Count Conrad von Hemsdorf
Conrad von Hemsdorf (18 August 1505 – 9 May 1579) was a German nobleman and ambassador. He is noted as the author of Notes on Kollstansze, a collection of letters and self-reflective notes that he kept between 1525 and 1579 while living in Kollstansze. Some of his father's notes, which cover the years 1512 to 1561, also exist.
Early Life
Illness and Speech Impediment
Kollstansze
Friend of the Prince
Maleen’s Regencies
Issue
Later Life
Possible Murder Involvement
In Popular Culture
Illness and Speech Impediment
Kollstansze
Friend of the Prince
Maleen’s Regencies
Issue
Later Life
Possible Murder Involvement
In Popular Culture
Conrad was born in the principality of Willmars, a state of the Holy Roman Empire, on 18 August 1504. His father, William, was a court doctor and his mother, Silvia, was a recently widowed Italian countess. She was disowned by her family upon her second marriage, but the couple was supported by and given the blessing of Prince John II of Willmars, who was grateful to Conrad's father for his good service.
Conrad grew up with the court of Willmars, where his father remained a doctor and his mother served as a lady-in waiting of Princess Christina (later Princess Dowager). He was about the same age as John II's second son, John, and the two grew up together and remained close friends throughout their lives. Conrad was educated alongside the prince, who had been partially paralyzed in a childhood accident. By the age of 18, Conrad could read and speak German, Latin, and Italian, Greek, and French. The two were often under the supervision of William Brandt, a low-born groom or servant whose son would later grow up alongside Conrad’s children.
In 1522, John II and his older son died unexpectedly and John, at sixteen, became John III under the heavy influence of his uncle. John had been betrothed to Maleen of Adlkofen, a minor duchess of another state of the Holy Roman Empire, but this was broken off and his uncle arranged for him to marry Princess Barbara of Alberta. In early 1523, Conrad traveled to Italy to collect her. By all accounts, this marriage was not happy--the princess was not pleased with her husband and they often lived separately. Both had extramarital affairs--Barbara at different points with an extremely minor lord of the court, a groom or valet, and John with an English language-tutor, Mark, who came to court to teach his younger cousins. Mark appears frequently in letters from John--Conrad records, at other points, that he had once been responsible for helping these affairs be carried out, and in keeping John's secret from Barbara.
Conrad grew up with the court of Willmars, where his father remained a doctor and his mother served as a lady-in waiting of Princess Christina (later Princess Dowager). He was about the same age as John II's second son, John, and the two grew up together and remained close friends throughout their lives. Conrad was educated alongside the prince, who had been partially paralyzed in a childhood accident. By the age of 18, Conrad could read and speak German, Latin, and Italian, Greek, and French. The two were often under the supervision of William Brandt, a low-born groom or servant whose son would later grow up alongside Conrad’s children.
In 1522, John II and his older son died unexpectedly and John, at sixteen, became John III under the heavy influence of his uncle. John had been betrothed to Maleen of Adlkofen, a minor duchess of another state of the Holy Roman Empire, but this was broken off and his uncle arranged for him to marry Princess Barbara of Alberta. In early 1523, Conrad traveled to Italy to collect her. By all accounts, this marriage was not happy--the princess was not pleased with her husband and they often lived separately. Both had extramarital affairs--Barbara at different points with an extremely minor lord of the court, a groom or valet, and John with an English language-tutor, Mark, who came to court to teach his younger cousins. Mark appears frequently in letters from John--Conrad records, at other points, that he had once been responsible for helping these affairs be carried out, and in keeping John's secret from Barbara.
Around the fall of 1524, Conrad suffered what his father referred to as “brain fever”, and spent around a week dangerously ill with seizures, high fever, and hallucinations. Upon his recovery, he was found to have some difficulty in speaking, and to have entirely forgotten Latin, French, Greek, and Italian, which he began relearning. It has been suggested that he began taking notes during this time due to memory problems, but that is uncertain. He was supposed to have regained most of his former proficiency, although he never re-learned Greek.
Conrad’s notes often use broken phrases or incorrect grammar. It is thought that this is most likely because he was writing quickly, changing ideas partway through a sentence, or comes from moments where he was thinking in Italian but writing in German. However, it has also been suggested that this was leftover from his seizures in 1524.
Conrad’s notes often use broken phrases or incorrect grammar. It is thought that this is most likely because he was writing quickly, changing ideas partway through a sentence, or comes from moments where he was thinking in Italian but writing in German. However, it has also been suggested that this was leftover from his seizures in 1524.
In 1525, Conrad was sent as the ambassador from Willmars to Kollstansze. John and Conrad were both not fond of Prince Ludvik, but were friends with either Duke Richard of Adlkofen or with a possible unnamed older brother who had died and left Duke Richard on the throne. Duke Richard's sister Maleen, formerly betrothed to John, was now to marry prince Ludvik, and Conrad departed in the spring of 1525 to keep an eye on her and on Ludvik Conrad writes on April 8, 1525:
Found the prince as I remembered--surrounded by loud men, constantly hunting or shouting or drinking, a poor match for our Duchess as J[ohn] remembers her.
