Elizabeth of Luxembourg
The only child of the Holy Roman Emperor, whose brief reign as Queen of Hungary became a desperate struggle to secure her son's stolen inheritance.
1409–1442 (age 33)·Queen of Germany from 1438 to 1439·Birthday: October 7
Biography
Elizabeth of Luxembourg was born to rule, but lived a life defined by its frantic, tragic defense of that right. As the sole offspring of Emperor Sigismund, she was the heiress to his vast realms—Hungary, Bohemia, and the Holy Roman Empire itself. Her marriage to the Habsburg Archduke Albert V of Austria was a dynastic masterstroke, uniting two powerful houses. When Sigismund died in 1437, Albert and Elizabeth were crowned, but his reign lasted a mere two years. His sudden death in 1439 left Elizabeth a pregnant widow, fighting to protect the throne for her unborn child. She gave birth to a son, Ladislaus, and had him crowned King of Hungary while still an infant. But the Hungarian nobility, wary of a long regency, elected the Polish king Władysław III instead. What followed was a civil war, with Elizabeth a central, embattled figure. She died suddenly in 1442, likely from complications following a surgery, her mission unfulfilled. Her infant son, known posthumously as Ladislaus the Posthumous, would inherit claims but never wield real power, his fate underscoring the perilous position of a female heir in a world governed by swords and male succession.
#1 When Elizabeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1409
Elizabeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1409Born
1414Started school
1422Became a teenager
1425Could drive
1427Could vote
1430Turned 21
1439Turned 30
1442Died at 33
Key Achievements
- Became Queen Consort of Hungary, Germany, and Bohemia through her marriage to Albert V, who was elected king following the death of her father, Emperor Sigismund.
- Secured the coronation of her infant son, Ladislaus the Posthumous, as King of Hungary shortly after his birth in 1440, asserting his hereditary right.
- Acted as a key political and military leader for the faction supporting her son's claim during the subsequent Hungarian civil war.
- Was the last member of the Luxembourg dynasty in the direct male line, transferring its vast claims to the Habsburgs through her marriage.
Did You Know?
She was born in the castle of Visegrád, the royal seat of the Hungarian kings.
Her death was rumored by some chroniclers to have been caused by poisoning, though most modern historians attribute it to medical issues.
She was only 33 years old when she died, having outlived both her powerful father and her husband.
Her son, Ladislaus, was kept in the custody of his Habsburg relative Frederick III for most of his short life, a political pawn.
“My blood is my claim, and I will spend every drop defending it.”
