Friedrich I of Württemberg
| Frederick I | |
|---|---|
Frederick I of Württemberg
|
|
| Duke, Elector, then King of Württemberg | |
| Reign | 22 December 1797 – 30 October 1816 |
| Coronation | 1 January 1806 |
| Predecessor | Frederick II Eugene |
| Successor | William I |
| Born | 6 November 1754 |
| Died | 30 October 1816 (aged 61) |
| Spouse |
Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (m.1780 wid.1788) Charlotte, Princess Royal (m.1797 wid.1816) |
| Issue |
William I Catharina, Queen of Westphalia Duchess Sophia Dorothea Prince Paul |
| Father | Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg |
| Mother | Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Frederick I William Charles of Württemberg (German: Friedrich I Wilhelm Karl von Württemberg; 6 November 1754 – 30 October 1816) was the last Duke of Würtemberg, then briefly Elector of Württemberg, and was later elevated to the status of King of Württemberg, by Napoleon I. He was known for his size: at 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) and about 200 kg (440 lb).
Born in Treptow an der Rega, today Trzebiatów, Poland, Frederick was the eldest son of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, and Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Frederick's father was the third son of Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, and Frederick was thus the nephew of the long-reigning duke Charles Eugene (German: Karl Eugen). Since neither Duke Charles Eugene nor his next brother, Louis Eugene (German: Ludwig Eugen), had any sons, it was expected that Frederick's father (also named Frederick) would eventually succeed to the Duchy, and would be succeeded in turn by Frederick.
That eventuality was however many years in the future, and the birth of a legitimate son to either of his uncles would preempt Frederick's hopes conclusively. Further, his uncle the Duke was not disposed to give any member of his family any role in affairs of government. Frederick therefore determined - like his father - on a military career at the court of Frederick the Great. This later drew Frederick and his family into the Prussian king's network of marriage alliances - in 1776 his sister Sophie would marry to Tsesarevich Paul, future Emperor of Russia and son of Empress Catherine II. These family ties to Russia had immediate consequences for Frederick and far-reaching ones for Württemberg during the reorganisation of Europe in the wake of the 1814 Congress of Vienna.
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