Marie of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Marie of Prussia (23 January 1579 – 21 February 1649) was a Prussian duchess by birth and Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth by marriage.
For other uses, see Marie of Prussia (disambiguation).Marie of Prussia
Life[edit]
Born in Königsberg, Marie was the second daughter of Duke Albert Frederick of Prussia (1553–1618) from his marriage to Marie Eleonore of Cleves (1550–1608), daughter of Duke William the Rich of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. The princess grew up with her sisters in Königsberg Castle.
On 29 April 1604, she married Margrave Christian of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1581–1655) in Plassenburg Castle. Since her father left no male heirs, a dispute arose between Prussia and Jülich-Cleves-Berg about Mary's compensation.[1] In 1613, Marie acquired the manors of Schreez and Culmbach in Haag (Oberfranken). She used the income from these manors to expand Unternschreez Castle, her Wittum.[2] Mary and her family in Franconia had to flee their homes during the Thirty Years' War, and the manors were lost.
Marie died in 1649 and was buried in the City Church in Bayreuth; she had donated the high altar in this church.
From her marriage, Marie had the following children: