 |
Alexandrina Prusskaya1st Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Date of Birth: 23.02.1803
Country:  Operator |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Prussian Royal Family during the Napoleonic Wars
- Marriage and Life in Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Philanthropy and Influence
- Widowhood and Later Years
Early Life and Family
Alexandrine Louise of Prussia(1803-1892), the seventh child and fourth daughter of Prussian King Frederick William III and Queen Louise, was a member of the House of Hohenzollern. Named after her godfather, Russian Emperor Alexander I, she had three elder brothers and a sister named Charlotte.
Prussian Royal Family during the Napoleonic Wars
In 1806, Prussia declared war on Napoleonic France, and Berlin was captured by Napoleon in October. The royal family fled eastward, traveling first to Königsberg and then to Memel. During this time, Queen Louise contracted typhoid fever and died in 1810.
Marriage and Life in Mecklenburg-Schwerin
King Frederick William III sought a suitable match for Alexandrine after the marriage of her eldest sister to Russian Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich. Despite initial interest in the Swedish Crown Prince, Alexandrine eventually married Paul Frederick, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in 1822.
The marriage was not particularly happy. Paul Frederick, a military man, had little interest in his family. Alexandrine, in contrast, was a devoted and loving mother who pursued her children's education. Despite her lack of formal education, she was known for her wit and intelligence.
Philanthropy and Influence
Alexandrine engaged in charitable work, particularly focusing on helping children. She founded the "Alexandrine Convent" in 1829, the oldest kindergarten in Mecklenburg. In 1837, Paul Frederick became Grand Duke, and they moved their residence to the Old Castle in Schwerin. In 1839, the Grand Duke commissioned the construction of Villa Alexandrine, a Mediterranean-style seaside retreat.
Widowhood and Later Years
Paul Frederick died suddenly in 1842, leaving Alexandrine as a widow. She retained political influence as the "Grand Duchess Mother" and continued to reside in Villa Alexandrine and the Old Castle. Alexandrine outlived all of her children and died in 1892 at the age of 89. She was buried next to her husband in the Schwerin Cathedral.
