* boys clothing: German states--Prussia: Friderich Wilhelm III









German Royalty: Prussia--Friderich Wilhelm III (1797-1840)


Figure 1.--This is a Prussian royal prince painted in 1746, unfortunalely I have temprarily misplaced his name.

Frederick William was born in 1770 at Potsdam. His father was King Frederick William II (1744- ). His mother was Frederica Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt (1751 Frederick William III acceded to the throne in 1797. It was under Frederick William III that Prussia and the Hohenzollerns faced one of their greatest hallenges--Revolutionary France and then Napoleon Bonaparte. They endured defeat after defeat until Napoleon's power was broken in Russia. It was under Frederick William that a Anglo-Prussian alliance finally defeated Napoleon. Wellington's British forces at Waterloo were hard pressed until Prussian General Blutcher arrived to crush the French right flank. Througout the first half of the 19th century, even after the defeat of Napoleon, the British looked on the Prussians and other Germans as allies (the British royal family was after all German) and tghe French as their mortal enemy. One result of the Napoleonic wars was the spread of nationalist sentiment throghout Europe that was to enable the Hohenzollerns with Bismark's guidance to unite Germany under a new Empire. Frederick William III married Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1793. They had 10 children: The first child was a daughter who did not survive. The next two children were boys, both of whom would become kings of Prussia: Frederick William IV (1795-61) and William I (1797-88). William I was to succeed in fimally uniting the German states un a new Empire. The other children were: Alexandra (Charlotte) (1798- ), Frederica (1799- ), Charles (1801- ), Alexandrine (1803- ), Ferdinand (1804- ), Louise Augusta (1808- ), Albert (1809- ). Frederick William III married Princess von Leignitz von Harrach, Auguste in 1824. He died in 1840.

Parents

His father was King Frederick William II (1744- ). His mother was Frederica Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt (1751- ).

Birth

Frederick William was born in 1770 at Potsdam.

Childhood

We do not yet have any information on Wilhelm's childhood.

Acession

Frederick William III acceded to the throne in 1797. It was under Frederick William III that Prussia and the Hohenzollerns faced one of their greatest hallenges--Revolutionary France and then Napoleon Bonaparte. They endured defeat after defeat until Napoleon's power was broken in Russia. It was under Frederick William that a Anglo-Prussian alliance finally defeated Napoleon. Wellington's British forces at Waterloo were hard pressed until Prussian General Blutcher arrived to crush the French right flank. Througout the first half of the 19th century, even after the defeat of Napoleon, the British looked on the Prussians and other Germans as allies (the British royal family was after all German) and tghe French as their mortal enemy. One result of the Napoleonic wars was the spread of nationalist sentiment throghout Europe that was to enable the Hohenzollerns with Bismark's guidance to unite Germany under a new Empire.

Mairrage

Frederick William III married Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1793.

Children

Wilhelm and Louise had 10 children. Two were to become kings of Prussia and one of them Emperor of a new unified German Empire. A daughter was to become Russian Tsarina.

Daughter

The first child was a daughter who did not survive.

Friederich Wilhelm IV

His oldest son was born in 1795 and became King Friedrich-Wilhelm IV. He died without leaving any children in 1861.

Frederick William IV/William I

His second son was born in 1797 and suceeded his older brother in 1861. He became the first Kaiser of a new unified German Empire. He died in 1888.

Alexandra (Charlotte)

Alexandra was born in 1798. Her mairred the Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and became Tasrina.

Frederica

Federica was born in 1799, but died as an infant in 1800.

Charles/Karl (1801- )

Friderich Charles was born in 1801. He married Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1827). Their first son was Friderich Karl was born (1827). he was particularly disliked by the Crown Prince who became Friedrich III and his English wife Victoria. Fiederich Karl was a boorish man who in later life would blurt out that no one arm man, according referring to Friedrich's son Wilhelm, should ever rise to the throne. Of course Wihelm was a diusaster for Germany and Europe at large, but the arm was not the problem.

Alexandrine

Alexandrine was born in 1803.

Ferdinand

Ferdinand was born in 1804.

Louise Augusta (1808-70)

Princess Louise Augusta was born in Koningsberg (1808). This was only 2 years after Napoleon had decisively defeated the Prussians in an campaign launched after he defeated the Austrians. The campaign against Prudssia culminated at Battle of Jena–Auerstedt (1806). Napoleon's forces occupied Prussia and pursued the remnants of the shattered Prussian Army, captured Berlin. They advanced all the way to East Prussia. This is why Louise was born in Koningsberg rather than Berlin. Her full name was Louise Augusta Wilhelmina Amalia 'Louise' van Pruisen She was the youngest daughter of Queen Louise of Prussia (1776–1810) and the long reigning King Frederick William III (r. 1797–1849). Louise married Frederick Orange-Nassau, son of the restored William I, prince of the Netherlands in Berlin (1825). After the fall of Napoleon the Hohenzollerns were back in Berlin. The close connections between the Dutch and Prussian/Germany family gave rise in the 20th century that the Germans were intent on annexing the Netherlands which likely would have happened had the Germans won World War I or World War II. Louise and Frederick had four children: 1) Louise of the Netherlands (1828–71), who married Charles XV, king of Sweden). 2) Frederick William (1833–34). 3) William Frederick (1836–46). 4) Marie of Nassau (1841–1910, who married William, 5th prince of Wied). Mother of Helene Fenger, Ludvig Peter Fenger, Rasmus Fenger, ; Anna Fenger, Elisabeth Christine Fenger, and six others. The two boys died at young ages.

Albert

Albert was born in 1809.

Last Years

He died in 1840.








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Created: July 8, 2001
Last updated: 5:19 PM 12/9/2020