Caroline of Ansbach facts for kids
Caroline of Ansbach was the Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Great Britain during the reign of her husband George II of Great Britain. During her time as Queen she had a lot of power.
Contents
Early Life
Caroline of Ansbach was born in Ansbach in Germany, the daughter of Johann Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, and his second wife, Princess Eleanor Erdmuthe Louise of Saxe-Eisenach. Orphaned at an early age, Caroline grew up an intelligent, cultured and attractive woman, and was much sought-after as a bride.
Possible Marriages and Marriage to George
She turned down the King of Spain because it would cause her to renounce the Protestant faith. Shortly after she met the son of the elector of Hanover They married in 1705. Over the next 30 years they had nine children.
Queen
George I of Great Britain died 11 June 1727. George Augustus ascended the throne as George II of Great Britain. Caroline held George on a string. When the Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole met with the King he and Caroline had signs to communicate with each other. George never noticed.
Relations with Frederick, Prince of Wales
Both the King and Queen truly disliked their eldest son the Prince of Wales. Caroline once called him the Greatest Ass the world has ever known. They preferred Prince William, Duke of Cumberland over Fredrick.
Later years
Caroline died 20 November 1737. George was at her side. Caroline asked him to remarry on her deathbed, to which he replied "No, I shall only have mistresses" or in French, "Non, j'aurai seulement des maîtresses!" in tears.
After Death
George had Caroline buried in Westminster Abbey. He bought two coffins with removable sides, so after he died they would lie together again.
Children
Caroline's nine pregnancies (from 1707-1724) resulted in eight live births - one of whom, Prince George William (13 November 1717-17 February 1718), died in infancy, and seven of whom lived to adulthood:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick, Prince of Wales | 1 February 1707 | 31 March 1751 | married 1736, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenberg; had issue |
| Anne, Princess Royal | 2 November 1709 | 12 January 1759 | married 1734, Prince Willem IV of Orange-Nassau; had issue |
| Princess Amelia | 10 July 1711 | 31 October 1786 | |
| Princess Caroline | 21 June 1713 | 28 December 1757 | |
| Prince Augustus George | 9 November 1716 | 9 November 1716 | stillborn |
| Prince George William | 13 November 1717 | 17 February 1718 | died in infancy |
| Prince William, Duke of Cumberland | 26 April 1721 | 31 October 1765 | |
| Princess Mary | 5 March 1723 | 14 January 1772 | married 1740, Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel); had issue |
| Princess Louise | 18 December 1724 | 19 December 1751 | married 1743, Frederick V, King of Denmark and Norway; had issue |
Legacy
Caroline alongside Prince Albert, and Mary of Modena is regarded one of the most powerful British consorts in History.
Images for kids
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Ansbach in the 17th century
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Engraving of the royal couple and their seven children who survived infancy
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Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk (pictured) was one of Caroline's Women of the Bedchamber in addition to being one of Caroline's husband's mistresses.
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Official Coronation medal of Queen Caroline in 1727 by J. Croker
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Queen Caroline, painted by Charles Jervas in 1727
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Portrait by Joseph Highmore, 1735
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Memorial to Caroline on the bank of the Serpentine, a picturesque lake in London created at her request
