Catherine of Henneberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Catherine of Henneberg
Painting of Frederick III and Catherine in the Albrechtsburg in Meissen
Born	circa 1334 Schleusingen
Died	15 July 1397 Meissen
Spouse	Frederick III, Margrave of Meissen
Father	Count Henry IV of Henneberg-Schleusingen
Mother	Judith of Brandenburg-Salzwedel

Catherine of Henneberg (German: Katharina von Henneberg) was an important noblewoman who lived in the 1300s. She was born around 1334 in Schleusingen and passed away on July 15, 1397, in Meissen.

Catherine was born a Countess of Henneberg. In 1347, she married Frederick the Severe. This marriage made her the Margravine of Meissen and Landgravine of Thuringia. Through Catherine, her family's lands in Franconia were passed down to the House of Wettin, a powerful German noble family.

Catherine's Early Life and Marriage

Catherine was the second of four daughters. Her parents were Count Henry IV of Henneberg-Schleusingen and Judith of Brandenburg-Salzwedel.

When the Coburg region was being transferred from Catherine's family to the House of Wettin, things got a bit complicated. Her father, Henry IV, had a special will. It said that part of his wife's land would go to his wife and daughters. The rest of his family's land would go to his brother John. This meant the Henneberg property was split up.

Because of these rules, Catherine's husband could not immediately inherit the land when her father died in 1347. They had to wait until her mother, Judith, passed away on February 1, 1353. Just eight days later, on February 9, 1353, Margrave Frederick went to the court of Emperor Charles IV. There, he was officially given the territory around Coburg.

Family Stories and Heirs

The unusual inheritance rules were not what Catherine's father-in-law, Frederick the Serious, expected. There's a story that Catherine was sent back home because her dowry (money or property brought by a bride to her husband) was not delivered.

Another story says that after her first son died young, Catherine only wore black clothes. She also gave up all her jewelry until her next son was born. These stories are likely legends, but they show two unusual things. First, the way the inheritance happened was very different. Second, there was a long 20-year wait between her marriage and the birth of her heir.

Between 1370 and 1380, Catherine gave birth to three sons who survived:

• Frederick I, Elector of Saxony (1370–1428)
• William II, Margrave of Meissen (1371–1425)
• George (died 1402)

Catherine as a Ruler

Catherine's husband died in 1381. At that time, her sons were still too young to rule on their own. According to her husband's wishes, Catherine became their guardian. This meant she was in charge of them and their lands.

She ruled her own territory of Coburg and Weißenfels. Weißenfels was land she received from her husband to support her as a widow. She also ruled jointly with her sons over other territories. These lands were along the middle Saale river and between the Saale and Mulde rivers. They had received these lands in 1382 after an agreement called the division of Chemnitz.

As Landgravine of Thuringia and Margravine of Meissen, Catherine signed many important documents. She had her own special seal for this purpose. She chose to live in Coburg as a widow. Her mother, Judith of Brandenburg, also lived there. Catherine had often stayed in Coburg when her husband was alive, as he had to travel frequently for his duties.

Catherine is also remembered for asking Heinrich von Vippach to write a book for princes. This book was called Katherina divina.

Images for kids

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  Painting of Frederick III and Catherine in the Albrechtsburg in Meissen