Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
| Queen Catherine Pavlovna | |
|---|---|
| Queen Consort of Württemberg Grand Duchess of Russia |
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| Queen Consort of Württemberg | |
| Tenure | 30 October 1816 – 9 January 1819 |
| Born |
10 May 1788 Catherine Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire |
| Died | 9 January 1819 (aged 30) Stuttgart, Württemberg |
| Spouse |
Duke George of Oldenburg (m. 1809 - 1812; his death) King William I of Württemberg (m. 1816 - 1819; her death) |
| Issue | Duke Alexander Georgievich of Oldenburg Duke Peter Georgievich of Oldenburg Princess Maria, Countess of Neipperg Queen Sophie, Queen Consort of the Netherlands |
| House | Romanov |
| Father | Emperor Paul I of Russia |
| Mother | Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemburg |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox |
Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia (Russian: Екатерина Павловна; 10 May 1788 – 9 January 1819) was the fourth daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. She became the Queen of Württemberg upon her marriage to her first cousin Crown Prince William who eventually became King William I of Württemberg in 1816.
Ekaterina was born at Tsarskoye Selo. She had a happy childhood and her education was carefully supervised by her mother. She received the best education and constantly furthered her education through reading new literary publications and personal contacts with various outstanding persons. She was very close to her siblings particularly with her eldest brother Tsar Alexander I. Throughout her life she would maintain a close relationship with him. It was said that she was Alexander's favorite sister and one of the few persons he loved unconditionally. His letters to her are expressed in phrases like "I am yours, heart and soul, for life", "I think that I love you more with each day that passes", and "to love you more than I do is impossible". Ekaterina was reportedly also her mother's favorite daughter.
After Napoléon I's divorce from Empress Joséphine during the course of the Napoleonic Wars, the French Emperor hinted to Alexander I his wish to marry Ekaterina - a desire mainly to draw the Russians to his side. These plans had actually been hinted as early as 1808, in Erfurt, on suggestion by Talleyrand. Ekaterina's family was horrified, and so the Dowager Empress immediately arranged a marriage for her daughter to Duke George of Oldenburg.
Described as beautiful and vivacious, Ekaterina was married to her first cousin Duke George of Oldenburg on 3 August 1809. Although their marriage was arranged, Ekaterina was devoted to her husband. George was the second son of Peter, Duke of Oldenburg and his wife, Duchess Frederica of Württemberg. It was said that he was not handsome but Ekaterina reportedly cared for him deeply, and his death in 1812 due to typhoid fever saddened her greatly. The couple resided in Tver, where George had been appointed governor general. In Tver, Catherine lived a lavish court life and entertained with balls, grand dinners and similar events in the pattern of the Imperial court, to create "a Small Saint Petersburg" in Tver. She also supported N.M. Karamzin to write his later famous historical work. Tsar Alexander adopted reactionary ideas from a patriotic group which she dominated. In 1812, some conspirators who planned to depose Tsar Alexander had the ambitions to put her on the throne as Empress Catherine III.
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