Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach explained

Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Father:	George of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach
House:	House of Hohenzolern
Mother:	Emilie of Saxony
Spouse:	Henry XI of Legnica
Birth Date:	23 March 1535
Birth Place:	Ansbach
Death Place:	Legnica

Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach (23 March 1535, Ansbach  - 22 February 1587, Legnica) was a princess of Brandenburg-Ansbach and by marriage Duchess of Legnica.

Life

Sophie was a daughter of the Margrave George of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach (1484–1543) from his third marriage to Emilie of Saxony (1516–1591), daughter of the Duke Henry IV of Saxony.

She married on 11 November 1560 in Legnica Duke Henry XI of Legnica (1539–1588). The marriage served to consolidate Sophie's father's position as Duke in Silesia. The marriage proved unhappy, which was also due to a significant irritability on Sophie's side.^[1]

Sophie is not to be confused with her eponymous aunt (1485–1537), who was also Duchess of Legnica.

Offspring

From her marriage, Sophie had the following children:

1. Katharina Sophie (b. 7 August 1561 – d. Schloss Friedrichsburg bei Vohenstrauss, 10 May 1608), married on 26 February 1587 to Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein.
2. Anna Maria (b. 3 January 1563 – d. Amberg, 28 February 1620).
3. Emilia (b. 26 December 1563 – d. Schloss Friedrichsburg bei Vohenstrauss, 9 November 1618).
4. A son (b. and d. before 16 January 1565).
5. George Frederick (b. 11 September 1565 – d. 14 November 1565).
6. Sabina Barbara (b. 8 January 1571 – d. 14 December 1572).

References

1. Heinrich von Sybel, Historical Journal, Volume 10, R. Oldenbourg, 1863, p. 187