Prince Frederik of Hesse
Encyclopedia
Prince Frederik of Hesse, Count
or Landgreve Friedrich of Hesse-Cassel (24 May 1771 – 24 February 1845) was a Danish
nobleman, general and governor of Norway
(1810–1813) and the duchies
Schleswig
and Holstein
(1836–1842).
as a son of Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Louise of Denmark, who was herself the daughter of Frederick V of Denmark
.
Prins Frederik married Klara von Brockdorff (Clarelia Dorothea baronesse von Liliencron, née Brockdorff) (born in Rohlstorff, 16 January 1778, died in Rendsborg 24 August 1836) in Norway
on 21 May 1813. Because the marriage was a morganatic
one, she was not awarded the title of princess.
, as a part of the Dano-Swedish War. The campaign was dropped by the Danish government.
In July 1809 the prince was sent to serve in Norway
. The reason was that the Governor-General
, Christian August of Augustenborg
was suspected to drop his loyalty to King Frederick VI
in order to be adopted as the Swedish throne heir. Frederick was the commanding general in the southern part of the country. Christian August left Norway for Sweden on 7 January 1810, and Frederick became Vice Governor-General on 9 January. Frederick was an active Governor-General. During his period in Norway, he also served as praeses of the Royal Norwegian Society for Development. However, King Frederick VI eventually felt the need to replace him with his heir, Crown Prince Christian Frederick
, who assumed office on 23 May 1813. Around this time, Frederick also parted ways with his longtime aide-de-camp, Hans Henrik Rode
.
In 1813–1814, the prince led the Danish Auxiliary Corps in Holstein. This was during the War of the Sixth Coalition
, in which Denmark-Norway fought on the French side. The main task for his corps was to assist the forces of Louis-Nicolas Davout. When France suffered a loss at the Battle of Leipzig
, Frederick's corps had to retreat, and in December 1813 he led his troops from Rostock
to Rendsborg, saving the army from annihilation. He even led his troops to a victory in the Battle of Sehested
on 10 December 1813. He then planned an attack on the Russian and Swedish occupational forces in Holstein. This attack was abandoned after the peace settlement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway, the Treaty of Kiel
of 14 January 1814.
From 1815 to 1818, the prince led the Danish occupational forces in France
. After returning home, he was once again made commanding general in Schleswig and Holstein, and governor of Rendsborg. From 1836 to 1842 he served as Governor-General over Schleswig and Holstein, succeeding his late father Charles. Frederick was also promoted to Field Marshal. He had been decorated with the Order of the Elephant
in 1801 and became a Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
after his success in 1813. Prince Frederick spent his last years at the family estate Panker
by the Baltic Sea
. He died here in February 1845.
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
or Landgreve Friedrich of Hesse-Cassel (24 May 1771 – 24 February 1845) was a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
nobleman, general and governor of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(1810–1813) and the duchies
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
and Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
(1836–1842).
Personal life
He was born at GottorpGottorp
Gottorf Castle is a castle and estate in the city of Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the ancestral home of the Holstein-Gottorp branch of the House of Oldenburg...
as a son of Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Louise of Denmark, who was herself the daughter of Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
.
Prins Frederik married Klara von Brockdorff (Clarelia Dorothea baronesse von Liliencron, née Brockdorff) (born in Rohlstorff, 16 January 1778, died in Rendsborg 24 August 1836) in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on 21 May 1813. Because the marriage was a morganatic
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...
one, she was not awarded the title of princess.
Career
Frederick was a member of the Dano-Norwegian royal family, and had a military career from a very young age. He became Colonel already in 1778, Major General in 1783 and Lieutenant General in 1789. He headed the King's Regiment from 1795 to 1800, and from 1800 to 1808 Prince Frederick was governor in Rendsborg and Inspector-General for the footmen in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. In 1808 he was made General in the infantry. The following year, he was appointed to lead a Danish army from Zealand to ScaniaScania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, as a part of the Dano-Swedish War. The campaign was dropped by the Danish government.
In July 1809 the prince was sent to serve in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The reason was that the Governor-General
Governor-general of Norway
The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' , was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch....
, Christian August of Augustenborg
Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
Charles August was a German prince. He is best known for serving as Crown Prince of Sweden briefly in 1810, adopted by Charles XIII, before his sudden death from stroke. Earlier, he had been a general in the Royal Danish Army as well as the Danish Governor-general of Norway...
was suspected to drop his loyalty to King Frederick VI
Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
in order to be adopted as the Swedish throne heir. Frederick was the commanding general in the southern part of the country. Christian August left Norway for Sweden on 7 January 1810, and Frederick became Vice Governor-General on 9 January. Frederick was an active Governor-General. During his period in Norway, he also served as praeses of the Royal Norwegian Society for Development. However, King Frederick VI eventually felt the need to replace him with his heir, Crown Prince Christian Frederick
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...
, who assumed office on 23 May 1813. Around this time, Frederick also parted ways with his longtime aide-de-camp, Hans Henrik Rode
Hans Henrik Rode
Hans Henrik Rode was a Danish-Norwegian military officer.He was born in Frederikshald as a son of major Georg Frederik Rode and his first wife Vilhelmine, née Stockfleth. He took a military education in Denmark, and became second lieutenant in 1784...
.
In 1813–1814, the prince led the Danish Auxiliary Corps in Holstein. This was during 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...
, in which Denmark-Norway fought on the French side. The main task for his corps was to assist the forces of Louis-Nicolas Davout. When France suffered a loss 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...
, Frederick's corps had to retreat, and in December 1813 he led his troops from Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
to Rendsborg, saving the army from annihilation. He even led his troops to a victory in the Battle of Sehested
Battle of Sehested
The Battle of Sehested was fought between Danish and Swedish troops at Sehested on December 10, 1813 during the War of the Sixth Coalition....
on 10 December 1813. He then planned an attack on the Russian and Swedish occupational forces in Holstein. This attack was abandoned after the peace settlement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway, the Treaty of Kiel
Treaty of Kiel
The Treaty of Kiel or Peace of Kiel was concluded between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Kingdom of Sweden on one side and the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway on the other side on 14 January 1814 in Kiel...
of 14 January 1814.
From 1815 to 1818, the prince led the Danish occupational forces in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. After returning home, he was once again made commanding general in Schleswig and Holstein, and governor of Rendsborg. From 1836 to 1842 he served as Governor-General over Schleswig and Holstein, succeeding his late father Charles. Frederick was also promoted to Field Marshal. He had been decorated with the Order of the Elephant
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
in 1801 and became a Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
after his success in 1813. Prince Frederick spent his last years at the family estate Panker
Panker
Panker is a municipality in Plön county, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.The municipality of Panker includes the villages Darry, Gadendorf, Matzwitz, Satjendorf, Todendorf and Panker estate...
by the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. He died here in February 1845.