt - Maria Amalie Auguste of Zweibrucken.jpg Frederick Michael
of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
10 May 175229 January 176920 Dec 1806
became Queen of Saxony
15 November 1828 Frederick Augustus III
NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame ElectressCeased to be ElectressDiedHusband

Electresses of Brandenburg

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband
Wittelsbach Dynasty
Cunigunde Casimir III of Poland 1334-51 Jan 135213561357 Louis
Ingeborg Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg 134015 Feb 136017 May 13651395
Catherine KatkaLuc Stephansdom.jpg Emperor Charles IV 19 Aug 134219 Mar 1366137326 Apr 1395 Otto
Luxemburg Dynasty
Joan Albert I, Duke of Bavaria 136229 Sep 13701373137831 Dec 1386 Wenceslaus
Mary Maria Thuroczy.jpg Louis I of Hungary 1371Oct 1385138817 May 1395 Sigismund
Agnes Bolko II of Opole 1360?1374138818 Jan 14111413? Jodocus
Barbara Barbara-von-Cilli.jpg Hermann II, Count of Celje 1390–13951406–140818 Jan 141130 Apr 141511 Jul 1451 Sigismund
Hohenzollern Dynasty
Elizabeth Frederick, Duke of Bavaria 138318 Sep 140130 Apr 141520 Sep 144013 Nov 1442 Frederick I
Catherine Frederick I, Elector of Saxony 142111 June 144110 Feb 147023 Aug 1476 Frederick II
Anne Frederick II, Elector of Saxony 7 Mar 143712 Nov 145810 Feb 147011 Mar 148631 Oct 1512 Albert III
Margaret William III, Duke of Luxembourg 144925 Aug 147611 Mar 14869 Jan 149913 Jul 1501 John Cicero
Elizabeth John of Denmark 24 Jun 148510 Apr 15029 Jan 149911 Jul 153510 Jun 1555 Joachim I Nestor
Hedwig Jadwiga Jagiellonka.jpg Sigismund I of Poland 15 Mar 15131 Sep 15353 Jan 15717 Feb 1573 Joachim II Hector
Sabina George of Ansbach 12 May 152912 Feb 15483 Jan 15712 Nov 1575 John George
Elizabeth Joachim Ernest of Anhalt-Dessau 15 Sep 15636 Oct 15778 Jan 15988 Nov 1607
Catherine John, Margrave of Brandenburg-Küstrin 10 Aug 15498 Jan 15708 Jan 159810 Oct 1602 Joachim Frederick
Eleanor Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia 21 Aug 15832 Nov 16039 Apr 1607
Anne 3 Jul 157630 Oct 159418 Jul 160823 Dec 161930 Aug 1625 John Sigismund
Elizabeth Charlotte Frederick IV, Elector Palatine 19 Nov 159724 Jul 161623 Dec 16191 Dec 164026 Apr 1660 George William
Louise Henriette
Duchess of Prussia
Luise Henriette.JPG Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange 7 Dec 16277 Dec 164618 Jun 1667 Frederick William I
Sophia Dorothea
Duchess of Prussia
Dorothea von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg.jpg Philip of Holstein28 Sep 163614 Jun 166829 Apr 16886 Aug 1689
Sophia Charlotte
Queen in Prussia
Sophie Charlotte von Hannover.jpg Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover 30 Oct 16688 Oct 168429 Apr 16881 Feb 1705 Frederick III (I)
Sophia Louise
Queen in Prussia
Sophie Luise von Mecklenburg-Schwerin.jpg Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 6 May 168528 Nov 170825 Feb 171329 Jul 1735
Sophia Dorothea
Queen in Prussia
Queen Sophie Dorothea of Prussia.jpg George I of Great Britain 16 Mar 168728 Nov 170625 Feb 171331 May 174028 Jun 1757 Frederick William II (I)
Elizabeth Christine
Queen of Prussia
Antoine Pesne ; Queen Elisabeth Christine.jpg Ferdinand Albert II of Brunswick 8 Nov 171512 Jun 173331 May 174017 Aug 178613 Jan 1797 Frederick IV (II)
Frederica Louise
Queen of Prussia
Friederike Luise von Hessen-Darmstadt.jpg Ludwig IX of Hesse 16 Oct 175114 Jul 176917 Aug 178616 Nov 179725 Feb 1805 Frederick William III (II)
Louise Augusta Wilhelmina Amalie
Queen of Prussia
Grassi, Josef Mathias - Luise von Mecklenburg-Strelitz.jpg Charles II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 10 Mar 177624 Dec 179316 Nov 179718069 Jul 1810 Frederick William IV (III)
NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband

Electresses Palatine (junior line)

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband
Line of Simmern
Charlotte Charlotte von Hessen-Kassel um 1650.jpg William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel 20 Nov 162722 Feb 165014 Apr 165726 Mar 1686 Charles I Louis
Wilhelmina Ernestine Princess Wilhelmina Ernestine of Denmark.jpg Frederick III of Denmark 20 Jun 165020 Sep 167128 Aug 168026 May 168522 Apr 1706 Charles II
Line of Neuburg
Elizabeth Amalia Magdalena Johann Spilberg 002.jpg George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 20 Mar 16353 Sep 165326 May 16852 Sep 16904 Aug 1709 Philip William
Anna Maria Luisa Werff, Adriaen van der - Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici.jpg Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 11 Aug 16675 Jun 16918 Jun 171618 Feb 1743 John William
Line of Sulzbach
Elizabeth Maria Augusta Kurfustin Elisabeth Auguste am Spinett.jpg Joseph Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Palatinate-Sulzbach 17 Jan 172117 Jan 174231 Dec 174230 Dec 1777
became Electress of Bavaria
17 Aug 1794 Charles IV Theodore
NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband

