Agnes of Limburg-Styrum

Agnes of Limburg-Styrum (18 September 1563 at Castle de Wildenborch in Bronckhorst – 2 January 1645 in Vreden) was abbess of the abbeys at Elten, Vreden. Borghorst, and Freckenhorst. Life She came from a noble Limburg-Styrum family. Her father was Herman George of Limburg-Bronkhorst, Lord of Styrum, Wisch and Borculo. Her mother was Countess Mary of Hoya-Bruchhausen. Her sister Metta was also Abbess in Freckenhorst. She entered the convent in Elten at a young age. She became provost in Vreden in 1596. In 1603, she became abbess of Elten. From 1614, she was abbess of the abbeys at Vreden, Borghorst and Freckenhorst. She lived mostly in Vreden. All four abbeys were in a bad state at the beginning of her reign. Some were suffering from the aftermath of recent wars; in other, life had become too worldly. Agnes implemented reforms in all her abbeys. In Elten, she had the partially ruined building demolished and began building a new one. In Borghorst, she added a new building.