Margaret of Sicily (also called
Margaret of Hohenstaufen or
Margaret of Germany) (b.
Foggia, 1 December 1241 – d.
Frankfurt-am-Main, 8 August 1270), was a Princess of Sicily and Germany, and a member of the
House of Hohenstaufen. By marriage she was Landgravine of Thuringia and Countess Palatine of Saxony (German:
Landgräfin von Thüringen und Pfalzgräfin von Sachsen).
She was the daughter of
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Sicily and Germany, by his third wife,
Isabella of England. Her paternal grandparents were
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor and
Constance of Sicily. Her maternal grandparents were
John of England and
Isabella of Angoulême.
Birth
The date of her birth is difficult to ascertain because there is controversy over the exact number of children borne by her mother. Some sources say that she was the last child, born in December 1241, when Isabella died in childbirth. Historians commonly accept the latter date.
Life
Shortly after her birth (1242), Margaret was betrothed to
Albert "the Degenerate", eldest son and heir of
Henry III "the Illustrious",
Margrave of Meissen. The marriage took place in June 1255, the bride receiving
Pleissnerland (the towns of
Altenburg,
Zwickau,
Chemnitz and
Leisnig) as her dowry.
The couple settled at his residence in......
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