Women who were passed over – Prussia






Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia
(public domain)

The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 to 1918, and it operated under the principle of salic law, which barred women from the throne entirely. So, if we assume absolute primogeniture (where the eldest child inherits regardless of sex), which women were passed over?

Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia

Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia
(public domain)

Princess Wilhelmine was born on 3 July 1709 as the eldest surviving child of the future King Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. She had an elder brother named Frederick Louis who died before his first birthday. On 20 November 1731, she married Frederick, the future Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. They went on to have one daughter together: Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. She died on 14 October 1758.

Her father was succeeded by her younger brother, who became King Frederick II (better known as Frederick the Great).

Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia

Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia
(public domain)

Princess Frederica was born on 7 May 1767 as the only child of the future King Frederick William II of Prussia and his first wife, Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Her parents were divorced in 1769, and her father remarried to Princess Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, with whom he had six surviving children. Princess Frederica never saw her mother again. On 29 September 1791, she married Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, the second son of King George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her marriage was not a happy one, and the couple soon separated without having any children. She died on 6 August 1820.

Her father was succeeded as King of Prussia by his eldest son from his second marriage.






About Moniek Bloks 3147 Articles
My name is Moniek and I am from the Netherlands. I began this website in 2013 because I wanted to share these women's amazing stories.

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