Almost immediately after meeting the Duchess, though, it became apparent that something was wrong. Conrad had never met Maleen, since he had been in Italy in 1523 during John's most recent visit to Adlkofen, but knew from the description of her that she was small, with dark eyes. He found the Duchess to be "tall, with darker blonde hair and light eyes". He also knew that she and John had met and gotten along well in Adlkofen--he says, several days later:
I met with the Duchess and her ladies again today...I told the Duchess that J[ohn] remembered fondly their meeting in Adlkofen. The Duchess claimed to remember meeting him, but offered no specifics of the meeting such as I expected after how highly J[ohn] had spoken of her. I had hoped this would provide some subject of conversation, as I felt something wrong and wished not to leave so soon, but it did not, so instead I prompted her and said that he had spoken to her on war with France—she nodded and agreed. I mentioned some other subjects, which she seemed unable or unwilling to discuss and which eventually made her upset with me--said that she most of all remembered "his limping, and weak demeanor, and general unappealing person." She walked out. Concerned too much to tell J[ohn] that Duchess he remembered so fondly and would have gladly married because of her kindness and wrote no letter. Later, her lady--the small and dark-eyed one who concerns me--came to see me alone and said that the Duchess remembers John fondly as very kind and more than the usual interested in what she as woman says of affairs which she likes much, hopes to see him soon though she knows travel is hard for him and remembers he was ill after in Adlkofen. I asked her if the Duchess knew me, and she said she does, and knows me as the friend the prince often spoke of who was then in Italy. Began to fear and asked her what the Duchess and John had spoken of in regards to Martin Luther--she repeated word for word what John had said to me the Duchess said, but I know they met alone--good God, I think I have found the real M[aleen] and know not what to do...
Conrad wrote multiple letters to John, where they determined that Maleen’s uncle, Frederick the Marquess of Scharrau, had replaced Maleen with his own daughter Adelaide. They were too late to prevent it; the marriage went ahead in October 1525. There seemed no way around it that did not involve war between Adlkofen, Scharrau, and Kollstansze, so John’s best advice was for Conrad to keep Maleen safe. In April 1526, after John wrote to Frederick suggesting it, Conrad and Maleen were married.
Found the prince as I remembered--surrounded by loud men, constantly hunting or shouting or drinking, a poor match for our Duchess as J[ohn] remembers her.
Almost immediately after meeting the Duchess, though, it became apparent that something was wrong. Conrad had never met Maleen, since he had been in Italy in 1523 during John's most recent visit to Adlkofen, but knew from the description of her that she was small, with dark eyes. He found the Duchess to be "tall, with darker blonde hair and light eyes". He also knew that she and John had met and gotten along well in Adlkofen--he says, several days later:
I met with the Duchess and her ladies again today...I told the Duchess that J[ohn] remembered fondly their meeting in Adlkofen. The Duchess claimed to remember meeting him, but offered no specifics of the meeting such as I expected after how highly J[ohn] had spoken of her. I had hoped this would provide some subject of conversation, as I felt something wrong and wished not to leave so soon, but it did not, so instead I prompted her and said that he had spoken to her on war with France—she nodded and agreed. I mentioned some other subjects, which she seemed unable or unwilling to discuss and which eventually made her upset with me--said that she most of all remembered "his limping, and weak demeanor, and general unappealing person." She walked out. Concerned too much to tell J[ohn] that Duchess he remembered so fondly and would have gladly married because of her kindness and wrote no letter. Later, her lady--the small and dark-eyed one who concerns me--came to see me alone and said that the Duchess remembers John fondly as very kind and more than the usual interested in what she as woman says of affairs which she likes much, hopes to see him soon though she knows travel is hard for him and remembers he was ill after in Adlkofen. I asked her if the Duchess knew me, and she said she does, and knows me as the friend the prince often spoke of who was then in Italy. Began to fear and asked her what the Duchess and John had spoken of in regards to Martin Luther--she repeated word for word what John had said to me the Duchess said, but I know they met alone--good God, I think I have found the real M[aleen] and know not what to do...
Conrad wrote multiple letters to John, where they determined that Maleen’s uncle, Frederick the Marquess of Scharrau, had replaced Maleen with his own daughter Adelaide. They were too late to prevent it; the marriage went ahead in October 1525. There seemed no way around it that did not involve war between Adlkofen, Scharrau, and Kollstansze, so John’s best advice was for Conrad to keep Maleen safe. In April 1526, after John wrote to Frederick suggesting it, Conrad and Maleen were married.
Adelaide died in October 1526, and Frederick replaced her with her possibly schizophrenic half-sister Federica. Ludvik had been away for most of their short marriage, and upon his return, seemed to notice no difference in his wife except for the story presented to him, that she had gone insane. To Conrad’s apparent surprise, the prince began to summon him to talk about her condition, asking his advice as a doctor’s son. Conrad convinced him not to dismiss Federica.
Ludvik and Federica reigned until 1534. During their years in power, Conrad and Maleen often traveled between Willmars and Kollstansze.
