Katharine of Habsburg

Katharine of Habsburg (1256 – April 4, 1282) was the daughter of Rudolph I of Germany and his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg.

Life

She was born in Rheinfelden and was the fifth of nine children.

In January 1279 in Vienna, Katharine married Otto III, Duke of Bavaria. She was a good bride for Otto because she had a powerful father and a large dowry of 40,000 (in pounds). Katharine and her sisters all married for political reasons.

Otto and Katharine were married for three years when Katharine was finally pregnant with twins. Katharine died from birth complications and her sons were short lived. Her sons were:

• Henry of Wittelsbach (1280). Twin brother of Rudolph. Died within the year of his birth.
• Rudolph of Wittelsbach (1280). Twin brother of Henry. Died within the year of his birth.

Otto went on to marry Agnes of Glogau with whom he had two children, among whom was Henry XV, Duke of Bavaria. Otto became King of Hungary after Katharine's death. Katherine is buried Cistercian Monastery at Seligenthal, Bavaria.

Family

Katharine's siblings included: Albert I of Germany, Klementia of Habsburg, Matilda of Habsburg, Rudolph II, Duke of Austria and Judith of Habsburg. Judith was married to Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and was the mother of Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, Anne of Bohemia (1290–1313) and Elisabeth of Bohemia (1292–1330).

Katharine's family, House of Habsburg was very powerful by the time of her death and they went on to become Holy Roman Emperors.

Ancestry

External links

• A listing of descendants of Rudolph I of Germany.