Amalia von Sachsen

Amalia of Saxony (4 April 1436–19 November 1501) was a Saxon princess from the House of Wettin and Duchess of Bavaria-Landshut. She was the eldest daughter of the Saxon Elector Frederick II and his wife, Margaret of Austria. She was born in Meissen during the sixth year of her parents’ marriage. Her siblings included the sisters Anna, Margaret, and Hedwig, as well as the brothers Frederick, Ernest, Albert, and Alexander, who died in infancy. Amalia’s childhood and youth took place during a politically turbulent period. From 1446 to 1451, her father fought the Saxon Brothers’ War against his brother William. The conflict ended with the Peace of Naumburg. The following year, Amalia was married, an arrangement that also served the dynastic alliance between the princely houses involved. On 21 March 1452, the fifteen-year-old Amalia married the thirty-five-year-old Duke Louis IX of Bavaria-Landshut in Landshut. Because of his wealth, he was also known as “Louis the Rich.” The wedding was celebrated with great magnificence. Amalia lived with her court household at Trausnitz Castle. The ducal couple had four children: Elisabeth, George, Margaret, and Anna. Elisabeth died at about four years of age, while Anna died as an infant in 1462. In 1463, Louis granted his wife Burghausen Castle as her own residence. There, Amalia founded the Church of the Holy Spirit. Her position as duchess was expressed not only through courtly representation but also through her support for religious construction projects and the development of her own residence. The couple’s eldest surviving son, George, later became Duke of Bavaria-Landshut and ruled from 1479 to 1503. He married the Polish royal daughter Hedwig Jagiellonica and had five children. Their daughter Margaret married Philip, Elector Palatine, and had fourteen children. Amalia’s dynastic importance thus continued into the following generation. After Louis IX’s death in 1479, Amalia left Bavaria. As her widow’s provision, she received 800 Rhenish guilders annually from her son. She subsequently acquired Rochlitz Castle and the surrounding territory from her brothers. From 1481 until her death, she lived there. During her residence in Rochlitz, the castle was expanded and effectively developed into a palace. St. Peter’s Church was built in the town, and Amalia also had the castle chapel restored. It housed a valuable collection of relics. Amalia outlived all her daughters. She died on 19 November 1501 and was buried in the Princely Chapel of Meissen Cathedral. Her life combined the interests of an important princely house with the responsibilities of a duchess, wife, and mother, as well as the independent shaping of her widow’s residence in Rochlitz.