Ludvik and Federica reigned until 1534. During their years in power, Conrad and Maleen often traveled between Willmars and Kollstansze.
In 1534, Ludvik adopted Conrad and Maleen’s oldest son, eight-year-old Ludvik, as an heir. Prince Ludvik died in the fall of 1534. Federica died the same day. Maleen and Marquess Frederick became co-regents for Ludvik, and when Frederick died in the spring of 1535, Maleen sole regent until 1540. She also served as regent from 1546 – 1550 during Ludvik’s apparent descent into madness, from 1555 – 1556 after their son Otto’s debilitating accident, and from 1559 – 1570, after their son Conrad’s murder, during their grandson Otto’s minority.
Conrad did not serve on the regency council, but spent most of his time working as an ambassador and educating his children with Maleen. Between her regencies, they often traveled to Willmars.
Conrad did not serve on the regency council, but spent most of his time working as an ambassador and educating his children with Maleen. Between her regencies, they often traveled to Willmars.
Ludvik
Born 30 October 1526
Died 17 November 1550 (aged 24)
married in 1542, Dorothea of Breisig, and had children (Ludvik and Ella)
Ramona
Born 2 October 1527
Died 17 August 1577 (aged 50)
Married in 1550, Otto of Willmars, and had children
Siegmund
Born 17 November 1528
Died 30 December 1528
Otto
Born 9 December 1529
Died 17 April 1556 (aged 27)
Married in 1549, Anna of Olsker, had children (Otto)
Conrad
Born 11 May 1531
Died 9 October 1559 (age 28)
Married in 1552, Barbara of Vallececa, had no children
Ursula
Born 13 October 1533
Died 1600 (aged 67)
Married in 1551, Franz of Zittau, had children
Henrik
Born 1 November 1538
Died 28 November 1599 (aged 61)
Never married; had no children
Margareta
Born 5 May 1540
Died 15 August 1590 (aged 50)
Married in 1557, Frederick of Damgarten, had no surviving children; adopted niece Ella c. 1565
Along with his own children, Conrad also helped to raise Wilhelm Brandt’s son, William (1536 – 1599), and his grandchildren Ludvik and Ella.
Born 30 October 1526
Died 17 November 1550 (aged 24)
married in 1542, Dorothea of Breisig, and had children (Ludvik and Ella)
Ramona
Born 2 October 1527
Died 17 August 1577 (aged 50)
Married in 1550, Otto of Willmars, and had children
Siegmund
Born 17 November 1528
Died 30 December 1528
Otto
Born 9 December 1529
Died 17 April 1556 (aged 27)
Married in 1549, Anna of Olsker, had children (Otto)
Conrad
Born 11 May 1531
Died 9 October 1559 (age 28)
Married in 1552, Barbara of Vallececa, had no children
Ursula
Born 13 October 1533
Died 1600 (aged 67)
Married in 1551, Franz of Zittau, had children
Henrik
Born 1 November 1538
Died 28 November 1599 (aged 61)
Never married; had no children
Margareta
Born 5 May 1540
Died 15 August 1590 (aged 50)
Married in 1557, Frederick of Damgarten, had no surviving children; adopted niece Ella c. 1565
Along with his own children, Conrad also helped to raise Wilhelm Brandt’s son, William (1536 – 1599), and his grandchildren Ludvik and Ella.
Conrad died suddenly in 1579.
Conrad knew as early as 1558 that his grandchildren Ludvik and Ella had been abused by their uncle, his son Prince Conrad. Although he records that Ludvik was responsible for Conrad’s death by stabbing, rumors persisted that Conrad had more to do with it than he wrote. At the trial, William Brandt (Wilhelm Brandt’s son and Henrik’s lover), Maleen, and Conrad all testified to seeing Ludvik wake them in the night claiming not to know where he had come from or how he was covered in blood; William added that he had seen Ludvik moving “as if in a dream”. What is most odd is that no one heard any screams from Prince Conrad, who was stabbed fifty-four times in the neck and chest. There were no signs of a struggle, which led some at the time to speculate that he had been poisoned and was already dead at the time he was stabbed.
A fictionalized account is in George Powell's TV show "The Cursed Queen"
An account of Maleen's life is published in Elizabeth Raye-Muller's "The Cursed Queen"
A fictional account of Maleen's life is recorded in Natalie Andrew's "As Alike As Two Suns"
Another fictional account is in Laura Gillespie's "A Time Traveler at Court" , where Conrad appears as a time-traveller from the 21st century
Kira Lennox's "The So-Called Mad Kings" tells the story of Maleen's sons
Julie Shipland's "Love Letters" is a translation of Maleen's letters to her husband
An account of Maleen's life is published in Elizabeth Raye-Muller's "The Cursed Queen"
A fictional account of Maleen's life is recorded in Natalie Andrew's "As Alike As Two Suns"
Another fictional account is in Laura Gillespie's "A Time Traveler at Court" , where Conrad appears as a time-traveller from the 21st century
Kira Lennox's "The So-Called Mad Kings" tells the story of Maleen's sons
Julie Shipland's "Love Letters" is a translation of Maleen's letters to her husband