Princess Charlotte Frederica of Prussia
Encyclopedia
Princess Frederica Louise Wilhelmina Marianne Charlotte of Prussia (21 June 1831 – 30 March 1855) was the eldest daughter of Prince Albert of Prussia and his wife Princess Marianne of the Netherlands
. She died before her husband Georg of Saxe-Meiningen
could succeed as Duke, making her Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen.
and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
. Her mother Marianne
was a daughter of William I of the Netherlands
and Wilhelmine of Prussia. Charlotte was a sister of Prince Albert of Prussia, a Prussian general field marshal and later regent of the Duchy of Brunswick
.
Her parents divorced in 1848, and custody of Charlotte and her siblings was given to her father. In actuality, their childless aunt Queen Elisabeth Ludovika
(wife of Frederick William IV of Prussia
) took care of them.
, Theodor Kullak
, and Julius Stern
in her youth. She wrote a number of military marches, songs, and piano pieces. Her daughter Princess Marie Elisabeth
would inherit these interests.
tried to marry Charlotte to one of her brothers, though the scheme failed.
In Charlottenburg
, Charlotte's chosen husband was Hereditary Prince Georg of Saxe-Meiningen
, whom she married on 18 May 1850. He was the only son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel
, and had led a battalion from Meiningen in support of the Prussians in the First Schleswig War in 1849. After resuming his military career in Berlin, he soon became engaged to Charlotte, whose position as a niece of Frederick William IV of Prussia
surely recommended the princess to him. It was a love match and their marriage occurred after a short engagement. Among the wedding gifts was an opulent old villa on Lake Como from her mother Marianne, as well as a substantial collection of paintings and sculptures. It was renamed the Villa Carlotta in the bride's honor. Due to their Prussian connections, the couple spent the next five years in Berlin and Potsdam but returned to Meiningen for the birth of their children.
The two shared many interests, particularly with the theater, as they were both ardent attendees; during their engagement, they had even acted in amateur court theatricals together.
in order to provide a mother to his remaining children. He succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen in 1866, seven years after Charlotte's death.
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...
. She died before her husband Georg of Saxe-Meiningen
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen , was the penultimate Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, reigning from 1866 to 1914.-Family and early life:...
could succeed as Duke, making her Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen.
Family and early life
Charlotte's father Albert was a younger son of Frederick William III of PrussiaFrederick 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:...
and 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...
. Her mother 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...
was a daughter of 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....
and Wilhelmine of Prussia. Charlotte was a sister of Prince Albert of Prussia, a Prussian general field marshal and later regent 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...
.
Her parents divorced in 1848, and custody of Charlotte and her siblings was given to her father. In actuality, their childless aunt Queen Elisabeth Ludovika
Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria
Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria was a Princess of Bavaria and later Queen consort of Prussia.-Early life and family:...
(wife of 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...
) took care of them.
Music
Charlotte had a talent for music, and was taught by the likes of Wilhelm TaubertWilhelm Taubert
Carl Gottfried Wilhelm Taubert was a German pianist, composer, and conductor.Taubert studied under Ludwig Berger and Bernhard Klein . In 1831 he became assistant conductor and accompanist for Berlin court concerts...
, Theodor Kullak
Theodor Kullak
Theodor Kullak was a German pianist, composer, and teacher.-Background:Kullak was born in Krotoschin in the Grand Duchy of Posen, in Wielkopolska - western part of Poland taken during the second partition of Poland by Kingdom of Prussia. He began his piano studies as a pupil of Albrecht Agthe in...
, and Julius Stern
Julius Stern
Julius Stern was a German musician.Stern was born at Breslau. He received his elementary education in music from the violinist Peter Lüstner, and at the age of nine played at concerts...
in her youth. She wrote a number of military marches, songs, and piano pieces. Her daughter Princess Marie Elisabeth
Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Marie Elisabeth of Saxe-Meiningen was the only daughter of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen by his first wife Princess Charlotte Frederica of Prussia. She was notable as a musician and composer...
would inherit these interests.
Marriage
As a young woman, Charlotte was highly eligible, due to her Dutch fortune and Hohenzollern connections. German Crown Princess VictoriaVictoria, Princess Royal
The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal was the eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert. She was created Princess Royal of the United Kingdom in 1841. She became German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III...
tried to marry Charlotte to one of her brothers, though the scheme failed.
In Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg is a locality of Berlin within the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, named after Queen consort Sophia Charlotte...
, Charlotte's chosen husband was Hereditary Prince Georg of Saxe-Meiningen
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen , was the penultimate Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, reigning from 1866 to 1914.-Family and early life:...
, whom she married on 18 May 1850. He was the only son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel
Princess Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel
Princess Marie Frederica Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel was a daughter of William II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Augusta of Prussia...
, and had led a battalion from Meiningen in support of the Prussians in the First Schleswig War in 1849. After resuming his military career in Berlin, he soon became engaged to Charlotte, whose position as a niece of 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...
surely recommended the princess to him. It was a love match and their marriage occurred after a short engagement. Among the wedding gifts was an opulent old villa on Lake Como from her mother Marianne, as well as a substantial collection of paintings and sculptures. It was renamed the Villa Carlotta in the bride's honor. Due to their Prussian connections, the couple spent the next five years in Berlin and Potsdam but returned to Meiningen for the birth of their children.
The two shared many interests, particularly with the theater, as they were both ardent attendees; during their engagement, they had even acted in amateur court theatricals together.
Death
On 27 January 1855, their second son Georg died. Charlotte would follow him three months later, dying in childbirth. Georg was inconsolable, but would eventually remarry to Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-LangenburgPrincess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Princess Feodora Victoria Adelaide of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was a daughter of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen. By her marriage to Georg of Saxe-Meiningen, she would become Duchess consort of Saxe-Meiningen upon his succession in 1866.-Family:Feodora was the...
in order to provide a mother to his remaining children. He succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen in 1866, seven years after Charlotte's death.
Issue
They had four children:- Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1 April 1851 - 16 January 1928); married Princess Charlotte of PrussiaPrincess Charlotte of PrussiaPrincess Charlotte of Prussia , Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen was the second child born to Prince Friedrich of Prussia and Princess Victoria...
and had issue. - Prince Georg Albrecht (12 April 1852 - 27 January 1855); died young.
- Princess Marie ElisabethPrincess Marie Elisabeth of Saxe-MeiningenPrincess Marie Elisabeth of Saxe-Meiningen was the only daughter of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen by his first wife Princess Charlotte Frederica of Prussia. She was notable as a musician and composer...
(23 September 1853 - 22 February 1923); died unmarried. - An unnamed son (29 March 1855 - 30 March 1855)
Titles and styles
- 21 June 1831 – 18 May 1850: Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Prussia
- 18 May 1850 – 30 March 1855: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen
Ancestors
| Princess Charlotte Frederica 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 of Hesse-Darmstadt Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt Princess Friederike Caroline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt was a member of the House of Hesse and by marriage a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.... |
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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... |
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| 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:... |
