Sophie Dorothea of ​​Hanover

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Sophie Dorothea of ​​Braunschweig

Sophie Dorothea von Braunschweig-Lüneburg (born March 16, 1687 in Hanover , † June 28, 1757 in Monbijou Palace in Berlin ), mother of Frederick II of Prussia , was the wife of the "soldier king" Frederick William I, queen in Prussia .

Life

She was the second child and the only daughter of the Elector of Hanover and later British King George I and his wife Sophie Dorothea von Braunschweig-Lüneburg -Celle, the "Princess of Ahlden".

Since her parents' marriage was anything but happy and they divorced in 1695, Sophie Dorothea, like her four years older brother Georg August, was raised above all by her grandmother, the Electress Sophie . Until he was three years old, she also looked after her third grandson, Prince Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia at the Hanoverian court, who, however, because of his wild demeanor, neither got on well with his cousin, whom he is said to have beaten up many times, nor with his future wife Sophie Dorothea, his cousin, has felt affection; she seems to have been indifferent to him.

Nevertheless, Sophie Dorothea and Friedrich Wilhelm married on November 28, 1706 through the mediation of their grandmother. The Spartan Crown Prince married a more artistic princess who was interested in music, art, literature and fashion. Despite their differences, she later cared for her husband with devotion during his illnesses, although he did not allow her any influence on politics. She regularly exchanged letters with Liselotte von der Pfalz , a cousin of her mother and former foster daughter of Electress Sophie, who had experienced a similar fate in Paris, about her forced marriage and other family questions .

Monbijou Castle, south facade and Spree with the Sophienkirche in the background. Around 1739/40

In her castle Monbijou , which she had lived in since 1712, she often met her son Friedrich , who loved her very much and over whom she had a great influence. His secret library was also in Monbijou, where he chatted animatedly with his mother about philosophy and was able to do the things that so much aroused his father's displeasure. Sophie Dorothea knew of the Crown Prince's escape and received his letters from the Küstrin Fortress.

Friedrich adored his mother very much; Immediately after taking office, he decided that Sophie Dorothea should not be addressed as Queen's widow, but as Queen Mother and should be the first lady at the Prussian court in the rank of his own wife Elisabeth Christine .

The death of his mother hit Friedrich hard. The king, who had recently lost the battle of Kolin , wrote to his sister Amalie :

“Dear sister, all accidents hit me at once. Perhaps heaven has taken our dear mother to her so that she does not see the misfortune of our house ... "

Sophie Dorothea has her final resting place in the Hohernzollern Crypt of the Berlin Cathedral .

personality

As can be seen in the diary of the Braunschweig ambassador Wilhelm Stratemann in the years 1728–1733, Queen Sophie Dorothea developed a cultural life in Monbijou Castle that was particularly dedicated to music. In addition to court artists and guests, their two oldest children Wilhelmine and Friedrich performed with harpsichord, lute and flute in the hall of mirrors.

According to Margravine Wilhelmine von Bayreuth's description, her mother was never beautiful and covered with pockmarks, but despite the many - fourteen - pregnancies, she was in good shape. As a 36-year-old, she is said to have not noticed her twelfth pregnancy until just before the birth.

Interested in art and science and very urbane, her ambition and elitist behavior is often said. According to Wilhelmine, she was always treated unfairly by her husband because he was of the opinion that women should be kept under discipline, otherwise they would dance on the nose of their husbands .

progeny

She had the following children:

literature

  • Christine von Brühl : Grace in the Brandenburg sand. The women of the Hohenzollern. Structure, Berlin 2015, ISBN 978-3-351-03597-6 , pp. 146–174.
  • Karin Feuerstein-Praßer: The Prussian queens. 8th edition. Piper, Munich et al. 2009, ISBN 978-3-492-23814-4 .
  • Karin Feuerstein-Praßer: Sophie Dorothea of ​​Prussia. The life of the mother of Frederick the Great. Piper, Munich et al. 2014, ISBN 978-3-492-30541-9 .
  • Thomas Kemper: Monbijou Castle. From the Royal Residence to the Hohenzollern Museum. Nicolai, Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-89479-162-4 .

Web links

Commons : Sophie Dorothea von Hannover  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Her mother was Sophie Dorothea von Braunschweig-Lüneburg , called " Sophie von Ahlden ".
  2. ^ Thea Leitner : Scandal at court. Ueberreuter, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-8000-3492-1 , pp. 134-136
  3. ↑ Feuerstein-Praßer: The Prussian queens. 2009, p. 171.
  4. ↑ preussen.de ( Memento of the original from February 13, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.preussen.de
  5. ^ Wilhelm Stratemann: From the Berlin court at the time of Friedrich Wilhelm I. Reports from the Braunschweig ambassador in Berlin, 1728–1733. In: Writings of the Association for the History of Berlin , H. XLVIII and XLIX, ed. by Richard Wolff.
  6. ↑ Cf. Feuerstein-Praßer: The Prussian queens. 2009, p. 165.
  7. ^ Thea Leitner: Scandal at court. Ueberreuter, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-8000-3492-1 .
predecessor Office Successor
Sophie Louise Queen of Prussia
1713 to 1740 		Elisabeth Christine
personal data
SURNAME Sophie Dorothea Hanover
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Sophie Dorothea von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Queen of Prussia and wife of the soldier king, Friedrich Wilhelm I (Prussia)
DATE OF BIRTH March 16, 1687
PLACE OF BIRTH Hanover
DATE OF DEATH June 28, 1757
Place of death Monbijou Castle , Berlin