Elizabeth of Leiningen
# Elizabeth of Leiningen

Elizabeth of Leiningen, German: Elisabeth von Leiningen (died 20 June 1235/38), was a countess of the House of Leiningen and by marriage countess of Nassau. As widow she used the title countess of Schowenburg.

## Life

Elizabeth was a daughter of Count Emich III of Leiningen. She married in or before 1169 to Rupert III ‘the Bellicose’ of Nassau (died 23/28 December 1191). From this union came the following children:

* Herman (died 16 July before 1206), count of Nassau 1190–1192.
* Lucardis (died before 1222), she married before 27 February 1204 to Herman III, Count of Virneburg (died after 1254).

Elizabeth's husband is mentioned as count of Nassau between 1160 and 1190. He took part in the Third Crusade (1189–1190) with Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. It seems that he stayed until the end of the siege of Akko and then died on the way back at sea.

‘Elysa comitissa dicta de Schowenburg, relicta … Ruperti comitis de Nassowe’ sold property to Johannisberg Abbey with consent of ‘Hermanni comitis de Virneburg et Luccardis conthoralis ipsius filie nostre advocatiam et iudicium ville Steinheim’ by charter dated 27 February 1204.

At the death of her brother Count Frederick II of Leiningen c. 1217/20 Elizabeth inherited one third of Schaumburg Castle near Balduinstein and its Herrschaft. After her death her part came into the possession of her grandsons, the Counts Rupert I and Henry I of Virneburg.

‘Lucardis comitissa de Sarebrugen … cum sororibus nostris Alverade quondam comitissa de Cleberc et Elysa quondam etiam comitissa de Nassowe’ donated property to Limburg Cathedral in a charter dated 1235.

The necrology of Arnstein Abbey records the death of ‘Elizabetis comitisse de Nassauwe, que legavit nobis elemosinam bonam’ on 20 June.

