Joanna Elisabeth of Baden-Durlach
Encyclopedia
Johanna Elisabeth of Baden-Durlach (October 3, 1680 – July 2, 1757), was by marriage Duchess of Württemberg.
(1647–1709) and his wife Auguste Marie of Holstein-Gottorp (1649–1728).
In 1697 she was married in a Baden-Wurttemberg double wedding to Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg (1676–1733). His parents were Duke Wilhelm Ludwig of Württemberg and Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt
. The couple tied the two leading Lutheran dynasties of southern Germany together. Joanna's marriage was celebrated in Switzerland, where Baden's court stayed in exile due to repeated French invasions. Two months later in Stuttgart, the marriage of Eberhard Ludwig's sister, Magdalene Wilhelmine and the crown prince and later Margrave Charles III Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach was celebrated. Eberhard paid little attention to his new wife; allegedly he only married her in order to be near one of Joanna's ladies-in-waiting.
(1698–1731), the couple lived largely separated. Through his military career Eberhard Ludwig initially stayed rarely in Stuttgart
. In 1704 he took part in the Battle of Blenheim
, and was later appointed commander of the Army of the Rhine. In 1707 he became field marshal of the Swabian troops in the War of Spanish Succession. It was important for him to command a standing army and a great role model and lead to an absolutist French state with a brilliant court. Johanna Elisabeth clung on to Pietist
ideas of morality, with which she had been brought up, and stayed in the old castle in Stuttgart.
(1686–1744). His morganatic marriage
to her 1707 was considered a scandal. On the application of Johanna Elisabeth to Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, the bigamous marriage had to be dissolved and Grävenitz was sent into exile in Switzerland.
Her spouse returned in 1710 when Wilhelmine of Grävenitz, through a sham marriage to Hofmeister Count von Würben, was able to return to Württemberg as well. They lived largely in Ludwigsburg. In 1718, the residence was also officially moved to Ludwigsburg. Johanna Elisabeth, meanwhile, continued to live in the Old Palace in Stuttgart. She refused, however, to file for divorce, and the marriage was not dissolved.
The early death of Prince Friedrich Ludwig in 1731 threatened to move Württemberg to a Catholic secondary line. Because of this danger, Duke Eberhard Ludwig broke his connection to Wilhelmine of Grävenitz and hoped to conceive an heir from his legitimate and long-ignored wife, Johanna Elisabeth. The advanced age of the couple and the imminent death of the Duke on 31 October 1733, however, thwarted these efforts.
Johanna Elizabeth survived her husband by more than 20 years. She lived as a widow at Kirchheim Castle, and died in Schloss Stetten, Stetten in the Rems Valley. She was buried in the Ludwigsburg Castle Church.
Marriage
Johanna of Baden-Durlach was born in the Karlsberg, Durlach, the third child of Friedrich VII Magnus, Margrave of Baden-DurlachFriedrich VII, Margrave of Baden-Durlach
Friedrich VII Magnus of Zähringen was the Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1677 until his death.Born at Ueckermünde, he was the son of Margrave Friedrich VI and Countess Palatine Christine Magdalene of Cleeburg....
(1647–1709) and his wife Auguste Marie of Holstein-Gottorp (1649–1728).
In 1697 she was married in a Baden-Wurttemberg double wedding to Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg (1676–1733). His parents were Duke Wilhelm Ludwig of Württemberg and Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt
Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt
Landgravine Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt was regent of the Duchy of Württemberg from 1677 to 1693, and was a prominent German composer of baroque hymns.- Life :...
. The couple tied the two leading Lutheran dynasties of southern Germany together. Joanna's marriage was celebrated in Switzerland, where Baden's court stayed in exile due to repeated French invasions. Two months later in Stuttgart, the marriage of Eberhard Ludwig's sister, Magdalene Wilhelmine and the crown prince and later Margrave Charles III Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach was celebrated. Eberhard paid little attention to his new wife; allegedly he only married her in order to be near one of Joanna's ladies-in-waiting.
Separation
After a son had been born in the first year of marriage, Crown Prince Friedrich LudwigCrown Prince Friedrich Ludwig
Frederick Louis of Württemberg was heir to the duchy of Württemberg.Biography...
(1698–1731), the couple lived largely separated. Through his military career Eberhard Ludwig initially stayed rarely in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. In 1704 he took part in the Battle of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
, and was later appointed commander of the Army of the Rhine. In 1707 he became field marshal of the Swabian troops in the War of Spanish Succession. It was important for him to command a standing army and a great role model and lead to an absolutist French state with a brilliant court. Johanna Elisabeth clung on to Pietist
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
ideas of morality, with which she had been brought up, and stayed in the old castle in Stuttgart.
The Grävenitz affair
Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg was the first Duke who lived openly with a mistress, Wilhelmine von GrävenitzWilhelmine von Grävenitz
Wilhelmine von Grävenitz was a German noble, the favorite and royal mistress of Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg between 1706 and 1731....
(1686–1744). His morganatic 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...
to her 1707 was considered a scandal. On the application of Johanna Elisabeth to Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, the bigamous marriage had to be dissolved and Grävenitz was sent into exile in Switzerland.
Her spouse returned in 1710 when Wilhelmine of Grävenitz, through a sham marriage to Hofmeister Count von Würben, was able to return to Württemberg as well. They lived largely in Ludwigsburg. In 1718, the residence was also officially moved to Ludwigsburg. Johanna Elisabeth, meanwhile, continued to live in the Old Palace in Stuttgart. She refused, however, to file for divorce, and the marriage was not dissolved.
The early death of Prince Friedrich Ludwig in 1731 threatened to move Württemberg to a Catholic secondary line. Because of this danger, Duke Eberhard Ludwig broke his connection to Wilhelmine of Grävenitz and hoped to conceive an heir from his legitimate and long-ignored wife, Johanna Elisabeth. The advanced age of the couple and the imminent death of the Duke on 31 October 1733, however, thwarted these efforts.
Johanna Elizabeth survived her husband by more than 20 years. She lived as a widow at Kirchheim Castle, and died in Schloss Stetten, Stetten in the Rems Valley. She was buried in the Ludwigsburg Castle Church.
Children
- Friedrich Ludwig (1698–1731), married in 1716 Henrietta Maria of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1702–1782)