Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria

Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria (November 13, 1801 – December 14, 1873) was a Princess of Bavaria and later Queen consort of Prussia.

Biography

Elisabeth was born in Munich, the daughter of King Maximilian I of Bavaria and his Queen Friederike Karoline Wilhelmine Margravine of Baden. She was the identical twin sister of Queen Amalie of Saxony, consort of King John I of Saxony, and sister of Archduchess Sophie of Austria, mother of Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria and Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico; as well as Ludovika, Duchess in Bavaria, mother of Franz Josef's consort, Empress Elisabeth of Austria ("Sisi"). She was known within her family as Elise.

On November 29, 1823, she married the future King Frederick William IV of Prussia and supported his intellectual interests, namely his attempts at artwork, which he held dear to his heart. In 1830, Elisabeth converted to Protestantism.

Becoming Queen consort of Prussia in 1840, she was never without influence in Prussian politics, where she was active in preserving the close friendship between Prussia and the Austrian Empire.

To Frederick William IV, she was an exemplary wife and, during his long illness, a dedicated nurse. After his death on January 2, 1861, Elisabeth lived quietly at her seats at Sanssouci, Charlottenburg, and Stolzenfels and dedicated herself to charity work in memory of her late husband . Her brother-in-law, Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany, held her in high regard as a true friend.

During a visit to her sister, Queen Amalie of Saxony, Elisabeth died in 1873 in Dresden. She was buried next to her husband on December 21 at the Friedenskirche in Potsdam.

References

*The information in this article is based on that in its German equivalent.
* Moritz Freiherr von Bissing: "Elisabeth Königin von Preußen", Berlin 1974.
* Ludovika Hesekiel: "Elisabeth Luise, Königin von Preußen" (Berlin 1881).
* Dorothea Minkels: "Porträts der preußischen Königin Elisabeth in der Sammlung des Stadtmuseums Berlin." in: Jahrbuch 2004/5 Stadtmuseum Berlin, pg. 278-304.
* Alfred v. Reumont: "Elisabeth, Königin von Preußen" (Berlin 1874)Dorothea Minkels: Elisabeth von Preußen. Königin in der Zeit des AusMÄRZens. Norderstedt 2008.

-s-ttl|title=Queen Consort of Prussia
years=1840-1861

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1= 1. Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria
2= 2. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria
3= 3. Caroline of Baden
4= 4. Count Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken
5= 5. Countess Palatine Maria Franziska of Sulzbach
6= 6. Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden
7= 7. Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt
8= 8. Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
9= 9. Countess Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken
10= 10. Joseph Karl Emanuel August, Count Palatine of Sulzbach
11= 11. Countess Palatine Elizabeth Augusta Sophie of Neuburg
12= 12. Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden
13= 13. Landgravine Karoline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt
14= 14. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
15= 15. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken
16= 16. Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
17= 17. Countess Katharina Agathe of Rappoltstein
18= 18. Ludwig Kraft, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken
19= 19. Countess Philippine Henriette of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
20= 20. Theodore, Count Palatine of Sulzbach
21= 21. Marie Eleonore of Hessen-Rheinfels
22= 22. Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine
23= 23. Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł
24= 24. Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Baden-Durlach
25= 25. Princess Amelia of Nassau-Dietz
26= 26. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
27= 27. Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg and Müntzenberg
28= 28. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (= 26)
29= 29. Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg and Müntzenberg (= 27)
30= 30. Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (= 8)
31= 31. Countess Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken (= 9)