St. Elizabeth of Hungary was a Hungarian princess and renowned for her charity and deep spirituality. She was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and at the age of four she was betrothed to the nobleman, Louis IV of Thuringia. She married him in 1221 after his succession as ruler of Thuringia.

Elizabeth toiled constantly to ease the suffering and hunger of the poor and infirm, although the expense incurred by her charity angered her husband. Once, when he complained bitterly about her activities, a basket of roses was changed miraculously into a basket of bread. Thereafter, he supported all of her charities, held her hand while they kept vigils, and prayed with her.

Louis died in 1227, and Elizabeth came under the control of her brother-in-law, Henry Raspe. Declaring himself unable and unwilling to pay for her many charities, he exiled her. She fled to her uncle, the bishop of Eckbert, and became of member of the Third Order of St. Francis.

Settling at Marburg, she fell under the harsh influence of Conrad of Marburg, whose demands upon her were so severe that she was finally removed from his spiritual direction. After recovering her health, she returned to the care of the poor in the area around Marburg and founded a hospital there. She died at the age of 24 from illness.