Catherine Pavlovna of Russia

in 1816.

Life

Ekaterina had a happy childhood and her education was carefully supervised by her mother. She received the best education and constantly furthered her education through reading new literary publications and personal contacts with various outstanding persons. She was very close to her siblings particularly with her eldest brother Tsar Alexander I. Throughout her life she would maintain a close relationship with him. It was said that she was Alexander's favorite sister and one of the few persons he loved unconditionally. His letters to her are expressed in phrases like "I am yours, heart and soul, for life"," "I think that I love you more with each day that passes"," and "to love you more than I do is impossible"." Ekaterina was reportedly also her mother's favorite daughter.

After Napoléon I's divorce from Empress Joséphine during the course of the Napoleonic Wars, the French Emperor hinted to Alexander I his wish to marry Ekaterina - a desire mainly to draw the Russians to his side. Ekaterina's family was horrified, and so the Dowager Empress immediately arranged a marriage for her daughter to Duke George of Oldenburg.

Beautiful and vivacious, Ekaterina was married to her first cousin Duke George of Oldenburg on 3 August 1809. Although their marriage was arranged, Ekaterina was devoted to her husband. George was the second son of Peter, Duke of Oldenburg and it was said that he was not handsome but Ekaterina cared for him deeply and his death in 1812 due to typhoid fever saddened her greatly. The widowed Ekaterina travelled to England with her brother Tsar Alexander I to meet the Prince Regent and again during the Vienna Congress. It was in England where she met the Crown Prince William of Württemberg. It was love at first sight for the couple. However, William was then married to the gentle Princess Charlotte of Bavaria and took the drastic step by divorcing her. William then married Ekaterina in 1816 in Saint Petersburg. Upon her husband's accession as king, Ekaterina, now Queen Katharina of Württemberg, became active in charity works in her adopted homeland. She established numerous institutions for the benefit of the common people.

Ekaterina had two sons with Duke George of Oldenburg (9 May 1784 - 27 December 1812):
*Peter Georg Paul Alexander (30 August 1810 - 16 November 1829)
*Konstantin Friedrich Peter (26 August 1812 - 14 May 1881)

With the King of Württemberg, she had the following children:
*Maria Friederike Charlotte (30 October 1816 - 4 January 1887)
*Sophie Friederike Mathilde (17 June 1818 - 3 June 1877) - Became Queen of the Netherlands

Ekaterina died in January 1819 of erysipelas complicated by pneumonia. After her death her husband built Württemberg Mausoleum in Rotenberg, Stuttgart dedicated to her memory.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Catherine Pavlovna of Russia

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1= 1. Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia
2= 2. Paul I of Russia
3= 3. Sophie Dorothea of Württemburg
4= 4. Peter III of Russia
5= 5. Catherine II of Russia
6= 6. Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg
7= 7. Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt
8= 8. Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
9= 9. Anna Petrovna of Russia
10= 10. Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
11= 11. Johanna Elisabeth, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp
12= 12. Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg
13= 13. Maria Augusta Anna of Thurn and Taxis
14= 14. Friedrich Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt
15= 15. Sophie Dorothea Marie, Princess of Prussia
16= 16. Frederick IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
17= 17. Hedwig Sophia of Sweden
18= 18. Peter I of Russia
19= 19. Catherine I of Russia
20= 20. Johann Ludwig of Anhalt-Zerbst
21= 21. Christine Eleonore von Zeustch
22= 22. Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin
23= 23. Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach
24= 24. Frederick Charles of Württemberg-Winnental
25= 25. Eleonore Juliane von Brandenburg-Ansbach
26= 26. Anselm Franz of Thurn and Taxis
27= 27. Princess Maria Ludovika von Lobkowicz
28= 28. Philipp, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt
29= 29. Johanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau
30= 30. Frederick William I of Prussia
31= 31. Sophia Dorothea of Hanover

s-ttl|title=Queen Consort of Württemberg
years=1816-1819

Bibliography

*Arturo Beeche. "The Grand Duchesses"
*Detlef Jena. "Katharina Pawlowna. Großfürstin von Russland - Königin von Württemberg"
*W. Bruce Lincoln. "The Romanovs: Autocrats of All the Russians"