Emilie of Saxony

Emilie of Saxony (27 July 1516 – 9 April 1591) was Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach as the third wife of Margrave George the Pious of Brandenburg-Ansbach. As her husband's prior wives died before his accession, Emilie of Saxony was the only spouse to hold the title of Margravine.

Life Emilie was the daughter of the Duke Henry IV of Saxony and his wife Catherine of Mecklenburg. She was a member of the House of Wettin.

On 25 August 1533 Emilie of Saxony married the much older George of Brandenburg, the future Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, who had been recognised as the duke of Silesia. She was sixteen years old. He also administered Brandenburg-Kulmbach on behalf of Albert, the son of his deceased brother Casimir. The marriage produced the heir he had hoped for, a son, George Frederick, later Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.

After the death of her husband in 1543, Emilie was the legal guardian of her son, George Frederick, who was a minor, until 1556. She provided George Frederick with a humanistic education. However, the regency of Brandenburg-Ansbach was administered jointly by the reigning Electors of Saxony, Electors of Brandenburg, and the Landgrave of Hesse, Philip I.

Emilie was described as wise, virtuous and pious. She was a strict Lutheran and actively opposed Catholicism in the territories of her husband and son. In later life she retired to her widow seat.

Children Her children with George the Pious of Brandenburg-Ansbach included the following:

Sophie (1535–1587), married in 1560 Duke Henry XI of Legnica (1539–1588) Barbara (1536–1591) Dorothy Catherine (1538–1604), married in 1556 Henry V, Burgrave of Plauen, Burgrave of Meissen George Frederick (1539–1603), Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach; married first, in 1558, Princess Elisabeth of Brandenburg-Küstrin (1540–1578), second, in 1579, Princess Sophie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1563–1639)