Grave of King of Prussia’s bigamous wife rediscovered

The grave of the King of Prussia’s bigamous wife has most likely been rediscovered in Berlin.

Julia von Voss was bigamously married to King Frederick William II of Prussia in 1787 while he was still married to Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt. She had been a lady-in-waiting to Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, the wife of Frederick the Great. A few months after the wedding, she received the title of Countess of Ingenheim. Their son, Gustav Adolf Wilhelm, was born on 2 January 1789.

Julia died just two months later from the effects of pulmonary tuberculosis. She was buried in a crypt in Buch Castle Church, but the exact location had been forgotten until it was rediscovered. 

The crypt was discovered on 8 July during renovation work by employees of the Berlin State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. The coffin is richly decorated and dates from the late 18th century and thus most likely belongs to Julie von Voss.

The grave and crypt will be resealed and preserved in the original location.

Dr. Sebastian Heber, Head of the Department of Archaeology and Monument Preservation, said, “The well-preserved wooden coffin, decorated with numerous gilded mouldings and medallions, was found in the rectangular, brick-lined, earth-filled crypt. The find is extraordinary: The burial site provides us with valuable insights into an exceptional female burial at the end of the 18th century.”