William II of Württemberg
Encyclopedia
William II (25 February 1848, Stuttgart
– 2 October 1921, Bebenhausen
) was the fourth King of Württemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918. He was the son of Prince Frederick of Württemberg
(1808–1870) and his wife Princess Catherine Frederica of Württemberg (1821–1898), daughter of King William I of Württemberg
(1781–1864); both parents were first cousins.
(1823–1891), he succeeded as King of Württemberg
. Though his claim appeared contrary to Salic law
, as his mother Princess Catherine
was the daughter of William I
, on his father's side he was also the senior male-line descendant of Frederick I of Württemberg
through his younger son Prince Paul
.
Despite living in a landlocked kingdom, William II was a ship enthusiast. The king was instrumental in the establishment of the Württembergischer Yacht Club
(formerly "Königlich Württembergischer Yacht-Club" or Royal Yacht Club of Württemberg) in 1911 on Lake Constance
.
In Stuttgart
his capital he built the Wilhelmspalais.
King William became a Generalfeldmarschall
during World War I
. In 1918, he was deposed from the throne along with the other German rulers. Considered to be a popular monarch, he was bitter to find he received less support than he had anticipated. He had the habit of walking his two dogs in public parks in Stuttgart without bodyguards or the like, being greeted by his subjects with a simple Herr König ("Mister King"). William finally abdicated on 30 November 1918.
Under his reign the Weizsäcker family rose to prominence as officials and advisers.
Marie died on 30 April 1882 in Stuttgart
, from complications resulting from the birth of her third child. William, already depressed by the death of his only son, is said never to have recovered from this blow.
On 8 April 1886 at Bückeburg
, he married Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe
(1864–1946). They had no children.
became extinct. The ducal branch became the new dynastic-branch of the House; thus, the Kingship was extinguished and the headship of the house devolved to a dukedom, specifically onto Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
.
|-
|-
|-
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 ....
– 2 October 1921, Bebenhausen
Bebenhausen
Bebenhausen is a village in the Tübingen district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Since 1974 it is a district of the city of Tübingen, its smallest one. It is located 3 km north of Tübingen proper , in the southeastern part of the protected landscape of the Schönbuch, a dense forest...
) was the fourth King of Württemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918. He was the son of Prince Frederick of Württemberg
Prince Frederick of Württemberg
Prince Frederick Charles Augustus of Württemberg was a General in the Army of Württemberg and the father of William II of Württemberg...
(1808–1870) and his wife Princess Catherine Frederica of Württemberg (1821–1898), daughter of King William I of Württemberg
William I of Württemberg
William I was the second King of Württemberg from October 30, 1816 until his death.He was born in Lüben, the son of King Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel .-First marriage:...
(1781–1864); both parents were first cousins.
King of Württemberg
Upon the death of his childless uncle, King Charles ICharles I of Württemberg
Charles was the third King of Württemberg, from 25 June 1864 until his death in 1891.-Early life:He was born 6 March 1823 at Stuttgart, as HRH Charles Frederick Alexander, Crown Prince of Württemberg the son of William I, King of Württemberg and his third wife Pauline Therese of Württemberg .He...
(1823–1891), he succeeded as King of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
. Though his claim appeared contrary to Salic law
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
, as his mother Princess Catherine
Princess Catherine of Württemberg
Princess Catherine Frederica Charlotte of Württemberg was a daughter of William I of Württemberg and Pauline Therese of Württemberg. She was the mother of William II of Württemberg.-Family:...
was the daughter of William I
William I of Württemberg
William I was the second King of Württemberg from October 30, 1816 until his death.He was born in Lüben, the son of King Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel .-First marriage:...
, on his father's side he was also the senior male-line descendant of Frederick I of Württemberg
Frederick I of Württemberg
Frederick I William Charles of Württemberg was the first King of Württemberg. He was known for his size: at and about , he was in contrast to Napoleon, who recognized him as King of Württemberg.-Biography:...
through his younger son Prince Paul
Prince Paul of Württemberg
Prince Paul of Württemberg was a German prince and the fourth child and second son of Frederick I of Württemberg and Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.-Early life:...
.
Despite living in a landlocked kingdom, William II was a ship enthusiast. The king was instrumental in the establishment of the Württembergischer Yacht Club
Württembergischer Yacht Club
The Württembergischer Yacht-Club is a yacht club in Friedrichshafen. It is located on the pleasant shores of Lake Constance, Germany. This club was established in January 1911 as the "Königlich Württembergischer Yacht-Club" .-History:The WYC was originally inscribed in the local Tettnang registry...
(formerly "Königlich Württembergischer Yacht-Club" or Royal Yacht Club of Württemberg) in 1911 on Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
.
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 ....
his capital he built the Wilhelmspalais.
King William became a Generalfeldmarschall
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...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1918, he was deposed from the throne along with the other German rulers. Considered to be a popular monarch, he was bitter to find he received less support than he had anticipated. He had the habit of walking his two dogs in public parks in Stuttgart without bodyguards or the like, being greeted by his subjects with a simple Herr König ("Mister King"). William finally abdicated on 30 November 1918.
Under his reign the Weizsäcker family rose to prominence as officials and advisers.
Marriages and children
On 15 February 1877 at Arolsen he married Princess Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1857–1882). They had three children:- Princess PaulinePrincess Pauline of Württemberg (1877–1965)Princess Pauline of Württemberg was the only daughter of William II of Württemberg and wife of William Frederick, Prince of Wied. She was the last Princess of Württemberg, as well the last senior member of the House of Württemberg....
(19 December 18777 May 1965), married in 1898 William Frederick, Prince of WiedWilliam Frederick, Prince of WiedWilliam Frederick, Prince of Wied was a German nobleman, eldest child of William, Prince of Wied. He was brother of William, Prince of Albania.-Early life:...
(1872–1945); had issue. - Prince Ulrich (28 July 188028 December 1880)
- a stillborn daughter (24 April 1882)
Marie died on 30 April 1882 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 ....
, from complications resulting from the birth of her third child. William, already depressed by the death of his only son, is said never to have recovered from this blow.
On 8 April 1886 at Bückeburg
Bückeburg
Bückeburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge...
, he married Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe
Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe
Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe was the daughter of Prince Wilhelm Karl August of Schaumburg-Lippe, and his wife, Princess Bathildis of Anhalt-Dessau. As the second wife of King William II of Württemberg she became Queen Charlotte of Württemberg...
(1864–1946). They had no children.
Succession
With William II's death in 1921 without male issue, the senior branch of the House of WürttembergHouse of Württemberg
The Württemberg family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Württemberg. The House has its origins, according to recent research, probably in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.-History:...
became extinct. The ducal branch became the new dynastic-branch of the House; thus, the Kingship was extinguished and the headship of the house devolved to a dukedom, specifically onto Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg or Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg was a German Generalfeldmarschall and head of the Royal House of Württemberg...
.
Ancestry
See also
- Rulers of WürttembergRulers of WürttembergThis is a list of the rulers of the German state of Württemberg, originally a county and eventually a kingdom until the ruling dynasty was overthrown in 1918.- Counts of Württemberg to 1495 :* Konrad I 1089–1122...
|-
|-
|-