Friedrich von Dohna

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Friedrich Burgrave of Dohna (born February 4, 1621 in Küstrin , † March 27, 1688 in Lutry near Lausanne ) was an officer in the Dutch service and governor of the Principality of Orange . Later he also served the Electorate of Brandenburg . He was also highly regarded in his later adopted home, Switzerland .

family

He came from the noble family Dohna from the Vian line. His father was Christoph von Dohna . The mother was Ursula von Solms-Braunfels . That made Amalie von Orange an aunt. Thus there was a family relationship with the family of the governors of the Netherlands. Brothers were Christian Albrecht von Dohna and Christoph called Delphicus von Dohna . He himself married Espérance in 1656, a daughter of Jean du Puy de Montbrun, Comte de Ferrassières et de Pont-de-Vesle.

The following children were born from the marriage:

  • Henriette Amalie Catharina (* November 12, 1658; † September 18, 1707) ⚭ Epeyssolles May 5, 1680 Julius Heinrich von Friesen (* June 17, 1657; † August 28, 1706)
  • Friedrich Albrecht (1659–1662)
  • Louise Antoinette (October 1, 1660; † January 16, 1716) ⚭ Geneva March 15, 1685 Friedrich Christoph zu Dohna-Carektiven (January 7, 1664; † July 15, 1727)
  • Alexander (1661-1728)
⚭ Wismar July 29, 1684 Amalia Louise von Dohna (* July 20, 1661; † April 2, 1724) daughter of Christoph Delphicus von Dohna
⚭ Reichterswalde December 25, 1725 Johanna Sophia zu Dohna-Lauck (* August 27, 1682; † April 2, 1735)
  • Johann Friedrich , Marquis de Ferrassieres (November 9, 1663 - July 24, 1712) Dutch lieutenant general, favored by Denain
⚭ March 14, 1692 Lady Helen MacCarthy (* 1671; † April 24, 1698);
⚭ March 5, 1702 Albertine Henriette Countess von Bylandt (* October 26, 1673; † 1725)
  • Henriette Ursula, (* January 25, 1663; † May 2, 1712) ⚭ Detmold March 29, 1695 Friedrich (Ferdinand) Christian zur Lippe-Detmold (* September 13, 1668; † October 18, 1724)
  • Christoph (1665–1733) ⚭ Frede-Marie zu Dohna (* December 21, 1660; † November 22, 1729)
  • Esperance Geneve Magdalene (May 16, 1668 - August 2, 1729)
  • Sophia Albertina (* August 12, 1674; † September 23, 1746) ⚭ Schlobitten April 16, 1713 Heinrich Wilhelm zu Solms-Wildenfels-Laubach (* May 27, 1675; † September 15, 1741)

Life

His parents belonged to the retinue of Elector Friedrich V of the Palatinate during his time as winter king in Bohemia. The father was the upper chamberlain and a secret councilor. After Friedrich's fall, the family fled to Küstrin. Later she lived in Caregen , Delft and finally in Orange. The father had held the office of governor there from 1629.

He himself served in the Dutch army from 1636 under Heinrich Casimir von Nassau-Dietz . In this he rose to lieutenant general. In 1649 William II of Orange appointed him Governor of the Principality of Orange. The task was difficult because there was civil unrest and internal family disputes in the house of Nassau-Orange over the principality. Elector Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg , who was related to Nassau-Orange and by marriage to himself , also played a role. He was particularly under pressure from Louis XIV , who was anxious to win the area for France. He held this office until 1660, when the country was occupied on behalf of Louis XIV.

As early as 1657 he had acquired the barony of Coppet in the canton of Vaud on Lake Geneva . There he settled after the occupation of Orange. He converted the castle there into Coppet Castle .

He performed various diplomatic services for Elector Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg. So he tried in vain to win Switzerland over to a great alliance against Louis XIV. On behalf of the Elector, he made a significant contribution to the establishment of Swiss farmers in Brandenburg. When an attack from Savoy threatened in 1667 , he was in command in Geneva . He was highly regarded in Switzerland and, among other things, Bern granted him citizenship.

He had his children educated by the polyhistor Pierre Bayle . He suffered from various physical ailments and both of his feet were eventually paralyzed, which prevented further advancement after his time in Dutch service. After all, Wilhelm III. of Orange took advice on various occasions. After his death, he was buried at great expense in Lausanne at the instigation of the government of Bern.

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