The Historia vom Leiden, Sterben, Aufferstehung vnd Himelfart Christi of Margarethe, Princess of Anhalt (1473 –1530)

• Published in: The Sixteenth century journal Vol. 51; no. 1; p. 79
• Main Author: Reinis, Austra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago University of Chicago Press 01.03.2020
• Subjects: 16th century; Margarethe, Furstin von Anhalt (1473-1530); Nobility; Poetry; Protestant Reformation; Religious literature; Royalty; Theology
• DOI: 10.1086/SCJ5101004
• ISSN: 0361-0160

Margarethe, Princess of Anhalt, regent of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1516 until her death, was the first female ruler to have to take a stand on the Reformation. A letter Martin Luther wrote her on Nov 4, 1519 indicates there existed a friendly relationship between them before she broke with him and worked to prevent the Reformation of her territory. Like Luther, Margarethe wrote devotional works, among them her Historia vom Leiden...Christi, a lengthy passion meditation in verse. This work, published posthumously by her son, Georg III of Anhalt, deserves to be ranked as an important and hitherto unrecognized example of the mediating theology of figures like Julius Pflug, Georg Witzel, and Johannes Wild who, before the Council of Trent, sympathized with some of Martin Luther's theological ideas, yet remained loyal to the papacy.