Luise von Mecklenburg-Strelitz, königin von Preussen

ROYAL CONSORT (GERMANY)
BORN 10 Mar 1776, Hannover, Niedersachsen - DIED 19 Jul 1810, Schloss Hohenzieritz, Meckpenburg-Vorpommern (castle near Neustrelitz)
BIRTH NAME Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie, Herzogin zu Mecklenburg
GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Mausoleum Charlottenburg

Daughter of Karl I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1793 she married crown prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, who became king Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1797. They had nine children, among them the future emperor Wilhelm I.

After the battle of Jena they fled to Königsberg and then to Memel. Louise visited the French quarters at Tilsit in 1807, hoping to obtain better conditions for Prussia. She didn't succeed, but it was said that this was only because her husband broke in impatiently on her conversation with the emperor before the latter gave in. It is certain that her fearless encounter with the emperor impressed many and added to her popularity.

In 1809 she returned to Berlin. but she was serioulsly ill in the summer of 1809. In June, 1810 she fell ill again and she died on July 19th 1810 in the arms of her husband, only 34 years old. After her death she became a symbol of all virtues that a good Prussian woman should posess.

Family
 • Son: Wilhelm I, emperor of Germany
• Husband: Friedrich Wilhelm III, king of Prussia (1793-1810)

Related persons
 • employed Bach, Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst
• has a connection with Hufeland, Christoph Wilhelm
• met Napoleon I Bonaparte
• was sculpted by Rauch, Christian Daniel
• was sculpted by Schadow, Johann Gottfried
• was sculpted by Schinkel, Karl Friedrich

Events
26/4/1804Friedrich von Schiller travels to Berlin. He was received enthousiastically by the theatre public and he was received by queen Luise at Schloss Charlottenburg and by the royal couple at Schloss Sansssouci. Schiller received an offer to move to Berlin but he decided to stay in Weimar. [Friedrich Wilhelm III, king of Prussia][Schiller, Friedrich von]
5/1/1807Queen Luise of Prussia flees to Memel 
6/7/1807Queen Luise of Prussia meets Napoleon in Tilsit. Their meeting took place at the house of Justice Commisioner Ernst Ludwig Siehr in Tilsit, where Napoleon lived during the peace negotiations. Luise had expected to meet a monster but she met a highly intelligent man who chatted pleasantly. She asked him for a measured approach to the peace terms and he answered her vaguely. After he asked her how the Prussians could be so careless as to attack him she answered "The frame of Frederick the Great deceived us about our means". The interview ended former mutual insults but she did not obtain any consessions from Napoleon. [Napoleon I Bonaparte]
19/7/1810Queen Luise of Prussia dies. She was only 34 years old and it was a heavy blow for king Friedrich Wilhelm III, who loved her a lot. She was also popular with the people. 

Images

The monument for queen Louise of Prussia in Mausoleum of the Schlosspark at Charlottenburg, Berlin. It was created by C.D. Rauch.
Picture by Androom (18 Aug 1996)
 
The monument for queen Louise of Prussia in Mausoleum of the Schlosspark at Charlottenburg, Berlin. It was created by C.D. Rauch.
Picture by Androom (18 Aug 1996)
 
The statue of queen Louise of Prussia at the Tiergarten in Berlijn.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 1996)
 

The statue of queen Louise of Prussia at the Tiergarten in Berlijn.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 1996)
 
The princesses Louise and Friederike of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The sculpture was made by Johann Gottfried Schadow.
(1797)
Picture by Androom (2 Aug 1998)
 

Sources
 • Damm, Sigrid, Das Leben des Friedrich Schiller, Eine Wanderung, Insel Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, 2004
• Die Grosse Dynastien, Südwest Verlag, München, 1978
• Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909
• Luise von Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Wikipedia


Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria

Published: 06 May 2007
Last update: 24 Sep 2023