Elisabeth of Lorraine

Who was Elisabeth of Lorraine?

Elisabeth of Lorraine, also Elisabeth Renata of Lorraine, was a Duchess and an Electress consort of Bavaria.

She was a daughter of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine in his marriage to Claude of Valois. On 9 February 1595, in Nancy, she married her cousin Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria. Their marriage was childless due to Elisabeth's sterility, which was a cause of suffering. Her relationship to her spouse was, however, otherwise described as good and harmonious. Elisabeth is described as a very devout Catholic, who spent a lot of her time to her religious duties, and became known for her ascetic life style. As newly married, she was seen as vivid and jolly, but she became more melancholic and depressive by age. Maximilian gave no political influence or tasks to Elisabeth what so ever, but she spent a great deal of effort on charity. She died after a long period of illness.

Maximilian married again only a few months after her death.