Elizabeth of Hungary

Elizabeth (Hungarian: Erzsébet) was born on 7 July 1207, in the Kingdom of Hungary; she was daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and his wife, Gertrude of Merania.

Elizabeth was brought to the court of Thuringia to be betrothed to Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia a future union which would reinforce political alliances between the families. In 1221, at the age of fourteen, Elizabeth married Louis; the same year he was enthroned as Landgrave, and the marriage appears to have been happy.

After her marriage, she continued her charitable practises, which included spinning wool for clothing that would be given to the poor. Elizabeth's life changed on 11 September 1227, when Louis died of a fever. Elizabeth is reported to have said He is dead. He is dead. It is to me as if the whole world died today.

Following her husband's death, Elizabeth made solemn vows to Konrad von Marburg (priest and inquisitor) similar to those of a nun. These included celibacy and complete obedience to Konrad as her confessor and spiritual guide. He treated her harshly and held her to standards of behaviour which were almost impossible to meet. Among the punishments, he is alleged to have ordered beatings; he also ordered her to send away her children.
Elizabeth built a hospital at Marburg for the poor and the sick with the money from her dowry, where she and her companions cared for them. Her official biography written as part of the canonisation process describes how she ministered to the sick and continued to give money to the poor.

Elizabeth died on 17 November 1231, at the age of 24. She was canonised on 27 May 1235 by Pope Gregory IX.

St Elizabeth spinning wool for the poor
Marianne Stokes
(1895)

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