Sophie of Württemberg
Encyclopedia
Princess Sophia Frederika Mathilde of Württemberg was Queen of the Netherlands as the first wife of King William III of the Netherlands
.
, her parents were King William I of Württemberg
and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
, the fourth eldest daughter of Tsar
Paul I
. Sophie and William were first cousins as their mothers were sisters. Shortly after Sophie’s birth, her mother died, and she was cared for by her aunt, Catharina of Württemberg
.
She was a cousin of the future Alexander II of Russia
, George V of Hanover
and Victoria of the United Kingdom
.
Prior to her marriage, King Otto of Greece
and Duke William of Brunswick
were possible suitors for Princess Sophie. The engagement with the first came to nothing because Princess Sophie's father had no confidence in the newly established Greek monarchy of Otto.
Chance prevented a proposal by the second candidate because her father let it be known that Princess Sophie was already betrothed.
She married the Prince of Orange
(later King William III) in Stuttgart
on 18 June 1839 with the idea that she would in the end dominate him. The couple returned to the Netherlands and established themselves at the Plein Palace and -after they became king and queen- at the Noordeinde Palace
. They had three children:
The marriage was not a success. King William's mother, whom he completely relied on, was totally against the marriage and treated her daughter-in-law and niece with disdain. Intellectually, Queen Sophie was superior to her husband. She, on the other hand didn't fit his sensual character. While he loved contemporary painting, music and theatre, she was a lady of letters with an specific interest in history. William III had several extramarital relations. She let it be publicly known that she found him inferior and unsuitable to be king and that she would do it better as a regent.
Queen Sophie tried to separate
from him, but this was refused; the state interest had to prevail. From 1855 the couple lived separately during the summer season, he at Het Loo Palace and she at Huis ten Bosch Palace
. She also spent time in Stuttgart, with her own family. Queen Sophie died at Huis ten Bosch Palace
in the Hague
. She was buried in her wedding dress, because, in her own view, her life had ended on the day she married.
Queen Sophie corresponded with several European scholars and maintained warm ties with Emperor Napoleon III
and Queen Victoria
. She protected and stimulated the arts, supported several charities, including animal protection and construction of public parks.
She was the 540th Dame
of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa
.
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William III of the Netherlands
William III was from 1849 King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg until his death and the Duke of Limburg until the abolition of the Duchy in 1866.-Early life:William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and...
.
Biography
She was born in StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, her parents were King William I of Württemberg
William I of Württemberg
William I was the second King of Württemberg from October 30, 1816 until his death.He was born in Lüben, the son of King Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel .-First marriage:...
and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia was the fourth daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. She became the Queen of Württemberg upon her marriage to her first cousin Crown Prince William who eventually became King William I of Württemberg in...
, the fourth eldest daughter of Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Paul I
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
. Sophie and William were first cousins as their mothers were sisters. Shortly after Sophie’s birth, her mother died, and she was cared for by her aunt, Catharina of Württemberg
Catharina of Württemberg
Princess Catharina Frederica of Württemberg was the second wife of Jérôme Bonaparte.-Family:Catharina was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia to the later King Frederick I of Württemberg and Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel...
.
She was a cousin of the future Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
, George V of Hanover
George V of Hanover
George V was King of Hanover, the only child of Ernest Augustus I, and a grandchild of King George III of the United Kingdom. In the peerage of Great Britain, he was 2nd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, 2nd Earl of Armagh...
and Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
Prior to her marriage, King Otto of Greece
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
and Duke William of Brunswick
William VIII, Duke of Brunswick
William , Duke of Brunswick, was ruling duke of the Duchy of Brunswick from 1830 until his death.William was the second son of Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and after the death of his father in 1815, was under the guardianship of King George IV of the United Kingdom. He became a...
were possible suitors for Princess Sophie. The engagement with the first came to nothing because Princess Sophie's father had no confidence in the newly established Greek monarchy of Otto.
Chance prevented a proposal by the second candidate because her father let it be known that Princess Sophie was already betrothed.
She married the Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
(later King William III) in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
on 18 June 1839 with the idea that she would in the end dominate him. The couple returned to the Netherlands and established themselves at the Plein Palace and -after they became king and queen- at the Noordeinde Palace
Noordeinde Palace
Noordeinde Palace is one of the three official palaces of the Dutch royal family. Located in The Hague in the province of South Holland, it has been used as the "working palace" for Queen Beatrix since 1984.-From farmhouse to palace:...
. They had three children:
- Willem Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik (1840–1879), Prince of OrangePrince of OrangePrince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
from 1849 until 1879 - Willem Frederik Maurits Alexander Hendrik KarelPrince Maurice of the NetherlandsPrince William Frederick Maurice Alexander Henry Charles of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau , , was the second son of King William III of the Netherlands and his first spouse Queen Sophie.When Prince Maurits...
(1843–1850) - Willem Alexander Karel Hendrik FrederikAlexander, Prince of OrangeWillem Alexander Charles Henry Frederick, Prince of Orange , , was heir apparent to his father King William III of the Netherlands from 11 June 1879 until his death.-Life:...
(1851–1884), Prince of OrangePrince of OrangePrince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
from 1879 until 1884.
The marriage was not a success. King William's mother, whom he completely relied on, was totally against the marriage and treated her daughter-in-law and niece with disdain. Intellectually, Queen Sophie was superior to her husband. She, on the other hand didn't fit his sensual character. While he loved contemporary painting, music and theatre, she was a lady of letters with an specific interest in history. William III had several extramarital relations. She let it be publicly known that she found him inferior and unsuitable to be king and that she would do it better as a regent.
Queen Sophie tried to separate
Legal separation
Legal separation is a legal process by which a married couple may formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally married. A legal separation is granted in the form of a court order, which can be in the form of a legally binding consent decree...
from him, but this was refused; the state interest had to prevail. From 1855 the couple lived separately during the summer season, he at Het Loo Palace and she at Huis ten Bosch Palace
Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch is one of the three official residences of the Dutch Royal Family, located in The Hague in the Netherlands. It has been home to Queen Beatrix since 1981. The other Royal palace in The Hague, Noordeinde Palace, is used for work-related purposes...
. She also spent time in Stuttgart, with her own family. Queen Sophie died at Huis ten Bosch Palace
Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch is one of the three official residences of the Dutch Royal Family, located in The Hague in the Netherlands. It has been home to Queen Beatrix since 1981. The other Royal palace in The Hague, Noordeinde Palace, is used for work-related purposes...
in the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. She was buried in her wedding dress, because, in her own view, her life had ended on the day she married.
Queen Sophie corresponded with several European scholars and maintained warm ties with Emperor Napoleon III
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
and Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. She protected and stimulated the arts, supported several charities, including animal protection and construction of public parks.
She was the 540th Dame
Dame (title)
The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight...
of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa
Maria Luisa of Parma
Maria Luisa of Parma was Queen consort of Spain from 1788 to 1808 as the wife of King Charles IV of Spain. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Philip of Parma and his wife, Louise-Élisabeth of France, the eldest daughter of King Louis XV.She was christened Luisa Maria Teresa Ana, but was known...
.
Ancestry
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