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Napoleon & Empire

Louise zu Mecklembourg-Strelitz

Queen consort of Prussia

Pronunciation:

Arms of  Louise zu Mecklemburg-Strelitz (1776-1810)

Louise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born in Hanover on March 10, 1776.

She married Frederic-William of Hohenzollern, Crown Prince of Prussia, on December 24, 1793, then became Queen of Prussia upon his accession to the throne on November 16, 1797.

She gave him nine children, and exerted a profound influence on him, pushing him in particular to declare war on France in the fall of 1806.

Her efforts to soften the fate of Prussia during the Tilsit interview in July 1807 had no effect on the will of Napoleon I.

She died of a lung infection on July 19, 1810 at Hohenzieritz Castle in Brandenburg, and was buried in the mausoleum  in the garden of Charlottenburg Palace, in Berlin.

"Louise of Mecklemburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia" by Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (Paris 1755 - Paris 1842).

"Louise of Mecklemburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia" by Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (Paris 1755 - Paris 1842).

Two of her sons will reign over Prussia: Frederick William IV and William I. The latter was proclaimed Emperor of Germany on January 18, 1871 at Versailles, following his victory over Napoleon III.

Other portraits

 Louise zu Mecklemburg-Strelitz (1776-1810)
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"Louise of Mecklemburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia" painted in 1802 by Josef Maria Grassi (Vienna 1757 - Dresden 1838).
 Louise zu Mecklemburg-Strelitz (1776-1810)
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"Queen Louise of Prussia" painted in 1797 by Henriette-Felicite Tassaert (Paris 1766 - Berlin 1818).