Prince Albrecht of Prussia
Encyclopedia
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Albrecht of Prussia (8 May 1837 – 13 September 1906) was a Prussian general field marshal
and, from 1885, regent
of the Duchy of Brunswick
.
, Brandenburg
, the son of Prince Albert of Prussia (1809–1872) and his wife Princess Marianne
(1810–1883), daughter of King William I of the Netherlands
. His father was a brother of King Frederick William IV of Prussia
and of William I, German Emperor
.
Albrecht entered the Prussian army
in 1847, serving in the First Schleswig War and participating in the battles of Skalitz
, Schweinschädel
and Königgrätz
in the Austro-Prussian War
in 1866. In the Franco-Prussian War
in 1870 he commanded a guard cavalry brigade at Gravelotte
and Sedan. After the fall of the Second Empire, he was subordinated to Edwin von Manteuffel in the fighting around Bapaume
and St. Quentin
. In 1874 he became commander of the X. Corps stationed in Hannover. In 1883 he succeeded his uncle Karl
as Herrenmeister of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
In 1885 he was chosen as Regent for the Duchy of Brunswick
, as German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
had removed Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, from office. {In 1913 Ernst August's son Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick become Duke of Brunswick who only reigned for 5 years and 6 days}. After accepting the regency, Albert and Marie resided chiefly in Brunswick, Berlin
, and Kamenz
.
Prince Albrecht died at Schloss Kamenz
in 1904. He was buried in the Mausoleum auf dem Hutberge in the park of Schloss Kamenz. After World War II
, the mausoleum was plundered and they were reburied in the park.
he married Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
(1854–1898), daughter of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (1826–1908) and his wife Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau (1824–1897). Albert's parents had been unhappily married to each other and were later divorced; as he chose to wait before getting married and was 36 at the time of their wedding, this is believed to be the reason he did not marry earlier.
Their children were:
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
and, from 1885, regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the Duchy of Brunswick
Duchy of Brunswick
Brunswick was a historical state in Germany. Originally the territory of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in the Holy Roman Empire, it was established as an independent duchy by the Congress of Vienna in 1815...
.
Biography
He was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Brandenburg
Province of Brandenburg
The Province of Brandenburg was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1815 to 1946.-History:The first people who are known to have inhabited Brandenburg were the Suevi. They were succeeded by the Slavonians, whom Henry II conquered and converted to Christianity in...
, the son of Prince Albert of Prussia (1809–1872) and his wife Princess Marianne
Princess Marianne of the Netherlands
Princess Marianne of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau , was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau, by birth Princess of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands and by marriage Princess of the Kingdom of Prussia.-Family:Born in Berlin, she was the youngest child and second daughter of King...
(1810–1883), daughter of King William I of the Netherlands
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
. His father was a brother of King Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
and of William I, German Emperor
William I, German Emperor
William I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
.
Albrecht entered the Prussian army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
in 1847, serving in the First Schleswig War and participating in the battles of Skalitz
Battle of Skalitz
Battle of Skalitz was a minor engagement in the Königgratz/Sadowa campaign of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 in Bohemia on June 28th. The Battle of Nachod the previous day set the scene for Steinmetz to advance on Skalitz where he defeated Archduke Leopold.- External links :*...
, Schweinschädel
Battle of Schweinschädel
The Battle of Schweinschädel was a minor engagement of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, during the Königgrätz/Sadowa campaign in Bohemia on the 29th June....
and Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
in the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
in 1866. In the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
in 1870 he commanded a guard cavalry brigade at Gravelotte
Battle of Gravelotte
The Battle of Gravelotte was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War named after Gravelotte, a village in Lorraine between Metz and the former French–German frontier.-Terrain and armies:...
and Sedan. After the fall of the Second Empire, he was subordinated to Edwin von Manteuffel in the fighting around Bapaume
Battle of Bapaume (1871)
The Battle of Bapaume was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War which defeated French attempts to relieve the besieged city of Péronne. The battle was fought on January 3, 1871 near the town of Bapaume....
and St. Quentin
Battle of St. Quentin (1871)
The Battle of St. Quentin was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War in which Prussian forces defeated French attempts to relieve the besieged city of Paris....
