Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
Encyclopedia
Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia was the fourth daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia
and Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. She became the Queen of Württemberg upon her marriage to her first cousin Crown Prince William who eventually became King William I of Württemberg
in 1816.
. She had a happy childhood and her education was carefully supervised by her mother. She received the best education and constantly furthered her education through reading new literary publications and personal contacts with various outstanding persons. She was very close to her siblings particularly with her eldest brother Tsar Alexander I
. Throughout her life she would maintain a close relationship with him. It was said that she was Alexander's favorite sister and one of the few persons he loved unconditionally. His letters to her are expressed in phrases like "I am yours, heart and soul, for life", "I think that I love you more with each day that passes", and "to love you more than I do is impossible". Ekaterina was reportedly also her mother's favorite daughter.
After Napoléon I's
divorce from Empress Joséphine
during the course of the Napoleonic Wars
, the French Emperor hinted to Alexander I his wish to marry Ekaterina - a desire mainly to draw the Russians to his side. These plans had actually been hinted as early as 1808, in Erfurt, on suggestion by Talleyrand. Ekaterina's family was horrified, and so the Dowager Empress immediately arranged a marriage for her daughter to Duke George of Oldenburg.
on 3 August 1809. Although their marriage was arranged, Ekaterina was devoted to her husband. George was the second son of Peter, Duke of Oldenburg
and his wife, Duchess Frederica of Württemberg
. It was said that he was not handsome but Ekaterina reportedly cared for him deeply, and his death in 1812 due to typhoid fever saddened her greatly. The couple resided in Tver
, where George had been appointed governor general. In Tver, Catherine lived a lavish court life and entertained with balls, grand dinners and similar events in the pattern of the Imperial court, to create "a Small Saint Petersburg" in Tver. She also supported N.M. Karamzin to write his later famous historical work. Tsar Alexander adopted reactionary ideas from a patriotic group which she dominated. In 1812, some conspirators who planned deposed Tsar Alexander had the ambitions to put her on the throne as Empress Catherine III.
In 1812, she supported the suggestion to summon a national militia, and formed a special regiment of chasseurs which took part in many of the great battles of the era. During 1813-1815, Ekaterina travelled to England
with her brother Tsar Alexander I
to meet the Prince Regent
and again during the Vienna Congress. She was not without influence upon his political acts during these trips. She also supported the marriage between her youngest sister Anna and William II of the Netherlands.
It was in England where she met the Crown Prince William of Württemberg. It was love at first sight for the couple. However, William was then married to Princess Charlotte of Bavaria and took the then drastic step by divorcing her. William then married Ekaterina in 1816 in Saint Petersburg
. Upon her husband's accession as king, Ekaterina, now Queen Katharina of Württemberg, became active in charity works in her adopted homeland
. She established numerous institutions for the benefit of the public. She supported elementary education and organized a charity foundation during the hunger of 1816.
Ekaterina died at Stuttgart
, in January 1819, of erysipelas
complicated by pneumonia
. After her death her husband built Württemberg Mausoleum
in Rotenberg
, Stuttgart
dedicated to her memory. William later remarried to his first cousin Princess Pauline of Württemberg
.
(9 May 1784 – 27 December 1812):
With the King of Württemberg
, she had the following children:
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
and Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. She became the Queen of Württemberg upon her marriage to her first cousin Crown Prince William who eventually became 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:...
in 1816.
Life
Ekaterina was born at Tsarskoye SeloTsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo is the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of St. Petersburg. It is now part of the town of Pushkin and of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.-History:In...
. She had a happy childhood and her education was carefully supervised by her mother. She received the best education and constantly furthered her education through reading new literary publications and personal contacts with various outstanding persons. She was very close to her siblings particularly with her eldest brother Tsar Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
. Throughout her life she would maintain a close relationship with him. It was said that she was Alexander's favorite sister and one of the few persons he loved unconditionally. His letters to her are expressed in phrases like "I am yours, heart and soul, for life", "I think that I love you more with each day that passes", and "to love you more than I do is impossible". Ekaterina was reportedly also her mother's favorite daughter.
After Napoléon I's
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
divorce from Empress Joséphine
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais had been guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she had been imprisoned in the Carmes prison until her release five days after Alexandre's...
during the course of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, the French Emperor hinted to Alexander I his wish to marry Ekaterina - a desire mainly to draw the Russians to his side. These plans had actually been hinted as early as 1808, in Erfurt, on suggestion by Talleyrand. Ekaterina's family was horrified, and so the Dowager Empress immediately arranged a marriage for her daughter to Duke George of Oldenburg.
