Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach
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Count Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander Ferdinand of Württemberg, 1st Duke of Urach (Stuttgart, 6 July 1810 – Schloss Liechtenstein, 17 July 1869), was the son of Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg (1761-1830) and his morganatic wife, Baroness Wilhelmine von Tunderfeldt-Rhodis (1777-1822), who had married in 1800.[1] He was created Duke of Urach on March 28, 1867, with the style of Serene Highness.[2][3]
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[edit] Career
Wilhelm served as a cavalry officer in the army of the formerly-independent Kingdom of Württemberg. He also tested cannon for the army, some of which can still be seen at Lichtenstein Castle, which he substantially rebuilt in the 1840s.
[edit] Marriages
- On February 8, 1841, Duke Wilhelm married Princess Theodelinda de Beauharnais (1814-1857), the daughter of Eugène de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg. To contract the marriage he converted to Roman Catholicism. Four daughters were born from this marriage:
- Princess Augusta Eugenie of Urach (1842-1916). Married firstly Count Rudolf von Enzenberg zum Freyen und Jochelsthurn (1835-1874); secondly Count Franz von Thun und Hohenstein (1826-1888)
- Princess Marie Josephine of Urach (1844-1864)
- Princess Eugenia Amalie of Urach (1848-1867)
- Princess Mathilde of Urach (1854-1907); married Paolo Altieri, Prince of Viano.
- On 15 February 1863 in Monaco, he married Florestine Gabrielle Antoinette Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco (Fontenay, 2 October/22 October 1833 - Stuttgart, 4 April/24 April 1897) , daughter of Florestan I, Prince of Monaco, and they had two sons:
- Wilhelm, 2nd Duke of Urach (1864-1929), later King Mindaugas II of Lithuania.
- Prince Karl of Urach (15 February 1865 - 5 December 1925).
An unexpected outcome of this marriage was the Monaco Succession Crisis of 1918.
[edit] Ancestry
Wilhelm's paternal grandfather was Friedrich II Eugen (1732-97), from whom the former ruling family of the Kingdom of Württemberg was descended.
Wilhelm's maternal ancestry came from Finland.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
| Preceded by New title |
Duke of Urach | Succeeded by Wilhelm |
