Background
Clara Tott was the daughter of Gerhard Tott, who worked for the Augsburg city council.
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Clara Tott
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She was lady-in-waiting to Duchess Anna (1420–1474), the second wife of Duke Albert III of Bavaria. At court in Munich, she worked as a singer. In 1459, there began a love affair with Frederick I, Elector Palatine.
In any case, the marriage was secret until 1472, when Frederick, the eldest son, wanted a position in the cathedral chapters of Speyer and Worms and needed to prove his descent unambiguously.
After Frederick I died in 1479, his successor Philip even held Clara prisoner at Lindenfels Castle for several years, just to keep the situation secret. Contemporary historians describe the situation vaguely and express themselves very carefully, so as to not displease the powerful Palatinate.
Later historians have adopted the unclear terminology of their predecessors, even when the issue became less important dynastically and historically
In the 19th century, the historians Johann Ludwig Klüber and August Wilhelm Heffter researched the issue and wrote a very detailed paper, showing on the basis of clear evidence that both sons had been legitimate and that Clara Tott must have descended from a noble family. Clara Tott was musically talented and had a lasting effect on the musical life at court in Heidelberg.
A street in Augsburg is named after her.
Max Meyer-Olbersleben composed Clare Dettin, an opera in 3 acts, Operation 41 (1894)
Clara Tott and Elector Frederick I had a happy marriage. They had two sons:
Frederick of Bavaria (1460 – 16 October 1474), a canon in the cathedral chapter in Speyer, and later also in Worms.
He died before his father and, like his father, he was buried in the Franciscan church in Heidelberg.
His epitaph referred to him as an illegitimate son of the elector. The grave stone, with a portrait of Frederick dressed as a cleric, was still in the church in 1716.
lieutenant was, however, severely damaged by the French. Louis of Bavaria (1463-1523).
He was raised to imperial count by Emperor Maximilian I on 24 February 1494.
His father left him the County of Löwenstein. His heirs acquired the County of Wertheim and were later raised to princes of the Holy Roman Empire.
Achievements
Membership
If the descendants of Philip were to die out, then the most senior member of the Princely House of Löwenstein-Wertheim would inherit.