Electresses of Bavaria

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband
Wittelsbach Dynasty
Elisabeth Renata Charles III, Duke of Lorraine 9 Oct 15746 Feb 159523 Feb 16234 Jan 1635 Maximilan I
Maria Anna Joachim von Sandrart - Erzherzogin Maria Anna (1610-1665), Kurfurstin von Bayern.jpg Emperor Ferdinand II 13 Jan 161015 Jul 163527 Sep 165125 Sep 1665
Henriette Adelaide HenrietteAdelheidSavoyenBayern.jpeg Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy 6 Nov 16368/11 Dec 165027 Sep 165113 Jun 1676 Ferdinand Maria
Maria Antonia Benjamin von Block 002.jpg Emperor Leopold I 166915 Jul 168524 Dec 1692 Maximilian II
Teresa Kunegunda Troy Teresa Kunegunda Sobieska.jpg John III of Poland 4 Mar 16762 Jan 169526 Feb 172610 Mar 1730
Maria Amalia
Holy Roman Empress 1742–1745
Maria AmaliaBayern.jpg Emperor Joseph I 22 Oct 17015 Oct 172226 Feb 172620 Jan 174511 Dec 1756 Charles Albert
Maria Anna Sophia Maria Anna of Saxony.JPG Augustus III of Poland 29 Aug 17289 Jul 174730 Dec 177717 Feb 1797 Maximilian III
Elizabeth Maria Augusta Kurfustin Elisabeth Auguste am Spinett.jpg Joseph Charles of Sulzbach 17 Jan 172117 Jan 174230 Dec 177717 Aug 1794 Charles Theodore
Maria Leopoldine of Austria-Este Maria Leopoldine of Austria Este with sons.jpeg Ferdinand of Austria 10 Dec 177615 Feb 179516 Feb 179923 Jun 1848
Frederica Caroline Wilhelmina Karoline Konigin von Bayern.jpg Charles Louis of Baden 13 Jul 17769 Mar 179716 Feb 17991 Jan 1806
became Queen of Bavaria
13 Nov 1841 Maximilian IV

Electresses of Hanover

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband
Hanover
Sophia Sophia of Hanover.jpg Frederick V, Elector Palatine 14 Oct 163030 Sep 1658169223 Jan 16988 Jun 1714 Ernest Augustus
Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline
Queen of Great Britain
Caroline Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach by Charles Jervas cropped.jpg John Frederick, Margrave of Ansbach 1 Mar 168322 Aug 170511 Jun 172720 Nov 1737 George II
Sophia Charlotte
Queen of Great Britain
Charlotte gainsborough.jpg Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 19 May 17448 Sep 176112 Oct 1814
became Queen of Hanover
17 Nov 1818 George III

Electresses of Württemberg and Hesse

NameImageFatherBornMarriedBecame
Electress
Ceased to
be Electress
DiedHusband
Württemberg
Charlotte Augusta Matilda Von Hetsch - Charlotte of Great Britain, Queen of Wurttemberg.jpg George III of the United Kingdom 29 Sep 176618 May 179725 February 18031 Jan 1806
became Queen of Württemberg
5 Oct 1828 Frederick I
Hesse
Wilhelmina Caroline Wilhelmine Carolina of Denmark, electress of Hesse-Kassel.jpg Frederick V of Denmark 10 July 17471 Sep 1764180314 Jan 1820 William I
Augusta Christina Frederica Augustevonpreussen.jpg Frederick William II of Prussia 1 May 178013 Feb 179727 Feb 182119 Feb 1841 William II

Morganatic spouses of Electors

NameFatherBornMarriedDiedHusband
Clara Tott  ? ?147129 Apr 1520 Frederick I, Elector Palatine
Maria Susanna Loysa, Raugravine Christoph Martin von Degenfeld 28 Nov 16346 Jan 165818 Mar 1677 Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Elizabeth Höllander von Bernau ?165911 Dec 16798 Mar 1702
Violante Maria Theresa, Countess of Thurn and TaxisCount Philipp-Wilhelm of Thurn and Taxis1 Apr 168317292 Nov 1734 Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine
Louise Caroline, Countess of Hochberg Ludwig Heinrich Philipp Geyer von Geyersberg26 May 176824 Nov 178723 Jun 1820 Charles Frederick of Baden
Emilie Ortlöpp, Countess of ReichenbachJohann Christian Ortlöpp13 May 17918 July 184112 Feb 1843 William II, Elector of Hesse
Caroline of Berlepsch, Baroness of BergenHermann Ludwig von Berlepsch182028 Aug 18431877
Gertrude, Princess of Hanau Johann Gottfried Falkenstein180526 June 18311882 Frederick William, Elector of Hesse

Notes

  1. Thomas Curtis (1829). The London Encyclopaedia: Or, Universal Dictionary of Science, Art, Literature, and Practical Mechanics, Comprising a Popular View of the Present State of Knowledge. Illustrated by Numerous Engravings, a General Atlas, and Appropriate Diagrams. T. Tegg. p.  5.

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