Margaret of Holland, Countess of Henneberg
| Margaret of Holland | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1234 |
| Died |
26 March 1276 Loosduinen |
| Noble family | House of Holland |
| Spouse(s) | Herman I, Count of Henneberg |
| Father | Floris IV, Count of Holland |
| Mother | Matilda of Brabant, Countess of Holland |
Margaret of Henneberg (1234 – 26 March 1276) was a daughter of Count Floris IV of Holland and his wife, Matilda of Brabant.
Margaret married on Pentecost of 1249 to Count Herman I of Henneberg-Coburg. This marriage had political background, because Hermann had hoped to be elected King of the Germans earlier in 1246, but had lost to Margaret's brother William II. In an attempt to strengthen his influence in Germany, William had arranged a marriage between his sister and a German count.
Margaret of Henneberg and her husband lived in Coburg, although the couple also owned a residence in Loosduinen, where they frequently stayed. Their eldest son, Herman, was born in 1250 and died young. He was buried in the church of Loosduinen. Margaret and Herman had two children who reached adulthood:
In the spring of 1276, Margaret fell seriously ill in Loosduinen. Before her death she was able to dictate some letters about her inheritance to her nephew Floris V of Holland. She died on Good Friday of 1276 and, like her first son, she was buried in the church of the abbey of Loosduinen.
From notes made by her widower, it is known that her death was unusual. Later, however, a legend was formed that she had died in childbirth after giving birth to no fewer than 365 children. An early form of this legend can be found in the 14th-century Tafel van Egmond, which can be found in the University Library of Utrecht. It briefly reports that she died after giving birth to 364 sons and daughters. The children did not survive. They were all buried together in Loosduinen, where an epitaph still exists.
Another 14th-century source is De Clerk's Kronyk van Holland. It gives a reason for the unusual multiple births. Margaret had on one occasion insulted a mother of twins with the assertion that these children would have to have two different fathers. As a punishment, she had been bewitched. The Kronyk mentions that 365 mouse-sized children were baptized in a large vessel and died afterwards.
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