Natalia Alexeievna of Russia
| Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna (Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt) |
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|---|---|
| Tsesarevna of Russia | |
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Portrait by Alexander Roslin, Hermitage Museum
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| Born |
25 June 1755 Prenzlau, Brandenburg, Prussia |
| Died | 15 April 1776 (aged 20) St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Spouse | Paul Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia |
| Issue | Stillborn son |
| House |
House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov House of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Father | Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Mother | Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken |
Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna of Russia (25 June 1755 – 15 April 1776) was the first wife of the future Tsar Paul I of Russia, the only son of the Empress Catherine II. She was born as Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt in Prenzlau, Uckermark, Brandenburg, Prussia as the fifth child of Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and his spouse Caroline of Zweibrücken, Countess Palatine.
In 1773, the Empress Catherine II of Russia was looking for a suitable wife for her son Paul and turned to King Frederick II of Prussia for "recommendations". The King thought about the remaining three unmarried daughters of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. Their eldest sister, the future Queen Frederica, was married to the heir to Prussian throne and so, an alliance to Prussia would be a beneficial outcome. Unable to decide which one was worthy, the Empress sent an invitation to Wilhelmine, her sisters Amalie and Louise, and their mother to visit Russia. Hurriedly, the three Princesses studied to perfect their French, worked on their dancing, practiced dropping deep curtseys, and completed their wardrobes. Their first stop was in Berlin where from there a flotilla of four ships, sent by the Empress Catherine, took them to Russia. It was the Grand Duke Paul's best friend, young Andrei Razumovsky, who commanded the frigate that carried the young ladies and their mother. He was immediately captivated by these charming passengers, and was particularly taken with Wilhelmine. She was not insensible to the admiration of Andrei.
Two days after arriving in Russia, the Grand Duke Paul chose Wilhelmine to be his wife. Wilhelmine was very pretty, gay and exuberant, and Paul was very delighted with her. Their betrothal was celebrated with great ostentation and Wilhelmine changed her religion and her given name: she became Natalia Alexeievna. On 29 September 1773, the wedding took place in the church of the Nativity of the Mother of God.
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