Elizabeth of Hungary

Timeline

1. 1207–1211Sarospatak · HungaryDaughter of Andrew II and Gertrude of Merania, sister of Béla IV. In 1211 Landgrave Hermann I of Thuringia sent envoys to arrange a marriage, and the four-year-old Elizabeth was sent to be raised at the German court.
2. 1211–1227Wartburg (Eisenach) · ThuringiaGrew up at the Wartburg and married Louis IV in 1221. The court was famed for its extravagance and patronage of scholars, while she was known for prayer and almsgiving. In 1227 her husband died of plague at Otranto while on crusade, and she immediately lost her court position.
3. 1227–1228Eisenach · ThuringiaRefused to remarry and gave away her wealth to the poor. On Good Friday 1228 she formally joined the Third Order of St. Francis at the Franciscan house in Eisenach, then went to Marburg and placed herself under the spiritual direction of Conrad of Marburg.
4. 1228–1231Marburg · HesseFounded a hospital at Marburg with her dowry, personally caring for the sick and poor, especially nursing patients then considered unclean. She died on 17 November 1231 at only twenty-four. She was canonized by Gregory IX at Perugia on Pentecost 1235.