Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Friedrich Adolf Hermann Fürst zu Waldeck und Pyrmont; 20 January 1865 – 26 May 1946) was the last reigning Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont from 12 May 1893 to 13 November 1918.

Early life, family and education Friedrich was born on 20 January 1865 in Arolsen, Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont during the reign of his father George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont. He was the only son and sixth child of George Victor and his first wife Princess Helena of Nassau. He was a brother of the Dutch Queen consort Emma and Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany.

His maternal grandparents were William, Duke of Nassau and his second wife Princess Pauline of Württemberg. Pauline was a daughter of Prince Paul of Württemberg and his wife Charlotte of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Paul was a son of Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Augusta was the eldest daughter of Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Princess Augusta of Great Britain, elder sister of George III of the United Kingdom.

Friedrich studied law at both the University of Göttingen, and the Leipzig University. Following his time in university, Friedrich went on to serve in the Prussian army as part of the Guards Uhlan regiment.

Reign On 12 May 1893, Friedrich ascended to the throne upon the death of his father.

During World War I, he served in the Imperial German Army as a cavalry general. Germany would, however, lose the war and the German Revolution would force Friedrich to abdicate on 13 November 1918. However, he refused to sign an abdication agreement for some time before signing one that gave his family ownership over their home of Arolsen Castle and the surrounding Arolsen forest.

Post-abdication During the rule of Nazi Germany, neither Friedrich or his wife joined the Nazi party, though their eldest son did and became a general in the SS.

Marriage and children He married Princess Bathildis of Schaumburg-Lippe, the daughter of Prince William of Schaumburg-Lippe and his wife, Princess Bathildis of Anhalt-Dessau, in Náchod on 9 August 1895.

They had four children:

Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 13 May 1896, d. 30 November 1967) Prince Maximilian Wilhelm Gustav Hermann of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 13 September 1898, d. 23 February 1981) Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 22 December 1899, d. 18 February 1948) Prince Georg Wilhelm Karl Victor of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 10 March 1902, d. 14 November 1971)

Death Prince Friedrich died on 26 May 1946 in Arolsen, Allied-occupied Germany, aged 81. His body was buried, alongside his wife Bathildis, in a Waldeck family Crypt in Rhoden, Harz, Germany.

Honours and awards Grand Cross of the Order of the Württemberg Crown, 1889 Kingdom of Prussia: Knight of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class, 24 May 1890 Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania Knight of the House Order of Fidelity, 1893 Knight of the Order of Berthold the First, 1893 Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Hubert, 1893 Knight of the Order of the Rue Crown, 1894 Sweden-Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, 17 June 1894 Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim, 18 September 1897 Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (civil division), 26 April 1904