Electorate of Württemberg
| Electorate of Württemberg | ||||||||||
| Kurfürstentum Württemberg | ||||||||||
| State of the Holy Roman Empire | ||||||||||
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 Electorate of Württemberg
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| Capital | Stuttgart | |||||||||
| Languages | Swabian German | |||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic, Lutheran Protestant | |||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | |||||||||
| Elector of Württemberg | ||||||||||
| • | 1803–1806 | Friedrich I, Elector of Württemberg | ||||||||
| Historical era | Modern Ages | |||||||||
| • | Raised to Prince-elector | 1803 | ||||||||
| • | Raised to Kingdom of Württemberg | 1806 | ||||||||
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| Today part of |
 Germany
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The Electorate of Württemberg was a State of the Holy Roman Empire on the right bank of the Rhine river. In 1803, Napoleon raised the duchy to the Electorate of Württemberg of the Holy Roman Empire. However, soon afterward, (when he abolished the Empire in 1806), the Electorate was elevated to the Kingdom of Württemberg.
Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg left no legitimate heirs and was succeeded by his two brothers, first Louis Eugene (died 1795), who was childless, and Frederick II Eugene (died 1797). Frederick II Eugene served in the army of Frederick the Great, to whom he was related by marriage, and then managed his family's estates around Montbéliard. He educated his children in the Protestant faith as francophones, and all members of the subsequent Württemberg royal family were descended from him. Thus, when his son became duke in 1797 as Frederick III, Protestantism returned to the ducal household, and the royal house adhered to this faith thereafter.
During the short reign of Frederick II Eugene, the French Republic invaded Württemberg and compelled the duke to withdraw his troops from the imperial army and pay reparations. Though he ruled for only two years, Frederick II Eugene effectively managed to retain the independence of the dukedom. Through his children's marriages, he made remarkable connections across Europe, including to the Russian, Austrian and British royal families.
His son, Duke Frederick III (1754–1816), was a prince who modelled himself on Frederick the Great. He took part in the war against France in defiance of the wishes of his people and, when the French again invaded and devastated the country, he retired to Erlangen, where he remained until after the conclusion of the peace of Lunéville on 9 February 1801.
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