Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
| Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach | |
|---|---|
| Electress Palatine | |
 |
|
| Tenure | 1559–1567 |
| Born | 14 October 1519 Ansbach |
| Died | 31 October 1567 Heidelberg |
| Spouse | Frederick III, Elector Palatine |
| Issue | Alberta Louis VI, Elector Palatine Elizabeth Hermann Louis Johann Casimir of Simmern Dorothea Susanne, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar Albert Anne Elizabeth Christopher Charles Cunigunde, Countess of Nassau-Dillenburg |
| Father | Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth |
| Mother | Susanna of Bavaria |
Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (born 14 October 1519 in Ansbach – died 31 October 1567 in Heidelberg) was a Princess of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and by marriage Electress Palatine.
Marie was the oldest child of the Margrave Casimir of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1481–1527) from his marriage with Susanna of Bavaria (1502–1543), daughter of Duke Albert IV of Bavaria. After her father's death Marie was raised in the Lutheran faith by her uncle George Frederick.
On 21 October 1537, in Kreuznach, Marie married Frederick of Simmern (b. 1515), later Elector Palatine (1559–1576). The marriage was happy. Marie, who is described as intelligent and religious, influenced her Catholic husband toward Protestantism. In 1546, Frederick finally adopted Lutheranism and assumed the administration of the Franconian territories from his brother-in-law Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. Since their family was living in reduced circumstances, Marie repeatedly turned to her uncle Albert of Prussia for financial assistance.
After the death of Marie's stepfather Otto-Henry in 1559, her consort Frederick became Elector Palatine. As Electress, she was closely involved in governmental affairs, though Frederick tolerated no direct interference. She had influence in religious questions, and as a strong Lutheran she was a determined opponent of the Zwinglians.
The Electress spent the last year of her life suffering from gout and was mostly confined to her bed.
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