Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg

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Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Crown Princess of Prussia
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg by Johann Georg Ziesenis (1965)
Spouse	Frederick William, Crown Prince of Prussia
Issue
Frederica Charlotte, Duchess of York and Albany
House	House of Hohenzollern House of Brunswick-Bevern
Father	Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Mother	Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia
Born	8 November 1746(1746-11-08)
Died	18 February 1840 (aged 93)

Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Wolffenbüttel, 8 November 1746 - Stettin, 18 February 1840), was the first wife of Prince Frederick William, her cousin and the future king Frederick William II of Prussia.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Issue 3 Ancestors 4 References

[edit] Biography

Elisabeth Christine was born the seventh child and third daughter of Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia, the sister of Frederick the Great. She was selected by her uncle, the childless king, as a suitable bride for the heir of the throne of Prussia. On 14 July 1765, Elisabeth married Friedrich Wilhelm, the Crown Prince, on the family country estate in Salzdahlum.

Soon it became clear the couple was not happy with each other. King Frederick had hoped that the marriage would lead to the production of an heir, but instead noticed that Frederick William neglected his wife and was unfaithful to her on a daily basis. When their first child proved to be a girl, their relationship deteriorated. Wounded by her husband's neglect and infidelity, Elisabeth began to have affairs with musicians and officers in Potsdam, which led to a scandal in 1769 when she became pregnant. Planning to escape with her lover, she was betrayed and the marriage was dissolved within a few days. Elisabeth's brothers forced her to leave. The Crown Princess, who was allowed to keep her title, headed for Küstrin. The king forced his nephew to remarry within a few months.

In the mean time Elisabeth was put under house arrest (as a prisoner of state) in the castle of Stettin, under the supervision of a relative. Eventually Frederick improved her living conditions. From 1774 on, her summer residence was in a medieval cloister in Jasenitz (Jasienica), now a district of Police in Pomerania. After the death of Frederick the Great in 1786, she was treated less strictly. When the French army occupied the city in 1810, Elisabeth moved to a small country estate outside the city walls, which she called Friedrichsgnade (Frederick's mercy).

Elisabeth died at the age of 94, having outlived all her brothers and sisters. She had herself a mausoleum built in the park because she did not want to be buried with her relatives. It is possible that she was reburied in the cathedral of Krakow.

[edit] Issue

Elisabeth Christine had one child, which she never saw again. Frederica Charlotte of Prussia was educated by her grandmother and stepmother, and married Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany.

[edit] Ancestors

Elisabeth Christine's ancestors in three generations

Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg	Father: Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg	Paternal Grandfather: Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg	Paternal Great-grandfather: Duke Ferdinand Albert I of Brunswick
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Christine of Hesse-Eschwege
		Paternal Grandmother: Antoinette Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg	Paternal Great-grandfather: Louis Rudolph, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Christine Louise of Oettingen
	Mother: Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia	Maternal Grandfather: Frederick William I of Prussia	Maternal Great-grandfather: Frederick I of Prussia
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
		Maternal Grandmother: Sophia Dorothea of Hanover	Maternal Great-grandfather: George I of Great Britain
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Sophia Dorothea of Celle

[edit] References

• This article is based entirely or partially on its equivalent on Dutch Wikipedia.