Item 12: Letter from Henriette Christine, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Abbess of Gandersheim, to Unknown [German Language], 1694 January 5
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 12
Dates
- Created: 1694 January 5
Creator
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Fair: document is browning; ink is fading; staining throughout; appears if the manuscript has been partially cut off
Measurements:
5 ½ in. x 8 in.
Description:
The following is a letter from Henriette Christine, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel [Henriette Christine, Duchess of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel], to unknown, dated January 5, 1694. This document contains ink and handwriting of multiple writers. It appears that the original manuscript was written in 1694, and the other notes were added later. Henriette Christine mentions two canons of Gandersheim Abbey, Christian Wilhelm Probst (mentioned in this book) and Günther von Geisau (mentioned in this book). Within this book, all three individuals from this manuscript are mentioned (Henriette Christine pp. 138-145; Christian Wilhelm Probst p. 465; Günther von Geisau p. 471). According to a German scholar, it appears that the two clergymen were involved with negotiating the capitulation of Henriette Christine as the succeeding abbess. Henriette Christine became the Abbess of Gandersheim Abbey on December 21, 1693. This letter is likely connected to Henriette Christine’s recent appointment as Abbess. Henriette Christine’s father, Duke Anthony Ulrich [Anton Ulrich], acted as the sole ruler of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel from 1704-1714. Henriette Christine’s niece, Elisabeth Christine, married Charles VI and became Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Germany in 1711. Due to her connections to royalty, Henriette Christine’s position as Abbess emphasized imperial immediacy of the Gandersheim Abbey. In order to marry Charles VI, Elisabeth Christine had to convert to Roman Catholicism, an act which required a significant amount of convincing by both her father and aunt. Allegations that Henriette Christine was finding herself drawn towards Catholicism began as early as 1698. Duke Anthony Ulrich converted to Roman Catholicism in 1709, and Abbess Henriette Christine later followed suit. As a result of the birth of a child out of wedlock, Henriette Chrisitne resigned as Abbess of Gandersheim Abbey on July 12, 1712, just one day after her religious conversion. Following these events and the abbey’s connection to the recently converted Roman Catholic rulers, the denominational status of Gandersheim Abbey became unclear.
Location:
Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg; Stift Gandersheim [Gandersheim Abbey], Lower Saxony, Germany
Transcription:
[Sincere thanks to Lajos Adamik, Inscriptiones Alborum Amicorum, Klaus Graf from Archivalia for their transcription assistance].
[Front] Wolffenbüttel[sic] [Wolfenbüttel] den 5. Januarij 1694. Von Gottes Gnaden Henriette Christine, Erwehlte Äbtissin Des Kayserl. freyen Weltlichen Stiffts[sic] [Stifts] Gandersheimb[sic] [Gandersheim], Herzogin zu Braunschweig und Lüneburg (etc)
Text on the right [different ink]: E[ue]r Ew Ld[sic] [Euer Liebden]: und dero- selben Dienst willige baß Schwester und dienerin auch freundtwillige[sic] [freund willige], und stets wohlgeneigte[sic] [wohle geneigte] Henriette Christina Text on the left [in black ink]: Tochter von Anton Ulrich, geb. 19' Sept[em]b[e]r 1669. wurde Äbtissin 1694 − trat zur katholi- schen Confession über 1712 † zu Staremont(?) in Geldern. 1753 1694−1712
Duchess of Brunswick + Abbess [written in pencil; likely former archivist notes]
[Back] Dasgestalt[sic] [Dergestalt] Ew.[sic] [Euren]. und Denenselben[sic] [Denselben] gefällig gewesen, an Uns Die Ehrwürdige und den Ehrenvesten, Ehr[envollen/Ehrwürdigen] Christian Wilhelm Probsten, und Ehr[würdigen] Günther von Geisau in gewissen Verrichtungen an Uns abzuschicken, solches haben Wir ab Ew[sic] [Euer]. C[anonici] und Dererselben[sic] [Derselben] Uns wolbehändigten Creditiv in mehrern[sic] [mehreren] ersehen. Gleichwie Wir nun Dieselbe sofort zur audienz verstattet, und Sie in ihren Anbringen gerne und Geisau
Translation attempt:
Wolffenbüttel, January 5th, 1694. By the Grace of God, Henriette Christine, Elected Abbess of the Imperial and Free Secular Monastery of Gandersheim, Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg (etc)
Text on the right [different ink]:
Your beloved and willingly devoted sister and servant, also friendly, willing, and always well inclined, Henriette Christina,
Text on the left [in black ink]:
Daughter of Anton Ulrich, born 19 September 1669 Became Abbess in 1694 − converted to the Catholic faith in 1712 † at Staremont(?) in Gelderland. 1753 1694−1712
Duchess of Brunswick + Abbess [written in pencil; likely former archivist notes]
[Back]
Thus being pleasing to You and Them, we have sent the Reverend and Honorable Christian Wilhelm Probsten and the Honorable Günther von Geisau to us for certain tasks, having received your Canons and their well-maintained credentials in several ways. Just as we have now granted them the audience immediately, and are pleased with their requests and Geisau.
