Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Encyclopedia
Margravine Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (30 August 1732 – 6 April 1780), was a German princess member of the House of Hohenzollern
and by marriage Duchess of Württemberg
.
by his first wife, Princess Fredericka Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia
, the favourite sister of King Frederick II the Great. Both the Margrave and the Margravine hoped for the eventual birth of a son and heir; however, this never happened. Thus, Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie grew up as an only child at the court of her father in Bayreuth.
At the time of her birth, her parents' marriage was still intact. However, during the following years the couple became estranged as Margrave Frederick turned his affections to other women. His most prominent mistress was Wilhelmine von Marwitz, one of his wife's ladies-in-waiting.
Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie was considered one of the most beautiful princesses of her time. The girl was praised by Italian serial lover and writer Casanova himself as "the most beautiful princess in Germany". As an only child, she had a rigorous education and was prepared for a high and noble marriage.
On 26 September 1748 the marriage of Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie and Charles Eugene took place in Bayreuth. The wedding was the most festive celebration in the history of the margraviate. Within the framework of the brilliant festivities the margrave's opera house was opened and commemorative coins with half-length portraits of the young couple were stamped with the saying "If the lit flames are extinguished tenfold, they will only burn brighter".
The marriage was happy at first. However, the 15-year-old duchess had no influence on the politics of her realm. The duke soon abandoned any pretense of fidelity and spent much of his time with his mistresses. So it came to an increase in disputes between the couple.
On 19 February 1750 Elisabeth gave birth to their only child, a daughter, Princess Fredericka Wilhelmine Augusta Luisa Charlotte of Württemberg, who died on 12 March 1751 shortly after her first birthday. The absence of a male heir increased the conflicts between the young couple. After a journey to Italy in 1753, the couple still remained together. However, after the homecoming, the Duke again took mistresses and new disputes arose. When in 1756, without her knowledge, he despotically arrested and illegally imprisoned Elisabeth's friend, chamber singer Marianne Pirker, the ducal couple of Württemberg became permanently estranged.
During the Seven Years' War
Charles Eugene joined of the alliance of Austria and France against Prussia
and England and in doing so destroyed his friendly connections with the Prussian King. When in the autumn of 1756 Elisabeth visited her mother in Bayreuth, she refused to return to her husband in Württemberg. The dispute over the state of her marriage to Charles Eugene was now out in the open. It took until 1759 for Elisabeth's father and Charles Eugene to make a final agreement. The marriage would not be dissolved, and Elisabeth would remain as Duchess of Württemberg. Charles Eugene and the estates of Württemberg were bound to pay 54.000 guilders of maintenance to her annually. However, Charles Eugene kept the right to determine her household. In this way he remained informed about her activities and could also affect her circumstances.
After the death of her father in 1763, Elisabeth inherited the castle (German: Schloss) near Donndorf (now municipality
Eckersdorf
), which was still under construction. It had been begun by the Margrave Frederick, but was not completed until 1765. She remodeled and furnished the Schloss to suit her tastes and personality, and gave it the name of Schloss Fantaisie which it still bears today.
She died in the Old Castle (Alten Schloss) in Bayreuth, aged forty-seven. As her request, she was buried in the Castle Chapel of Bayreuth (Schlosskirche Bayreuth) beside her parents.
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
and by marriage Duchess of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
.
Early life
She was born in Bayreuth, the daughter of Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthFrederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth....
by his first wife, Princess Fredericka Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia
Wilhelmine of Bayreuth
Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia was a German noblewoman and composer. She was the eldest daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. In 1731, she married Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth...
, the favourite sister of King Frederick II the Great. Both the Margrave and the Margravine hoped for the eventual birth of a son and heir; however, this never happened. Thus, Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie grew up as an only child at the court of her father in Bayreuth.
At the time of her birth, her parents' marriage was still intact. However, during the following years the couple became estranged as Margrave Frederick turned his affections to other women. His most prominent mistress was Wilhelmine von Marwitz, one of his wife's ladies-in-waiting.
Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie was considered one of the most beautiful princesses of her time. The girl was praised by Italian serial lover and writer Casanova himself as "the most beautiful princess in Germany". As an only child, she had a rigorous education and was prepared for a high and noble marriage.
Marriage
In January 1744 the ruling Duke Charles Eugene of Württemberg visited Bayreuth and fell in love with Elisabeth. Her uncle, King Frederick II the Great of Prussia, promoted Charles Eugene as a good match for her, because he had known him during the two years he was educated at the Prussian court. Although the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and the King of Denmark were also suitors of the princess, Elisabeth's family chose Charles Eugene.On 26 September 1748 the marriage of Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie and Charles Eugene took place in Bayreuth. The wedding was the most festive celebration in the history of the margraviate. Within the framework of the brilliant festivities the margrave's opera house was opened and commemorative coins with half-length portraits of the young couple were stamped with the saying "If the lit flames are extinguished tenfold, they will only burn brighter".
The marriage was happy at first. However, the 15-year-old duchess had no influence on the politics of her realm. The duke soon abandoned any pretense of fidelity and spent much of his time with his mistresses. So it came to an increase in disputes between the couple.
On 19 February 1750 Elisabeth gave birth to their only child, a daughter, Princess Fredericka Wilhelmine Augusta Luisa Charlotte of Württemberg, who died on 12 March 1751 shortly after her first birthday. The absence of a male heir increased the conflicts between the young couple. After a journey to Italy in 1753, the couple still remained together. However, after the homecoming, the Duke again took mistresses and new disputes arose. When in 1756, without her knowledge, he despotically arrested and illegally imprisoned Elisabeth's friend, chamber singer Marianne Pirker, the ducal couple of Württemberg became permanently estranged.
During the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
Charles Eugene joined of the alliance of Austria and France against Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and England and in doing so destroyed his friendly connections with the Prussian King. When in the autumn of 1756 Elisabeth visited her mother in Bayreuth, she refused to return to her husband in Württemberg. The dispute over the state of her marriage to Charles Eugene was now out in the open. It took until 1759 for Elisabeth's father and Charles Eugene to make a final agreement. The marriage would not be dissolved, and Elisabeth would remain as Duchess of Württemberg. Charles Eugene and the estates of Württemberg were bound to pay 54.000 guilders of maintenance to her annually. However, Charles Eugene kept the right to determine her household. In this way he remained informed about her activities and could also affect her circumstances.
After the death of her father in 1763, Elisabeth inherited the castle (German: Schloss) near Donndorf (now municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
Eckersdorf
Eckersdorf
Eckersdorf is a municipality in the district of Bayreuth in Bavaria in Germany.- Geography :The municipality of Eckersdorf is located on the northern edge of an area called "Little Switzerland" , close to the world-famous festival town of Bayreuth...
), which was still under construction. It had been begun by the Margrave Frederick, but was not completed until 1765. She remodeled and furnished the Schloss to suit her tastes and personality, and gave it the name of Schloss Fantaisie which it still bears today.
She died in the Old Castle (Alten Schloss) in Bayreuth, aged forty-seven. As her request, she was buried in the Castle Chapel of Bayreuth (Schlosskirche Bayreuth) beside her parents.