Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach

Prince Wilhelm
Duke of Urach
Reign	28 March 1867 - 17 July 1869 (&100000000000000020000002 years, &10000000000000111000000111 days)
Spouse	Théodolinde de Beauharnais Princess Florestine of Monaco
Issue
Princess Augusta Eugenie Princess Marie Josephine Princess Eugenia Amalie Princess Mathilde Mindaugas II of Lithuania Prince Karl
Father	Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg
Mother	Baroness Wilhelmine von Tunderfeldt-Rhodis
Born	6 July 1810(1810-07-06)
Died	17 July 1869(1869-07-17) (aged 59)

Count Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander Ferdinand of Württemberg, 1st Duke of Urach (Stuttgart, 6 July 1810 – Schloss Lichtenstein, 17 July 1869), was the son of Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg (1761–1830), younger brother of King Frederick I of Württemberg, by his morganatic wife, Baroness Wilhelmine von Tunderfeldt-Rhodis (1777–1822), who had married in 1800.^[1] He was created Duke of Urach on 28 March 1867, with the style of Serene Highness.^[2]

Career

Wilhelm served as a cavalry officer in the army of the then-independent Kingdom of Württemberg. He also tested cannon for the Army of Württemberg, some of which can still be seen at Lichtenstein Castle, which he substantially rebuilt in the 1840s. He was inspired by the romantic historical novel Lichtenstein by Wilhelm Hauff (1826). Hauff was in turn inspired by the works of Walter Scott.

A junior member of the local royal family, Wilhelm was a nephew of King Frederick (d. 1816), and was a first cousin of William I of Württemberg (ruled 1816 - 1864).

Marriages

• On 8 February 1841, Duke Wilhelm married Princess Theodelinda de Beauharnais (1814–1857), the daughter of Eugène de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg. To contract the marriage he converted to Roman Catholicism. Four daughters were born from this marriage:
  • Princess Augusta Eugenie of Urach (1842–1916). Married firstly Count Rudolf von Enzenberg zum Freyen und Jochelsthurn (1835–1874); secondly Count Franz von Thun und Hohenstein (1826–1888)
  • Princess Marie Josephine of Urach (1844–1864)
  • Princess Eugenia Amalie of Urach (1848–1867)
  • Princess Mathilde of Urach (1854–1907); married Paolo Altieri, Prince of Viano.

• On 15 February 1863 in Monaco, he married Florestine Gabrielle Antoinette Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco (Fontenay, 2 October/22 October 1833 - Stuttgart, 4 April/24 April 1897) , daughter of Florestan I, Prince of Monaco, and they had two sons:
  • Wilhelm, 2nd Duke of Urach (1864–1929), later King Mindaugas II of Lithuania.
  • Prince Karl of Urach (15 February 1865 - 5 December 1925).

An unexpected outcome of this marriage was the Monaco Succession Crisis of 1918.

Ancestry

Wilhelm's paternal grandfather was Friedrich II Eugen (1732–97), from whom the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Württemberg was descended.

Wilhelm's maternal ancestry came from Finland.^[3]

Notes

1. ^ Wilhelmine's family tree
2. ^ French webpage with image
3. ^ His maternal ancestry

External links

• Ducal House of Urach
• Ducal House of Leuchtenberg
• Princely House of Monaco

Preceded by New title

Duke of Urach

Succeeded by Wilhelm

Persondata
Name	Wilhelm 01 Of Urach, Duke
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	6 July 1810
Place of birth
Date of death	17 July 1869
Place of death