Frederick Augustus, Duke of Nassau
Encyclopedia
Friedrich August, Duke of Nassau, Prince of Nassau-Usingen (23 April 1738, Usingen
– 24 March 1816, Wiesbaden
) was the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen and, jointly with his cousin, Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg, first Duke of Nassau. He died without surviving male issue and was succeeded by his cousin's son, Wilhelm
.
and Princess Christiane Wilhelmine of Saxe-Eisenach (daughter of John William III, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
. From 1744, he lived with his parents in Schloss Biebrich in Wiesbaden
. He followed a military career in the army of the Holy Roman Empire
and served in the Seven Years' War
. In 1790, he became a Field Marshal.
when his elder brother, Charles William died without male heirs. On 6 July 1806, he joined the Confederation of the Rhine
in order to prevent Napoleon from annexing the principality. Shortly thereafter, on 30 August 1806, he agreed with his cousin Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg that their territories should be united into a single Duchy of Nassau with Frederick Augustus as the first duke and Frederick William as co-ruler. Since Friedrich August' sons had died young, it was also agreed that the combined duchy and sole rulership would pass to the heir of the Nassau-Weilburg line.
After Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig
, Friedrich August joined in the allies fighting against the French Emperor. Nassau's troops fought under the command of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
at the Battle of Waterloo
. At the Congress of Vienna
, the unification of the Duchy of Nassau was approved and the duchy joined the German Confederation
.
Friedrich August was an enlightened and liberal ruler who established reforms such as the elimination of tax privileges for the nobility, the introduction of press freedom and the constitution for a modern state. His court at the Biebrich Castle was praised by visitors for its serenity and hospitality.
. The couple had seven children (5 daughters and 2 sons), but only their daughters survived infancy.
Usingen
Usingen is a small town in the Hochtaunuskreis in Hessen, Germany. Until 1972, this residential and school town was the seat of the former district of Usingen.-Location:...
– 24 March 1816, Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
) was the last Prince of Nassau-Usingen and, jointly with his cousin, Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg, first Duke of Nassau. He died without surviving male issue and was succeeded by his cousin's son, Wilhelm
William, Duke of Nassau
Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg was the father of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Queen Sophia .-Biography:Wilhelm was the eldest son of Frederick...
.
Early Life
Friedrich August was a younger son of Prince Charles of Nassau-UsingenCharles, Prince of Nassau-Usingen
Charles, Prince of Nassau-Usingen , was from 1718 to 1775 Prince of Nassau-Usingen.- Family :...
and Princess Christiane Wilhelmine of Saxe-Eisenach (daughter of John William III, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
John William III, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach , was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach.He was the third son of Johann Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach and Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein...
. From 1744, he lived with his parents in Schloss Biebrich in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
. He followed a military career in the army of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and served in 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...
. In 1790, he became a Field Marshal.
Ruler of Nassau
On 17 May 1803, he succeed as the Prince of Nassau-UsingenNassau-Usingen
Nassau-Usingen was a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the Upper Rhenish Circle that became a principality in 1688.The origin of the county lies in the medieval county of Weilnau that was acquired by the counts of Nassau-Weilburg in 1602....
when his elder brother, Charles William died without male heirs. On 6 July 1806, he joined the Confederation of the Rhine
Confederation of the Rhine
The Confederation of the Rhine was a confederation of client states of the First French Empire. It was formed initially from 16 German states by Napoleon after he defeated Austria's Francis II and Russia's Alexander I in the Battle of Austerlitz. The Treaty of Pressburg, in effect, led to the...
in order to prevent Napoleon from annexing the principality. Shortly thereafter, on 30 August 1806, he agreed with his cousin Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg that their territories should be united into a single Duchy of Nassau with Frederick Augustus as the first duke and Frederick William as co-ruler. Since Friedrich August' sons had died young, it was also agreed that the combined duchy and sole rulership would pass to the heir of the Nassau-Weilburg line.
After Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig
Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of Leipzig or Battle of the Nations, on 16–19 October 1813, was fought by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon. Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine...
, Friedrich August joined in the allies fighting against the French Emperor. Nassau's troops fought under the command of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. At the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, the unification of the Duchy of Nassau was approved and the duchy joined the German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
.
Friedrich August was an enlightened and liberal ruler who established reforms such as the elimination of tax privileges for the nobility, the introduction of press freedom and the constitution for a modern state. His court at the Biebrich Castle was praised by visitors for its serenity and hospitality.
Marriage and children
On 9 June 1775, Friedrich August married Princess Luise of Waldeck (born 29 January 1751 in Arolsen, died 17 November 1816 in Frankfurt am Main), daughter of Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and PyrmontKarl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Karl August Friedrich of Waldeck and Pyrmont was Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Commander of the Dutch forces in the War of Austrian Succession.-Royal life and military career:...
. The couple had seven children (5 daughters and 2 sons), but only their daughters survived infancy.
- Christiane Luise (Biebrich, 16 August 1776 - Karlsruhe, 19 February 1829). Married on 29 November 1791 to Margrave Friedrich of Baden (29 August 1756 - 28 May 1817), son of Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Baden.
- Karoline Friederike (Usingen, 30 August 1777 - Hochheim am Main, 28 August 1821). Married on 9 February 1792 to Christian August, Duke of Anhalt-KöthenAugustus Christian Frederick, Duke of Anhalt-KöthenAugustus Christian Frederick of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen, and from 1806 the first "Duke of Anhalt-Köthen."...
(18 November 1769 - 5 May 1812), divorced 1803. - Augusta (Usingen, 30 December 1778 - Wildbad, 16 July 1846). First married on 2 August 1804 to Ludwig of Hesse-Homburg (29 August 1770 - 29 January 1839) son of Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick V Louis William Christian , Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg was from 1751 to his death landgrave of Hesse-Homburg...
, divorced 1805. Married secondly on 7 September 1807 to Friedrich Wilhelm von Bismarck (28 July 1783 - 18 July 1860). - Friedrich Wilhelm (Biebrich, 30 July 1780 - Biebrich, 18 August 1780).
- Lousie Maria (Usingen, 18 July 1782 - Biebrich, 27 June 1812).
- Friederike Victoria (Usingen 21 February 1784 - Usingen, 18 July 1822).
- Friedrich Karl (Usingen, 17 June 1787 - Frankfurt am Main, 29 September 1787)
Titles and styles
- 23 April 1738 - 17 May 1803: His Serene Highness Frederick Augustus, Prince of Nassau-Usingen
- 17 May 1803 - 24 March 1816: His Serene Highness The Prince (FürstFürstFürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
) of Nassau-Usingen - 30 August 1806 - 24 March 1816: His Highness The Duke of Nassau