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Saint Elisabeth: From the king's daughter to the poverty icon in Marburg!
Learn more about Saints Elizabeth of Thuringia, David of Augsburg and other historical figures celebrated on November 19th.
Saint Elisabeth: From the king's daughter to the poverty icon in Marburg!
On November 19, 2025, we commemorate St. Elisabeth of Thuringia, a fascinating and remarkable figure of the Middle Ages. Born on July 7, 1207 in Sárospatak, Hungary, she was the daughter of King Andrew II and Gertrude of Andechs. Her early childhood was marked by political turbulence and power-strategic considerations, as she was brought to the Wartburg at the age of just four to enjoy an upbringing in the Thuringian court. This happened in view of a planned marriage with the eldest son of Landgrave Hermann of Thuringia, which was intended to strengthen family connections. It becomes clear that the marriage plans were also influenced by high social considerations, especially since Elisabeth's mother came from an influential noble family and the connections were encouraged by her siblings.
In 1221, Elisabeth finally married Ludwig IV of Thuringia in the Georgenkirche in Eisenach. The marriage was characterized by happiness, and Elisabeth accompanied her husband not only at parties but also on his travels. Their shared commitment to the needy was expressed in the founding of a hospital in Gotha in 1223. Elisabeth was deeply influenced by the religious poverty movement, which led her to reject the splendor common in Thuringian culture and to care for the sick and needy. During a famine in 1226, she herself opened the granaries for those in need, which cemented her reputation as a holy benefactor.
A tragic turn of events
The juiciest chapters of her story are the tragic turns that occurred after her husband's untimely death in 1227. Louis died during the Fifth Crusade when Elizabeth was just 19 years old. After his death, her life changed radically: from then on she lived in poverty, gave everything she had to the poor and was despised by her own family and former acquaintances. This illustrates how women in the Middle Ages, despite the political influence attributed to them, were often severely limited and how harsh their reality was.
Elisabeth was held against her will by her uncle, Bishop Ekbert of Bamberg. However, she eventually managed to escape and found a new hospital in Marburg, where she lived as a hospital nurse and dedicated herself to caring for lepers. Her involvement in society was remarkable for the time, as many women in her position had very limited scope for action. Women are often overlooked in historiography, but Elizabeth's actions acknowledge the long-underestimated role of women in the Middle Ages, who held jobs and positions behind the scenes.
Legacy of the Saints
On November 17, 1231, at the age of only 24, Elisabeth died after a short illness and found her final resting place in the chapel of the hospital she founded in Marburg. Her life and work were posthumously depicted widely in art and literature, and she was canonized. In fact, her story impressively shows how women, despite the challenges of their time, were able to play a significant role in society - be it through marriage alliances, as abbesses or through personal heroic deeds. The memory of Elisabeth of Thuringia is not only that of a saint, but also that of a courageous woman who stood up for the weakest in her society.