Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony – her impact on piety and policy

Honorary doctorate lecture with Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Irene Dingel.

Anna of Denmark was born on November 22, 1532, as the first child of the future Danish King Christian III and his wife Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. In 1548, at the age of 15, Anna married the 21-year-old August of Saxony, one of the most powerful electors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation at that time. But Anna herself also exerted considerable influence. When she died at the age of only 52, Lutheran theologians praised not only her sincere piety, but also her tireless dedication as mother of the country.

Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony, had received a thorough education. She was interested in political affairs, maintained an impressive private library, and cultivated an extensive network of correspondents. Her letters reveal how adept she was at asserting her interests and achieving her goals, especially in matters of religious policy. This lecture traces her footsteps.