Duchess Charlotte Felicitas of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Encyclopedia
Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Charlotte Felicity; 8 March 1671–29 September 1710) was a German noblewoman. She was born into the House of Hanover
and later married into the House of Este,. She was thus the Duchess of Modena by marriage. She died in childbirth. Some sources refer to her simply as Charlotte.
in Hanover, a palace later destroyed in World War II
, she was the eldest surviving daughter of John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
and his wife, Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate
. Her father had been the ruler of Brunswick-Lüneburg since 1665 and her parents had been married since 1668.
Charlotte had two younger sisters: Princess Henrietta and Princess Wilhelmina Amalia, who made a prestigious marriage in 1699 to the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph I
.
Charlotte married Rinaldo d'Este in Modena
on 11 February 1696. The youngest child of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and his third wife Lucrezia Barberini
, Rinaldo had been created a cardinal in 1685, but he left the church in 1694 to succeed his nephew Francesco II as Duke of Modena. Rinaldo wanted to encourage relations between Modena and Brunswick, whose ruling house was the House of Hanover
. The marriage was celebrated splendidly despite financial problems in Modena; the artist Marcantonio Franceschini
was commissioned to paint a room, the Salone d'onore at the ducal palace in honour of the marriage.
Charlotte fled Modena for Bologna
in 1702 along with the rest of the Modenese royal family in order to avoid French troops in Italy due to the War of the Spanish Succession
.
Her husband was sixteen years older than Charlotte, but the two had seven children. After her death, her son Francesco, the ducal heir, married in 1721 Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, the daughter of Philippe d'Orléans
, the Régent
of France during the childhood of King Louis XV
. Her second daughter, Enrichetta, went on to marry first in 1727 Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma
and, after his death in 1731, Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Charlotte died at the Ducal Palace of Modena
after giving birth to a daughter in September 1710. The child also died. She was buried at the Church of San Vincenzo in Modena. Her son succeeded as Duke of Modena in 1737.
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
and later married into the House of Este,. She was thus the Duchess of Modena by marriage. She died in childbirth. Some sources refer to her simply as Charlotte.
Biography
Born at Schloss HerrenhausenHerrenhausen Gardens
The Herrenhausen Gardens , located in Lower Saxony's capital of Hanover are made up of the Great Garden , the Berggarten, the Georgengarten and the Welfengarten. The gardens are a heritage of the Kings of Hanover.The Great Garden has always been one of the most distinguished baroque formal gardens...
in Hanover, a palace later destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she was the eldest surviving daughter of John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
John Frederick was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg, a subdivision of the duchy, from 1665 until his death....
and his wife, Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate
Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate
Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate was a German princess, the third and youngest daughter of Edward of the Palatinate and his French wife, the political hostess Anna Gonzaga...
. Her father had been the ruler of Brunswick-Lüneburg since 1665 and her parents had been married since 1668.
Charlotte had two younger sisters: Princess Henrietta and Princess Wilhelmina Amalia, who made a prestigious marriage in 1699 to the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph I
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
.
Charlotte married Rinaldo d'Este in Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
on 11 February 1696. The youngest child of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and his third wife Lucrezia Barberini
Lucrezia Barberini
Lucrezia Barberini was an Italian noblewoman and, by marriage, Duchess of Modena. Born into the Barberini family, she was the last wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena.-Biography:...
, Rinaldo had been created a cardinal in 1685, but he left the church in 1694 to succeed his nephew Francesco II as Duke of Modena. Rinaldo wanted to encourage relations between Modena and Brunswick, whose ruling house was the House of Hanover
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. The marriage was celebrated splendidly despite financial problems in Modena; the artist Marcantonio Franceschini
Marcantonio Franceschini
Marcantonio Franceschini , was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mostly in his native Bologna. He was the father and teacher of Giacomo Franceschini.-Biography :...
was commissioned to paint a room, the Salone d'onore at the ducal palace in honour of the marriage.
Charlotte fled Modena for Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in 1702 along with the rest of the Modenese royal family in order to avoid French troops in Italy due to the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
Her husband was sixteen years older than Charlotte, but the two had seven children. After her death, her son Francesco, the ducal heir, married in 1721 Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, the daughter of Philippe d'Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
, the Régent
Régence
The Régence is the period in French history between 1715 and 1723, when King Louis XV was a minor and the land was governed by a Regent, Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV of France....
of France during the childhood of King Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
. Her second daughter, Enrichetta, went on to marry first in 1727 Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma
Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma
Antonio Farnese was the eighth and ultimate Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza. He married, in 1727, Enrichetta d'Este of Modena with the intention of begetting an heir; the marriage, however, was childless, leading to the succession of Charles of Spain–whose mother, Elisabeth Farnese, was...
and, after his death in 1731, Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Charlotte died at the Ducal Palace of Modena
Ducal Palace of Modena
The Ducal Palace of Modena is a Baroque palace in Modena, Italy. It was the residence of the Este Dukes of Modena between 1452 and 1859. It currently houses a portion of the Italian Military Academy.-History:...
after giving birth to a daughter in September 1710. The child also died. She was buried at the Church of San Vincenzo in Modena. Her son succeeded as Duke of Modena in 1737.
Issue
- Benedetta Maria Ernesta d'Este (18 Aug 1697–16 September 1777) died unmarried;
- Francesco d'Este (2 July 1698–22 February 1780) future Duke of Modena; married Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans and had issue;
- Amalia Giuseppina d'Este (28 Jul 1699–5 July 1778) married the Marquis de Villeneuf, had no issue;
- Gian Federico d'Este (1 September 1700–24 April 1727)
- Enrichetta d'EsteEnrichetta d'EsteEnrichetta d'Este was an Italian noblewoman. She was the Duchess of Parma by marriage to Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was her first cousin as well as an uncle of Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain....
(27 May 1702–30 January 1777) married Antonio Farnese, Duke of ParmaAntonio Farnese, Duke of ParmaAntonio Farnese was the eighth and ultimate Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza. He married, in 1727, Enrichetta d'Este of Modena with the intention of begetting an heir; the marriage, however, was childless, leading to the succession of Charles of Spain–whose mother, Elisabeth Farnese, was...
had no issue; married Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, grandson of Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1661 to 1678.He was the eldest of three sons of the Landgrave George II of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony.- Marriage and children :...
, had no issue; - Clemente d'Este (20 April 1708–23 April 1708) died in infancy;
- X d'Este (September 1710) female, died at birth;
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 8 March 1671 – 11 February 1696 Her Serene Highness Duchess Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- 1 February 1696 – 29 September 1710 Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Modena and Reggio