Sophia of Saxony (died 1244) was a member of the House of Ascania, and the abbess of Gernrode (r.1220–1244).

Sophia of Saxony
Seal of Abbess Sophia of Gernrode
Abbess of Gernrode
Reign1220–1244
PredecessorAdelaide II
SuccessorErmengarde I of Gernrode
Died1244
Gernrode Abbey
Noble familyHouse of Ascania

Life

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Sophia was a member of the House of Ascania. Her parents were Bernard III of Saxony and Judith/Jutta of Poland, daughter of Mieszko III of Poland.[1] Sophia was brought up in the abbey of Gernrode.[2] Sophia's siblings included Albert I of Saxony and Henry I of Anhalt, the latter of whom was the advocate for the abbey of Gernrode.[3]

Sophia succeeded Adelaide II as abbess of Gernrode in late 1220. The first recorded reference to Sophia as abbess is found in a charter issued in 1221.[4]

In order to protect the abbey's wealth from embezzlement or theft, Sophia purchased extensive goods in Rieder. This purchase was confirmed by Sophia's brother, Henry I, in Aschersleben in 1223. A confirmation of all of the abbey's property and rights, issued by Pope Gregory IX in June 1227 also referred to the property in Rieder.[5]

Sophia most likely died on 16 July 1244.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 159.
  2. ^ Schulze: Das Stift Gernrode, p. 45.
  3. ^ Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 339.
  4. ^ Schulze, Das Stift Gernrode, p. 45.
  5. ^ von Heinemann, Geschichte der Abtei, p. 13.
  6. ^ Schulze, Das Stift Gernrode, p. 45.

Literature

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  • Andreas Popperodt: Historia Ecclesiae Gerenrodenses 1560, erste Fassung bei Johann Christoph Bekmann in Accesiones Historia Anhaltinae 1716 als Annales Gernrodensis.
  • O. von Heinemann, Geschichte der Abtei und Beschreibung der Stiftskirche zu Gernrode. (H. C. Huch, Quedlinburg 1877).
  • H.K. Schulze, Das Stift Gernrode. Unter Verwendung eines Manuskriptes von Reinhold Specht. Mit einem kunstgeschichtlichen Beitrag von Günther W. Vorbrodt. (Mitteldeutsche Forschungen Bd. 38), Böhlau, Köln 1965.
  • A. Thiele, "Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln zur europäischen Geschichte", Band I, Teilband 1 Deutsche Kaiser-, Königs-, Herzogs- und Grafenhäuser I
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