Marriages
Described as beautiful and vivacious, Ekaterina was married to her first cousin Duke George of OldenburgDuke George of Oldenburg
Duke George of Oldenburg was a younger son of Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and his wife Duchess Frederica of Württemberg. He was a son-in-law of Paul I of Russia through marriage to his daughter Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia...
on 3 August 1809. Although their marriage was arranged, Ekaterina was devoted to her husband. George was the second son of Peter, Duke of Oldenburg
Peter, Duke of Oldenburg
Peter I or Peter Frederick Louis of Holstein-Gottorp was the Regent of the Duchy of Oldenburg for his incapacitated cousin Peter Frederick William from 1785 to 1823, and then served himself as Duke from 1823-1829...
and his wife, Duchess Frederica of Württemberg
Duchess Frederica of Württemberg
Duchess Frederica Elisabeth Amalie Auguste of Württemberg was a daughter of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt.-Family:...
. It was said that he was not handsome but Ekaterina reportedly cared for him deeply, and his death in 1812 due to typhoid fever saddened her greatly. The couple resided in Tver
Tver
Tver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
, where George had been appointed governor general. In Tver, Catherine lived a lavish court life and entertained with balls, grand dinners and similar events in the pattern of the Imperial court, to create "a Small Saint Petersburg" in Tver. She also supported N.M. Karamzin to write his later famous historical work. Tsar Alexander adopted reactionary ideas from a patriotic group which she dominated. In 1812, some conspirators who planned deposed Tsar Alexander had the ambitions to put her on the throne as Empress Catherine III.
In 1812, she supported the suggestion to summon a national militia, and formed a special regiment of chasseurs which took part in many of the great battles of the era. During 1813-1815, Ekaterina travelled to England
Allied sovereigns' visit to England
The Allied sovereigns' visit to England occurred in June 1814 to celebrate the peace following the defeat of France and abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte in April 1814...
with her brother Tsar Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
to meet the Prince Regent
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
and again during the Vienna Congress. She was not without influence upon his political acts during these trips. She also supported the marriage between her youngest sister Anna and William II of the Netherlands.
It was in England where she met the Crown Prince William of Württemberg. It was love at first sight for the couple. However, William was then married to Princess Charlotte of Bavaria and took the then drastic step by divorcing her. William then married Ekaterina in 1816 in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Upon her husband's accession as king, Ekaterina, now Queen Katharina of Württemberg, became active in charity works in her adopted homeland
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...
. She established numerous institutions for the benefit of the public. She supported elementary education and organized a charity foundation during the hunger of 1816.
Ekaterina died at 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 January 1819, of erysipelas
Erysipelas
Erysipelas is an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the deep epidermis with lymphatic spread.-Risk factors:...
complicated by pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. After her death her husband built Württemberg Mausoleum
Württemberg Mausoleum
The Württemberg Mausoleum is a memorial in the Rotenberg part of Untertürkheim in Stuttgart, Germany. The mausoleum stands on the peak of Württemberg Hill at the westernmost end of Schurwald woods overlooking the Neckar river. The memorial was built for Catherine Pavlovna of Russia , the second...
in Rotenberg
Rotenberg
Rotenberg is an area within the Untertürkheim district of Stuttgart, Germany . The area overlooks Untertürkheim and the Neckar valley and lies on the north and east slopes of the hill known as Württemberg...
, 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 ....
dedicated to her memory. William later remarried to his first cousin Princess Pauline of Württemberg
Pauline Therese of Württemberg
Duchess Pauline Therese Luise of Württemberg was a daughter of Louis of Württemberg and Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg...
.
Issue
Ekaterina had two sons with Duke George of OldenburgDuke George of Oldenburg
Duke George of Oldenburg was a younger son of Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and his wife Duchess Frederica of Württemberg. He was a son-in-law of Paul I of Russia through marriage to his daughter Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia...
(9 May 1784 – 27 December 1812):
- Peter Georg Paul Alexander of Oldenburg (30 August 1810 – 16 November 1829)
- Konstantin Friedrich Peter of Oldenburg (26 August 1812 – 14 May 1881)
With the King 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:...
, she had the following children:
- Maria Friederike Charlotte (30 October 1816 – 4 January 1887)
- Sophie Friederike MathildeSophie of WürttembergPrincess Sophia Frederika Mathilde of Württemberg was Queen of the Netherlands as the first wife of King William III of the Netherlands.-Biography:...
(17 June 1818 – 3 June 1877) - Became Queen of the Netherlands
Titles and styles
- 10 May 1788 – 3 August 1809: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
- 3 August 1809 – 24 January 1816: Her Imperial Highness Duchess George of Oldenburg
- 24 January 1816 – 30 October 1816: Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Württemberg
- 30 October 1816 – 19 January 1819: Her MajestyMajestyMajesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
The Queen of Württemberg