8. Agnes Bernauer
Unlike most of the people on this list, Agnes Bernauer is not of noble blood. Most of her early life is a mystery but she is thought to be the daughter of a barber surgeon from Ausburg. At the age of 18, she met Albert III, Duke of Bavaria at a tournament that took place in the city. Albert fell in love and shortly after meeting her, brought her to his home in Munich. Over the next few years, she became an integral part of Albert’s household and it is believed the couple may have married in secret. Sadly, the couple’s relatively happy story takes a tragic turn in 1435.
While it seems that most didn’t give a second thought to the couple or their union, apparently it bothered one person greatly. Because of her status as a commoner, Albert’s father Ernest found her unworthy of his son and a threat to the line of succession. The two argued over this matter extensively until Ernest decided he’d had enough. Albert left on a hunting trip and his father arrested Agnes for witchcraft. The court convicted Agnes and she was drowned in the Danube River as punishment. The news of his beloved’s fate devastated Albert. He built a chapel in her honor and multiple statues have been dedicated to her memory since her death.