Princess Anna Maria | |||||
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Portrait of Anna according to the text on it
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Countess Palatine of Veldenz | |||||
Tenure | 1562-1592 | ||||
Regent of Veldenz and Lautereck | |||||
Reign | 1592-1598 | ||||
Born | 19 June 1545 | ||||
Died | 20 March 1610 | (aged 64)||||
Spouse | George John I, Count Palatine of Veldenz | ||||
Issue |
George Gustavus, Count Palatine of Veldenz Anne Margaret of Palatinate-Veldenz John Rupert Anne Margaret, Countess Palatine of Simmern-Sponheim Ursula, Duchess of Württemberg Joanna Elizabeth John Augustus, Count Palatine of Lützelstein Louis Philip, Count Palatine of Guttenberg Maria Anne Catherine Ursula George John II, Count Palatine of Lützelstein-Guttenberg |
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House | Vasa | ||||
Father | Gustav I of Sweden | ||||
Mother | Margaret Leijonhufvud |
Full name | |
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Anna Maria Swedish: Anna Gustavsdotter |
Princess Anna Maria of Sweden (Swedish: Anna Gustavsdotter; 19 June 1545 - 20 March 1610) was a Countess Palatine of Veldenz as the spouse of George John I, Count Palatine of Veldenz. She served as Regent from 1592 to 1598 and then supervised the partition of the territories between her sons. She was the daughter of King Gustav I of Sweden and Queen Margaret.
During her early childhood, she, as well as her siblings in the royal nursery, were primarily under the care of her mother the queen's trusted nurse, Brigitta Lars Anderssons, her mother's cousin lady Margareta and the noble widow Ingrid Amundsdotter.
At an early age, Anna had her portrait painted and several marriage negotiations was suggested before she married in 1562. She was given a large dowry, and the King of Denmark was invited to the wedding. After her wedding, she left for Germany. The marriage is described as a happy one. Anna is mentioned as the advisor of her spouse; she tried to influence a restraining effect on the many adventurous projects of her spouse. Anna was also active in the marriage negotiations between her brothers and different German noble houses: in 1578-79, she assisted in the negotiations between Charles IX of Sweden and Maria of Palatinate-Simmern.
She became a widow in 1592. After the death of her spouse, Anna Maria was forced to live a very sparing life since her spouse had run up huge debts in his lifetime: he left a debt of 300.000 florines, and she spent the rest of her life trying to pay the debt. She was also forced to act as mediator between her sons to prevent them from fighting over the inheritance, as her spouse had divided his lands between them. Between 1592 and 1598, she served as Regent of the undivided territories, and in 1598, George Gustavus retained the Counties of Veldenz and Lautereck while his younger brothers obtained the other territories.