Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden
Encyclopedia
Frederick I (September 9, 1826 – September 28, 1907) was the sixth Grand Duke of Baden
from 1856 to 1907.
Frederick was born in Karlsruhe
, on September 9, 1826. He was the third son of Grand Duke Leopold
(1790–1852) and of his wife, Grand Duchess Sophie
(1801–1865), who was born Princess of Sweden, daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
.
He became the heir presumptive to the Grand Duchy upon the death of his father in 1852 and the accession of his brother as Grand Duke Louis II. Due to his brother's mental ill-health, he was Regent ad interim of Baden in 1852-1855, and took the title of Grand Duke in 1856. His brother, Louis II, died in 1858. He was considered a relatively liberal supporter of a constitutional monarchy
. During his reign the option of civil marriage
s were introduced in Baden as well as direct elections to the Lower House of the Parliament of Baden in 1904.
In 1856, he married Princess Louise of Prussia
, daughter of (then the crown prince) Wilhelm I and his wife, Augusta of Saxe-Weimar
. The couple had three children:
The Grand Duke had a pivotal role in the history of the Zionist Movement
. In 1896 the Grand Duke met Theodor Herzl
(the founder of political Zionism) via the their mutual acquaintance the reverend William Hechler
, and helped Herzl in obtaining an audience with his nephew, the German Emperor. After some persuasion on the part of the Grand Duke, the Emperor had finally accepted the appeal for an audience and it took place in Palestine in the October 28 1898, while the Kaiser was in his pilgrimage trip to Palestine.
Frederick I was present at the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles
in 1871, as he was the only son-in-law of the Emperor and one of the reigning sovereigns of Germany. He died at his summer residence at the island of Mainau
in southern Germany on September 28, 1907. Today, Mainau
is owned by the Lennart Bernadotte-Stiftung (the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation), created by Frederick's great-grandson Count Lennart Bernadotte
, (1909–2004).
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
from 1856 to 1907.
Frederick was born in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
, on September 9, 1826. He was the third son of Grand Duke Leopold
Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden
Leopold I, Grand Duke of Baden succeeded in 1830 as the fourth Grand Duke of Baden....
(1790–1852) and of his wife, Grand Duchess Sophie
Sophie of Sweden
Princess Sophie Wilhelmine of Sweden , was a Swedish princess and a consort Grand Duchess of Baden.- Biography :Sophie was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 21 May 1801. She was the daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Queen consort Frederica of Baden...
(1801–1865), who was born Princess of Sweden, daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden also Gustav Adolph was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809. He was the son of Gustav III of Sweden and his queen consort Sophia Magdalena, eldest daughter of Frederick V of Denmark and his first wife Louise of Great Britain. He was the last Swedish...
.
He became the heir presumptive to the Grand Duchy upon the death of his father in 1852 and the accession of his brother as Grand Duke Louis II. Due to his brother's mental ill-health, he was Regent ad interim of Baden in 1852-1855, and took the title of Grand Duke in 1856. His brother, Louis II, died in 1858. He was considered a relatively liberal supporter of a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. During his reign the option of civil marriage
Civil marriage
Civil marriage is marriage performed by a government official and not a religious organization.-History:Every country maintaining a population registry of its residents keeps track of marital status, and most countries believe that it is their responsibility to register married couples. Most...
s were introduced in Baden as well as direct elections to the Lower House of the Parliament of Baden in 1904.
In 1856, he married Princess Louise of Prussia
Princess Louise of Prussia
Princess Louise of Prussia was the second child and only daughter of German Emperor Wilhelm I and Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. She was the younger sister of Frederick III of Germany and aunt of Wilhelm II of Germany...
, daughter of (then the crown prince) Wilhelm I and his wife, Augusta of Saxe-Weimar
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was the Queen of Prussia and the first German Empress as the consort of William I, German Emperor.-Early life:...
. The couple had three children:
The Grand Duke had a pivotal role in the history of the Zionist Movement
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
. In 1896 the Grand Duke met Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl , born Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl was an Ashkenazi Jew Austro-Hungarian journalist and the father of modern political Zionism and in effect the State of Israel.-Early life:...
(the founder of political Zionism) via the their mutual acquaintance the reverend William Hechler
William Hechler
Reverend William Henry Hechler, was a Restorationist Anglican clergyman, eschatological writer, crusader against anti-Semitism, promoter of Zionism, aide, counselor, friend and legitimizer of Theodor Herzl the founder of the modern Zionism.-Early years:William Henry Hechler was born, January 10,...
, and helped Herzl in obtaining an audience with his nephew, the German Emperor. After some persuasion on the part of the Grand Duke, the Emperor had finally accepted the appeal for an audience and it took place in Palestine in the October 28 1898, while the Kaiser was in his pilgrimage trip to Palestine.
Issue
| Name | |Death | Princess Hilda of Luxembourg, no issue. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Victoria of Sweden Victoria of Baden Victoria of Baden was a Queen consort of Sweden by her marriage to King Gustaf V of Sweden. She was politically active in a conservative fashion during the development of democracy and known as a pro-German during the First World War.-Birth:Princess Viktoria was born on 7 August 1862 at the castle... |
August 7, 1862 | April 4, 1930 | Married King Gustav V of Sweden, had issue. |
| Prince Louis of Baden | June 12, 1865 | February 23, 1888 | Died unmarried, no issue. |
Frederick I was present at the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
in 1871, as he was the only son-in-law of the Emperor and one of the reigning sovereigns of Germany. He died at his summer residence at the island of Mainau
Mainau
Mainau is an island in Lake Constance . It is maintained as a garden island and a model of excellent environmental practices...
in southern Germany on September 28, 1907. Today, Mainau
Mainau
Mainau is an island in Lake Constance . It is maintained as a garden island and a model of excellent environmental practices...
is owned by the Lennart Bernadotte-Stiftung (the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation), created by Frederick's great-grandson Count Lennart Bernadotte
Prince Lennart, Duke of Småland
Lennart Bernadotte Count of Wisborg, né Prince Gustaf Lennart Nicolaus Paul of Sweden , a grandson of King Gustaf V of Sweden, was until 1932 a Prince of Sweden and the Duke of Småland....
, (1909–2004).