Background
Hedwig was a daughter of Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1564–1613) from his second marriage with Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark.
Duchess of Brunswick Duchess of Pomerania
Hedwig was a daughter of Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1564–1613) from his second marriage with Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark.
The wedding feast was very costly. lieutenant was attended by 16 ruling princes.
Hedwig was a sister of Christian, "the mad Bishop of Halberstadt". Hedwig married on 7 February 1619 in Wolfenbüttel to Ulrich, Duke of Pomerania (1589-1622), Bishop of Cammin. The marriage lasted only three years and remained childless.
Ulrich died at the age of 33 as a result of his heavy drinking.
Among the Duchess"s entourage was Christopher of Hoym, who would later become Marshal of the last Duke of Pomerania, Bogislaw XIV. After the her husband"s death, she moved to her widow seat in Szczecinek, where she lived in the castle for another 28 years. She retained the elaborate court she had grown used to in Wolfenbüttel and Cammin.
In 1649, het household numbered 65 people. She wore mourning clothes for the rest of her life, and devoted herself to charity.
Hedwig was described as brave, beautiful and wise.
She was a talented lute player and hymn author She probably wrote the well-known Auf, Zion auf, Tochter säume nicht. In 1630, she fled to Bobolice to evade the plague.
In 1631, she appointed Gregor Lagus, who was Rector of the Latin school at Kołobrzeg as provost in Szczecinek, despite opposition from Duke Bogislaw XIV. Lagus became her leading co-author of a book on Evangelical education.
In 1640, she founded a school, which was later named after her: the "Princess Hedwig School". In 1642, Hedwig was wounded during a raid by the Polish noblemen Bartholomew Tarno from Strączno, Pipilowski from Czarnków and voivode Melchior Weiher of Chełmno.
The attempt to take her hostage was probably related to her negotiations to receive an inheritance to supplement her dwindling revenues. In her last will she named Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg as her heir.
Hedwig died of smallpox in 1650, at the age of 56.
She was finally buried in the Pomeranian ducal crypt in Rügenwalde in 1654.