Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg (1780-1857)

Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg around 1797, painted by Johann Schlesinger

Henriette Princess of Nassau-Weilburg (born April 22, 1780 in Kirchheim-Bolanden ; † January 2, 1857 in Kirchheim unter Teck Castle ) was a German noblewoman from the House of Nassau . She was the wife of Duke Ludwig von Württemberg .

Life

Anton Einsle : Duchess Henriette von Württemberg, oil on canvas, 1838

Princess Henriette was the youngest daughter of Prince Karl Christian von Nassau-Weilburg and Wilhelmina Karolina von Oranien-Nassau , Princess of Orange. Henriette was related to the Welfenhaus through her mother and was a great-granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain.

After losing both parents at an early age, she grew up under the care of her eldest brother Friedrich Wilhelm . Henriette married Duke Ludwig von Württemberg , son of Duke Friedrich II. Eugen von Württemberg and Princess Friederike Dorothea Sophia von Brandenburg-Schwedt on January 28, 1797 in the Hermitage in Bayreuth . According to some reports, the marriage was considered harmonious.

Her husband was initially an officer in the Prussian service and from 1800 a general in the Russian service. His career path brought changing locations with it; Henriette always accompanied her husband. Accordingly, Henriette gave birth to her five children in five different places.

After unsteady years, during which Duke Ludwig got very deeply in debt, his brother, King Friedrich I of Württemberg , determined Kirchheim Castle as the family's permanent residence from 1811 onwards . After the death of her husband, Duchess Henriette developed a strong social commitment that still shapes the city of Kirchheim today. At her request, Albert Knapp , a committed representative of pietism , worked as a preacher in Kirchheim unter Teck for several years.

Many social institutions, such as a kindergarten (1838), the hospital (1840) or the volunteer fire brigade, go back to her initiative. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of her death, the city honored her in 2007 with an exhibition.

Duchess Henriette. photography

Henriette was awarded the Grand Cross of the Russian Order of St. Catherine .

progeny

Five children emerged from the joint relationship with Duke Ludwig von Württemberg :

Maria Dorothea (1797–1855) ⚭ 1819 Archduke Joseph Anton Johann of Austria
Amalie (1799–1848) ⚭ 1817 Duke Joseph of Saxony-Altenburg
Pauline (1800–1873) ⚭ 1820 King Wilhelm I of Württemberg
Elisabeth Alexandrine (1802–1864) ⚭ 1830 Prince Wilhelm of Baden
Alexander (1804–1885) ⚭ 1835 ( morganatic ) Claudine Countess Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde

literature

Karl Friedrich Ledderhose: Henriette, Duchess of Württemberg . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 11, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1880, p. 786 f.
Albert Moll: Henriette, Duchess of Württemberg, Princess of Nassau-Weilburg . In: Württembergischer Bildersaal , first volume. Schaber, Stuttgart 1859, pp. 129–158 ( digitized version )

Web links

Commons : Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg (1780-1857) - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

^ Royal Württemberg Court and State Manual 1839 , p. 5

personal data
SURNAME	Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Henriette of Württemberg
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German noblewoman (Duchess of Württemberg)
DATE OF BIRTH	April 22, 1780
PLACE OF BIRTH	Kirchheimbolanden
DATE OF DEATH	January 2, 1857
Place of death	Kirchheim unter Teck

[1] Royal Württemberg Court and State Manual 1839 , p. 5