Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt
| Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Queen consort of Prussia | |
| Tenure | 17 August 1786 – 16 November 1797 |
| Born | 16 October 1751 Prenzlau |
| Died | 25 February 1805 (aged 53) Schloss Montbijou, Berlin, Prussia |
| Spouse | Frederick William II of Prussia |
| Issue |
Frederick William III Prince Louis Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands Augusta, Electress of Hesse Prince Henry Prince Wilhelm |
| House | Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Father | Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Mother | Caroline of Zweibrücken |
Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (Friederike Luise; 16 October 1751 – 25 February 1805) was Queen consort of Prussia as the second spouse of King Frederick William II.
Frederika Louisa was the daughter of Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Caroline of Zweibrücken. She was born in Prenzlau. She was the sister of Grand Duchess Louise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, as well as Grand Duke Louis I of Hesse.
Frederika Louisa was selected to marry Frederick William immediately after his divorce from Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg, after Margravine Philippine of Brandenburg-Schwedt and Sophia Albertina of Sweden had been suggested. Her mother was highly admired by Frederick the Great. The wedding was performed on 14 July 1769 at the Charlottenburg Palace.
Frederika Louisa was described as solid and sensible and with an agreeable conversation, though lacking of beauty and any particular intellectual abilities. Wraxall said of her: "She is an amiable, virtuous, and pleasing woman, possessing, indeed, neither the personal attractions, nor the graces of her predecessor, but exempt from her errors and defects. She is of the middle size, her countenance agreeable, though not handsome, her manners easy and engaging, her character estimable and formed to excite universal respect." Frederick William called her his "Hessische Lieschen", or "Hessian Lizzie", but did not show her much appreciation or attention and neglected her to indulge in his own pleasures. The marriage was not happy, and Fredrick had numerous lovers, most notably Wilhelmine von Lichtenau, with whom he had a relationship from the same year he married Frederika Louise until his death.
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