Anne of Denmark (
Danish and
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
: Anna;
Haderslev, 22 November 1532 –
Dresden, 1 October 1585) was a
Danish princess from the
House of Oldenburg. Through her marriage with
Augustus of Saxony she became
Electress of Saxony
An Electress (, ) was the consort of a Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the Empire's greatest princes.
The Golden Bull of 1356 established by Emperor Charles IV settled the number of Electors at seven. However, three of these were ...
. She was renowned for her knowledge of plants and her skill in the preparation of
herbal remedies, and contributed to the development of farming and horticulture in Saxony. She was a major influence in the introduction of orthodox
Lutheranism and played a role in the decision to persecute
Calvinists.
Childhood
Anna of Denmark was a daughter of King
Christian III of Denmark and Norway and his wife
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg.
Her mother taught her the basic principles of gathering
medicinal plants and preparing herbal remedies. After the introduction of
Protestantism in
Denmark-Norway in 1537, she was raised as a strict orthodox Lutheran.
In March 1548 she became betrothed to Augustus of Saxony, the younger brother and possible heir of Elector
Maurice of Saxony
Maurice (21 March 1521 – 9 July 1553) was Duke (1541–47) and later Elector (1547–53) of Saxony. His clever manipulation of alliances and disputes gained the Albertine branch of the Wettin dynasty extensive lands and the electoral dignity.
...
. This marriage supported the Danish ambition to have closer ties to Germany. The Elector on his part wanted to achieve better relations with the Lutheran factions. The wedding took place in
Torgau
Torgau () is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.
Outside Germany, the town is best known as where on 25 April 1945, the United States and Soviet Armies forces fi ...
in October 1548. It was the first major festivity in the reign of Elector Maurice and the first opportunity for the
Albertinian line of the
House of Wettin to present themselves as Electors of Saxony, a title they had obtained in 1547.
Electress
Anna and Augustus initially lived in
Weißenfels. When Augustus became Elector in 1553 following the death of his brother Maurice, they lived mainly in
Dresden. They had fifteen children, four of whom reached adulthood.
Their marriage was considered to be harmonious.
Anna of Denmark was a great writer of letters and kept a good archive of her correspondence. Her letters provide detailed insight into her daily life and her involvement in the political and religious affairs of her time. In Saxony, and throughout Europe, she was considered to be a person of considerable influence.
She was a very active advocate of Lutheranism and played a role in the suppression of
crypto-Calvinism in Saxony between 1574 and 1577. It is unclear to what extent she was involved in the harsh persecution of Calvinists which included
torture and long periodes of
incarceration.
She had good relations with other royal and princely houses and was frequently asked to act as an intermediary, in conflicts as well as in marriage negotiations.
Agriculture and pharmacy
During her lifetime, Anna of Denmark was known for her skill in managing gardens and farmland. In 1578, her husband entrusted her with the management of all his estates. She contributed to the development of agriculture in Saxony by introducing new
crops and new species of
livestock, and promoted the introduction of
horticulture
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
as practiced in the
Low Countries and Denmark. This had a positive effect on the economy of Saxony, which became one of the most prosperous parts of Germany. She was an acknowledged expert in herbal lore and personally prepared herbal remedies; she is now considered to have been the first female
pharmacist in Germany.
She was however not professionally active, in contrast to her contemporaries
Helena Magenbuch and
Maria Andreae. In castle
Annaburg
Annaburg () is a small town in Wittenberg district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It was the seat of the former ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' Annaburg-Prettin.
Constituent communities
The town Annaburg consists of the following ''Ortschaften'' or mu ...
, which was named after her, she had her own large laboratory and library.
Death
Anna of Denmark died on October 1, 1585 after a long period of ill health. She remains one of the best known Electresses of Saxony, partly because of biographies written about her in the 19th century which emphasise her traditional role as 'mother of the nation.'
Children
#John Henry (b. Weissenfels, 5 May 1550 – d. Weissenfels, 12 November 1550).
#Eleonore (b. Wolkenstein, 2 May 1551 – d. Wolkenstein, 24 April 1553).
#
Elisabeth (b. Wolkenstein, 18 October 1552 – d. imprisoned in Heidelberg, 2 April 1590), married on 4 June 1570 to Count Palatine
Johann Casimir of Simmern; they were separated in 1589.
#Alexander (b. Dresden, 21 February 1554 – d. Dresden, 8 October 1565), Hereditary Elector of Saxony.
[http://www.royaltyguide.nl/images-families/wettin/saxonyalbert1/1554%20Alexander.jpg ]
#Magnus (b. Dresden, 24 September 1555 – d. Dresden, 6 November 1558).
#Joachim (b. Dresden, 3 May 1557 – d. Dresden, 21 November 1557).
#Hector (b. Dresden, 7 October 1558 – d. Dresden, 4 April 1560).
#
Christian I (b. Dresden, 29 October 1560 – d. Dresden, 25 September 1591), successor of his father in the Electorship.
#Marie (b. Torgau, 8 March 1562 – d. Torgau, 6 January 1566).
#
Dorothea (b. Dresden, 4 October 1563 – d. Wolfenbüttel, 13 February 1587), married on 26 September 1585 to Duke
Heinrich Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
#Amalie (b. Dresden, 28 January 1565 – d. Dresden, 2 July 1565).
#
Anna
Anna may refer to:
People Surname and given name
* Anna (name)
Mononym
* Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke
* Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773)
* Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century)
* Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) ...
(b. Dresden, 16 November 1567 – d. imprisoned in Veste Coburg, 27 January 1613), married on 16 January 1586 to Duke
John Casimir, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Eisenach; they divorced in 1593.
#Augustus (b. Dresden, 23 October 1569 – d. Dresden, 12 February 1570).
#Adolf (b. Stolpen, 8 August 1571 – d. Dresden, 12 March 1572).
#Frederick (b. Annaberg, 18 June 1575 – d. Annaberg, 24 January 1577).
Ancestry
Literature
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References
External links
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{{Authority control
1532 births
1585 deaths
Danish princesses
Norwegian princesses
Duchesses of Saxony
Electresses of Saxony
Albertine branch
Children of Christian III of Denmark
Burials at Freiberg Cathedral
Daughters of kings