Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Encyclopedia
Sophia Louisa of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Sofie Luise; 6 May 1685 – 29 July 1735) was a princess of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Scherwin. The third wife of King Frederick I of Prussia
, she died childless having gone mad.
, and Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg
. She was an aunt of Grand Duchess Anna Leopoldovna of Russia, herself mother of Ivan VI
. She was a princess of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Scherwin by viture of her birth.
; they had no children. The Sophienkirche
in Berlin
is named after her. Sophia Louise's marriage was arranged by the powerful Prussian Minister-President Johann Kasimir Kolbe von Wartenberg
, who pressured the King Frederick to marry for the sake of the succession after he had been widowed for a second time. Upong her marriage, she was at first known as the "Mecklenburg Venus
", but she soon alienated herself from Prussian court life in Berlin.
She had received no education except in French and music, was described as introverted and serious, and thus was not able to replace her brilliantly cultivated predecessor at court, Queen Sophia Charlotte
. Sophia Louise, along with Mademoiselle Gravenitz, made attempts to convince Frederick to convert from Calvinism
to the Lutheran faith
. Her efforts led to severe arguments with her husband.
Sophia Louise was not equal to the intrigues of the Berlin court. Her principal opponent, Catharina Rickers, was both the wife of Count of Wartenberg and the king's mistress. Under the influence of August Hermann Francke
, Sophia Louise took refuge in Pietism
. She fell into mental derangement in the Berliner Schloss and frightened King Frederick into believing that she was the legendary "White Lady" who would foretell his death.
Finally, she fell in to deep depression, and was eventually unable to performed her ceremonial duties. In January 1713, only a few weeks before his death, Frederick sent her back to her family in Mecklenburg-Schwerin
. From then on she lived in Grabow
castle, and on her death she was buried in the Schelfkirche St. Nikolai
in Schwerin
.
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Frederick I of Prussia
Frederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, she died childless having gone mad.
Background
She was the fourth child of Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-GrabowFrederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow
Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Grabow, Duke of Mecklenburg [-Grabow] - Life :He was the son of Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his second wife Marie Katharina , daughter of Julius Ernst, Duke of Braunschweig-Dannenberg .Through his late birth, he was excluded from active government...
, and Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg
Hesse-Homburg
Hesse-Homburg was formed into a separate landgraviate in 1622 by the landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt to be ruled by his son, although it did not become independent of Hesse-Darmstadt until 1668....
. She was an aunt of Grand Duchess Anna Leopoldovna of Russia, herself mother of Ivan VI
Ivan VI of Russia
Ivan VI Antonovich of Russia , was proclaimed Emperor of Russia in 1740, as an infant, although he never actually reigned. Within less than a year, he was overthrown by the Empress Elizabeth of Russia, Peter the Great's daughter...
. She was a princess of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Scherwin by viture of her birth.
Marriage
On 28 November 1708 she became the third and last wife of Frederick I of PrussiaFrederick I of Prussia
Frederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
; they had no children. The Sophienkirche
Sophienkirche (Berlin)
The Sophienkirche is a Protestant church in the Spandauer Vorstadt part of the Berlin-Mitte region of Berlin, eastern Germany. One of its associated cemeteries is the Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin.-History:...
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...
is named after her. Sophia Louise's marriage was arranged by the powerful Prussian Minister-President Johann Kasimir Kolbe von Wartenberg
Johann Kasimir Kolbe von Wartenberg
Johann Kasimir Kolbe von Wartenberg was the first ever Minister-President of the kingdom of Prussia, and the head of the "Cabinet of Three Counts".-Life:...
, who pressured the King Frederick to marry for the sake of the succession after he had been widowed for a second time. Upong her marriage, she was at first known as the "Mecklenburg Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
", but she soon alienated herself from Prussian court life in Berlin.
She had received no education except in French and music, was described as introverted and serious, and thus was not able to replace her brilliantly cultivated predecessor at court, Queen Sophia Charlotte
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover was the Queen consort of Prussia as wife of Frederick I of Prussia. She was the daughter of Ernst August, Elector of Hanover, and Sophia of the Palatinate...
. Sophia Louise, along with Mademoiselle Gravenitz, made attempts to convince Frederick to convert from Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
to the Lutheran faith
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
. Her efforts led to severe arguments with her husband.
Sophia Louise was not equal to the intrigues of the Berlin court. Her principal opponent, Catharina Rickers, was both the wife of Count of Wartenberg and the king's mistress. Under the influence of August Hermann Francke
August Hermann Francke
August Hermann Francke was a German Lutheran churchman.-Biography:Born at the German city Lübeck, Francke was educated at the gymnasium in Gotha before he studied at the universities of Erfurt and Kiel - where he came under the influence of the pietist Christian Kortholt - and finally Leipzig...
, Sophia Louise took refuge in Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
. She fell into mental derangement in the Berliner Schloss and frightened King Frederick into believing that she was the legendary "White Lady" who would foretell his death.
Finally, she fell in to deep depression, and was eventually unable to performed her ceremonial duties. In January 1713, only a few weeks before his death, Frederick sent her back to her family in Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
. From then on she lived in Grabow
Grabow
Grabow is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated on the river Elde, 7 km southeast of Ludwigslust, and 34 km northwest of Wittenberge.-History:...
castle, and on her death she was buried in the Schelfkirche St. Nikolai
Schelfkirche
The Schelfkirche St. Nikolai is an Evangelical Lutheran church dedicated to Saint Nicholas in the Schelfstadt quarter of Schwerin in Germany. It was originally built in 1238, but was rebuilt in 1713 in the Baroque style after destruction by a storm...
in Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
.
Title and styles
- 6 May 1685 - 28 November 1708 Her Serene Highness Princess Sofie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- 28 November 1708 - 25 February 1713 Her Majesty The Queen in Prussia
- 25 February 1713 - 29 July 1735 Her Majesty The Dowager Queen in Prussia
External links
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