Elizabeth Albertine, Princess of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Elizabeth Albertine, Princess of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Duchess in Saxony (4 August 1713 - 29 June 1761) was a member of the reigning family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz during the 18th century.
She was born a daughter of Ernst Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1681 – 1724) and his wife Sophia Albertine, Countess of Erbach (1683 - 1742). However some have suggested Elizabeth to be an illegitimate daughter of Ibrahim Petrovich Gannibal.
Marriage and children
On 5 February 1735, Elizabeth was married to Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (23 February 1707 - 5 June 1752) , the youngest son of Adolf Friedrich II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and half-brother to Adolf Friedrich III. They became parents to ten children:
- Christiane, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (6 December 1735 - 31 August 1794).
- Karoline, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (22 December 1736).
- Adolf Friedrich IV of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (5 May 1738 - 2 June 1794).
- Elizabeth Christine, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (13 April 1739 - 9 April 1741).
- Sophie Louise, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (16 May 1740 - 31 January 1742).
- Karl of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (10 October 1741 - 6 November 1816). Father of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
- Ernst Gottlob Albert , Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (27 August 1742 - 27 January 1814).
- Charlotte, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (19 May 1744 - 17 November 1818). She became Queen consort to George III of the United Kingdom.
- Gotthelf, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (29 October - 31 October 1745).
- Georg August, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (16 August 1748 - 14 November 1785).
Maternal descent
Her paternity has been questioned by genealogists but her maternal descent has been traced with certainty to Margarita de Castro e Sousa, a Portuguese noblewoman of the 15th century. Castro could trace her own descent to Afonso III of Portugal and a mistress of his called Madragana (Mor Afonso), daughter of the Mozarab (Iberian Christians living under Muslim domination) governor of Faro, Aloandro Ben Bekar.
A simplified descent can be described below.
Elizabeth was an eighth-generation descedant of Margarita de Castro e Sousa (d. 1483). Margarita was married to Jean II, count of Neufchetel (c. 1414 - 1489) and was mother to his heir Fernando de Neufchetel, Count of Neufchatel-Marnay (c. 1477 - 1522).
Fernando was married to Claude de Vergy (c. 1476 - 1512). They were parents to daughter Antoinette de Neufchettel (d. 1544). Antoinette became consort to Philippe de Salm-Dhaun (1492 - 1521).
They were parents to (among others) Marguerite de Salm-Dhaun (1521 - 1576). Marguerite was a consort of Eberhard XIV von Erbach (1511 - 1564). They were parents to his successor Georg III, Count of Erbach (1548 - 1605).
Georg III was married twice. His second wife Mary von Barby, Countess of Barby-Muhlingen (1563 - 1619) was mother to his successor Georg Albrecht I, Count of Erbach (1597 - 1647/1649).
Georg Albrecht I was married to Elizabeth Dorothea, Princess of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (1617 - 1655). They were parents to his succesor Georg Ludwig I, Count of Erbach (1643 - 1693).
Georg Ludwig I was married to Amalie Katharine, Princess of Waldeck-Eisenberg (1640 - c. 1699). They were the maternal grandparents of Elizabeth Albertine.
