Matilda of Brandenburg, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matilda of Brandenburg |
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| Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg | |
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| Seal of Duchess Matilda | |
| Spouse(s) | Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
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| Noble family | Ascania |
| Father | Albert II, Margrave of Brandenburg |
| Mother | Matilda of Lusatia |
| Born | c. 1210 |
| Died | 10 June 1261 (aged 50–51) Lüneburg, Brunswick-Lüneburg |
Matilda of Brandenburg (also known as Mechthild) was an important noblewoman who lived from about 1210 to 1261. She was a member of the powerful House of Ascania family. When she married Otto the Child, she became the first Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg. This was a new title created in 1235. She held this role until Otto's death in 1252.
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Matilda's Family Background
Matilda was the older daughter of Albert II, Margrave of Brandenburg. Her mother was also named Matilda, and she was from the House of Wettin family.
Matilda's father, Albert II, ruled the Margraviate of Brandenburg starting in 1205. He was a supporter of the Hohenstaufen family, who were powerful rulers in the Holy Roman Empire. However, after a key leader, Philip of Swabia, was killed in 1208, Albert changed his support to the House of Welf family.
When Albert II died in 1220, Matilda's brothers, John and Otto III, took over. They continued to support the Welf family. The Welfs were fighting to keep their family lands around Brunswick.
Her Parents' Political Choices
The Ascanian and Welf families had been rivals for a long time. However, they decided to make peace. As part of this agreement, Matilda was married to Otto I the Child in 1228. Otto was a member of the Welf family. He was also the grandson of a famous ruler named Henry the Lion.
Since Matilda and Otto were distantly related, they needed special permission from Pope Honorius III to get married. At the same time, Matilda's younger sister, Elisabeth, married another important noble, Henry Raspe. These marriages helped bring the powerful families closer together.
Matilda's Children
Matilda and Otto had ten children. Their children's marriages were important for building strong connections with other noble families. Here are some of their children:
- Elisabeth (died 1266), who married William II of Holland.
- Helen (died 1273), who married Hermann II, Landgravine of Thuringia and later Albert I, Duke of Saxony.
- Adelaide (died 1274), who married Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse.
- Matilda (died around 1295), who married Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben. She later became the head of a religious community at Gernrode.
- Agnes, who married Vitslav II, Prince of Rügen.
- Albert (died 1279).
- John (died 1277).
- Otto, who became a Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim (died 1279).
- Conrad, who became a Prince-Bishop of Verden (died 1300).
The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg
In 1235, at a big meeting called the Imperial Diet in Mainz, Otto the Child made an agreement with the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. As a result, Otto was given the new title of Duke and the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg was created. This made him a very important ruler.
Otto chose to live at Dankwarderode Castle in Brunswick. This castle had been built by his grandfather, Henry the Lion.
Duke Otto died in 1252. His oldest son, Albert, took over as Duke. However, in 1267, Albert had to share the Brunswick lands with his younger brother, John.
Images for kids
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Seal of Duchess Matilda
Literature
- Gudrun Pischke: Mechthild. In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck (Hrsg.): Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon. 8. bis 18. Jahrhundert, Braunschweig 2006, S. 483
