Sophie of Württemberg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sophie of Württemberg | |
|---|---|
| Queen Consort of the Netherlands; Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg; Duchess consort of Limburg | |
 |
|
| Portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1861) | |
| Tenure | 7 March 1849 – 3 June 1877 |
| Spouse | William III |
| Issue | |
| William, Prince of Orange Prince Maurice Alexander, Prince of Orange |
|
| Father | William I of Württemberg |
| Mother | Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia |
| Born | 17 June 1818 Stuttgart |
| Died | 3 June 1877 (aged 58) The Hague |
| Burial | Nieuwe Kerk, Delft |
Princess Sophia Frederika Mathilde of Württemberg, Queen of the Netherlands (German: Sophia Frederika Mathilde Prinzessin von Württemberg; 17 June 1818 – 3 June 1877) was the first wife of King William III of the Netherlands.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
She was born in Stuttgart, her parents were King William I of Württemberg and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, the fourth eldest daughter of Tsar Paul I. Sophie and William were first cousins as their mothers were sisters. Shortly after Sophie’s birth, her mother died, and she was cared for by her aunt, Catharina of Württemberg.
She was a cousin of the future Alexander II of Russia, George V of Hanover and Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Prior to her marriage, King Otto of Greece and Duke William of Brunswick were possible suitors for Princess Sophie. The engagement with the first came to nothing because Princess Sophie's father had no confidence in the newly established Greek monarchy.
Chance prevented a proposal by the second candidate because it was rumored that Princess Sophie was already betrothed.
She married the Prince of Orange (later King William III) in Stuttgart on 18 June 1839. The couple returned to the Netherlands and established themselves at Noordeinde Palace and had three children:
- Willem Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik (1840–1879), Prince of Orange from 1849 until 1879
- Willem Frederik Maurits Alexander Hendrik Karel (1843–1850)
- Willem Alexander Karel Hendrik Frederik (1851–1884), Prince of Orange from 1879 until 1884.
The marriage was not a success. King William's mother, whom he completely relied on, was totally against the marriage and treated her daughter-in-law and niece with disdain. Intellectually, Queen Sophie was far superior to her husband. Moreover, William III had several extramarital relations. She let it be publicly known that she found him inferior and unsuitable to be king and that she would do it better as a regent.
Queen Sophie tried to separate from him, but this was refused; the state interest had to prevail. From 1855 the couple lived separately. She spent much of her time in Stuttgart, with her own family. Queen Sophie died at Huis ten Bosch Palace in the Hague. She was buried in her wedding dress, because, in her own view, her life had ended on the day she married.
Queen Sophie corresponded with several European scholars and maintained warm ties with Emperor Napoleon III and Queen Victoria. She protected and stimulated the arts, supported several charities, including animal protection and construction of public parks.
She was the 540th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa.
She died in The Hague.
[edit] Ancestry
[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms
[edit] Titles and styles
- 17 June 1818 - 18 June 1839 Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie of Württemberg
- 18 June 1839 - 17 March 1849 Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange
- 7 March 1849 - 3 June 1877 Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg; Duchess consort of Limburg
[edit] External links
[edit] Titles
| Titles and Succession | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
