Eleanor of Scotland
| Eleanor of Scotland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Archduchess consort of Austria | |
| Tenure | 1449–1480 |
| Born | 1433 |
| Died | 20 November 1480 (aged 46–47) |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Sigismund, Archduke of Austria |
| House | Stewart |
| Father | James I of Scotland |
| Mother | Joan Beaufort |
Eleanor of Scotland (1433 – 20 November 1480) was an Archduchess of Austria by marriage to Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, a noted translator, and regent of Austria in 1455–58 and 1467. She was a daughter of James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort.
Early life[edit]
Eleanor was the sixth child of James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort.[1] James I was known for his great love of literature which he passed on to Eleanor and her sister Margaret.[1]
Starting in 1445, Eleanor lived at the court of Charles VII of France, where it was suggested that she should marry Frederick, King of the Romans.[1][2] In 1447, she accompanied Marie of Anjou, Queen of France, on a pilgrimage on Mont Saint-Michel.[3]
Archduchess of Austria[edit]
In 1448 or 1449 the teenage Eleanor married Sigismund, a Habsburg Duke, then Archduke of Further Austria, and finally ruler of Tyrol (from 1446 to 1490).[1][2]
Eleanor served as regent for her husband from 1455 to 1458 and again in 1467.[2]
Heinrich Steinhöwel dedicated his translation of Boccaccio's On Famous Women to Eleanor.
Translation[edit]
Eleanor was a great lover of books and literate in several languages.[2] She translated The History of the King's Son of Galicia, named Pontus, and the beautiful Sydonia (Pontus and Sidonia) from French to German.[2] The French original passed through several editions between 1480 and 1550.[2]
In addition to translating the work, Eleanor also revised it to increase the political power of women.[2] Only the courts with effective female advisors retained their political stability.[2]
Based on the number of printings, it was a popular book.[2] A copy of the German translation, preserved in the library of Gotha, bears the date 1465.[3]
Eleanor and Elisabeth von Nassau-Saarbrücken are credited with introducing the prose novel to German literature.[2]
Death[edit]
Eleanor died giving birth to her son Wolfgang at Innsbruck on 20 November 1480 and was buried in Stams.
Gallery[edit]
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Sigismund, Archduke of Austria and his betrothed Radegonde of Valois and successive wives Eleanor of Scotland and Catherine, Archduchess of Austria. -
Sigismund and Eleanor Statues in Stams
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Watanabe, Professor Morimichi (28 July 2013). Nicholas of Cusa – A Companion to his Life and his Times. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 9781409482536.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Schaus, Margaret (1 January 2006). Women and Gender in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415969444.
- ^ a b Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Society. 1 January 1862. p. 95.
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- 1433 births
- 1480 deaths
- Scottish princesses
- House of Stuart
- Austrian nobility
- Scottish people of English descent
- Austrian royal consorts
- 15th-century women regents
- Deaths in childbirth
- Scottish translators
- 15th-century translators
- French–German translators
- 15th-century Scottish women writers
- 15th-century regents
- Daughters of kings
- Scottish royalty stubs