Duchess Anna of Prussia

Anna of Prussia

An allegory of the union of the lands united under Brandenburg through the inheritance rights of Anna of Prussia.

Duchess Anna of Prussia and Jülich-Cleves-Berg (3 July 1576 – 30 August 1625) was the daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, and Marie Eleonore of Cleves. She became the spouse of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg.

Biography

Anna was married to John Sigismund on 30 October 1594. Before the marriage, his mother, Catherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin, pointed out that Anna was not beautiful, but the marriage was arranged in order to secure the incorporation of the Duchy of Prussia into the Electorate of Brandenburg through Anna, whose father had no surviving male heirs. This was a political match of exceptional importantance, since Anna was not only heir to Prussia, but also the expected heir of Cleves, Jülich and Berg, and Mark and Ravensberg.

Anna was described as intellectually superior to her spouse, temperamental and strong-willed. She is reported to have thrown plates and glasses at her spouse during arguments. She fought on her own to secure her succession rights to various fiefs and handled negotiations with her competitors. In 1612, she placed her demands before the Emperor. After the conversion of her spouse to Calvinism, Anna became the protector and spokesperson of the Lutherans. She continued to play an important role during the reign of her son. She opposed the Habsurgs and secured the marriage of her daughter Maria Eleonora to the King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden against her son's will in 1620.

Issue

• George William (13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640). Successor of John Sigismund.
• Anne Sophia of Brandenburg (15 March 1598 – 19 December 1659). Married Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
• Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg (11 November 1599 – 28 March 1655). Married Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. They were parents of Christina of Sweden.
• Catherine of Brandenburg (28 May 1602 – 27 August 1644). Married first Gabriel Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania and secondly Franz Karl of Saxe-Lauenburg.
• Joachim Sigismund of Brandenburg (25 July 1603 – 22 February 1625).
• Agnes of Brandenburg (31 August 1606 – 12 March 1607).
• John Frederick of Brandenburg (18 August 1607 – 1 March 1608).
• Albrecht Christian of Brandenburg (7 March – 14 March 1609).

References

• This page is a translation of its German equivalent.

Duchess Anna of Prussia House of Hohenzollern Born: 3 July 1576 Died: 30 August 1625
German nobility
Vacant Title last held by Eleanor of Prussia	Electress consort of Brandenburg 18 July 1608 – 23 December 1619	Succeeded by Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Vacant Title last held by Marie Eleonore of Cleves	Duchess consort of Prussia 28 August 1618 – 23 December 1619