Matilda Of Hesse

Mathilde was born on July 4, 1473 into a Hessian aristocratic family, the daughter of Henry III, Landgrave of Oberhesse, and his wife, Anna of Württemberg, the daughter of Count Philip I of Katzenernbogen and his first wife, Anna of Württemberg. She was born as the second daughter of Katzenernbogen. Her father's marriage to Mathilde's mother Anna earned him great wealth and territory, earning him the nickname "The Rich Man." After her father's death in 1479, she became heir to the county of Katzenernbogen. A dispute later arose over this inheritance, which was also known as the ``Katzenernbogischen Succession Dispute''. Eventually, Mathilde's younger brother William benefited from the inheritance. Mathilde also had his five siblings. they were: Frederick (died young). Ludwig III (1460-1478). He never married and died without incident. Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg (1466-1523). She married John V, Count of Nassau-Siegen, with whom she had six children. William III, Landgrave of Hesse (1471-1500). He married Elisabeth, but died leaving no heirs. Heinrich (died young).

Mathilde's parents, like her older sister Elisabeth, sought to secure Katzenernbogen's inheritance through early marriage policies. In the summer of 1481 she became engaged to John of Cleves, and their marriage was scheduled for 1485. However, the marriage took place on November 3, 1489, after Pope Innocent VIII awarded Duke John the Golden Rose of Virtue on April 15, 1489. This is noteworthy given the fact that John had a dubious reputation as a "child-maker" with 63 alleged illegitimate children. From then on, John called himself ``Johann von Kleve, Count of La Marque and Katzenernbogen''. She married John II, Duke of Cleves, on 3 November 1489 at Soest. He was the son of John I, Duke of Cleves and Elizabeth, Duke of Nevers. It is known that in this marriage three children were born. John (1490–1539), successor to Duke of Cleves and Count of Marc Anna (1495-1567), married Philip III, Count of Waldeck-Eisenberg in 1518 Adolf (1498-1525) was appointed as his successor by his father's cousin, Philip of Cleves, lord of Levenstein-Weinnendale, but he died before Philip in 1528.

Mathilde died of unknown causes in Cologne on February 19, 1505, at the age of 31. She was buried in Kleve Church, and much later her husband was buried there.

The Munich State Library (Cod. Germ. 84) houses the Prayer Book of Sybil von Kleve from 1526. Art historian Eberhard Schenck zu Schweinsberg's research is based on the same prayer book (on loan from the Cologne Church). The research library Valentin Engelhard von Gelsheim proves that both prayer books were made in a workshop in Cologne. He states that Mathilde was the only original owner of this prayer book, and that after her death it was passed on to her granddaughter Sybil of Cleves as her wedding present.

Boltanski, Ariane (2006). The Duke of Nevers and the Royal State: The Origins of Compromise (c. 1550-c. 1600) (French). Libraire Droz S.A. Ward, A.W. G.W., Prothero. Leeds, Stanley ed. (1934). Cambridge Modern History. Flight. XIII. Cambridge University Press.