Sophia Dorothea of Hanover
| Sophia Dorothea of Hanover | |
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Portrait by Antoine Pesne, 1726
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Queen consort in Prussia Electress consort of Brandenburg |
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| Tenure | 25 February 1713 – 31 May 1740 |
| Born |
16 March 1687 Hanover, Principality of Calenberg |
| Died | 28 June 1757 (aged 70) Monbijou Palace, Berlin |
| Spouse | Frederick William I of Prussia |
| Issue | Prince Frederick Louis Wilhelmine, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Prince Friedrich William Frederick II Princess Charlotte Albertine Friederike Luise, Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach Philippine Charlotte, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Prince Ludwig Charles Wilhelm Sophia Dorothea, Margravine of Schwedt Luise Ulrike, Queen of Sweden Prince August Wilhelm Amalia, Abbess of Quedlinburg Prince Henry Prince August Ferdinand |
| House | Hanover |
| Father | George I, King of Great Britain |
| Mother | Sophia Dorothea of Celle |
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (26 March [O.S. 16 March] 1687 – 28 June 1757) was a Queen consort in Prussia as wife of Frederick William I. She was the sister of George II, King of Great Britain and the mother of Frederick II, King of Prussia.
Sophia Dorothea was born on 16 March 1687 (O.S.), in Hanover. She was the only daughter of George Louis of Hanover, later King George I of Great Britain, and Sophia Dorothea of Celle. She was detested by her elder brother, King George II of Great Britain.
Sophia Dorothea married her cousin, Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia, heir apparent to the Prussian throne, on 28 November 1706. They had met as children under the care of their grandmother, Sophia of Hanover, and had disliked each other ever since. Sophia Dorothea differed from her husband in every aspect and the marriage suffered as a result. One of the most important differences between them was that Sophia Dorothea, unlike her husband, loved entertainment. Frederick William contemplated to divorce her the same year they married, and judging by the letters of Sophia Dorothea, he accused her of not wanting to be married to him.
Her husband ascended the throne in 1713 and Sophia Dorothea became queen. She was nicknamed "Olympia" for her regal bearing. Her children were terrorized and frequently beaten by Frederick William, who may have suffered from porphyria.
Sophia Dorothea was interested in art, science, literature and fashion. She was not described as a beauty, and she was scarred from smallpox. She was regarded as proud and ambitious, but her spouse refused to allow her any influence, as it was his belief that women should be kept only for breeding, and that they should be kept submissive as they would otherwise dominate their husbands.
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