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Jewellery from the coffin of Count Palatine Friedrich of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauß-Parkstein (1557-1597)

Frederick of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauß-Parkstein was born in Meisenheim in 1557 as the fourth son of Count Palatine Wolfgang of Zweibrücken and Neuburg (1526-1569). In 1581 he took over his part of his father’s inheritance. He was married to Katharina Sophia (1561-1608), the daughter of Duke Heinrich XI of Liegnitz-Brieg (1539-1588). The couple’s three children did not survive infancy. In 1597, the Count Palatine died in Friedrichsburg Castle near Vohenstrauß, which he had built. His body was transferred to Lauingen and buried in the royal crypt there with rich grave goods. When the coffin was opened in 1781, his body crumbled to dust; the jewellery made of precious metal remained. In addition to the Order Chain of the Golden Society of Elector Christian I of Saxony (1560-1591), eight rings, including his signet ring with a rock crystal plate, had been enclosed with him. A total of 39 enamelled gold buttons adorned his formerly violet-blue and velvet-bordered gown, and an enamelled, round agrafe of gold decorated his headgear. His rapier hilt was accompanied by a pendant of smoky blue agate; the heavily corroded rapier hilt with pommel and a partially gilded wheel spur have also survived.

The other part collections of "Renaissance jewellery from the Lauingen royal crypt" available on bavarikon

>> This collection is part of the collection "Renaissance jewellery from the Lauingen royal crypt" of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum.