Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth(b. Bayreuth, 30 August 1732 - d. Bayreuth, 6 April 1780), was a German princess member of the House of Hohenzollern and by marriage Duchess of Württemberg.

Life

She was the first and only child of Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth by his first wife, Princess Fredericka Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia, the favourite sister of King Frederick II the Great. The marriage of her parents were, at the time of her birth, still intactly. However, during the following years the couple became estranged and Margrave Frederick turned his affections -to the big pain of his wife- to other women. His main mistress was Wilhelmine von Marwitz, the lady-in-waiting of his wife. The Margrave and the Margravine hoped until the last, for the birth of a son and heir; however, this never happened. Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie grew up therefore as a single child at the court of her father in Bayreuth.

Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie was considered as one of the most beautiful princesses of her time. The girl was praised by Casanova personally as "The most beautiful princess of Germany". As a single child, she was educated severely and was prepared for an high and noble marriage.

In January 1744 the ruling Duke Karl Eugen of Württemberg visited Bayreuth and fell in love with the only daughter of the margrave. Her uncle, King Frederick II the Great of Prussia, promoted Karl Eugen as a good match for her, because he known him during the two years he was educated at the Prussian court. Although the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and the King of Denmark were also suitors of the hand of the princess, Elisabeth Friederike Sophie decided for Karl Eugen.

On 26 September 1748 the marriage of Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie and Duke Karl Eugen of Württemberg took place in Bayreuth. The wedding came as the most gorgeous party into the history of the margraviate. Within the framework of the brilliant festivities the Margrave's Opera-house was opened and commemorative coins with the half-length portraits of the young couple were stamped. These contained the saying "If the lit flames ten times they go out, will burn only more violently".

The marriage was happy at first. However, the 15-year-old duchess had no influence on the politic of her Duchy. The Duke soon forged the conjugal faithful and spend much of his time with his mistresses. So it came increased to disputes between the couple. On 19 February 1750 Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie gave birth her only child, a daughter, Princess Fredericka Wilhelmine Augusta Luisa Charlotte of Württemberg, who died on 12 March 1751 shortly after her first birthday. The abscence of a male heir increased the conflicts between the young couple. After journey to Italy held together in 1753 the couple still for a while. However, when the Duke regarded numerous mistresses after the homecoming furthermore and the disputes arose again. But when in 1756, without her knowledge, despotically arrest and incarcelate without lawsuit her friend and chamber singer Marianne Pirker, this came to the final breakdown between the Ducal couple of Würtemberg.

During the Seven Years' War Karl Eugen joined of the alliance of Austria and France against Prussia and England and destroyed with it his friendly connections with the Prussian King. When in the autumn of 1756 Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie visited her mother in Bayreuth, she refused to return with her husband in Würtemberg. Only in 1759 Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie's father and Duke Karl Eugen made a final agreement. The marriage should not be dissolved, and Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie remain as Duchess of Würtemberg. Karl Eugen and the estates of Würtemberg bound to pay 54.000 guilders of maintenance to her annually. As a countermove Karl Eugen protected himself the right to determine her household. Thereby he remained about her intentions informs and could also affect her circumstances of life.

After the death of her father in 1763 she inherited the still under construction Castle (German: "Schloss") near Donndorf.

Only in the spring of 1765 the building already begun by the Margrave Frederick was completed. So she could remodelated the Schloss and furnish it according her tastes and personality. She gave her residence the name of Schloss Fantaisie which still carries today.

She died in the Old Castle ("Alten Schloss") to Bayreuth, aged forty-six. As her request, she was buried in the Castle Chapel of Bayreuth ("Schlosskirche Bayreuth") at the side of her parents.

References

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*http://www.schloss-fantaisie.de/schloss/muessel1.htm