[Front] Wolffenbüttel[sic] [Wolfenbüttel] den 5. Januarij 1694. Von Gottes Gnaden Henriette Christine, Erwehlte Äbtissin Des Kayserl. freyen Weltlichen Stiffts[sic] [Stifts] Gandersheimb[sic] [Gandersheim], Herzogin zu Braunschweig und Lüneburg (etc)
Text on the right [different ink]: E[ue]r Ew Ld[sic] [Euer Liebden]: und dero- selben Dienst willige baß Schwester und dienerin auch freundtwillige[sic] [freund willige], und stets wohlgeneigte[sic] [wohle geneigte] Henriette Christina Text on the left [in black ink]: Tochter von Anton Ulrich, geb. 19' Sept[em]b[e]r 1669. wurde Äbtissin 1694 − trat zur katholi- schen Confession über 1712 † zu Staremont(?) in Geldern. 1753 1694−1712
Duchess of Brunswick + Abbess [written in pencil; likely former archivist notes]
[Back] Dasgestalt[sic] [Dergestalt] Ew.[sic] [Euren]. und Denenselben[sic] [Denselben] gefällig gewesen, an Uns Die Ehrwürdige und den Ehrenvesten, Ehr[envollen/Ehrwürdigen] Christian Wilhelm Probsten, und Ehr[würdigen] Günther von Geisau in gewissen Verrichtungen an Uns abzuschicken, solches haben Wir ab Ew[sic] [Euer]. C[anonici] und Dererselben[sic] [Derselben] Uns wolbehändigten Creditiv in mehrern[sic] [mehreren] ersehen. Gleichwie Wir nun Dieselbe sofort zur audienz verstattet, und Sie in ihren Anbringen gerne und Geisau
Translation attempt:
Wolffenbüttel, January 5th, 1694. By the Grace of God, Henriette Christine, Elected Abbess of the Imperial and Free Secular Monastery of Gandersheim, Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg (etc)
Text on the right [different ink]:
Your beloved and willingly devoted sister and servant, also friendly, willing, and always well inclined, Henriette Christina,
Text on the left [in black ink]:
Daughter of Anton Ulrich, born 19 September 1669 Became Abbess in 1694 − converted to the Catholic faith in 1712 † at Staremont(?) in Gelderland. 1753 1694−1712
Duchess of Brunswick + Abbess [written in pencil; likely former archivist notes]
[Back]
Thus being pleasing to You and Them, we have sent the Reverend and Honorable Christian Wilhelm Probsten and the Honorable Günther von Geisau to us for certain tasks, having received your Canons and their well-maintained credentials in several ways. Just as we have now granted them the audience immediately, and are pleased with their requests and Geisau.
- Abbesses, Christian--Germany--Correspondence
- Anton Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1633-1714 [Anton Ulrich, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, 1633-1714]
- Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
- Catholicism
- Correspondence.
- Gandersheim (Germany)
- Letter.
- Probst, Christian Wilhelm, 1631-1707
- Protestantism
- Roman Catholicism
- Von Geisau, Günther, 1653-1701
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
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84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu