Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden
Encyclopedia
Prince Fredrick Adolf of Sweden (18 July 1750 Drottningholm
- 12 December 1803 Montpellier
, France
), was a Swedish
Prince, youngest son of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
, a sister Frederick the Great, King of Prussia
. He was given the title Duke of Östergötland
.
s and also devoted to each other; during family conflicts, such as the famous succession scandal regarding the questioned legitimacy of the Crown Prince in 1778, he and his sister was on their mother's side. As a child, he had a weak health and a fierce temperament. His education became somewhat lacking. He was given the title colonel at twelve and general major at eighteen. He took part in the revolution of 1772 and was given the title of duke
of Östergötland
by his brother as a recognition, but he soon became a part of the opposition against his brother.
His sister-in-law
, Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, describes him as beautiful, with expressive eyes, an easy going temper, and very handsome when he dresses properly, though often badly dressed in his private life, and gives the estimation that he would have been a greater social success, if he did not say so many suggestive things and had such a filthy mouth, which he acquired because he had spent too much time with men, and had such a weakness for women and sex.
He had no task in his life other than the ceremonial, and spent his life wasting money and involving himself in love affairs, among them with the actress Euphrosyne Löf
, sister of the great prima donna
Fredrique Löwen
. He did, however, service in the Russo-Swedish War
in Finland
in 1788.
Prince Fredrick Adolf was never married, and the ceremonial duties of his consort were performed by his sister Sophia Albertina. He had several plans to marry, but none of them was realised. His first proposal was to the Countess Ulla von Höpken
, but she was married to another, and he was sent to France to forget her (1770). In 1774, he proposed to the cousin of his former love, Countess Sophie von Fersen, daughter of Axel von Fersen the Elder and sister of Axel von Fersen the Younger, the alleged lover of Marie Antoinette
. She and her father refused, as they were afraid that she would be badly treated by his brother and mother, who was reluctant to give their consent, and because she was already engaged, and Frederick Adolf was sent to Italy (1776) until she was married. He lived from 1778 to 1795, in a happy relationship with the ballet dancer Sophie Hagman
, who was well liked at court, and had a daughter, Sophia Frederica, with her. In 1780, he temporarily ended his relationship with Hagman and proposed to the noble Margaretha Lovisa Wrangel, with whom he became informally engaged. The King gave his permission to the marriage with the condition that is was postponed for a year (during which Wrangel was sent to Scania
), with the thought that his brother would change his mind; this was also the case, and Frederick Adolf returned to Hagman in 1781 . After his relationship with Hagman ended, he proposed to princess Princess Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom
(1797), and after his relationship with Euphrosyne Löf
ended he proposed to Dorothea von Medem
, dowager duchess of Courland
(1801), but none of the marriages was realized .
In 1800, Frederick Adolf left Sweden for health reasons and trawelled to Germany and then to France. He died in Montpellier
in France
in 1803.
Drottningholm
Drottningholm, literally "Queen's Islet", is a locality situated in Ekerö Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden, with 410 inhabitants in 2005....
- 12 December 1803 Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), was a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Prince, youngest son of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia was Queen of Sweden between 1751 and 1771 as the spouse of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, and queen mother during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden.-Background:...
, a sister Frederick the Great, King of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
. He was given the title Duke of Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
.
Biography
The Duke was described as "The most beautiful Prince in Europe" and as sensitive, passive and spoiled by his mother. He and his sister, Sophia Albertina, was their mother's favouriteFavourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
s and also devoted to each other; during family conflicts, such as the famous succession scandal regarding the questioned legitimacy of the Crown Prince in 1778, he and his sister was on their mother's side. As a child, he had a weak health and a fierce temperament. His education became somewhat lacking. He was given the title colonel at twelve and general major at eighteen. He took part in the revolution of 1772 and was given the title of 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 Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
by his brother as a recognition, but he soon became a part of the opposition against his brother.
His sister-in-law
Sister-in-law
A sister-in-law is the sister of one's spouse, the wife of one's sibling, or sometimes the wife of one's spouse's sibling...
, Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, describes him as beautiful, with expressive eyes, an easy going temper, and very handsome when he dresses properly, though often badly dressed in his private life, and gives the estimation that he would have been a greater social success, if he did not say so many suggestive things and had such a filthy mouth, which he acquired because he had spent too much time with men, and had such a weakness for women and sex.
He had no task in his life other than the ceremonial, and spent his life wasting money and involving himself in love affairs, among them with the actress Euphrosyne Löf
Euphrosyne Löf
Euphrosyne Löf was a Swedish ballet dancer and stage actress, best known for her affair with Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden from 1797 to 1801, after his relationship with Sophie Hagman - Euphrosyne acted as his hostess at Tullgarn....
, sister of the great prima donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
Fredrique Löwen
Fredrique Löwen
Fredrica Löf, also known as Fredrique Löwen was a Swedish stage actress...
. He did, however, service in the Russo-Swedish War
Russo-Swedish War
Russo-Swedish Wars may refer to:* Swedish–Novgorodian Wars, a series of conflicts in the 12th and 13th centuries* Russo-Swedish War , result of an alliance between Ivan III of Russia and Hans of Denmark...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 1788.
Prince Fredrick Adolf was never married, and the ceremonial duties of his consort were performed by his sister Sophia Albertina. He had several plans to marry, but none of them was realised. His first proposal was to the Countess Ulla von Höpken
Ulla von Höpken
Ulla von Höpken, later von Wright, née von Fersen , was a Swedish lady-in-waiting and noble...
, but she was married to another, and he was sent to France to forget her (1770). In 1774, he proposed to the cousin of his former love, Countess Sophie von Fersen, daughter of Axel von Fersen the Elder and sister of Axel von Fersen the Younger, the alleged lover of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
. She and her father refused, as they were afraid that she would be badly treated by his brother and mother, who was reluctant to give their consent, and because she was already engaged, and Frederick Adolf was sent to Italy (1776) until she was married. He lived from 1778 to 1795, in a happy relationship with the ballet dancer Sophie Hagman
Sophie Hagman
Sophie Hagman née Anna Stina Hagman or Anna Sophia Hagman, , was a Swedish ballet dancer...
, who was well liked at court, and had a daughter, Sophia Frederica, with her. In 1780, he temporarily ended his relationship with Hagman and proposed to the noble Margaretha Lovisa Wrangel, with whom he became informally engaged. The King gave his permission to the marriage with the condition that is was postponed for a year (during which Wrangel was sent to Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
), with the thought that his brother would change his mind; this was also the case, and Frederick Adolf returned to Hagman in 1781 . After his relationship with Hagman ended, he proposed to princess Princess Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom
Princess Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom
The Princess Augusta Sophia was a member of the British Royal Family, second daughter of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was a Princess of the United Kingdom and a Princess of Hanover....
(1797), and after his relationship with Euphrosyne Löf
Euphrosyne Löf
Euphrosyne Löf was a Swedish ballet dancer and stage actress, best known for her affair with Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden from 1797 to 1801, after his relationship with Sophie Hagman - Euphrosyne acted as his hostess at Tullgarn....
ended he proposed to Dorothea von Medem
Dorothea von Medem
Dorothea von Medem was born a Gräfin of the noble German Baltic Medem family and later became Duchess of Courland...
, dowager duchess of Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
(1801), but none of the marriages was realized .
In 1800, Frederick Adolf left Sweden for health reasons and trawelled to Germany and then to France. He died in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1803.