Elisabeth Sophie Marie of Schleswig-Holstein-Norburg

Elisabeth Sophie Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1683 – 1767) was a German noblewoman and book collector. Her collection of over four thousand books, including multilingual bible translations, now form part of the Herzog August Library.

Life She was the daughter of Rudolph Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Norburg and his wife, Bibiana von Promnitz. When she was orphaned at the age of five, she was raised by her aunt Elisabeth Juliane (who was herself a book collector) at Wolfenbüttel.

In 1701, she married Adolf August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön. They had a son, Leopold. Adolf died in 1704, leaving Elisabeth as regent for their son, who died two years later. Elisabeth moved to her widow’s seat in Ahrensbök.

Writing and book collection Elisabeth wrote two books, published in 1714 and 1750, critiquing Catholic dogmas from a Reformed perspective. and of the cloister at Marienberg.

In 1764, she donated her bible collection to Brunswick Palace with instructions for how they were to be made available to future scholars, and displayed alongside portraits of herself. Elisabeth’s collections, including the 3000 non-biblical volumes which came to Brunswick after her death, currently form a major part of the Herzog August Library.