Louise Caroline of Hochberg
Encyclopedia
Louise Caroline of Hochberg, born Baroness Geyer of Geyersberg, from 1787 Baroness of Hochberg, from 1796 Countess of Hochberg (26 May 1768 in Karlsruhe
– 23 June 1820, Karlsruhe
) was the morganatic second wife of the Margrave and later Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Baden.
were Margrave
Charles Frederick of Baden and his first wife, Caroline Louise. Louise Caroline was given a befitting education and attended a private school in Colmar
. Later she attended the court of Baden-Durlach as a lady in waiting to Hereditary Princess Amalie.
), Charles Frederick (1728–1811), who had been widowed since 1783 – but only " morganatically
" because she was not of equal rank. From the days of her marriage she was given the title of Baroness of Hochberg. In 1796, she was elevated to Imperial
Countess of Hochberg by Francis II
. She never obtained the rank of Margravine, the rank Charles Frederick's first wife had had.
Since their children were of lower rank, they were initially excluded from the succession. In 1796 her sons were granted the rank of the Counts of Hochberg. Charles Frederick also decreed that in the event that the male line from his first marriage would die out, her sons would be entitled to inherit. That order was confirmed by his descendants from his first marriage and by the Emperor
of the Holy Roman Empire
.
Finally, when neither the legitimate grandson and heir, Grand Duke Charles, nor the other sons from his first marriage had surviving male descendants, Grand Duke Charles Frederick asked the princely congress in Aachen on 20 November 1818, just weeks before his death, to award the Margrave dignity to the sons of Louise Caroline. Louise Caroline herself still held only the rank of Countess. Finally, in 1830, ten years after Louise's death, after the death of Louis I (who was the last ruler of the old line), her son Leopold
ascended the throne as Grand Duke. Their succession rights were reinforced when Baden was granted a constitution in 1818, and recognised by Bavaria
and the Great Powers in the Treaty of Frankfurt, 1819
. Louise's descendants ruled the Grand Duchy of Baden until 1918. The current pretenders
are descendants of Louise Caroline.
by a dead child, in order the secure the throne for her own sons. When Kaspar Hauser
was found, rumour had it that he was just this first-born prince of Baden. Modern historians consider this legend as refuted.
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
– 23 June 1820, Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
) was the morganatic second wife of the Margrave and later Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Baden.
Origin
Louise Caroline Geyer Geyer of Geyersberg was the daughter Lieutenant Colonel Baron Louis Henry Philipp Geyer of Geyersberg, who died soon after her birth. Her godparentsGodparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
were Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
Charles Frederick of Baden and his first wife, Caroline Louise. Louise Caroline was given a befitting education and attended a private school in Colmar
Colmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
. Later she attended the court of Baden-Durlach as a lady in waiting to Hereditary Princess Amalie.
Marriage with Margrave Charles Frederick
On 24 November 1787, she married Margrave (since 1806 Grand DukeGrand Duke
The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not...
), Charles Frederick (1728–1811), who had been widowed since 1783 – but only " morganatically
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
" because she was not of equal rank. From the days of her marriage she was given the title of Baroness of Hochberg. In 1796, she was elevated to Imperial
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...
Countess of Hochberg by Francis II
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
. She never obtained the rank of Margravine, the rank Charles Frederick's first wife had had.
Since their children were of lower rank, they were initially excluded from the succession. In 1796 her sons were granted the rank of the Counts of Hochberg. Charles Frederick also decreed that in the event that the male line from his first marriage would die out, her sons would be entitled to inherit. That order was confirmed by his descendants from his first marriage and by the Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
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...
.
Finally, when neither the legitimate grandson and heir, Grand Duke Charles, nor the other sons from his first marriage had surviving male descendants, Grand Duke Charles Frederick asked the princely congress in Aachen on 20 November 1818, just weeks before his death, to award the Margrave dignity to the sons of Louise Caroline. Louise Caroline herself still held only the rank of Countess. Finally, in 1830, ten years after Louise's death, after the death of Louis I (who was the last ruler of the old line), her son Leopold
Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden
Leopold I, Grand Duke of Baden succeeded in 1830 as the fourth Grand Duke of Baden....
ascended the throne as Grand Duke. Their succession rights were reinforced when Baden was granted a constitution in 1818, and recognised by Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and the Great Powers in the Treaty of Frankfurt, 1819
Carlsbad Decrees
The Carlsbad Decrees were a set of reactionary restrictions introduced in the states of the German Confederation by resolution of the Bundesversammlung on 20 September 1819 after a conference held in the spa town of Carlsbad, Bohemia...
. Louise's descendants ruled the Grand Duchy of Baden until 1918. The current pretenders
Line of succession to the throne of Baden
The monarchy in Baden came to an end in 1918 along with the rest of the monarchies that made up the German Empire. The last sovereign was Grand Duke Frederick II who abdicated at Karlsruhe, 14-22 November 1918...
are descendants of Louise Caroline.
Kaspar Hauser
It was alleged that Louise Caroline had replace the first-born son of Grand Duke Charles and Grand Duchess StephanieStéphanie de Beauharnais
Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Baden was the consort of Karl, Grand Duke of Baden.-Biography:...
by a dead child, in order the secure the throne for her own sons. When Kaspar Hauser
Kaspar Hauser
Kaspar Hauser was a German youth who claimed to have grown up in the total isolation of a darkened cell. Hauser's claims, and his subsequent death by stabbing, sparked much debate and controversy....
was found, rumour had it that he was just this first-born prince of Baden. Modern historians consider this legend as refuted.
Offspring
Her marriage to Charles Frederick had the following children:- LeopoldLeopold, Grand Duke of BadenLeopold I, Grand Duke of Baden succeeded in 1830 as the fourth Grand Duke of Baden....
(August 29, 1790 – April 24, 1852) - William (April 8, 1792 – 11 October 1859)
- Frederick Alexander (June 10, 1793 – June 18, 1793)
- Amalie (January 26, 1795 – September 14, 1869), married on 19 April 1818 Prince Charles Egon II of Fürstenberg (October 28, 1796 – October 22, 1854)
- Maximilian (December 8, 1796 – 6 March 1882).