Royal Families: House of Württemberg
One of the most interesting noble families of Germany, certainly is the House of Württemberg.
From their capital Stuttgart, in southwest Germany, they spread their wings across Europe.
They really had lots of interesting links with many other royal families inter alia: Nassau (The Netherlands), Romanov (Russia), Bourbons, Orléans, Liechtenstein etc.
Besides this enthralling links they also had a very nice royal history with some surprising facts.
Royal history
The House of Württemberg probably had its origins in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.
Around 1080, ancestors of the modern Württemberg, then called "Wirtemberg" settled themselves in the Stuttgart region. It was Conrad of Württemberg who became the heir of the House of Beutelsbach and built the Wirtemberg Castle. Around 1089 he received the title Count.
In 1495, at the Diet of Worms, Count Eberhard V was raised to Duke, in German Herzog, by the later Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.
Between 1534 and 1537, Duke Ulrich introduced the Protestant Reformation. The Duke himself became the head of the Local Protestan Church.
However in the 18th. century the Protestant male line became extinct, the Head of the House was succeeded by Duke Charles Alexander, who was a Roman Catholic.
Despite having a Catholic royal family, Protestantism survived as the established church, run by a church council.
With the accession of Duke Frederick II of Württemberg in 1797, the royal family was again Protestant.
During the reign of Napoleon I of France, Württemberg became a part of the Confederation of the Rhine. Duke Frederick II of Württemberg was made Elector in May 1803. In January 1806 he was made King of Württemberg (because of being an ally of Napoleon).
In 1871 the Royal Dukedom of Teck was created for dynastic reasons for Francis, Duke of Teck.
In 1918, at the end of World War I, during the German revolution, all the monarchies in Germany were abolished. King William of Württemberg abdicated on 30 November 1918.
All about royal families
All branches of the House of Württemberg descended from Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1732-1797). There were 5 branches with lots of ties.
Inter alia the branch who descended from Duke Louis of Württemberg was related to George Cambridge, 2nd Marquess of Cambridge and a female link to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
Olga Nikolaevna of Russia (1822-1892), sister of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, married King Charles I of Württemberg.
Princess Sophie of Württemberg married King Willem II of The Netherlands.
Elisabeth Wilhelm Louise of Württemberg married Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor.
As mentioned above there are many examples of the ties of the House of Württemberg across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
From their capital Stuttgart, in southwest Germany, they spread their wings across Europe.
They really had lots of interesting links with many other royal families inter alia: Nassau (The Netherlands), Romanov (Russia), Bourbons, Orléans, Liechtenstein etc.
Besides this enthralling links they also had a very nice royal history with some surprising facts.
Royal history
The House of Württemberg probably had its origins in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.
Around 1080, ancestors of the modern Württemberg, then called "Wirtemberg" settled themselves in the Stuttgart region. It was Conrad of Württemberg who became the heir of the House of Beutelsbach and built the Wirtemberg Castle. Around 1089 he received the title Count.
In 1495, at the Diet of Worms, Count Eberhard V was raised to Duke, in German Herzog, by the later Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.
Between 1534 and 1537, Duke Ulrich introduced the Protestant Reformation. The Duke himself became the head of the Local Protestan Church.
However in the 18th. century the Protestant male line became extinct, the Head of the House was succeeded by Duke Charles Alexander, who was a Roman Catholic.
Despite having a Catholic royal family, Protestantism survived as the established church, run by a church council.
With the accession of Duke Frederick II of Württemberg in 1797, the royal family was again Protestant.
During the reign of Napoleon I of France, Württemberg became a part of the Confederation of the Rhine. Duke Frederick II of Württemberg was made Elector in May 1803. In January 1806 he was made King of Württemberg (because of being an ally of Napoleon).
In 1871 the Royal Dukedom of Teck was created for dynastic reasons for Francis, Duke of Teck.
In 1918, at the end of World War I, during the German revolution, all the monarchies in Germany were abolished. King William of Württemberg abdicated on 30 November 1918.
All about royal families
All branches of the House of Württemberg descended from Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1732-1797). There were 5 branches with lots of ties.
Inter alia the branch who descended from Duke Louis of Württemberg was related to George Cambridge, 2nd Marquess of Cambridge and a female link to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
Olga Nikolaevna of Russia (1822-1892), sister of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, married King Charles I of Württemberg.
Princess Sophie of Württemberg married King Willem II of The Netherlands.
Elisabeth Wilhelm Louise of Württemberg married Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor.
As mentioned above there are many examples of the ties of the House of Württemberg across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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