Helen of the Palatinate

Helen of the Palatinate (9 February 1493, Heidelberg – 4 August 1524, Schwerin) was a member of the Palatinate-Simmern branch of House of Wittelsbach and a Countess Palatine of Simmern by birth and by marriage Duchess of Mecklenburg.

Helen of the Palatinate
Epitaph in the cathedral of Schwerin
Born(1493-02-09)9 February 1493
Heidelberg
Died4 August 1524(1524-08-04) (aged 31)
Schwerin
Noble familyHouse of Wittelsbach
Spouse(s)Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg
FatherPhilip, Elector Palatine
MotherMargaret of Bavaria

Life

Helen was a daughter of the Elector Palatine Philip (1448–1508) from his marriage to Margaret (1456–1501), daughter of Duke Louis IX of Bavaria-Landshut.

She married on 15 June 1513 in Wismar with Duke Henry V of Mecklenburg (1479–1552). Fineke von Greese had to be told not to wear her best dress, so as not to outshine the bride.[1] The wedding had a splendor never seen before, and many imperial princes attended.

Helene died in 1524 and was buried in Schwerin Cathedral. She was the first member of the ducal family to be buried in Schwerin, until then the dukes and duchesses had been buried in the Doberan Minster.[2] Her epitaph was created by Peter Vischer the Elder. Until 1845, it was attached to the wall behind the altar; today it is located in the south passage, next to the entrance.[3]

Issue

From her marriage, Helen had the following children:

  • Philip (1514–1557), Duke of Mecklenburg
  • Margaret (1515–1559)
married in 1537 Duke Henry II of Münsterberg Oels (1507-1548)
  • Catherine (1518–1581)
married in 1538 Duke Frederick III of Legnica (1520-1570)

References
  • Eduard Vehse: Geschichte der deutschen Höfe seit der Reformation, vol. 35-36, Hoffmann & Campe, 1856, p. 62 ff.
  • Michael Masson: Das Königshaus Bayern. Genealogisch bearbeitet und mit historisch-biographischen Notizen erläutert, self-published, 1854, p. 102

Footnotes
  1. Tom Clauss: 775 Jahre Jesendorf, Books on Demand, p. 1698 Digitized
  2. Steffen Stuth: Höfe und Residenzen: Untersuchungen zu den Höfen der Herzöge von Mecklenburg im 16. und 17. Jahrhundert, Edition Temmen, 2001, p. 51
  3. Archiv für Landeskunde in den Grossherzogthümen Mecklenburg und Revüe der Landwirtschaft, vol. 14, 1864, p. 272 Digitized


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