Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863)
Encyclopedia
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia (30 October 1794 – 27 July 1863), known in English as Frederick, was a Prussian prince, general of the royal cavalry, and division commander.
and Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
, later Queen of Hanover, nephew of King Frederick William III of Prussia
and stepson of King Ernest Augustus I of Hanover
.
Princess Charlotte of Wales was interested in Frederick in 1814 and hoped to marry him. The pair met several times. However, the Prince suddenly got engaged to Princess Louise of Anhalt-Bernburg, the daughter of Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg
, whom he married on 21 November 1817 at Ballenstedt
. The couple had two sons:
. He resided in a palace in Wilhelmstrasse until 1820, when he became Commander of the 20th Division in Düsseldorf and moved to Jägerhof Castle. He had two more wings built during his stay in the castle. The castle soon became the center of social and cultural life of the city, as the Prince and Princess Frederick were both interested in art and talented artists themselves. Prince Frederick was among the founders of the Düsseldorf art, music and drama club and served as its patron.
Much like his cousin, King Frederick William IV of Prussia
, Frederick displayed interest in the Middle Ages
and the castles of Rhine Province
. He acquired Fatzberg Castle, turned it into his summer residence and named it Burg Rheinstein
.
. His popularity in Düsseldorf
was such that he was appointed the first honorary citizen of the city in 1856. Frederick had separated from his wife the previous year, due to her chronic nervous disease. She lived at Eller near Düsseldorf, where he visited her on their common birthday.
Frederick, his wife and younger son are buried in a chapel he had built at Burg Rheinstein
.
The town of Fredericksburg, Texas
, also known as Fritzburg, was named after Frederick by the town's founder baron John O. Meusebach
.
Family
Born in Berlin, Frederick was the son of Prince Louis Charles of PrussiaPrince Louis Charles of Prussia
Prince Louis Charles of Prussia was the second son and third child of Frederick William II of Prussia and Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt.-Marriage and issue:...
and Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , Duchess of Cumberland and later Queen of Hanover , was the consort of Ernest Augustus I of Hanover, the fifth son and eighth child of George III and Queen Charlotte.She was born in the Altes Palais of Hanover as the fifth...
, later Queen of Hanover, nephew of King Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
and stepson of King Ernest Augustus I of Hanover
Ernest Augustus I of Hanover
Ernest Augustus I was King of Hanover from 20 June 1837 until his death. He was the fifth son and eighth child of George III, who reigned in both the United Kingdom and Hanover...
.
Princess Charlotte of Wales was interested in Frederick in 1814 and hoped to marry him. The pair met several times. However, the Prince suddenly got engaged to Princess Louise of Anhalt-Bernburg, the daughter of Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg
Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg
Alexius Frederick Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg , was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg, and from 1807 the first "Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg."...
, whom he married on 21 November 1817 at Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipality includes the villages of Badeborn and Oppenrode...
. The couple had two sons:
- Prince AlexanderPrince Alexander of PrussiaPrince Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Alexander of Prussia was the eldest child of Prince Frederick of Prussia and his wife Princess Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg.-Military career:...
(1820–1896), and - Prince GeorgePrince George of PrussiaPrince Frederick William George Ernest of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern....
(1826–1902).
Life in Düsseldorf
From 1815 until his death, the Prince served as the Commander of 1st (Silesian) Life Cuirassiers "Great Elector"1st (Silesian) Life Cuirassiers "Great Elector"
The 1st Life Cuirassiers were a heavy cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was originally formed as Dragoon Guards in 1674 and reorganized as a cuirassiers unit in 1718. The regiment fought in the Silesian Wars and the War of the Sixth Coalition 1813-15, the Austro-Prussian...
. He resided in a palace in Wilhelmstrasse until 1820, when he became Commander of the 20th Division in Düsseldorf and moved to Jägerhof Castle. He had two more wings built during his stay in the castle. The castle soon became the center of social and cultural life of the city, as the Prince and Princess Frederick were both interested in art and talented artists themselves. Prince Frederick was among the founders of the Düsseldorf art, music and drama club and served as its patron.
Much like his cousin, King Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
, Frederick displayed interest in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and the castles of Rhine Province
Rhine Province
The Rhine Province , also known as Rhenish Prussia or synonymous to the Rhineland , was the westernmost province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia, within the German Reich, from 1822-1946. It was created from the provinces of the Lower Rhine and Jülich-Cleves-Berg...
. He acquired Fatzberg Castle, turned it into his summer residence and named it Burg Rheinstein
Burg Rheinstein
The Burg Rheinstein is a castle near the town of Trechtingshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-History:The castle was constructed in about 1316/1317. Rheinstein Castle was important for its strategic location. By 1344, the castle was in decline. By the time of the Palatine war of succession,...
.
Last years in Berlin
He was recalled to Berlin during the Revolutions of 1848 in the German statesRevolutions of 1848 in the German states
The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution – part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe – were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire...
. His popularity in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
was such that he was appointed the first honorary citizen of the city in 1856. Frederick had separated from his wife the previous year, due to her chronic nervous disease. She lived at Eller near Düsseldorf, where he visited her on their common birthday.
Frederick, his wife and younger son are buried in a chapel he had built at Burg Rheinstein
Burg Rheinstein
The Burg Rheinstein is a castle near the town of Trechtingshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-History:The castle was constructed in about 1316/1317. Rheinstein Castle was important for its strategic location. By 1344, the castle was in decline. By the time of the Palatine war of succession,...
.
The town of Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
, also known as Fritzburg, was named after Frederick by the town's founder baron John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach , born Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, was at first a Prussian bureaucrat, later an American farmer and politician who served in the Texas Senate, District 22.-Early years:John O...
.