Eugene Frederick Henry, Duke of Württemberg
Encyclopedia
Duke Eugen of Württemberg was a German nobleman. He was brother of Frederick I of Württemberg
, Margraviate of Brandenburg
, third child of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1732–1797), (son of Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, and Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn and Taxis
) and his wife, Margravine Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1736–1798), (daughter of Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt and Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia
).
Eugen was educated by Johann Georg Schlosser, a brother of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
. The prince came early in Prussian
service and was with his regiment in the Oleśnica
Silesian Hussars stationed at that time the residence of Eugen's relatives, in that time part of the Duchy of Oels
. Whose last Duke Charles Christian Erdmann
, left Eugen on his will Carlsruhe Palace
as a fee tail
.
Since 1795 Eugen was governor of the fortress of Glogau. At the War of the Fourth Coalition
, in the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt
he commanded a general cavalry of the Prussian Army
Reserve. On 18 October 1806 he fought at the Battle of Halle
where he was defeated by Marshal
Jean Bernadotte
(later became King Charles XIV John of Sweden).
Carlsruhe became a permanent residence of Duke Eugen, which he endowed with a theater and and chapel. The Duke was a great patron of the composer Carl Maria von Weber
, in September 1806 he was designated as Kapellmeister
at Carlsruhe. Eugen's son, distinguished himself in the War of the Sixth Coalition
from based on which, the theater closed, and Carl Maria von Weber also had to be dismissed. In 1820 Eugen built the Cavalier Homes on the Schlossplatz in Carlsruhe.
From 1820 until his death Eugen was a member of the First Chamber of the Estates of Württemberg
. He never appeared in person to the meetings, but represented by Count Charles of Reischach.
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:...
Life
Duke Eugen was born at SchwedtSchwedt
Schwedt is a city in Brandenburg, Germany. It is the largest city of the district Uckermark near the Oder river on the border with Poland.-Overview:...
, Margraviate of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
, third child of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1732–1797), (son of Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, and Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn and Taxis
Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn and Taxis
Princess Maria Augusta Anna of Thurn and Taxis was a Regent of Württemberg. She was a member of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis as a daughter of Anselm Franz, 2nd Prince of Thurn and Taxis and his wife Maria Ludovika Anna Franziska, Princess of Lobkowicz...
) and his wife, Margravine Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1736–1798), (daughter of Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt and Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia
Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia
Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia was the ninth child and fifth daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover...
).
Eugen was educated by Johann Georg Schlosser, a brother of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
. The prince came early in Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
service and was with his regiment in the Oleśnica
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
Silesian Hussars stationed at that time the residence of Eugen's relatives, in that time part of the Duchy of Oels
Duchy of Oels
The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
. Whose last Duke Charles Christian Erdmann
Charles Christian Erdmann, Duke of Württemberg-Oels
Karl Christian Erdmann of Württemberg-Oels was ruling duke of Württemberg-Oels and Bernstadt....
, left Eugen on his will Carlsruhe Palace
Pokój, Opole Voivodeship
Pokój is a village in Namysłów County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Pokój...
as a fee tail
Fee tail
At common law, fee tail or entail is an estate of inheritance in real property which cannot be sold, devised by will, or otherwise alienated by the owner, but which passes by operation of law to the owner's heirs upon his death...
.
Since 1795 Eugen was governor of the fortress of Glogau. At the War of the Fourth Coalition
War of the Fourth Coalition
The Fourth Coalition against Napoleon's French Empire was defeated in a war spanning 1806–1807. Coalition partners included Prussia, Russia, Saxony, Sweden, and the United Kingdom....
, in the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt
Battle of Jena-Auerstedt
The twin battles of Jena and Auerstedt were fought on 14 October 1806 on the plateau west of the river Saale in today's Germany, between the forces of Napoleon I of France and Frederick William III of Prussia...
he commanded a general cavalry of the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
Reserve. On 18 October 1806 he fought at the Battle of Halle
Battle of Halle
In the Battle of Halle on 17 October 1806 a French corps led by Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte fought the Prussian Reserve under Eugene Frederick Henry, Duke of Württemberg. The French defeated their opponents, forcing the Prussians to retreat northeast toward Dessau after suffering heavy losses. The...
where he was defeated by Marshal
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
Jean Bernadotte
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
(later became King Charles XIV John of Sweden).
Carlsruhe became a permanent residence of Duke Eugen, which he endowed with a theater and and chapel. The Duke was a great patron of the composer Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
, in September 1806 he was designated as Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
at Carlsruhe. Eugen's son, distinguished himself in the War of the Sixth Coalition
War of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition , a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and a number of German States finally defeated France and drove Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on Elba. After Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, the continental powers...
from based on which, the theater closed, and Carl Maria von Weber also had to be dismissed. In 1820 Eugen built the Cavalier Homes on the Schlossplatz in Carlsruhe.
From 1820 until his death Eugen was a member of the First Chamber of the Estates of Württemberg
Estates of Württemberg
The Estates of Württemberg was the Estates of the Duchy of Württemberg, a bicameral parliament lasting from 1457 to 1918 except for 1802-15....
. He never appeared in person to the meetings, but represented by Count Charles of Reischach.
Marriage and issue
On 21 January 1787, in Meiningen, he married Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern (1764–1834), daughter of Prince Christian Karl of Stolberg-Gedern and Countess Eleanore Reuss of Lobenstein. Louise was the widow of Charles William, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. They had four children:- Duke Eugen of Württemberg (18 January 1788 – 16 September 1857), married in 1817 to Princess Mathilde of Waldeck and Pyrmont, had issue; Married secondly in 1827 to Princess Helene of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, had issue.
- Duchess Louise of Württemberg (4 June 1789 – 26 June 1851), married in 1811 to Friedrich August Karl, Prince of Hohenlohe-Oehringen, had issue.
- Duke Georg Ferdinand of Württemberg (15 June 1790 – 25 December 1795)
- Duke Heinrich of Württemberg (13 December 1792 –28 November 1797)
- Duke Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg (25 June 1797 – 25 November 1860), married in 1827 to Princess Maria Sophia of Thurn and Taxis, had issue.