Sophie Caroline Marie of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel
Sophie Caroline Marie von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (* October 8, 1737 in Braunschweig ; † December 22, 1817 ) was a princess of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel by birth and Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth by marriage . She was the next elder sister of Anna Amalia from Weimar .
Sophie Caroline Marie was a daughter of Duke Karl I. Marriage negotiations with the English royal family were initially conducted for a marriage to the British Crown Prince George . After the death of Wilhelmine of Prussia in 1758 she became the second wife of Margrave Friedrich III. from Bayreuth . For this wedding, another precious comedy house was built in Bayreuth (which no longer exists today). The so-called Italian Castle , an extension of the New Bayreuth Castle , was built for them . In addition, Margrave Friedrich gave her Colmdorf Castle on the outskirts of Bayreuth as a gift, which gave the castle the name Carolinenruhe . After only three years of childless marriage, her husband died.
The 26-year-old widow and her courtier chose the Bayreuth second residence in Erlangen , where she was widowed for 53 years without remarrying. The "Erlanger Margravine" - as she was called - went on trips, got involved a. a. for the University of Erlangen and let students participate in their dinner table in the castle. King Friedrich Wilhelm II was one of the illustrious guests she received twice . In particular, she enriched the city's musical and theater life. She witnessed the abdication of the last Franconian (Ansbacher) margrave and the handover of Franconia to Bavaria in 1806. Under Bavarian administration, part of her property was confiscated during her lifetime. After her death she was buried in the crypt of the Neustadt church .
literature
- Hans-Otto Keunecke : Sophie Caroline, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1737-1817). In: Inge Meidinger-Geise (Hrsg.): Frauengestalten in Franken. Würzburg 1985, pp. 112-117.
- Christina Hofmann-Randall (ed.): Erlangen Castle as a widow's seat 1712–1817. Writings from the University Library Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2002.
Individual evidence
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Sophie Caroline Marie of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Princess of Braunschweig-Wolfbüttel, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 8, 1737 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Braunschweig |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 22, 1817 |