Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Philippine Charlotte of Prussia
Portrait by Francesco Carlo Rusca
Duchess consort of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Tenure	2 September 1735 – 26 March 1780
Born	(1716-03-13)13 March 1716 Stadtschloss, Berlin
Died	17 February 1801(1801-02-17) (aged 84) Brunswick
Spouse	Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Issue	Charles II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Prince Georg Franz Sophie, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Prince Christian Ludwig Anna, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Prince Frederick Augustus Prince Albrecht Heinrich Princess Louise Prince Wilhelm Adolf Elisabeth Christine, Crown Princess of Prussia Princess Friederike Augusta Dorothea, Abbess of Gandersheim Prince Maximilian Julius Leopold
House	Hohenzollern
Father	Frederick William I of Prussia
Mother	Sophia Dorothea of Hanover

Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia was born on March 13, 1716, in Berlin. She passed away on February 17, 1801, in Brunswick. She became the Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel when she married Duke Charles I.

Philippine Charlotte was known as a very smart and educated person in Germany during her time. She is even listed as a female composer because people believe she wrote marches and other music.

Her Life as a Princess and Duchess

Philippine Charlotte was the fourth child of King Frederick William I of Prussia and Queen Sophia Dorothea of Hanover.

Marriage and Family Connections

On July 2, 1733, in Berlin, Princess Philippine Charlotte married Duke Charles of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. He was the oldest son of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

When Charles's father died in 1735, Charles became the Duke. This made Philippine Charlotte the Duchess. Her brother, Frederick, also married Charles's sister, Elisabeth Christine. These two marriages created a strong bond between the important royal families of Prussia and Brunswick.

This family connection was very important. It led to Brunswick and Prussia working together during the Seven Years' War. It also meant that Philippine Charlotte's sons could have important careers serving Prussia.

A portrait of an older lady, similar to how Philippine Charlotte might have looked.

An Intellectual Duchess

Philippine Charlotte was described as a very clever and highly educated person. She was a true "child of the Enlightenment." This was a time when people focused on reason, science, and new ideas.

She even wrote her own summary of the philosophical writings of Christian von Wolff in French. The Duchess was very interested in German intellectual life. She admired the poet Salomon Gessner and was friends with Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock. The famous writer Lessing was also part of her close group.

As Duchess, Philippine Charlotte made her court a place for learning. She held special gatherings before and after dinner. Scholars and writers were invited to these meetings. The Brunswick court also enjoyed some opera shows and public balls each year. However, her husband's spending meant they soon had to live a more economical life.

She made sure her son Charles was raised to respect her brother, Frederick of Prussia. She gave him a humanist education, meaning he learned about many different subjects. She even sent him on a "Grand Tour" of Europe with the archaeologist Winckelmann.

In 1773, her husband Charles I had to let their son become the ruler. When Charles I died in 1780, their son officially took over as Duke.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1799, the Swedish Princess Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte visited Philippine Charlotte. She described her as "an agreeable, highly educated and well respected lady." However, by then, Philippine Charlotte was very old and had almost lost her memory.

Philippine Charlotte had her own collection of 4,000 books. She left this amazing collection to the Wolfenbüttel Library.

Her Children

Issue
Name	Portrait	Lifespan	Notes
Charles II Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel		9 October 1735- 16 October 1806	Married Princess Augusta of Great Britain, had children
Georg Franz		29 September 1736- 10 December 1737	Died as a baby
Sophie Caroline Marie Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth		7 October 1737- 21 December 1817	Married Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, had no children
Christian Ludwig		13 November 1738- 12 April 1742	Died as a young child
Anna Amalia Duchess of Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach		24 October 1739- 10 April 1807	Married Ernest Augustus II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, had children
Frederick Augustus		29 October 1740- 8 October 1805	Married Princess Friederike Sophie Charlotte Auguste of Württemberg-Oels, had no children
Albrecht Heinrich		26 February 1742- 8 August 1761	Died without marrying
Luise		18 December 1743- 22 February 1744	Died as a baby
Wilhelm Adolf		18 May 1745- 24 August 1770	Died without marrying
Elisabeth Christine Crown Princess of Prussia		8 November 1746- 18 February 1840	Married Frederick William, Crown Prince of Prussia, had children. Their marriage ended in 1769.
Friederike		8 April 1748- 22 January 1758	Died as a young child
Augusta Dorothea Abbess of Gandersheim		2 October 1749- 10 March 1810
Maximilian Julius Leopold		11 October 1752- 24 April 1785	Died without marrying

See also

In Spanish: Filipina Carlota de Prusia para niños