Friedrich Wilhelm
|
 |
Friedrich Wilhelm was the fifth of seven children. His older brothers, however, were neither intellectually nor physically capable of taking up the succession in the principality of Brunswick - Wolfenbüttel - Bevern. Thus Friedrich Wilhelm was brought up and educated as the successor in Brunswick. However, duke Friedrich Wilhelm was not able to take over the rule in Brunswick - Wolfenbüttel upon the death of his father in 1806. After the defeat at the battle of Jena-Auerstädt (14 October 1806), the small principality was annexed by France as a result of the treaties of Tilsit, and in 1807 the kingdom of Westphalia was added. As an expelled German prince, duke Friedrich Wilhelm sought to regain his hereditary lands. His small principality of Oels in Schlesien was given a loan in order to finance the war against France. The "dark duke of Brunswick - Oels," as he was commonly called, occupied the city of Brunswick for a brief time. However, in Elsfleth he embarked with his two thousand soldiers on the Wesermündung in order to join the British army of Wellington in England. The "schwarzen Braunschweiger" fought successfully throughout Europe for the liberation of his principality. Duke Friedrich died in 1815 in Quatrebas near Waterloo in a battle against Napoleon (1769-1821). From his marriage to Princess Marie of Baden (1782-1808) he left behind two minor-aged sons.
--Adapted from the website, Die Welfen
Sources
- Zimmermann, P. Die Schwarze Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Branuschweig. Hildesheim, 1994.