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| Prince Frederick | |
|---|---|
%2c_by_Maurits_Verveer.jpg) Photograph of Prince Frederick | |
| Born | (1797-02-28)28 February 1797 Berlin |
| Died | 8 September 1881(1881-09-08) (aged 84) Wassenaar |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Orange-Nassau |
| Father | William I of the Netherlands |
| Mother | Wilhelmine of Prussia |
Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau (full names: Willem Frederik Karel; 28 February 1797, inBerlin – 8 September 1881, inWassenaar), was the second son ofWilliam I of the Netherlands and his wife,Wilhelmine of Prussia.
Frederick was active in the military and political life of the Netherlands. He served as Commissary-general of the Department of War and as Chief Director of War and Navy, where he modernized the army according to the Prussian model. Frederick also led the Dutch troops during theBelgian Revolution in 1830. Additionally, he was a prominent Freemason and Grand Master of the Order of Freemasons. After his active career, he withdrew to his estate and played a mediating role within the royal family.
The prince grew up at the court of his grandfatherFrederick William II of Prussia and uncleFrederick William III of Prussia. One of his tutors wasCarl von Clausewitz. Aged 16, the prince fought in theBattle of Leipzig.
The prince first entered the Netherlands in December 1813. As he spoke no Dutch, the prince was sent toLeiden University to get a further education. He was also educated byKarl Ludwig von Phull inThe Hague. WhenNapoleon returned fromElba, during theHundred Days the prince was given command of a detachment ofWellington's army which was posted in a fall back position nearBraine-le-Comte should the battle taking place atWaterloo be lost.
Based on a house treaty, Frederick was to inherit the family's German possessions upon his father's death. After the treaty of Vienna these were no longer in the possession of the family. He instead was made heir to theGrand Duchy of Luxemburg. In 1816, Frederick relinquished this claim in exchange for land in the Netherlands and the title ofPrince of the Netherlands. As a further compensation he received a yearly amount of 190,000Dutch guilders.[1] This made him the wealthiest member of theHouse of Orange-Nassau.[1] With the money he bought a large estate inGermany, which made him the largest land owner from the Netherlands.[1]
Aged 18, Frederick was made a major-general by his father and given nominal command of the Dutch-Belgian1st Division (lt.-gen.Stedman) that was tasked with guardingWellington's escape route to the sea in case things had gone awry for the Anglo-Dutch army at theBattle of Waterloo.Napoleon was, however, defeated, also thanks to the other two Dutch-Belgian divisions that did fight at that battle. Fredrick then took part in the invasion of northern France that followed Napoleon's defeat[2]
In 1816 Frederick was appointed Grand Master of theGrand Orient of the Netherlands a function he would hold until his death in 1881.[3]
In 1826 Frederick was appointed Commissary-general of the Department of War. In this office, Frederick reorganized the army on aPrussian model. Frederick founded theRoyal military academy inBreda and reequipped the army with modern weapons.
In 1829 Frederick wasa candidate for theGreek throne, but he declined because he did not want to be king of a country whose language and traditions were foreign to him.[4]
When theBelgian Revolution broke out in 1830, Frederick commanded the troops sent toBrussels to suppress the rebellion there. Frederick led these troops in several days of fighting in Brussels, but could not retake the city. Frederick also took part in the campaign ofhis brother's 1831Ten Days' Campaign in Belgium.
When his father abdicated in 1840, Frederick withdrew from public life to his estates at Wassenaar. In 1846 he acquiredSchloss Muskau in Prussia where he completedMuskau Park, the largest and one of the most famous English gardens in Central Europe, stretching along both sides of the present German–Polish border on theLusatian Neisse. The park had been laid out from 1815 onwards at the behest ofPrince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau (1785–1871). In July 2004, Muskau Park was added to the list ofUNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Upon the death of his elder brother in 1849, the country was left with a large debt. Frederick managed to pay off a million guilder to TsarNicholas I of Russia, who was brother-in-law to William II.[1] The newKing William III of the Netherlands (Frederick's nephew) did not want to inherit the kingship from his father, but Frederick managed to convince him to take up the position, offering to assist him.[1]
William III recalled Frederick and made him Inspector-General of the army. Frederick held that office until 1868, when he resigned because of the lack of support for his plans to modernize the army. Frederick managed to prevent a divorce between King William III and QueenSophie of Württemberg by establishing a legal separation.[1]
He retired to Muskau Castle, bought by him in 1846, which was remodeled inRenaissance revival style between 1863 and 1866.
Prince Frederick married inBerlin on 21 May 1825 his first cousinLouise, daughter ofFrederick William III of Prussia. They had four children:
| Ancestors of Prince Frederick of the Netherlands |
|---|
Netherlands: Commander of theMilitary William Order,8 July 1815;[5] Grand Cross,18 August 1831[6]
Nassau: Grand Cross of theOrder of Adolphe of Nassau, with Swords,June 1858[7]
Austrian Empire: Grand Cross of theRoyal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen,1835[8]
Kingdom of Hanover: Grand Cross of theRoyal Guelphic Order,1821[9]
Electorate of Hesse: Knight of theOrder of the Golden Lion,5 June 1851[10]
Oldenburg: Grand Cross of theHouse and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis, with Golden Crown,26 July 1853[11]
Kingdom of Prussia:[12]
Russian Empire:[13]
Spain: Grand Cross of theOrder of Charles III,8 November 1817[14]
Sweden-Norway:
Württemberg: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Württemberg Crown,1849[18]{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
