Elizabeth of Hungary
1207 – 1231 A.D.
Elizabeth of Hungary, daughter of Andreas II., king of Hungary, was born at Presburg in 1207. At the age of four she was affianced to the Landgraf of Thuringia, Louis IV., and was brought up to his court in the Wartburg, near Eisenach, to be educated under the eyes of the parents of her future husband. She early displayed a passion for the severities [sic] of Christian life. She despised pomp and ambition; her conduct even as a girl astonished the Thuringian court. The marriage took place when Elizabeth was fourteen. Louis, far from blaming the devout girl whom he made for his wife, for her long prayers and ceaseless almsgiving [sic], was himself partially attracted to a similar mode of life. A boy and two girls were the fruit of their union. Louis died as a crusader at Otranto in 1227.
Great misfortunes soon befell the saintly Elizabeth. She was deprived of her regency by the brother of her deceased husband, and driven out of her dominion on the plea that she wasted the treasure of the state by her charities. At last she found refuge in the church, where her first care was to thank God that He had judged her worthy to suffer.
When the warriors who attended her husband in the crusade returned from the East, she gathered them around her, and recounted her sufferings. Steps were taken to restore to the unfortunate princess her sovereign rights. She declined the regency, however, and would only accept the revenues which accrued to her as landgravine [sic]. The representations of other potentates soon induced her brother-in-law to allow her to return to Marburg, and to draw a yearly revenue of 500 marks.
She now devoted herself wholly to a life of asceticism, but put on a nun’s raiment, and took up her residence in a cottage at the foot of the hill on which stood her castle of Marburg. The remainder of her days were given up to incessant devotions, almsgivings [sic], and mortifications [sic]. All her revenues were given to the poor, and what she required for personal expenditures she earned with her own hands. She died November 19, 1231.
Reference: Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.