Princess Sophie of Sweden

Sophie of Sweden (Sofia Vilhelmina Katarina Maria Lovisa Charlotta Anna; 21 May 1801 – 6 July 1865) was, by marriage, Grand Duchess of Baden as the wife of sovereign Grand Duke of Baden, Leopold.

Biography Early life Sophie was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 21 May 1801. She was the daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and his wife, Frederica of Baden. After her birth, she was raised under the supervision of the royal governesses Hedvig Ulrika De la Gardie and Charlotte Stierneld in succession.

Sophie was eight years old when her father was deposed by the Coup of 1809 and she left Sweden with her family. Between the time of the coup which deposed her father, and leaving Sweden, she and her mother were under house arrest. During this period, she was described in the famous diary of Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp as a stubborn girl who was much more haughty and possessed less self-control than her brother Gustav. An anecdote describes the contrast between the siblings. When Fredrika and her children were given permission to join the deposed king, famous Swedish nobleman Axel von Fersen came to discuss the arrangements. When he was about to leave, Sophie's older brother ran to the door to open it for Fersen. The former queen Fredrika is quoted as saying, "Sophie would never in the world have done that, she thinks of herself too highly for that."

Marriage In 1815, she was engaged, and on 25 July 1819 in Karlsruhe, Sophie married her half-grand-uncle Prince Leopold of Baden, the son of a morganatic marriage. The marriage with Leopold had been specifically arranged by her uncle, Grand Duke Karl I of Baden, to improve the chances that Leopold would one day succeed him as grand duke because of Sophie's royal lineage; Leopold, though his right to the throne was recognized, was originally the issue of a morganatic marriage. During the reign of Louis I, Grand Duke of Baden, they lived a modest life away from court, as Louis did not want the heir to the throne at court. In 1830, her husband ascended to the grand ducal throne as Leopold I, and Sophie became Grand Duchess of Baden.

Grand Duchess of Baden Sophie is described as wise and dutiful but strict. She kept late hours and arose late in the mornings, after which she spent hours writing letters to various relatives around Europe in her négligée. She was interested in science, art and politics, and kept herself well informed on all political events of the day through her correspondence.

Family

On 25 July 1819 in Karlsruhe, Sophie married her half-granduncle Leopold I of Baden. They became the paternal grandparents of the Swedish Queen consort Victoria of Baden.

Sophia and Leopold I had eight children: Alexandrine (6 December 1820 – 20 December 1904), married Duke Ernest II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1818–93), due to their childless marriage, Ernest's younger brother Albert's British issue succeeded in that duchy. Ludwig (26 October 1822 – 16 November 1822) Louis II (15 August 1824 – 22 January 1858), reigned as Grand Duke 1852–58, deemed mentally unfit to rule. Frederick I (9 September 1826 – 28 September 1907), Grand Duke 1858-1907, Regent 1852–58, father of Queen Victoria of Sweden by his wife Louise of Prussia. William (18 December 1829 – 27 April 1897), Prussian General, married Marie of Leuchtenberg, became ancestor of the younger line of princes of Baden and father of Prince Max of Baden, German Chancellor, and later the heir of Grand Duchy. Charles (9 March 1832 – 3 December 1906), married Rosalie von Beust (morganatic) Marie (20 November 1834 – 21 November 1899), married Prince Ernest of Leiningen (1830–1904) Cecilie (20 September 1839 – 12 April 1891), known as Olga Feodorovna, married Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia (1832–1902), Governor General in Tbilisi.

She died at Karlsruhe Palace on 6 July 1865.

Ancestry