. In 1874 he became commander of the X. Corps stationed in Hannover. In 1883 he succeeded his uncle Karl
Prince Charles of Prussia
Prince Frederick Charles Alexander of Prussia born in Charlottenburg, was a younger son of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz...
as Herrenmeister of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
In 1885 he was chosen as Regent for the Duchy of Brunswick
Duchy of Brunswick
Brunswick was a historical state in Germany. Originally the territory of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in the Holy Roman Empire, it was established as an independent duchy by the Congress of Vienna in 1815...
, as German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
had removed Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, from office. {In 1913 Ernst August's son Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick become Duke of Brunswick who only reigned for 5 years and 6 days}. After accepting the regency, Albert and Marie resided chiefly in Brunswick, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and Kamenz
Kamenz
Kamenz is a Lusatian town in eastern Saxony, Germany, with a population of 18,243, and is part of the Bautzen district. The town is located about northeast of Dresden and about northwest of Bautzen....
.
Prince Albrecht died at Schloss Kamenz
Kamieniec Zabkowicki
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a village in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany under the name of Kamenz. Kamieniec Zabkowicki is an important...
in 1904. He was buried in the Mausoleum auf dem Hutberge in the park of Schloss Kamenz. After 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...
, the mausoleum was plundered and they were reburied in the park.
Marriage and issue
On 9 April 1873 in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
he married Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (1854–1898)
Princess Marie Friederike Leopoldine Georgine Auguste Alexandra Elisabeth Therese Josephine Helene Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg was the wife of Prince Albert of Prussia, Regent for the duchy of Brunswick.-Family:...
(1854–1898), daughter of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (1826–1908) and his wife Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau (1824–1897). Albert's parents had been unhappily married to each other and were later divorced; as he chose to wait before getting married and was 36 at the time of their wedding, this is believed to be the reason he did not marry earlier.
Their children were:
- Friedrich Heinrich Albrecht (1874–1940)
- Joachim Albrecht (1876–1939)
- Friedrich WilhelmPrince Friedrich Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, great-grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia.-Early life and education:...
(1880–1925)
Ancestors
| Prince Albrecht of Prussia | Father: Prince Albert of Prussia Prince Albert of Prussia (1809-1872) Prince Albert of Prussia was a Prussian colonel general. Albert was the fifth son and youngest child of King Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His parents had fled to East Prussia after the occupation of Berlin by Napoleon... |
Paternal Grandfather: Frederick William III of Prussia Frederick William III of Prussia Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:... |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Frederick William II of Prussia Frederick William II of Prussia Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:... |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Frederika of Hesse-Darmstadt was Queen consort of the Kingdom of Prussia as the second wife of Frederick William II of Prussia.-Background:... |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III... |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg was ruler of the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1794 until his death. Originally ruling as duke he was raised to the title grand duke in 1815... |
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| Paternal Great-grandmother: Friederike Caroline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt |
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| Mother: Princess Marianne of the Netherlands Princess Marianne of the Netherlands Princess Marianne of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau , was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau, by birth Princess of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands and by marriage Princess of the Kingdom of Prussia.-Family:Born in Berlin, she was the youngest child and second daughter of King... |
Maternal Grandfather: William I of the Netherlands William I of the Netherlands William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg.... |
Maternal Great-grandfather: William V, Prince of Orange William V, Prince of Orange William V , Prince of Orange-Nassau was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, and between 1795 and 1806 he led the Government of the Dutch Republic in Exile in London. He was succeeded by his son William I... |
|
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange Wilhelmina of Prussia, born Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina, , was the consort of William V of Orange and also the de facto leader of the dynastic party and contra revolution in the Netherlands... |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Wilhelmine of Prussia Wilhelmine of Prussia (1774-1837) Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia was the first wife of King William I of the Netherlands and so the first Queen of the Netherlands.-Biography:Princess Wilhelmine was born in Potsdam... |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Frederick William II of Prussia Frederick William II of Prussia Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:... |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Frederika of Hesse-Darmstadt was Queen consort of the Kingdom of Prussia as the second wife of Frederick William II of Prussia.-Background:... |