Carl, Prinz von Preußen

Links:

• The Peerage
• Geneall
• Johann the Younger #956
• Wikipedia: English Deutsch
• Prince Frederick Charles Alexander of Prussia (June 29, 1801- January 21, 1883) born in Charlottenburg, was a younger son of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Although he served as a Prussian general for much of his adult life, Prince Charles is often remembered for his vast patronage and collections of art and armor.[1]

Biography

Marriage and issue

Prince Charles' wife Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, c. 1843.

• On May 26, 1827 in Charlottenburg, he married Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, a daughter of Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia.[2] She was an older sister of Augusta of Saxe-Weimar, wife of his brother Wilhelm I. They had three children together:
• Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia (b. 1828-1885). Married Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau; father of Louise Margaret, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn.
• Princess Louise of Prussia (1829–1901). Married Alexis of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfel
• Princess Anna of Prussia (1836–1918). Married Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel)
• The family lived in Wilhelmstrasse, opposite the residence of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.[3] In possession of great wealth and a great art collector, their palace contained many art treasures.[1] Charles was also a collector of rare weaponry, and carefully acquired and preserved knives, swords, daggers, rifles, pistols, and revolvers from many different countries and time periods.[3] As a result of his vast collection, one source stated his palace was "one of the most famous repositories of bric-a-brac in Europe...his collection of arms and armor is believed to know no rival save in the great State armories at Turin and Vienna".[1] It was said that Charles bore little resemblance to his Hohenzollern cousins, possessing a narrow and colorless face and gray hair along with a stooping posture.[3]

Army career

• Prince Charles entered the Prussian army in 1811 at age 10 with the rank of lieutenant in a regiment of the guard. In 1819 he became a member of the Prussian Staatsrat. In 1820 he became a major in the First regiment of Foot Guards. In 1822 he became colonel of the 12th Infantry regiment and in 1824 he was promoted to major general.
• In 1830 he commanded the 2nd Guards Division. He was further promoted to lieutenant-general in 1832 and general of infantry in 1844. He served as Inspector-General (1848) and as Generalfeldzeugmeister and chief of the artillery (1854). Charles served as Governor of Mainz from 1864-1866. In 1852 Charles became „Herrenmeister“ of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg).

Death

• In 1882, Prince Charles' foot slipped while getting up from dinner, and consequently fractured his left thigh.[1] As he had already been in delicate health from his advanced age, sources reported that survival was unlikely.[1] He died the following year, on January 21, 1883 in Berlin. His last words were "Long live the Emperor".[2] At the time of his death, he was the only surviving brother of Emperor Wilhelm I. His death disrupted plans for a silver wedding anniversary celebration for his nephew and niece, as well as plans for a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales to Berlin.[1][2]

honors

• Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece - Spanish Branch