 |
Elisabeth Christine BraunschweigQueen of Prussia, wife of Frederick the Great.
Date of Birth: 08.11.1715
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Biography of Elizabeth Christina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
- Marriage and Difficulties
- Unfavorable Impressions
- Marital Life
- Separate Lives
- Legacy
Biography of Elizabeth Christina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Queen of Prussia, wife of Frederick the GreatElizabeth Christina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the wife of Frederick II (also known as Frederick the Great), the King of Prussia. She was born as the eldest daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and Antoinette Amalie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Elizabeth Christina grew up in a large family of 18 children.
Marriage and Difficulties
In 1733, Elizabeth Christina, also known as Eliza, was married off to the Crown Prince of Prussia. However, she did not find any love or support in her new family. Her mother-in-law, Queen Sophia Dorothea, disliked her simply because her preferred "English marriage" between her son and an English princess, Amelia, did not materialize. Frederick's sisters, especially Wilhelmina, the future Margravine of Bayreuth, constantly mistreated the young princess.
Unfavorable Impressions
The dislike towards Elizabeth Christina by the Prussian princesses was also fueled by her untidiness. Hygiene at the Prussian court was of an exceptionally high standard, which made the provincial girl appear rather unkempt. In her memoirs, the caustic Margravine left unflattering remarks about Princess Eliza's appearance, stating, "She is tall but badly proportioned and badly formed. Her fairness is dazzling, but her blush is too bright. Her eyes are pale blue, without any expression, and do not promise any intelligence. Her mouth is small; her features are pleasing, though irregular; her whole face is so innocently simple that one might think at first sight that her head belongs to a twelve-year-old child. Her blond hair is naturally curly, but all her beauty is marred by crooked, blackened teeth. Her movements are awkward, her speech is dull, she struggles with her expressions and often uses phrases that require guessing what she wants to say."
Marital Life
Frederick, too, did not show much interest in his young wife and treated her with condescension rather than love. Historical sources present different opinions on their relationship. Some claim that they had a perfectly normal marriage but remained childless, while others provide various accounts ranging from absolute contempt towards Elizabeth to friendly relations. Frederick's personal life has always been a subject of controversy.
Separate Lives
Throughout their lives, the king and queen lived separately. Initially, the young queen resided in Charlottenburg before moving to Schönhausen. However, she never received any invitations to visit Frederick II's summer residence, Sanssouci. There is surviving correspondence between Frederick II and his wife, which mainly consists of formal compliments and wishes for good health.
Despite the lack of a close relationship, Frederick never hinted at a possible divorce, never restricted her financially, and always encouraged her charitable activities. After the Seven Years' War, the couple began to see each other more frequently, and a semblance of friendship developed between them. Frederick greatly valued his wife's modesty and kindness, although he never bothered to appreciate her minor talents.
Legacy
Elizabeth Christina outlived her famous husband by 11 years. She passed away in 1797 at Nieder-Schönhausen Palace and was buried in the Berlin Cathedral.
