Clara Tott
| Clara Tott | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Frederick I, Elector Palatine |
| Father | Gerhard Tott |
| Born | c. 1440 |
| Died | 1520 |
Clara Tott, in other sources Clara Dett, Clara of Dettingen, Tettingen, or Clare Dettin (c. 1440 – 1520), was a court singer associated with the Elector Palatine Frederick I, whom she is said to have secretly married.
Clara Tott was the daughter of Gerhard Tott, who worked for the Augsburg city council. She was lady-in-waiting to Duchess Anna (1420–1474), the second wife of Duke Albert III of Bavaria. At court in Munich, she worked as a singer.
In 1459, there began a love affair with Frederick I, Elector Palatine. They had two sons, who are described as legitimate in various documents, although it is unclear when, exactly, Clara and Frederick married. Some sources say they married in 1462. In any case, the marriage was secret until 1472, when Frederick, the eldest son, wanted a position in the cathedral chapters of Speyer and Worms and needed to prove his descent unambiguously. In 1470, Elector Philip the Sincere had relieved his uncle Frederick I from his promise not to marry in 1470; nevertheless, for reasons of state the whole situation was kept secret.
After Frederick I died in 1479, his successor Philip even held Clara prisoner at Lindenfels Castle for several years, just to keep the situation secret. Contemporary historians describe the situation vaguely and express themselves very carefully, so as to not displease the powerful Palatinate. Later historians have adopted the unclear terminology of their predecessors, even when the issue became less important dynastically and historically
In the 19th century, the historians Johann Ludwig Klüber and August Wilhelm Heffter researched the issue and wrote a very detailed paper, showing on the basis of clear evidence that both sons had been legitimate and that Clara Tott must have descended from a noble family.
Clara Tott was musically talented and had a lasting effect on the musical life at court in Heidelberg. She assisted her husband when he organized the local choir, and induced him to appoint the famous singer Johann Steinwert von Soest as its leader.
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