Margaretha von Waldeck
| Countess Margaretha of Waldeck | |
|---|---|
| Noble family | House of Waldeck |
| Father | Philip IV, Count of Waldeck |
| Mother | Margaret of East Frisia |
| Born |
1533 Germany |
| Died |
15 March 1554 Brussel |
Margaretha von Waldeck (1533 – 15 March 1554) was the daughter of Philip IV of Waldeck-Wildungen (1493–1574) and his first wife, Margaret of East Frisia (1500–1537). She is believed to be an influence for the fairy tale of Snow White.
Margaretha's father owned several copper mines - a majority of workers were children. When Margaretha was about 16 or 17, she left her home because she and her new step-mother could not get along. She settled in Brussels and soon attracted the attention of the future Philip II of Spain. They became lovers with the intention to marry; however, the union was forbidden by Phillip's father (who saw no political value) and Margaretha's step-mother (who simply hated the girl).
Unlike the fairy tale, this story does not have a happy ending: be it fate or foul play, Margaretha was dead by the age of 21. It is believed that she was poisoned: the handwriting in her last will and testament was shaky enough to make most people think she had developed tremors, a sign of poisoning. However, no one knows what exactly killed Margaretha, though we can rule out one suspect: her stepmother was already dead.
Another of her suitors was Lamoral, Count of Egmont.
Eckhard Sander, in his book Schneewittchen: Märchen oder Wahrheit? (Snow White: Is It a Fairy Tale?), alleges that Margaretha is inspiration for the tale of Snow White.