Elisabeth von Matsch

Elisabeth von Matsch
Reliquiar by Elisabeth von Mätsch, Stadtmuseum Rapperswil
Born	unknown, probably in the late 1370's
Died	after 20 June 1442, assumably on 24 November 1446 Rüti Abbey
Residence	Uznach; Rüti Abbey in her last years
Other names	Mätsch, Elisabeth von; Maetsch, Elisabet von; Mazzo, Elisabeth; Toggenburg, Elisabeth von
Occupation	Countess of Grafschaft Toggenburg
Years active	1391–1442
Known for	last Countess of the House of Toggenburg

Elisabeth von Matsch (also von Mätsch, Mazzo, von Toggenburg, date of birth unknown; † after 20 June 1442, assumably on 24 November 1446, probably in the Rüti Abbey) was the last countess of the Swiss noble House of Toggenburg and wife of Friedrich VII, count of Toggenburg.

Elisabeth was the daughter of Ulrich IV, Vogt of Matsch, Count of Kirchberg (1349–1402) and Landeshauptmann of Tirol (1361–1363), and Agnes Countess of Kirchberg († 1401). There are no sources about her early years, and her life as Countess of Toggenburg is sparsely documented. Intentionally to end the long year territorial disputes between the Matsch family and the House of Toggenburg as the Matsch family's opponent in the present Swiss cantons of Graubünden and St. Gallen, Elisabeth married Friedrich VII von Toggenburg in 1391.

The archives of the city republic of Zürich keeps a document, sealed by the city council and citizenry of Zürich on 7 September 1433, that Graf Fridrich von Toggenburg, Herr zu Utznach, zu Meygenfeld, im Brettengoew [Prättigau] und auf Dafaus [Davos] appointed his wife Gräfin Elssbeth von Toggenburg, geborene von Maetsch to his sole heiress, and that the Burgrecht was renewed and also included Countess Elisabeth, on occasion of a meeting with Zürich officials in Rapreswil. Elisabeth and Friedrich had no children, and the count died in 1436 being the last Count of Toggenburg. Friedrich VII was buried in the so-called Toggenburg chapel which was given by Countess Elisabeth to be built adjoint to the church of the Rüti Abbey.