In connection with the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation the City History Museum of Spandau is showing an exhibition, which allows an insight into the fateful life of the Brandenburgian electress Elizabeth of Denmark (1485-1555).
In 1527 she confessed to lutheranism, against the will of elector Joachim I. This lead to a breach in the relation between her and her husband, who was a strong opponent to the new belief. That is why one year later she fled from Berlin to her uncle, the Elector of Saxony, who himself defended Luther and his ideas against the catholic accusations. Henceforth she lived mainly in Torgau and Wittenberg – where she often had contact to Martin Luther – and from 1536 on in a former monastery of the Brothers of St. Anthony in Lichtenburg near Prettin.
It was only after 17 years and long after the death of Joachim I., that Elizabeth returned to the Margraviate of Brandenburg and took her dower at the castle of Spandau, where she lived until shortly before her death in 1555.