Eleanor of Scotland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eleanor of Scotland |
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Portrait by Anton Boys
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| Archduchess consort of Austria | |
| Tenure | 1449–1480 |
| Born | 1433 |
| Died | 20 November 1480 (aged 46–47) |
| Burial | Stams |
| Spouse | Sigismund, Archduke of Austria |
| House | Stewart |
| Father | James I of Scotland |
| Mother | Joan Beaufort |
Eleanor of Scotland was a princess who lived a long time ago, from 1433 to 1480. She became an Archduchess of Austria when she married Sigismund, Archduke of Austria. Eleanor was also a famous translator. She even ruled Austria for a while as a regent. Her parents were James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort.
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Growing Up in Royalty
Eleanor was the sixth child of King James I of Scotland and Queen Joan Beaufort. Her father, King James I, loved books very much. He shared this love with Eleanor and her sister Margaret.
When Eleanor was about 12 years old, in 1445, she went to live at the court of Charles VII of France. There, people thought she might marry Frederick, who was the King of the Romans. In 1447, she went on a special trip with Marie of Anjou, the Queen of France. They visited Mont Saint-Michel, a famous island abbey.
Becoming an Archduchess
Around 1448 or 1449, when Eleanor was a teenager, she married Sigismund. He was a powerful ruler from the Habsburg family. Sigismund was first a Duke, then an Archduke of Further Austria, and later ruled the area of Tyrol.
Eleanor took on an important role as a regent for her husband. This meant she ruled in his place when he was away or unable to. She was regent from 1455 to 1458 and again in 1467.
A writer named Heinrich Steinhöwel dedicated his translation of On Famous Women to Eleanor. This book was originally written by Boccaccio.
A Love for Books and Languages
Eleanor loved books and could read and write in several languages. She was a talented translator. Her most famous work was translating The History of the King's Son of Galicia, named Pontus, and the beautiful Sydonia from French into German. This book, also known as Pontus and Sidonia, was very popular. Many copies were printed between 1480 and 1550.
Eleanor didn't just translate the book. She also changed parts of it to show how important women could be in politics. She believed that kingdoms with smart female advisors were more stable.
A copy of her German translation from 1465 is kept in a library in Gotha. Eleanor and another noblewoman, Elisabeth von Nassau-Saarbrücken, are known for bringing prose novels to German literature.
Later Life and Death
Eleanor passed away on November 20, 1480, in Innsbruck. She died while giving birth to her son, Wolfgang. She was buried in Stams.
Images for kids
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Sigismund, Archduke of Austria and his betrothed Radegonde of Valois and successive wives Eleanor of Scotland and Catherine, Archduchess of Austria.
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Sigismund and Eleanor Statues in Stams
