1256: Marie of Brabant, on suspicion of infidelity
January 18th, 2011 Headsman
On this date in 1256, Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, had his wife Marie of Brabant beheaded at Donauworth for adultery.
This 26-year-old uncle of the doomed Conradin was kept away from his spouse for many months on state affairs.
At some point, he returned furiously convinced of his wife’s infidelity.
One representative version of the legend has it that
[Lewis] held his Court in Heidelberg, and by him stood ever his dearest friend, Henry, Count of Leiningen, and to him one day the anxious wife sent a letter, beseeching he would use his influence to quicken her husband’s return. Another missive was dispatched at the same time to Duke Lewis … The old mistake was made, Duke Lewis received the letter destined for his friend, wherein the artless Duchess had assured Henry of Leiningen that, if he accompanied her lord in his return, her pleasure in welcoming him would be great.
Etcetera.
That Marie really did exist and really was beheaded on her husband’s authority for adultery appears to be about the extent of the certain information available to us.
This poignant scenario became embroidered into popular legend (and is supposed to have inspired the tale of one of the classic medieval faithful-accused-wife tales: that of Genevieve of Brabant).
The accusation evidently appeared quite doubtful in real life, since her husband and executioner Louis subsequently founded the Cistercian Furstenfeld Abbey in penitence.
She is not to be confused with Marie de Brabant, Queen of France later in the 13th century and a suspect in the poisoning death of the French heir … an affair that cost chamberlain Pierre de la Brosse his life. The words Dante wrote of that later Marie of Brabant would have suited our day’s heroine, too.
may the Lady of Brabant
while she’s still in this world, watch
her ways—or end among a sadder flock
On this day..
- 2016: Daniel Shaver, police impunity victim - 2020
- 1169: Shawar, Saladin forerunner - 2019
- 1884: Maggie and Michael Cuddigan lynched in Ouray - 2018
- 1573: Gilles Garnier, loup-garou - 2017
- 1678: James Mitchell, Covenanter assassin - 2016
- 2013: Two from cranes in Pakdasht - 2015
- 2000: Spencer Corey Goodman - 2014
- 1863: Mangas Coloradas, Apache leader - 2013
- 1902: Gideon Scheepers, Boer guerrilla - 2012
- 1676: Joshua Tefft, drawn and quartered in Rhode Island - 2010
- Themed Set: Resistance and Rebellion in the Restoration - 2010
- 1803: George Foster, and thence to the reanimator - 2009
- 1985: Mahmoud Mohamed Taha, progressive Islamic theologian - 2008
Entry Filed under: 13th Century,Beheaded,Capital Punishment,Death Penalty,Execution,Germany,History,Myths,Nobility,Scandal,Sex,Women,Wrongful Executions
Tags: 1250s, 1256, dante, donauworth, genevieve of brabant, january 18, marie of brabant, pierre de la broce, pierre de la brosse
