Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt
| Frederick William | |
|---|---|
| Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt | |
 |
|
| Spouse(s) | Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia |
| Noble family | Hohenzollern |
| Father | Philip William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt |
| Mother | Princess Johanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau |
| Born |
17 November 1700 Oranienbaum Palace, Wittenberg |
| Died | 4 March 4 March 1771 (aged 70) Wildenbruch Castle |
Frederick William of Brandenburg-Schwedt (17 November 1700, Oranienbaum Castle (modern-day Oranienbaum-Wörlitz, Wittenberg) – 4 March 1771, Wildenbruch Castle) was a German nobleman. In his lifetime, from 1711 to 1771, he held the titles Prince in Prussia and Margrave of Brandenburg, with the style Royal Highness. He was made a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle.
In the 19th century he was retrospectively known by the title Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in order to differentiate his branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty. He was the second owner of the Prussian secundogeniture of Brandenburg-Schwedt. His parents were Philip William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, and Princess Johanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau. He was the nephew of King Frederick I of Prussia.
Frederick William was known as a brutal man because of his short temper, severity, and coarse manners. He was educated and raised by his uncle, King Frederick I, and then by his cousin, King Frederick William I. His character closely resembled that of his second royal guardian, who like himself, hated idleness and was a terror to all loungers. The clergy were especial objects of his ridicule and persecution. His cane was as much feared as that of his royal namesake.
He made the fashionable Grand Tour, travelling to Geneva 1715, and in 1716 to Italy. He returned in 1719 to Prussia, where he received the order of the Black Eagle from Frederick William I. On 15 June 1723 he was made a Prussian major-general. On 10 July 1737 he was appointed lieutenant-general.
The existence of the Schwedt branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty, descended as they were from Frederick I's father and being 'princes of the blood', posed a theoretical threat to the Prussian kings. Frederick William I tried to neutralise this threat by keeping his cousins close, bringing the Schwedt brothers into his own household, acting as their guardian, and later marrying Frederick William to his daughter. Following the margarve's reaching adulthood the king was so fearful of any covert political activity on his cousin's part that he sent spies to Schwedt to find out who met with Frederick William and his brother.
...
Wikipedia