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Margarete Weißkirchner

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Margarete Weißkirchner and Philip I, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg

Margarete Weißkirchner (1460-1500), was the common-law-spouse of Philip I, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg from 1477 until their death in 1500. They openly lived together after the death of Philip's spouse in 1477. They could not marry, because she was a commoner. Margaret was not considered Philip's royal mistress, but was treated as though they were married.

He appeared with her in public. The most representative testimony is probably the first large-scale double-portrait in art history, the so-called Gotha Lovers. Their relationship is exceptionally well documented. The couple had three children:

These children could not inherit the county, because they did not belong to the high nobility. Nevertheless, Philip and Margareta included them in their will.

References

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  • Johann Adam Bernhard: Acta & Historiae der Hern und Grafen von Hanau. [Handschrift des 18. Jahrhunderts im Staatsarchiv Marburg: H 146]