Sophia of Saxony (died 1244) was a member of the House of Ascania, and the abbess of Gernrode (r.1220–1244).
Sophia of Saxony | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Abbess Sophia of Gernrode | |
| Abbess of Gernrode | |
| Reign | 1220–1244 |
| Predecessor | Adelaide II |
| Successor | Ermengarde I of Gernrode |
| Died | 1244 Gernrode Abbey |
| Noble family | House of Ascania |
Life
Sophia was a member of the House of Ascania. Her parents were Bernard III of Saxony and Judith/Jutta of Poland, daughter of Mieszko III of Poland.[1] Sophia was brought up in the abbey of Gernrode.[2] Sophia's siblings included Albert I of Saxony and Henry I of Anhalt, the latter of whom was the advocate for the abbey of Gernrode.[3]
Sophia succeeded Adelaide II as abbess of Gernrode in late 1220. The first recorded reference to Sophia as abbess is found in a charter issued in 1221.[4]
In order to protect the abbey's wealth from embezzlement or theft, Sophia purchased extensive goods in Rieder. This purchase was confirmed by Sophia's brother, Henry I, in Aschersleben in 1223. A confirmation of all of the abbey's property and rights, issued by Pope Gregory IX in June 1227 also referred to the property in Rieder.[5]
Sophia most likely died on 16 July 1244.[6]
Notes
Literature
- Andreas Popperodt: Historia Ecclesiae Gerenrodenses 1560, erste Fassung bei Johann Christoph Bekmann in Accesiones Historia Anhaltinae 1716 als Annales Gernrodensis.
- O. von Heinemann, Geschichte der Abtei und Beschreibung der Stiftskirche zu Gernrode. (H. C. Huch, Quedlinburg 1877).
- H.K. Schulze, Das Stift Gernrode. Unter Verwendung eines Manuskriptes von Reinhold Specht. Mit einem kunstgeschichtlichen Beitrag von Günther W. Vorbrodt. (Mitteldeutsche Forschungen Bd. 38), Böhlau, Köln 1965.
- A. Thiele, "Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln zur europäischen Geschichte", Band I, Teilband 1 Deutsche Kaiser-, Königs-, Herzogs- und Grafenhäuser I
External links
Media related to Sophia of Saxony at Wikimedia Commons- Dokumentation der Ausstellung SchleierHaft
