Karolina of Legnica-Brieg

Karolina of Legnica-Brieg (b. Brzeg, 2 December 1652 - d. Wroclaw, 24 December 1707), was a Princess of Legnica-Brzeg and by marriage Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg and Princess of Denmark.

She was the eldest daughter of Christian, Duke of Legnica-Brzeg-Wołów-Oława by his wife Louise, daughter of John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau.

Life

Youth

Karolina was the eldest child of her parents. They gave her first name, which was never endowed to other member of the Piast dinasty before or after. Her baptism took place on 1 January 1653. As godfather was chosen the senior member of the family, Duke George Rudolf of Legnica; but at the time of its birth, he was seriously ill (he died thirteen days later, on 14 January), and for this, in the ceremony he was replace by her paternal uncle Louis IV.

During his early years Karolina witnessed the rule of his father as only child. In 1653 after the death of Duke George Rudolf, her uncles George III and Louis IV, together with her father Christian ,inherited Legnica and Brzeg for one year as co-rulers, until they decided to made the division of their domains (1654). In the division, Christian received the most poor parts of the Duchy, Wołów and Oława. However, in 1664, after the deaths of his only suriviving brother George III, Karolina's father united under his rule the whole Duchy of Legnica-Brzeg.

Christian and his wife supervised their daughter's upbringing under the strong terms of theCalvinist faith. On 28 July 1657 Karolina's first sibling was born, Louise, whose godmother was the Queen Louisa Maria of Poland. Sadly, the girl died on 6 February 1660 after only thirty-two months of life. Seven months later, on 29 September, Duchess Louise gave birth the first son and heir, George William. Three years and five months later, on 15 January 1664 the youngest child of the Ducal couple was born, a second son called Christian Louis. Forty-three days later, on 27 February, the young prince died. At the end, Karolina and George William were the only surviving children of Duke Christian of Brieg.

Marriage

A few months after his father's death Sarah married Frederick von Holstein-Szleswig-Sondenburg-Wiesenburg from the side lines Oldenburgów dynasty (his prapradziadkiem was king of Denmark Christian III). The spouse Piastówny derived from Catholic families. He served in the imperial army as a colonel kirasjerów. Princess Legnicka probably met him through a Jesuit, being surrounded by her mother. Motivated by love rather than for reasons dynastycznymi, adopted the Catholic religion, 14 Jul 1672 she married her secretly wybranka and 3 May 1673, young dynaści took the official wedding. 12 January 1674 was born their only descendant, Leopold. However, the marriage proved unsuccessful and in August 1680 with the consent of Emperor Leopold I was the separation of the spouses. In accordance with an arrangement of legal separation son remained with his father Leopold.

George William's death and last years of life

21 November 1675 Karoline's brother died, the last prince-Legnicko brzeski of the Piast dynasty Jerzy Wilhelm. Princess explore the possibility to take power after him in the Principality. However, the Emperor Leopold I, in spite of its profess Catholicism, objected to the plans. Only the order of 14 September 1680 registered an annual salary of its lifetime of 6000 talarów (later monarch has made to it in 4000 yet talarów).

Karolina resident at home in the princes of Legnica Wroclaw. She lived alone, leading devout life, and giving to charitable activities.

Death

Karolina died 24 Dec 1707 in Wroclaw. Her heart lodged in urnie silver in the local church of St. Clara (in the chapel of St.. Jadwigi). In contrast, the body spoczęło in a monastery in cysterek Trzebnicy. This happened against the wishes of her mother, who has prepared for her burial place in Legnica mausoleum, called Piasteum. This is the place of sculpture pełnopostaciowym princess left blank.