Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden

Frederick II (9 July 1857 – 9 August 1928; ) was the last sovereign Grand Duke of Baden, reigning from 1907 until the abolition of the German monarchies in 1918. The Weimar-era state of Baden originated from the area of the Grand Duchy of Baden. He was a first cousin of Wilhelm II, a second cousin of Alexander III of Russia, and an uncle of Gustaf VI Adolf.

Life Friedrich "Fritz" Wilhelm Ludwig Leopold August Prinz von Baden was born on 9 July 1857, in Karlsruhe in the Grand Duchy of Baden to Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden and Princess Louise of Prussia.

As a student at the University of Heidelberg, Frederick was a member of the Suevia Corps, a student fraternal organization. On 20 September 1885 in Schloss Hohenburg, he married Princess Hilda of Nassau, the only daughter of the exiled Duke Adolphe of Nassau who later succeeded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg. There was no surviving issue from the marriage. Frederick became the head of the House of Zähringen on 28 September 1907, after the death of his father Frederick I, who was the sovereign grand duke of Baden reigning from 1856 to 1907. He abdicated on 22 November 1918, amidst the tumults of the German Revolution of 1918–1919 which resulted in the abolition of the grand duchy. After the death of his cousin Carola of Vasa, he became the representative of the descent of the Kings of Sweden of the House of Holstein-Gottorp.

Military career

In October 1880, Frederick joined the Prussian Army as a soldier in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards (1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß) Potsdam. After his marriage in 1885, he was transferred to the 5th Baden Infantry Regiment No. 113 (5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113) in Freiburg im Breisgau. He took command of the regiment on 22 March 1889. The regiment's barracks were later named after him as the Erbgroßherzog-Friedrich-Kaserne. Friedrich served in Berlin from 1891 to 1893 as commander of the 4th Guards Infantry Brigade. On 11 April 1893, he was named commander of the 29th Division in Freiburg.

After leaving active military service, Frederick was promoted to Generaloberst (Colonel General) with the rank of Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal). On 7 October 1907, he succeeded his father in the largely ceremonial position of Generalinpekteur (General Inspector) of the V Army Inspectorate in Karlsruhe. Chief 1st Baden Field Artillery Regiment "Grand Duke" No. 14 (Feldartillerie-Regiment Großherzog (1. Badisches) Nr. 14), 7 October 1907

Decorations and awards German orders and decorations

Foreign orders and decorations Military Jubilee Cross, 14 August 1908 Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold Grand Cross of the Southern Cross Knight of the Elephant, 13 October 1897 Knight of the Annunciation, 10 September 1897 Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion Grand Cross of the Order of Carol I, with Collar Grand Cross of the Star of Romania Knight of St. Andrew Sweden-Norway: Knight of the Seraphim, with Collar, 20 September 1881 Grand Cross of St. Olav, 27 September 1897 Honorary Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 16 June 1905

Ancestry