Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg explained

Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg
Noble Family:	Leuchtenberg
Father:	George III, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg
Mother:	Margravine Barbara of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach
Spouse:	John VI of Nassau-Dillenburg
Birth Date:	March 1537
Death Place:	Dillenburg

Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg (born: March 1537- died: 6 July 1579 in Dillenburg) was the daughter of Landgrave George III, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg and Margravine Barbara of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1495–1552).

After her death, the German theologian Christoph Pezel wrote an obituary about her.^[1]

Portraits

At least two portraits of Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg exist. The first is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the form of an anonymous picture, made between 1850 and 1930,^[2] a reproduction of a painting by an unknown painter. The second is a drawing in circular shape.

Another portrait, also made by an anonymous painter, was initially identified as portrait of Charlotte of Bourbon,^[3] but it was later identified by L.J. van der Klooster as possibly Elisabeth van Leuchtenberg.^[4]

Marriage and issue

Elisabeth was the first wife of John VI of Nassau-Dillenburg, son of William "the Rich" of Nassau en Juliana of Stolberg. She married on 6 June 1559 at Dillenburg Castle. They had thirteen children:

• William Louis (1560–1620), stadtholder of Frisia (1584–1620), married Anna of Nassau (1563–1588)
• John VII (1561–1623)
• George (1562–1623)
• Elisabeth (1564–1611), married in 1583 with Philip IV, Count of Nassau-Weilburg and in 1603 with Wolfgang Ernst I of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein,
• Juliana (1565–1606)
• Philip (1566–1595)
• Maria (1568–1625), married John Louis I of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein,
• Anna Sibylla (1569–1576), died young
• Mathilda (1570–1625), married Count William V, of Mansfeld-Arnstein
• Albert (1572-1572), died young
• Ernst Casimir (1573–1632), Count of Nassau-Dietz, stadtholder of Frisia and Groningen (1620–1632), married in 1597 with Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1583–1642). The Dutch Royal Family descends from this marriage.
• Louis Gunther (1575–1604), died in battle at Sluis, married in 1601 Countess Margareta of Manderscheid-Blankenheim (1575–1606)
• stillborn son (1579)

Elisabeth died in 1579. After her death, John VI had two later marriages, with still more children.

Notes and References

1. Book: Pezel. Christoph. Leichpredigt Bey dem Begrebnis, Weyland der Durchlauchtigen, Hochgebornen Fürstin vnd Frawen, Frawen Eljzabetha, geborner Landgreuin zu Leuchtembergk, etc. Greuin ... zu Nassau, Cattenelnbogen, etc. löblicher vnd Christlicher Gedechtnis. Sampt Einer Trostschrifft an jre F.G. vberschickt den 5. Julij, Als jre F.G. den folgenden 6. Julij seliglich von diesem Leben abgeschieden ist.. Elisabeth. 1579. Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar. German. 311627599.
2. Web site: Portret van Elisabeth van Leuchtenberg, anoniem, 1850 - 1930. 2020-12-05. Rijksmuseum. nl.
3. Web site: PBS LearningMedia Teaching Resources For Students And Teachers. 2020-12-05. PBS LearningMedia. en.
4. Web site: Anoniem. 2020-12-05. rkd.nl. en.