Duchess Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (24 August 1758 – 29 November 1794) was a Princess and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and by marriage Princess of Denmark.
Family, early life
Sophie Friederike von Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the only daughter of Duke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, second son of Christian Louis II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Princess Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She was born in Schwerin. Her only sibling was Frederick, who was about two years older.
Marriage
On 21 October 1774 in Copenhagen, she married Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway, the son of King Frederick V of Denmark and his second wife Juliane Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, who was the regent in Denmark between 1772 and 1784. She was sixteen years old when she was married.
Sophia Frederica, known as Sofie Frederikke af Mecklenburg-Schwerin in Denmark, was described as jolly, charming and intelligent. She had a hard time in the beginning adapting to her new, stiffer environment, but became quite popular. It is said she was disappointed when she met her husband for the first time, but they came to be fond of each other, although they both supposedly took lovers; her husband had a mistress, her companion Caja Hviid, while the father of Sophia Frederica's children was rumored to be her husband's adjutant, Frederik von Blücher. It was said that the harmony of their marriage was based on mutual understanding. The harmonious friendship between the spouses created a fear that Sophia Frederica's influence over her husband would lead to her interfering in politics.
She died in Sorgenfri Palace.
Children
Sophia Frederica and Prince Frederick had the following children:
- Princess Juliana Marie (Christiansborg Palace, 2 May 1784 – Copenhagen, 28 October 1784)
- Hereditary Prince Christian Frederick (1786–1848), 1814-1814 King of Norway and later, 1839–48 King of Denmark (Christian VIII)
- Princess Juliana Sophie (Copenhagen, 18 February 1788 – Copenhagen, 9 May 1850), married at Frederiksborg on 22 August 1812 Wilhelm Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (Barchfeld, 10 August 1786 – Copenhagen, 30 November 1834), and had issue
- Princess Louise Charlotte (1789–1864), married William, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel)
- Hereditary Prince Frederik Ferdinand (1792–1863), childless
Ancestry
| Ancestors of Duchess Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
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16. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
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8. Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow |
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17. Duchess Maria Katharina of Brunswick-Dannenberg |
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4. Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
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18. William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg |
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9. Landgravine Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg |
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19. Landgravine Sofie Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt |
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2. Duke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
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20. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (= 16) |
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10. Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
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21. Duchess Maria Katharina of Brunswick-Dannenberg (=17) |
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5. Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
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22. Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow |
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11. Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow |
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23. Princess Magdalene Sibylle of Holstein-Gottorp |
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1. Duchess Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
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24. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha |
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12. John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
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25. Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg |
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6. Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
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26. Josias II, Count of Waldeck and Pyrmont |
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13. Charlotte Johanne of Waldeck-Pyrmont |
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27. Wilhelmine Christine of Nassau-Siegen |
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3. Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
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28. Albrecht Anton, Count of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt |
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14. Louis Frederick I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt |
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29. Emilie Juliana von Barby-Mühlingen |
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7. Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt |
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30. Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg |
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15. Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg |
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31. Magdalena Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels |
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References
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Duchess Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
| Alternative names |
Sophie Friederike, Herzogin zu Mecklenburg (German) |
| Short description |
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by birth, and by marriage Princess of Denmark |
| Date of birth |
34 August 1758 |
| Place of birth |
Schwerin |
| Date of death |
29 November 1794 |
| Place of death |
Sorgenfri Palace near Copenhagen |