Bernauer, Agnes (d. 1435)

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Bernauer, Agnes (d. 1435)

Bavarian who was condemned for witchcraft. Birth date unknown; drowned in 1435; daughter of an Augsburg baker; secretly married Albert (1401–1460, son of Ernest, duke of Bavaria-Munich), about 1432.

Agnes Bernauer, daughter of an Augsburg baker, secretly married Albert, son of Ernest, the duke of Bavaria-Munich, around 1432. Ignorant of this fact, the duke urged his son to marry and reproached him for his relationship with Agnes. Albert then declared Bernauer was his lawful wife. While Albert was away, Bernauer was seized by order of her father-in-law and condemned to death for witchcraft. On October 12, 1435, she was drowned in the Danube near Straubing, where her remains were buried by Albert. Her story, which lived long in the memory of the people, afforded material for several German dramas. Adolf Böttger, Friedrich Hebbel, and Otto Ludwig have each written works entitled Agnes Bernauer.