Margarethe von Helfenstein


Margarethe von Helfenstein was the illegitimate daughter of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.
She married the German Count. They were taken hostage after the Siege of Weinsberg in 1525 during the Peasants' Revolt. The baker Jacklein Rohrbach pinned her to the ground, telling his companions, "Behold, brethren. Jacklein Rohrbach kneels on the emperor's daughter". The count offered Rohrbach his fortune of 60,000 florins, but the attackers decided to kill him anyway. She was liberated by the army of the Princes, and took refuge at the court of Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy, the regent of the Netherlands. She was given an allowance by Margaret and the emperor. She died around 1525.