Anna of Veldenz, Countess Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken
Anne of Veldenz was a Countess suo jure of Veldenz. She was a member of the Hohengeroldseck family, the second family to rule Veldenz.Life
Anna was the heiress of Frederick III, the last Count of Veldenz from the Hohengeroldseck family, and his wife Margaret of Nassau-Saarbrücken. In 1409, she married to Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken, thereby bringing the County of Veldenz into the possession of the Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. She also brought a 50% share in the County of Sponheim into the marriage. The Counts of Veldenz had acquired this share in 1425, as had been predicted by Count John V of Sponheim-Starkenburg in the 1425 Treaty of Sponheim. Anna's eldest son Frederick I would inherit her share in the County of Sponheim, her son Louis I would inherit the County of Veldenz proper.
In the 19th century, a descendant of Anna became King of Bavaria, which is why the Veldenz lion is now part of the Bavarian coat of arms.Issue
From her marriage with Stephen, Anna had the following children:
- Anne
- Margaret
- Else, married to Michael von Corvey
- Frederick I
- Rupert
- Stephen
- Louis I
- John
