Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm of Württemberg
Duke Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Württemberg (born December 20, 1804 in Riga ; † October 28, 1881 in Bayreuth ) was the eldest son of Duke Alexander Friedrich Karl von Württemberg and his wife, Princess Antoinette (1779-1824), the second daughter by Duke Franz of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld . His uncle was King Friedrich I of Württemberg.
Life
Like his father, Duke Alexander had entered the Russian military. In 1828 he was involved in the campaign against the Ottoman Empire and in 1831 against Poland .
On October 17, 1837, he married the Catholic Princess Marie Christine von Orléans (1813–1839), the second daughter of Ludwig Philipp , King of the French. The only child in this marriage was Duke Philipp von Württemberg , born in 1838 , who founded the Catholic line of the House of Württemberg.
After the early death of his wife, Duke Alexander lived in Fantaisie Palace in the summer months and spent the winter months in the city apartment in Bayreuth, five kilometers away . Duke Alexander managed the palace and the associated park in an excellent manner and enjoyed great popularity with the local population because of his active participation in club life and in charitable foundations for the poor and the sick.
He bought the Donndorfer Thalmüle northeast of the Thalmühlweiher and had it and another outbuilding demolished in order to expand the existing Thalmühlweiher. The current name Herzogweiher is derived from him.
In addition, in 1864 he had the old Goldener Hirsch tavern near the castle demolished and the Hotel Fantaisie built in its place, where famous contemporaries such as King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1866 or Richard Wagner in 1872 stayed. On June 11, 1868, the Duke married his housekeeper Katharine Amalie Pfennigkaufer (* July 31, 1829 - March 31, 1915), later Mrs. von Meyernberg, much to the displeasure of his son Philipp.
Duke Alexander also acquired the two properties in the hamlet of Geigenreuth and added them to the palace gardens. He set up an art mill and a so-called Swiss estate with a dairy farm in the former Meyerhof.
Gentleman
Duke Alexander had been a member of the Württemberg Chamber of Notaries since 1826 , but never took part in any meetings. He was represented by other members of the Chamber.
Honors
- 1818 Grand Cross of the Order of the Württemberg Crown
- 1851 honorary citizen of the city of Bayreuth
- 1851 Awarded the Bavarian Order of St. Hubert
literature
- Sönke Lorenz , Dieter Mertens , Volker Press (ed.): The house of Württemberg. A biographical lexicon. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-17-013605-4 , p. 405.
- Frank Raberg : Biographical handbook of the Württemberg state parliament members 1815-1933 . On behalf of the Commission for Historical Regional Studies in Baden-Württemberg. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-17-016604-2 , p. 1039 .
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Württemberg, Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm von |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Württemberg, Alexander von |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Duke of Württemberg |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 20, 1804 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Riga |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 28, 1881 |
| Place of death | Bayreuth |