Barbara of Cilli

Queen Consort of Hungary, Germany, Bohemia and Empress Consort of Holy Roman Empire

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Lived 1392–1451, aged 59

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36 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1392–1451
Aged 59

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People connected to Barbara of Cilli

SpouseSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor

ChildElizabeth of Luxembourg

Summary

Updated 2026-05-29

Barbara of Cilli ran the Hungarian kingdom four times while her husband was away, racking up serious political clout across the Holy Roman Empire. She co-founded the Order of the Dragon and managed her own feudal estates like she owned the place—because she did.

Biography

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Barbara of Cilli or Barbara of Celje, was the Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia by marriage to Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund. She was actively involved in politics and economy of her times, independently administering large feudal fiefdoms and taxes, and was instrumental in creating the famous royal Order of the Dragon. She served as the regent of Hungarian kingdom in the absence of her husband four times: in 1412, 1414, 1416, and 1418.

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