Federica of Scharrau
Federica of Scharrau (c. 1509- 20 October 1534) was a German noblewoman who was princess consort of Kollstansze from 1526 - 1534 under the name Maleen of Adlkofen.
Little is known of Federica's early life. She was the daughter of Viscount Frederick of Scharrau, a member of a powerful family related to the prince of Scharrau. Her father accompanied his cousin Amalia of Scharrau to the Duchy of Adlkofen, a state of the Holy Roman Empire, when she married Duke Otto of von der Mark. Frederick was married and had one legitimate daughter, Adelaide. Federica was born to a woman named Anne in 1509. Duke Otto paid for her upbringing away from court. In 1525, she accompanied her father, half-sister, and cousin Maleen to Kollstansze for Maleen's marriage to Prince Ludvik of Kollstansze. Sometime during this journey, Maleen and Adelaide switched places. Adelaide was presented as Maleen of Adlkofen, and Maleen herself as Frederick’s daughter, under the name “Maleen of Scharrau”.
In Kollstansze, Federica served as one of Adelaide's ladies-in-waiting. Reportedly, she had been having "visions" since the age of five that "often left her greatly troubled". Descriptions of her have led scholars to believe that she may have had schizophrenia. She shared a room with the real Maleen of Adlkofen until her marriage in April 1526. Federica is described as unable to sit still most of the time, often found talking to herself or conversing with imaginary figures, often in tears and claiming to have been told terrible things. She prayed often, paced often, and often shook Maleen awake at night to try to tell her what she had heard. She is described as almost identical to Adelaide - tall, with long blonde hair and blue eyes.
In October of 1526, when Ludvik was at a summit in Willmars, Adelaide delivered a stillborn son and died in early December. Frederick, unwilling to lose the alliance, put Federica into Adelaide's place and told Ludvik that his wife had gone insane after the loss of the baby. Ludvik had spent only four months in Kollstansze with his wife and very little actual time with her while they were in the same place, and seemed to notice no difference in her appearance.
Ludvik made no effort to get rid of his wife or to have exorcisms performed on her. He is reported to have spent long hours awake at night talking to her, and continued to present her at court. Adelaide is described as usually rather timid and shy, and often distracted staring into space. She was fond of Maleen's children and is said to have spent many hours in church.
As princess, she accompanied Ludvik everywhere, including visits to other states and once in 1530 to Rome. She and Ludvik had no offspring, although there were plans in place for any of their children to be betrothed to one of the children of the Prince of Scharrau, who was the real Maleen's maternal great-uncle and was Federica's paternal great-uncle.
Ludvik made no effort to get rid of his wife or to have exorcisms performed on her. He is reported to have spent long hours awake at night talking to her, and continued to present her at court. Adelaide is described as usually rather timid and shy, and often distracted staring into space. She was fond of Maleen's children and is said to have spent many hours in church.
As princess, she accompanied Ludvik everywhere, including visits to other states and once in 1530 to Rome. She and Ludvik had no offspring, although there were plans in place for any of their children to be betrothed to one of the children of the Prince of Scharrau, who was the real Maleen's maternal great-uncle and was Federica's paternal great-uncle.
Federica and Ludvik had no issue. By spring of 1534, Ludvik was suffering from what might have been tuberculosis and adopted Maleen's son as an heir. He died in the fall of 1534. Federica died the same day of unknown causes--there were no reported signs of a cause.
In George Powell's TV show "The Cursed Queen", Federica is shown to have been raised generally by servants in Adlkofen.
Some attention is given to her in Elizabeth Raye-Muller's "The Cursed Queen"
She appears in Natalie Andrew's "As Alike As Two Suns", where she has been brought up as one of Maleen's ladies in waiting.
Another fictional account is in Laura Gillespie's "A Time Traveler at Court".
Kira Lennox's "The So-Called Mad Kings" tells the story of Federica and of Maleen's sons
Some attention is given to her in Elizabeth Raye-Muller's "The Cursed Queen"
She appears in Natalie Andrew's "As Alike As Two Suns", where she has been brought up as one of Maleen's ladies in waiting.
Another fictional account is in Laura Gillespie's "A Time Traveler at Court".
Kira Lennox's "The So-Called Mad Kings" tells the story of Federica and of Maleen's sons