Friedrich Carl, Duke of Holstein-Plön
Encyclopedia
Frederick Charles of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (August 4, 1706, Sønderborg
– the night of October 18-19, 1761, Traventhal
), also known as "Friedrich Karl" or "Friedrik Carl"of Holstein-Plön, was a member of a cadet branch of the Danish royal family
and the last duke
of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (or Holstein-Plön), a Danish royal prince, and a knight of the Order of the Elephant
. When he died without male heirs born of his marriage to Christine Armgard von Reventlow, rule of the Duchy of Holstein-Plön returned to the Danish crown.
, the posthumous son and sole child of Christian Charles
(1674-1706), a brother of Duke Joachim Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
. That duke died in 1722 without closer male heirs than his nephew, who in time succeeded his uncle as ruler of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
, a small but prosperous duchy, one of the last quasi-independent sections of the condominium
ruled partly by the Danish king and partly by cadet branches of the Danish royal family. Frederick Charles's succession to power was delayed until 1729 because his father had contracted an unequal marriage
with his mother, the non-royal noblewoman Dorothea Christine von Aichelburg, who only years after his father's untimely death was at last created a princess of Denmark.
enjoyed a vibrant cultural life under Frederick Charles's rule and artistic patronage. The duke designed, built, and rebuilt ducal residences and gardens in the baroque
and rococo
styles, some of which still stand (the ducal palace
and so-called "Princes' House" in Plön among them), others of which have, regrettably, been destroyed (of particular note is the ducal summer residence
in Traventhal
, demolished in the nineteenth century).
As no surviving sons were born of Frederick Charles's marriage, he in 1756 concluded a family pact with the king of Denmark
, naming the king
the successor to the duchy of Plön. The provisions were reified just five years later, when Frederick Charles died, at his little palace in Traventhal, in the night of October 18-19, 1761.
Additionally, Frederick Charles had children by two mistresses: from Sophie Agnes Olearius, with whom he conducted a six-year liaison, six daughters; and from his maîtress en titre, Maria Catharina Bein, sister of the court chamberlain, three sons (two of whom died in childhood) and two daughters (one of whom died in childhood), all of whom the duke recognized and legitimated, and on whom (or their mothers) he bestowed lands, titles, and money.
Sønderborg
Sønderborg Municipality , is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark partially on the Jutland peninsula and partially on the island of Als in south Denmark, at the border with Germany. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 76,236...
– the night of October 18-19, 1761, Traventhal
Traventhal
Traventhal is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It gave name to the Peace of Travendal treaty signed there in 1700....
), also known as "Friedrich Karl" or "Friedrik Carl"of Holstein-Plön, was a member of a cadet branch of the Danish royal family
Danish Royal Family
The Danish Royal Family includes the Queen of Denmark and her family. All members except the Queen hold the title of Prince/Princess of Denmark with the style of His/Her Royal Highness or His/Her Highness. The Queen is styled Her Majesty. The Queen and her siblings belong to the House of...
and the last duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (or Holstein-Plön), a Danish royal prince, and a knight of the Order of the Elephant
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
. When he died without male heirs born of his marriage to Christine Armgard von Reventlow, rule of the Duchy of Holstein-Plön returned to the Danish crown.
Early life
Frederick Charles was born on August 4, 1706, at Sønderborg castleSønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle is located in the town of Sønderborg, Denmark on the island of Als in South Jutland. It houses a museum focusing on the history and culture of the area. The castle is located in the middle of the town, in a park setting overlooking Als Fjord...
, the posthumous son and sole child of Christian Charles
Prince Christian Charles of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Norburg
DukeChristian Charles of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Norburg was an officer in the Brandenburg-Prussian army.- Life :...
(1674-1706), a brother of Duke Joachim Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Joachim Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Joachim Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön , also known as Joachim Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Plön, was the third Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Plön, a dukedom created by the division of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.He was born in Magdeburg on 9 May 1668, and...
. That duke died in 1722 without closer male heirs than his nephew, who in time succeeded his uncle as ruler of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
The Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön , also Schleswig-Holstein-Plön, Holstein-Plön or just Duchy of Plön, was a small sub-duchy created by the physical division of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg. Today, its remaining significance is primarily the building of Plön Castle...
, a small but prosperous duchy, one of the last quasi-independent sections of the condominium
History of Schleswig-Holstein
The Jutland Peninsula is a long peninsula in Northern Europe, and the current Schleswig-Holstein is its southern part. Schleswig is also called Southern Jutland...
ruled partly by the Danish king and partly by cadet branches of the Danish royal family. Frederick Charles's succession to power was delayed until 1729 because his father had contracted an unequal marriage
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
with his mother, the non-royal noblewoman Dorothea Christine von Aichelburg, who only years after his father's untimely death was at last created a princess of Denmark.
The Baroque Ruler
PlönPlön
Plön is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13,000 inhabitants. It lies right on the shores of Schleswig-Holstein's biggest lake, the Great Plön Lake, as well as on several smaller lakes, touching the town on virtually all sides...
enjoyed a vibrant cultural life under Frederick Charles's rule and artistic patronage. The duke designed, built, and rebuilt ducal residences and gardens in the baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
styles, some of which still stand (the ducal palace
Plön Castle
Plön Castle in Plön is one of the largest castles in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein and the only one located on a hill. The former Residenz of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Plön was built in the 17th century during the Thirty Years War and has had a colourful history in which it...
and so-called "Princes' House" in Plön among them), others of which have, regrettably, been destroyed (of particular note is the ducal summer residence
Lustschloss
A Lustschloss is a small palace which served the private pleasure of its owner, usually the ruler of the area. It is located in, and was inhabited for court, ceremonial, and state duties.A Lustschloss is often coupled with a Jagdschloss...
in Traventhal
Traventhal
Traventhal is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It gave name to the Peace of Travendal treaty signed there in 1700....
, demolished in the nineteenth century).
As no surviving sons were born of Frederick Charles's marriage, he in 1756 concluded a family pact with the king of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, naming the king
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
the successor to the duchy of Plön. The provisions were reified just five years later, when Frederick Charles died, at his little palace in Traventhal, in the night of October 18-19, 1761.
Family
Frederick Charles had five children from his marriage with Christine Armgard von Reventlow, who, as his mother, had been born into a nonroyal noble family. The couple's only son died in infancy; their four daughters were- Sophia Christine Luise, Princess of Holstein-Plön (born at Plön on November 5, 1732; died, unmarried, at QuedlinburgQuedlinburgQuedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
on March 18, 1757, a canoness of Quedlinburg AbbeyQuedlinburg AbbeyQuedlinburg Abbey was a house of secular canonesses in Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It was founded in 936 on the initiative of Saint Mathilda, the widow of Henry the Fowler, as his memorial...
) - Friederike Sophie Charlotte, Princess of Holstein-Plön (1736–1769); married Georg Ludwig II of Erbach-Schönberg
- Charlotte Amelie Wilhelmine, Princess of Holstein-Plön (1744–1770); married Frederick Christian I of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg; great-great-grandmother of the last German empress
- Luise Albertine, Princess of Holstein-Plön (1748–1769); married Frederick Albert of Anhalt-BernburgFrederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-BernburgFrederick Albert of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg....
Additionally, Frederick Charles had children by two mistresses: from Sophie Agnes Olearius, with whom he conducted a six-year liaison, six daughters; and from his maîtress en titre, Maria Catharina Bein, sister of the court chamberlain, three sons (two of whom died in childhood) and two daughters (one of whom died in childhood), all of whom the duke recognized and legitimated, and on whom (or their mothers) he bestowed lands, titles, and money.