Marie Eleonore of Cleves

Duchess Marie Eleonore
Duchess consort of Prussia
Marie Eleonore with her mother Maria of Austria
Born	16 June 1550 Cleves
Died	1 June 1608 (aged 57) Königsberg
Spouse	Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
Issue	Anna, Duchess of Prussia, Electress of Brandenburg Marie, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Albert Frederick of Prussia Sophie, Duchess of Courland and Semigallia Eleonore, Electress of Brandenburg Wilhelm Frederick of Prussia Magdalene Sibylle, Electress of Saxony
House	La Marck
Father	William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
Mother	Archduchess Maria of Austria

Duchess Marie Eleonore of Cleves (16 June 1550 – 1 June 1608) was a Duchess consort of Prussia as the wife of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia. She was the eldest child of William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg and Maria of Austria.

Family

Her mother was the daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. Her brother was John William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Her paternal aunts were Anne of Cleves, who was the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England, and Sybille of Cleves, who married John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony. Marie Eleonore had many maternal aunts and uncles, such as Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor and Johanna of Austria. Among her cousins were Anna of Austria, Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, Eleonora de' Medici, and Marie de' Medici.

Marriage

In 1573 Marie Eleonore married Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, the son of Albert of Prussia. They were the parents of seven children:

• Anna of Prussia (3 July 1576 – 30 August 1625); married John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg.
• Duchess Marie of Prussia (23 January 1579 – 21 February 1649); married Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.
• Duke Albert Frederick of Prussia (1 June 1580 – 8 October 1580).
• Duchess Sofie of Prussia (31 March 1582 – 4 December 1610); married Wilhelm Kettler of Courland.
• Duchess Eleonore of Prussia (22 August 1583 – 31 March/9 April 1607); married Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg.
• Duke Wilhelm Frederick of Prussia (23 June 1585 – 18 January 1586).
• Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia (31 December 1586 – 22 February 1659); married John George I, Elector of Saxony.

Ancestors

Ancestors of Marie Eleonore of Cleves

16. John I, Duke of Cleves (1419-1481)               8. John II, Duke of Cleves (1458-1521)                       17. Elizabeth of Nevers (1439-1483)               4. John III, Duke of Cleves (1490-1538/9)                             18. Henry III, Landgrave of Hesse-Marburg (1440-1483)               9. Matilda of Hesse (1473-1524)                       19. Anna of Katzenelnbogen (1443-1494)               2. William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (1516-1592)                                   20. Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg (c.1416-1475)               10. William IV, Duke of Jülich-Berg (1455-1511)                       21. Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg (before 1428-1473)               5. Maria of Jülich-Berg (1491-1543)                             22. Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg (1414-1486)               11. Sibylle of Brandenburg (1467-1524)                       23. Anna of Saxony (1437-1512)               1. Marie Eleonore of Cleves                                         24. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459-1519)               12. Philip I of Castile (1478-1506)                       25. Mary of Burgundy (1457-1482)               6. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (1503-1564)                             26. Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452-1516)               13. Joanna of Castile (1479-1555)                       27. Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504)               3. Maria of Austria (1531-1581)                                   28. Casimir IV Jagiellon (1427-1492)               14. Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary (1456-1516)                       29. Elisabeth of Austria (1436-1505)               7. Anna of Bohemia and Hungary (1503-1547)                             30. Gaston de Foix, Count of Candale (1448-1500)               15. Anne of Foix-Candale (1484-1506)                       31. Catherine of Foix, Countess of Candale (c.1455-bef 1494)

References