Agnes, Duchess of Saxe-Belzig (Merveilles des Morte)

Barbara of Belzig
Portrait by Victor Clouet, 1552
Duchess of Saxe-Belzig
Reign	1560-1587
Coronation	12 February 1560
Predecessor	Wolfgang I Barbara
Successor	Charles II (as sole ruler)
Co-monarch	Charles II
Born	31 December 1524 Belzig, Saxe-Belzig, Holy Roman Empire
Died	7 November 1587 Paris, France
Spouse	Charles II
Issue	Henry I
House	House of Marck
Father	Wolfgang I
Mother	Barbara
Religion	Jungism

Agnes of Belzig (31 December 1524 - 7 November 1587) was Duchess of Saxe-Belzig from 1560 until her death, and ruled alongside her husband, known as Charles II. She was the only child of Barbara of Belzig and Wolfgang I of Saxony, the latter of which abdicating the throne of Belzig upon the death of his wife. This was part of an arrangement orchestrated by the late Charles the White – Agnes' grandfather – ensuring that the duchy remained independent following his death, and protected with military force by John III, Duke of Brandenburg.

Agnes was raised as a Jungist by her parents, and by this time Saxe-Belzig was firmly non-Catholic. Her mother had pursued close relations with Brandenburg and Bohemia, which Agnes did not object to. As ruler, Agnes had very little interest in administrative tasks, instead taking a keen interest in fashion and the arts. She paid lavishly to improve family properties in Belzig, her court attracting artists from across Europe. She also traveled extensively, oftentimes spending more time in the court of foreign kings than in her own. She would spend time in Bohemia and France due to her familial connections, the latter being her favorite. This lavish spending strained the treasury of Saxe-Belzig, and Agnes was eventually pressured to hand over domestic affairs to her husband Charles II. Later in life Agnes moved permanently to Paris, where she died of old age in 1587. Charles II continued to reign as monarch, and after his death their son Henry I succeeded.