Charles I of Württemberg

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Charles of Württemberg (German: Karl Friedrich Alexander, König von Württemberg) was the third King of Württemberg, from 25 June 1864 until his death in 1891.

He was born 6 March 1823 at Stuttgart, as HRH Charles Frederick Alexander, Crown Prince of Württemberg the son of William I, King of Württemberg (1781-1864) and his third wife Pauline of Württemberg (1800-1873).

He studied in Berlin and Tübingen.

On 13 July 1846 he married Olga Nikolaievna of Russia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas I and Charlotte of Prussia. Charlotte was a daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She took the name Alexandra upon her marriage.

The couple had no children, perhaps because of Karl's homosexuality. Karl became the object of scandal several times for his closeness with various men. The most notorious of these was the American Charles Woodcock, a former chamberlain whom Karl elevated to Baron Savage in 1888. The resulting outcry forced Karl to renounce his favorite. In 1870, Olga and Karl adopted Olga's niece Vera Konstantinova, the daughter of her brother Grand Duke Konstantin.

Karl acceded to his father's throne in 1864, making Olga Queen of Württemberg.

Under Charles' leadership, Württemberg became, in 1871, part of the German Empire.

He died, childless, at Stuttgart on 6 October 1891, and was succeeded as King of Württemberg by his agnatic cousin, his sister's son, William II of Württemberg. He rests, together with his wife, in the Old Castle in Stuttgart.

[edit] Bibliography

For Karl's alleged homosexuality and other familiar issues:

• Queen Olga of Württemberg (Traum der Jugend goldener Stern), Reutlingen, Günther Neske, 1955
• Jette Sachs-Colignon, Königin Olga von Württemberg, Stieglitz, 2002

Preceded by William I

King of Württemberg 1864-1891

Succeeded by William II