Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia
Encyclopedia
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern
, great-grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia
.
, Kingdom of Prussia
, (now Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
, Poland
) youngest child of Prince Albert of Prussia (1837–1906), (son of Prince Albert of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands
) and his wife, Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
(1854–1898), (daughter of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau
). He was great-grandson of King Frederick William III of Prussia
and King William I of the Netherlands
. He was second cousin of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.
During his youth, he spent time in Berlin
, also at his grandmother's
Reinhartshausen Castle in Erbach
and in Brunswick
, where his father served as regent. A few years later he studied law at the University of Bonn
, where he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
. His main interests were in literature and music.
to Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
(1888–1960), daughter of Victor II, Duke of Ratibor
, and his wife, Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth.
They had four daughters:
. In 1912, was elected Landrat of Frankenstein District, where it remained until 1918, until the abolition of the German monarchy
and the establishment of the Weimar Republic
. Previously, he participated actively in hostilities during the First World War, for which he was promoted to the rank of major general
. Much of the time he traveled through Europe and the world, sometimes in important diplomatic missions, representing Emperor Wilhelm II. Sensing the fall of the monarchy in Germany, at the end of the war, he took up for discussion and exchange views with university professors on the reconstruction of the existing system of government, proposing the introduction of a constitutional monarchy
modeled on the form of government of the United Kingdom
.
After the war and the establishment of the republic in Germany, Friedrich Wilhelm became involved with the monarchists
, proposing the restoration of the German Empire. He was determined to take over the role of regent until the heir to the throne reached the age of majority. He died in 1925, aged 44 in Weisser Hirsch, a residential district in Dresden
.
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
, great-grandson of 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:...
.
Early life and education
Friedrich Wilhelm was born at Kamieniec Palace in KamenzKamieniec Zabkowicki
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a village in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany under the name of Kamenz. Kamieniec Zabkowicki is an important...
, Kingdom of Prussia
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...
, (now Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
Kamieniec Zabkowicki
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a village in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany under the name of Kamenz. Kamieniec Zabkowicki is an important...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) youngest child of Prince Albert of Prussia (1837–1906), (son of Prince Albert of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands
Princess Marianne of the Netherlands
Princess Marianne of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau , was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau, by birth Princess of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands and by marriage Princess of the Kingdom of Prussia.-Family:Born in Berlin, she was the youngest child and second daughter of King...
) and his wife, Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (1854–1898)
Princess Marie Friederike Leopoldine Georgine Auguste Alexandra Elisabeth Therese Josephine Helene Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg was the wife of Prince Albert of Prussia, Regent for the duchy of Brunswick.-Family:...
(1854–1898), (daughter of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau
Princess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau
Princess Frederica Amalia Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau was the eldest daughter of Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt by his wife Frederica Wilhelmina of Prussia...
). He was great-grandson 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 King William I of the Netherlands
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
. He was second cousin of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.
During his youth, he spent time in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, also at his grandmother's
Princess Marianne of the Netherlands
Princess Marianne of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau , was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau, by birth Princess of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands and by marriage Princess of the Kingdom of Prussia.-Family:Born in Berlin, she was the youngest child and second daughter of King...
Reinhartshausen Castle in Erbach
Erbach im Odenwald
-Location:The town lies in the Odenwald at elevations between 200 and 560 m in the valley of the Mümling.-Neighbouring communities:Erbach borders in the north on the town of Michelstadt, in the east on the market town of Kirchzell , in the south on the community of Hesseneck and the town of...
and in Brunswick
Duchy of Brunswick
Brunswick was a historical state in Germany. Originally the territory of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in the Holy Roman Empire, it was established as an independent duchy by the Congress of Vienna in 1815...
, where his father served as regent. A few years later he studied law at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, where he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
. His main interests were in literature and music.
Marriage
Friedrich Wilhelm married 8 June 1910 at PotsdamPotsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
to Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was a German noblewoman. She was the daughter of Victor II, Duke of Ratibor, and his wife, Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth.-Issue:...
(1888–1960), daughter of Victor II, Duke of Ratibor
Victor II, Duke of Ratibor
Victor II, Duke of Ratibor, Prince of Corvey, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was a member of House of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst and Duke of the Silesian duchy of Ratibor .-Early life and family:...
, and his wife, Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth.
They had four daughters:
- Princess Marie Therese of Prussia (2 May 1911–2005), married in 1932 to Aloys Rudolph Hug, had issue.
- Princess Luise Henriette of Prussia (21 July 1912 – 12 October 1973), married in 1936 to Wilhelm Schmalz, had issue.
- Princess Marianne of PrussiaPrincess Marianne of PrussiaPrincess Marianne of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, daughter of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia.-Early life:Marianne was born at Kamieniec Palace in Kamenz, Kingdom of Prussia, third daughter of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia , and his...
(23 August 1913 – 1 March 1983), married in 1933 to Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, had issue. - Princess Elisabeth of Prussia (9 February 1919 – 24 August 1961), married in 1948 to Heinz Mees, no issue.
Political career
After marriage, the Prince lived with his wife in RudyRudy, Silesian Voivodeship
Rudy , also known as Rudy Wielkie or Rudy Raciborskie, is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kuźnia Raciborska, within Racibórz County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately east of Kuźnia Raciborska, north-east of Racibórz, and west of the regional...
. In 1912, was elected Landrat of Frankenstein District, where it remained until 1918, until the abolition of the German monarchy
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and the establishment of the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
. Previously, he participated actively in hostilities during the First World War, for which he was promoted to the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. Much of the time he traveled through Europe and the world, sometimes in important diplomatic missions, representing Emperor Wilhelm II. Sensing the fall of the monarchy in Germany, at the end of the war, he took up for discussion and exchange views with university professors on the reconstruction of the existing system of government, proposing the introduction of a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
modeled on the form of government of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
After the war and the establishment of the republic in Germany, Friedrich Wilhelm became involved with the monarchists
Monarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
, proposing the restoration of the German Empire. He was determined to take over the role of regent until the heir to the throne reached the age of majority. He died in 1925, aged 44 in Weisser Hirsch, a residential district in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
.