Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
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Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (19 November 1779 – 4 January 1801) was the maternal grandmother of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
.
Louise Charlotte was born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
, her father being Friedrich Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
. Her mother was Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
and her sister Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1784–1840), who married King Christian VIII of Denmark
.
. The engagement was arranged by Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm
, the de facto
regent of Sweden, who wished to keep his influence after the monarch were declared of legal majority by having a queen indebted to him for her position. The king himself was initially positive; the engagement was celebrated in the courts of Sweden and Mecklenburg and Louise Charlotte was mentioned in the official church prayer in Sweden. Empress Catherine the great, however, whished her grand daughter Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
to be queen of Sweden, and displayed dislike of the engagent. Upon this many people told the king that Louise Charlotte, whom he had not seen, was not beautiful. When the king was declared of legal majority in 1797, he broke the engagement. Her father demanded compensation. In 1803, the matter was settled when the Swedish city of Wismar
in Germany was turned over to Mecklenburg-Schwerin by a treaty in Malmö
.
In 1797 she married Augustus, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, who came from the same family as her mother. Their common ancestor was Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
(1676–1732). The marriage was arranged against her will and became unhappy: her spouse abused her and she wished to leave him, but was forced to stay by her family. She was described as very blond, not attractive, somewhat hunchbacked but also as witty, talented, cultivated and with a pleasant manner, though more open than what was regarded as an ideal for the period.
Louise Charlotte died 4 years later in childbirth at the age of 22, before Augustus assumed the throne of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They had only one daughter: Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
, who would marry Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
, and become mother to Prince Consort Albert.
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
Louise Charlotte was born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
, her father being Friedrich Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Friedrich Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg [-Schwerin] ruled over the German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, first as Duke and then as Grand Duke .-Biography:...
. Her mother was Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1756–1808)
Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, was a member of the House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and a Princess of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and a Duchess in Saxony by birth...
and her sister Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1784–1840), who married King Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
.
Biography
In 1 November 1795, Louise Charlotte was engaged to King Gustav IV Adolf of SwedenGustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden also Gustav Adolph was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809. He was the son of Gustav III of Sweden and his queen consort Sophia Magdalena, eldest daughter of Frederick V of Denmark and his first wife Louise of Great Britain. He was the last Swedish...
. The engagement was arranged by Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm
Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm
Baron Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm , was a Swedish statesman.-Early career:...
, the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
regent of Sweden, who wished to keep his influence after the monarch were declared of legal majority by having a queen indebted to him for her position. The king himself was initially positive; the engagement was celebrated in the courts of Sweden and Mecklenburg and Louise Charlotte was mentioned in the official church prayer in Sweden. Empress Catherine the great, however, whished her grand daughter Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia, was a daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and sister of Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. She became Archduchess of Austria upon her marriage to Archduke Joseph of Austria, Governor of Hungary.-Life:...
to be queen of Sweden, and displayed dislike of the engagent. Upon this many people told the king that Louise Charlotte, whom he had not seen, was not beautiful. When the king was declared of legal majority in 1797, he broke the engagement. Her father demanded compensation. In 1803, the matter was settled when the Swedish city of Wismar
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
in Germany was turned over to Mecklenburg-Schwerin by a treaty in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
.
In 1797 she married Augustus, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, who came from the same family as her mother. Their common ancestor was Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.He was the fifth child and first son of Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels....
(1676–1732). The marriage was arranged against her will and became unhappy: her spouse abused her and she wished to leave him, but was forced to stay by her family. She was described as very blond, not attractive, somewhat hunchbacked but also as witty, talented, cultivated and with a pleasant manner, though more open than what was regarded as an ideal for the period.
Louise Charlotte died 4 years later in childbirth at the age of 22, before Augustus assumed the throne of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They had only one daughter: Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was the wife of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the mother of Duke Ernst II and Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria.-Family:Princess Louise was the only daughter of Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and his first wife Louise Charlotte...
, who would marry Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, formerly Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was the duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and from 1826, the first sovereign duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha....
, and become mother to Prince Consort Albert.