Feast day: 17 November
Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania. Her mother’s sister was St Hedwig of Andechs, wife of Henry the Bearded, Duke of Silesia and Poland. She was born in Hungary in 1207. At the age of four she was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia, to be betrothed to Ludvig IV, a marriage which would unite the two families. In 1221 she married Ludvig and in the same year he was enthroned as Landgrave (a landgrave was a nobleman who answered directly to the Holy Roman Emperor rather than to an immediate lord). The union seems to have been a happy one.
In 1223 Franciscan friars from the newly-created order arrived and Elizabeth learnt about the ideals of their founder, St Francis of Assisi. She began to live them herself. Louis supported his wife, believing that distribution of wealth to the poor would bring eternal reward. Louis is venerated in Thuringia, though he has never been officially canonised.
Konrad von Marburg, a priest and later an inquisitor, gained considerable influence over Elizabeth, which later proved to be bordering on sadistic.
In 1226 there were floods, famine and plague in Thuringia which caused havoc. Her husband Louis, who was a staunch supporter of the Emperor Frederick II, represented him at the Diet of Cremona. Meanwhile, in his absence, Elizabeth assumed control of affairs at home and distributed alms to all parts of their territory, even giving away state robes and ornaments for poor relief.
In 1227 Louis went to join the Sixth Crusade and died of a fever in Otranto, Italy. It happened a few weeks before Elizabeth gave birth to a baby girl, Gertrude. Upon hearing of Louis’ death, she exclaimed: “He is dead. It is to me as the whole world died today.” Louis’ remains were returned to his wife and entombed in the abbey of Reinhardsbrunn.
Louis’ brother, Henry Raspe, assumed the regency during the minority of Elizabeth’s son Hermann. There were bitter arguments over the disposal of her dowry, a conflict in which her confessor Conrad was appointed Defender of her cause by the Pope. Elizabeth left the court at Wartburg and moved to Marburg in Hesse. This was because Konrad had imposed strict dietery requirements, which could not be met in Wartburg.
Elizabeth made solemn vows to Konrad, similar to those of a nun. These included celibacy, as well as complete obedience to her confessor. His treatment of her seems nothing short of savage. He set standards which were impossible to achieve and inflicted punishments which included beatings. He had her three children sent away. Konrad was a cruel inquisitor who had so-called heretics burnt at the stake. His actions led him to be murdered in 1233. Elizabeth’s vow of celibacy did not suit the dynastic ambitions of her family and Elizabeth was more or less held hostage in the castle of her uncle, Bishop Ekbert of Bramburg, in order to force her to remarry. However she remained faithful to her vow of celibacy, threatening to disfigure herself so that no man would want her.
Elizabeth’s second child, Sophie of Thuringia, was married to Henry II Duke of Brabant and was the ancestress of the Landgraves of Hesse. The third child, Gertrude, became Abbess of Altenberg Abbey, Hesse, near Wetzlar.
Elizabeth built a hospital for the poor and sick with the money from her dowry. She and her companions cared for them there.
The popular legend of the miracle of the roses was originally attributed to St Elizabeth of Portugal (1282-1325). It was a story that was added later and appears in the lives of other saints. While taking bread to the poor, she met either her husband Louis or his brother. To quell suspicions that she was stealing treasure from the castle, he asked her to reveal what was hidden under her cloak. When it was opened there were white and red roses. Another legend tells how Elizabeth laid a leper in the marital bed. Her mother-in-law was horrified and told Louis when he returned. When her husband threw the bedclothes back, he saw the figure of Christ crucified lying there.
Elizabeth died on 17 November 1231. She was 24 years of age. Her death was probably the result of her ascetic lifestyle and overwork in the service of the poor and sick. Many miracles were attested to her and she was canonised by Pope Gregory IX in 1235. Her body was laid in a magnificent golden shrine, which can still be seen in the Elisabethkirche in Marburg today. It became a site of pilgrimage in the 14th and 15th centuries. An attempt was made to destroy the shrine during the Reformation but this was forestalled by the Emperor Charles V. Swedish troops plundered it during the Thirty Years' War and her relics were dispersed to several places. Her feast day is 17 November.
St Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us.