William II of Württemberg

William II, King of Württemberg

William II, King of Württemberg (born 25 February 1848 in Stuttgart – died 2 October 1921 in Bebenhausen) was son of Prince Frederick of Württemberg (1808–1870) and his wife Princess Catherine of Württemberg (1821–1898), daughter of King William I of Württemberg (1781–1864).

On 15 February 1877 at Arolsen he married Princess Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1857–1882). They had two children;

• Pauline (19 December 1877 – 7 May 1965), married Prince Frederick of Wied (1872–1945)
• Ulrich (28 July 1880 – 28 December 1880)

On 8 April 1886 at Bückeburg, he married Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe (1864–1946).

Upon the death of his childless uncle, King Charles I (1823–1891), he succeeded as King of Württemberg. He became a Generalfeldmarschall during World War I.

In 1918, he was deposed from the throne along with the other German rulers. More than this fact itself, it made him bitter that he received less protection and support than he had hoped for, being considered popular. He had the habit of walking his two dogs in public parks in Stuttgart, without body guards or the like, being greeted by his subjects with a simple Herr König ("Mister King").

Under his reign, the family Weizsäcker rose to prominence.

Ancestry

8. King Frederick I of Württemberg

4. Prince Paul of Württemberg

9. Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

2. Prince Frederick of Württemberg

10. Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

5. Princess Catherine of Saxe-Altenburg

11. Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

1. King William II of Württemberg

12. King Frederick I of Württemberg (= #8)

6. King William I of Württemberg

13. Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (= #9)

3. Princess Catherine of Württemberg

14. Duke Louis of Württemberg

7. Duchess Pauline of Württemberg

15. Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg

See also

• Rulers of Württemberg