Sibylle of Saxony | |
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Princess Sibylle of Saxony, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg, painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder
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Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
Tenure | 1543–1571 1574–1581 |
Born |
Freiberg |
2 May 1515
Died | 18 July 1592 Buxtehude |
(aged 77)
Burial | Ratzeburg |
Spouse | Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg |
House | House of Wettin |
Father | Henry IV, Duke of Saxony |
Mother | Catherine of Mecklenburg |
Religion | Lutheranism |
Sibylle of Saxony (2 May 1515 in Freiberg – 18 July 1592 in Buxtehude) was a Saxon princess of the Albertine line of House of Wettin and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.
Sibylle was the eldest child of the Duke Henry IV of Saxony (1473–1541) from his marriage to Catherine of Mecklenburg (1487–1561), daughter of the Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg.
She married on 8 February 1540 in Dresden Duke Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg (1510–1581). This relationship turned out to be important for Sibylle's brother Maurice during the Schmalkaldic War. The marriage proved unhappy and Francis accused Sibylle of vindictive and unloving acts In later years, Sibylle and Francis reconciled again. In 1552, Sibylle asked her brother Maurice to financially assist her husband, so he could redeem some goods and villages from Lübeck.
In 1588, the Duchess played a prominent role in the affair of her son Maurice, who lived in Buxtehude in the Altkloster Abbot's House since 1585/86, with Adam von Tschammer's wife Gisela against whom she initiated a trial witchcraft.
Sibylle died in 1592 in Buxtehude and was buried in the Cathedral of Ratzeburg.
From her marriage to Francis, Sibylle had the following children: