Anna Sophia II, Abbess of Quedlinburg

Anna Sophia II
File:AnnaSophieHeDaQued.jpg
Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg
Reign	1681- 1683
Predecessor	Anna Sophia I
Successor	Anna Dorothea
Born	(1638-12-17)17 December 1638 Marburg, Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt
Died	Quedlinburg Abbey
House	Hesse-Darmstadt
Father	George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Mother	Sophia Eleonore of Saxony
Religion	Lutheran

Landgravine Anna Sophia of Hesse-Darmstadt (17 December 1638 – 13 December 1683) was a German noblewoman who reigned as Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg under the name Anna Sophia II.

Early life

Anna Sophia was the daughter of George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Duchess Sophia Eleonore of Saxony. She was raised as Lutheran, received good education and grew up to be strictly religious.

As writer

In 1655, at the age of 17, Anna Sophia entered the Quedlinburg Abbey. In 1658, Anna Sophia published a book of spiritual meditations called Der treue Seelenfreund Christus Jesus. At first, Lutheran theologians regarded her book as suspect. They argued that the book equalized women with men, but it was later approved. Anna Sophia justified her work as was standard in the 17th century, saying that it was God's order. Being an abbess and Lutheran at the same time, Anna Sophia defended her choice to remain unmarried in her book.

As nun and abbess

Anna Sophia had a lapse of faith after her sister, Landgravine Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt, converted to Roman Catholicism. She thought of leaving Quedlinburg to follow her sister's example, but ultimately changed her mind.

Despite suffering from "chronic cough", Anna Sophia was elected to succeed Anna Sophia I, Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg, in 1681. The new princess-abbess selected Duchess Anna Dorothea of Saxe-Weimar as her coadjutor in 1683. Anna Sophia II died the same year, after only two years of reign, and was succeeded by Anna Dorothea.

Ancestry

Family of Anna Sophia II, Abbess of Quedlinburg

16. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse               8. George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt                       17. Christine of Saxony               4. Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt                             18. Bernhard VIII, Lord of Lippe               9. Magdalene of Lippe                       19. Catherine of Waldeck-Eisenberg               2. George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt                                   20. Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg               10. John George, Elector of Brandenburg (=26)                       21. Magdalena of Saxony               5. Magdalene of Brandenburg                             22. Joachim Ernst, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst               11. Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst                       23. Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen               1. Anna Sophia II, Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg                                         24. Augustus, Elector of Saxony               12. Christian I, Elector of Saxony                       25. Anne of Denmark               6. John George I, Elector of Saxony                             26. John George, Elector of Brandenburg (=10)               13. Sophie of Brandenburg                       27. Sabina of Brandenburg-Ansbach               3. Duchess Sophia Eleonore of Saxony                                   28. Albert, Duke of Prussia               14. Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia                       29. Anna Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg               7. Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia                             30. Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg               15. Marie Eleonore of Cleves                       31. Archduchess Maria of Austria

Anna Sophia II House of Hesse-Darmstadt Cadet branch of the House of Hesse
Regnal titles
Preceded by Anna Sophia I	Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg 1681- 1683	Succeeded by Anna Dorothea