Anna of Veldenz, Countess Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken

Anne of Veldenz (c. 1390 – 18 November 1439 in Wachenheim) was a Countess suo jure of Veldenz. She was a member of the Hohengeroldseck family, the second family to rule Veldenz.

Anna of Veldenz
Countess Anna of Veldenz
Bornc. 1390
Died(1439-11-18)18 November 1439
Wachenheim
Noble familyHohengeroldseck
Spouse(s)Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken
Issue
Detail
FatherFrederick III, Count of Veldenz
MotherMargaret of Nassau-Saarbrücken

Life

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Anna was the heiress of Frederick III, Count of Veldenz, the last from the Hohengeroldseck family to rule the county, and his wife Margaret of Nassau-Saarbrücken. In 1409, she married Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken, thereby bringing the County of Veldenz into the possession of the Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. She also brought a 50% share in the County of Sponheim into the marriage. The Counts of Veldenz had acquired this share in 1425, as had been predicted by Count John V of Sponheim-Starkenburg in the 1425 Treaty of Sponheim. Anna's eldest son Frederick I would inherit her share in the County of Sponheim, her son Louis I would inherit the County of Veldenz proper.

In the 19th century, a descendant of Anna became King of Bavaria, which is why the Veldenz lion is now part of the Bavarian coat of arms.

Issue

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From her marriage with Stephen, Anna had the following children:

  1. Anne (1413 – 12 March 1455)
  2. Margaret (1416 – 23 November 1426)
  3. Frederick I (24 April 1417 – 29 November 1480)
  4. Rupert (1420 – 17 October 1478)
  5. Stephen (1421 – 4 September 1485)
  6. Louis I (1424 – 19 July 1489)
  7. John (1429–1475)