Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
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| Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna | |
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| Queen consort of Württemberg prev. Duchess George of Oldenburg |
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| Tenure | 30 October 1816 – 9 January 1819 |
| Spouse | William I of Württemberg Duke George of Oldenburg |
| Issue | |
| Duke Georg of Oldenburg Duke Peter of Oldenburg Princess Maria Friederike Charlotte of Württemberg Sophie, Queen of the Netherlands |
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| House | House of Oldenburg House of Württemberg House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov |
| Father | Paul I of Russia |
| Mother | Sophie Dorothea of Württemburg |
| Born | 10 May 1788 Catherine Palace, Tsarskoye Selo Empire of all the Russia's |
| Died | 9 January 1819 (aged 30) Stuttgart, Württemberg |
Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia (Russian: Екатерина Павловна; Tsarskoye Selo, 10 May 1788 – Stuttgart, 9 January 1819) was the fourth daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. She became the Queen of Württemberg upon her marriage to her first cousin Crown Prince William who eventually became King William I of Württemberg in 1816.
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[edit] Life
Ekaterina had a happy childhood and her education was carefully supervised by her mother. She received the best education and constantly furthered her education through reading new literary publications and personal contacts with various outstanding persons. She was very close to her siblings particularly with her eldest brother Tsar Alexander I. Throughout her life she would maintain a close relationship with him. It was said that she was Alexander's favorite sister and one of the few persons he loved unconditionally. His letters to her are expressed in phrases like "I am yours, heart and soul, for life", "I think that I love you more with each day that passes", and "to love you more than I do is impossible". Ekaterina was reportedly also her mother's favorite daughter.
After Napoléon I's divorce from Empress Joséphine during the course of the Napoleonic Wars, the French Emperor hinted to Alexander I his wish to marry Ekaterina - a desire mainly to draw the Russians to his side. Ekaterina's family was horrified, and so the Dowager Empress immediately arranged a marriage for her daughter to George, Duke of Oldenburg.
[edit] Marriages
Beautiful and vivacious, Ekaterina was married to her first cousin Duke George of Oldenburg on 3 August 1809. Although their marriage was arranged, Ekaterina was devoted to her husband. George was the second son of Peter, Duke of Oldenburg and his wife, Princess Friederike of Württemberg. It was said that he was not handsome but Ekaterina cared for him deeply, and his death in 1812 due to typhoid fever saddened her greatly. The widowed Ekaterina travelled to England with her brother Tsar Alexander I to meet the Prince Regent and again during the Vienna Congress.
Ekaterina had two sons with Duke George of Oldenburg (9 May 1784 – 27 December 1812):
- Peter Georg Paul Alexander of Oldenburg (30 August 1810 – 16 November 1829)
- Konstantin Friedrich Peter of Oldenburg (26 August 1812 – 14 May 1881)
It was in England where she met the Crown Prince William of Württemberg. It was love at first sight for the couple. However, William was then married to the gentle Princess Charlotte of Bavaria and took the drastic step by divorcing her. William then married Ekaterina in 1816 in Saint Petersburg. Upon her husband's accession as king, Ekaterina, now Queen Katharina of Württemberg, became active in charity works in her adopted homeland. She established numerous institutions for the benefit of the common people.
With the King of Württemberg, she had the following children:
- Maria Friederike Charlotte (30 October 1816 – 4 January 1887)
- Sophie Friederike Mathilde (17 June 1818 – 3 June 1877) - Became Queen of the Netherlands
Ekaterina died in January 1819 of erysipelas complicated by pneumonia. After her death her husband built Württemberg Mausoleum in Rotenberg, Stuttgart dedicated to her memory.
[edit] Ancestry
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Екатерина Павловна |
[edit] Bibliography
- Arturo Beeche. The Grand Duchesses
- Detlef Jena. Katharina Pawlowna. Großfürstin von Russland - Königin von Württemberg
- W. Bruce Lincoln. The Romanovs: Autocrats of All the Russians
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[edit] Titles
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Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
Born: 10 May 1788 Died: 9 January 1819 |
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| German royalty | ||
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| Preceded by Charlotte, Princess Royal |
Queen Consort of Württemberg 1816–1819 |
Succeeded by Pauline Therese of Württemberg |
