Sophie of Württemberg

Infobox Dutch Royalty|majesty|consort
name =Sophie of Württemberg
title =Queen Consort of the Netherlands

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caption =Portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1861)
reign =7 March, 1849 - 3 June, 1877
spouse =William III
issue =William, Prince of Orange
Prince Maurice
Alexander, Prince of Orange
royal house =House of Orange-Nassau
House of Württemberg
father =William I of Württemberg
mother =Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
date of birth =birth date|1818|06|17
place of birth =flagicon|Württemberg Stuttgart
date of death =death date and age|1877|6|3|1818|06|17
place of death =flagicon|Netherlands The Hague
place of burial =Nieuwe Kerk, Delft|

Sophie of Württemberg ( _de. Sophia Frederika Mathilde Prinzessin von Württemberg; 17 June 1818 – 3 June 1877) was the first wife of King William III of the Netherlands.

She was born in Stuttgart, 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.

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. Change prevented a proposal by the second candidate because it was rumored that Princess Sophie was already betrothed.

She married the Prince of Orange (later King William III) in Stuttgart on 18 June, 1839. The couple returned to the Netherlands and established themselves at Noordeinde Palace and had three children:
* "Willem" Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik (1840-1879), Prince of Orange from 1849 until 1879
* Willem Frederik "Maurits" Alexander Hendrik Karel (1843-1850)
* Willem "Alexander" Karel Hendrik Frederik (1851-1884), Prince of 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 far superior to her husband. Moreover, 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. She spent much of her 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.Fact|date=April 2008

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.

Ancestry

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boxstyle_1=background-color: #FF8080;
boxstyle_2=background-color: #FFA1A1;
boxstyle_3=background-color: #FFC0C0;
boxstyle_4=background-color: #FFE1E1;
1= 1. Sophie of Württemberg
2= 2. William I of Württemberg
3= 3. Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
4= 4. Frederick I of Württemberg
5= 5. Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
6= 6. Paul I of Russia
7= 7. Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg
8= 8. Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg
9= 9. Margravine Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt
10= 10. Charles William, Duke of Brunswick
11= 11. Princess Augusta Charlotte of Wales
12= 12. Peter III of Russia
13= 13. Catherine II of Russia
14= 14. Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (= #8)
15= 15. Margravine Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt (= #9)

s-ttl|title=Queen Consort of the Netherlands
years=1849-1877