Sophie du Palatinat du Rhin

Son Altesse Sérénissime, Madame la Princesse-Électrice de Hanovre, Duchesse-Consort de Brunswick, Princesse de Lüneburg, Princesse de Calenburg, Princesse-évêché d'Osnabrück painted by Louise Hollandine du Palatinat du Rhin. (c. 1667)

## Title

### Title

Princesse-Électrice de Hanovre
Duchesse de Brunswick-Lüneburg

Duchesse de Gifhorn

Princesse-Évêché d’Osnabrück

Princesse de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Princesse de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern

Princesse de Calenburg

Princesse de Celle

Princesse de Dannenberg

Dame de Harbourg

### Predecessor

Anna Eleonore von Hessen-Darmstadt, Duchesse Douairière de Brunswick-Lüneburg †

## Occupations

### Court Posts

Dame d'Atours à l'Impératrice Henriette d'Angleterre (1658 - Present)

## Biography

### Born

14 October 1635, The Hague, Empire of Vasttaire

### Spouse

Henri-Auguste de Hanovre, Prince-Électeur de Hanovre

### Issue

George Louis de Hanovre, Duc de Brunswick-LüneburgMaximilien William de Hanovre, Prince de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Louise Antoinette de Hanovre, Mademoiselle de Brunswick-Lüneburg

Sophie Charlotte de Hanovre, Mademoiselle de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

### Father

Friedrich V von Palts-Simmern, Duc de Simmern †

### Siblings

Charles I Louis, Duc de SimmernElisabeth, Princesse-Abbesse de Herford

Prince Rupert, Duc de Cumberland

Prince Maurice †

Louise Hollandine, Abbesse de Maubuisson

Prince Louis †

Prince Edward, Comte-Palatinat de Simmern

Princess Henriette Marie †

Prince Philip Frederick †

Princess Charlotte †

### Religion

Lutheranism (Previously Calvinism)

Sophie was often nicknamed "Madame Palatine" and thus chose to adopt this style into her signature upon her arrival to court.

**Sophie du Palatinat du Rhin** (14th October 1635 - Present) was a Vasttairian noblewoman and Princesse-Électrice. She was the twelfth child of *Friedrich V of Palatinate-Simmern* the *Duc de Simmern* and his wife *Elizabeth Stuart of England.* Because of this she was also known to be the grandfille of *James VI and I of England* and *Anne of Denmark.* Her ancestry was said to be one of remarkable prestige, which would prove to make her a worthy match for the *Prince-Électeur de Hanover, Henri Auguste de Hanover.* Upon her marriage to him in 1658, Sophie would become a welcomed presence in the court of *Charles XIX de Vasttaire.*

Described as "*une femme terne"* in appearance, her personality seemed to contradict this. Known for her wit and use of clever words, she was anything but boring to those who spoke with her.

## **Early Life**

*Sophia von Palts-Simmern* was born on the 14th of October 1635 to the King and Queen of Bohemia, Friedrich V and Elizabeth Stuart. Both known as the "*Winter King and Queen of Bohemia*", the two had a short reign of the country. Sophia was birthed in the *Wassenar Hof Palace* within the city of Den Haag after her parents fled into exile after the insuing conflict known as "The Battle of White Mountain". Upon her birth, she would be granted an annual yearly sum of forty thalers by the Dutch province of *Friesland.* Her education consisted of in-home tutors and governesses alongside her older siblings, as it was too dangerous for her to be sent away at the time. It was also during this period she would refuse the attempted courtship of *Charles II of England*, who intended on using her in order to gain financial backing from her mother's supporter, *Lord William Craven*.

### **Marriage**

Following the previous rejected proposal of the dethroned king, the young princess was quickly arranged to marry Henri August de Hanovre at the request of her mother. By spring of 1658, the two would officially marry and Sophie would gain the title of Duchesse de Brunswick-Lüneberg. In the same year, the young duchess would be introduced to the court of *Charles XIX de Vasttaire.* There she would gain a favorable friendship with the Empress-Consort Henriette d'Angleterre, the two being first cousins through the duchess' mother. This included gaining the position of Dame d'Atours the same year she arrived. After the Duc's ascension to Prince-Électeur de Hanovre following the death of *George de Hanovre*, she would become the now Princesse-Électrice de Hanovre in the summer of 1660. It was also during this year she would fully convert to Lutheranism, upon the insistence of her husband who was an ardent practitioner of the religion.

## Court of Charles XIX

### **Courtly Relationships**

Upon the death of their mother in 1662, Sophie's elder sisters the *Princesse-Abbesse de Herford* and the *Abbesse de Maubisson* would be obliged to attend court after years of them being confined to their own respective convents. Once they had arrived, it was noted how relieved and enthralled the young Electress was to have her closest siblings with her once more and relished spending time with them whenever she could. She was also known to have other inner circles with her distant relatives, including the *Prince-Electeur de Bavière* whom she often had correspondence with through letters due to their vastly different schedules and lifestyles.

However, one of her notable connections was the rather intriguing one with *Antoinette Louise de Mesmes,* the *Duchesse de Vivonne.* They were often known to be quiet threats to each other, one being a woman of many *suo jure* titles, and the other having intimidating connections to the Kingdom of Britain through her mother and Charles II. Between witty remarks and snide comments towards each other, there was a hidden layer of mutual respect and admiration unlike any other in court.

## **Issue**

With *Henri Auguste de Hanover,* the pair would have a total of four children, they are as follows:

* **George Louis de Hanovre,** *Duc de Brunswick-Lüneberg* (28 May 1660 - Present)
* **Maximilien William de Hanovre,** *Prince de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (*13 December 1666 - Present)
* **Louise Antoinette de Hanovre,** *Mademoiselle de* *Brunswick-Lüneberg* (13th December 1666 - Present)
* **Sophie Charlotte de Hanovre,** *Mademoiselle de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel* (30 October 1668 - Present)

## **Titles, Styles, and Honours**

### **Titles & Styles**

* **14th October 1635 - 15th March 1658,** *Sa Grâce, Madame la Princesse de Palatinat du Rhin*
* **15th March 1658 - 4th July 1660,** *Son Altesse, Madame la Duchesse-Consort de Brunswick, Princesse de Lüneburg, Princesse de Calenburg, Princesse-évêché d'Osnabrück*
* **4th July 1660 - Present,** *Son Altesse Sérénissime, Madame la Princesse-Électrice de Hanovre, Duchesse-Consort de Brunswick, Princesse de Lüneburg, Princesse de Calenburg, Princesse-évêché d'Osnabrück*

### **Honours**

* **2nd April 1658** - **Present,** *Dame d'Atours à l'Impératrice Henriette d'Angleterre*