| Alexander of Württemberg | |
|---|---|
portrait by George Dawe, 1823 |
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| Born | 1771 |
| Died | 1833 (aged 61–62) |
| Allegiance | Armies of Württemberg, Austria and Russia |
| Service/branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1791-1832 |
Duke Alexander of Württemberg (Mömpelgard/Montbéliard, France, 5 May 1771 – Gotha, Thuringia, Germany, 4 July 1833)[1] was a Duke of Württemberg. The son of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg and of Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. His sister Sophie Dorothea married Tsar Paul I of Russia.[1]
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In 1798 he married Antoinette of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (died 1824). They had five children:
Alexander of Württemberg was the founder of the fifth branch (called the ducal branch) of the House of Württemberg, descended from the seventh son of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg. On the extinction of the eldest branch in 1921, the ducal branch became the new dynastic-branch of the House. (The House of Württemberg's two morganatic branches - the dukes of Teck (extinct in the male line in 1981), and the morganatic branch of the dukes of Urach - were technically 'older' then the Ducal branch, but ineligible to succeed).
Alexander of Württemberg is the direct ancestor of the present claimant to the dukedom of Württemberg, Carl.
Alexander began service in the Württemberg army as a colonel on 21 April 1791, and transferred to the Austrian army serving during the campaign against France in 1796-1799, and participating in the battles of Rastadt, Wurtzburg, Offenbach, Stockach and Zurich.[1] In 1796 Prince Alexander became a Major General and a Fieldmarshal Lieutenant in the Austrian army in 1798.
In that year he met Alexander Suvorov, and took up his recommendation to join the Imperial Russian Army as a General Lieutenant and chief of the Riga Cuirassier Regiment which in August 1800 was reorganised as the Riga Dragoon Regiment while Alexander was promoted General of Cavalry. In 1811 he was appointed Military Governor of Belorussia.[1]
During the 1812 Campaign Württemberg served in the Headquarters of the 1st Western Army and fought at Vitebsk, Smolensk, Borodino, Tarutino (awarded Order of St. George, 3rd class), Maloyaroslavets, Vyazma and Krasnoi.[1] In 1813 he commanded the Siege of Danzig for which he was awarded a golden sword and the Order of St.George (2nd class). After the war he returned to Belorussia and his Riga Regiment.
In 1822 he became the Head of Communications Department and commenced several river channel projects (Windawski Canal, etc.)in western Russia.[1][2] In 1826 Württemberg was appointed chief of Ekaterinoslav Cuirassier Regiment, and a member of the State Council, but returned to the Riga Dragoons in 1827. From 1832 he took a discharge from service and left Russia on 24 November, never to return.[1]
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