Charles William Frederick (12 May 1712 – 3 August 1757), nicknamed der Wilde Markgraf (the Wild Margrave), was the margrave of the Principality of Ansbach from 1723 to his death.
Charles William Frederick | |
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Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach | |
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Born | Ansbach | 12 May 1712
Died | 3 August 1757 Gunzenhausen | (aged 45)
Spouse | Princess Friederike Luise of Prussia |
Issue | Charles, Hereditary Prince of Brandenburg-Ansbach Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach |
House | Hohenzollern |
Father | William Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach |
Mother | Duchess Christiane Charlotte of Württemberg |
Early life
editCharles William Frederick was the son of William Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1686–1723) and his wife Duchess Christiane Charlotte of Württemberg (1694–1729). During his youth, his mother ruled as regent.
Biography
editWhen he came to power, Charles William Frederick ruled as a typical absolute monarch with a luxurious court life. He left his heir Charles Alexander a total debt of 2.3 million Reichsthaler, and he spent 10% of the state budget on hunting. He had 56 churches and many palaces built, among them a building in Triesdorf for his falcons, his greatest passion, on which he spent more than a half million guilders between 1730 and 1748. His love of hunting, particularly with his falcons, is what earned him his nickname, the Wild Margrave.
Charles William Frederick died of a stroke on 3 August 1757.
Marriage and children
editCharles William Frederick married Princess Friederike Luise of Prussia (1714–1784), daughter of King Frederick William I of Prussia. They had two children:
- Charles Frederick Augustus (7 April 1733 – 9 May 1737)
- Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (24 February 1736 – 5 January 1806)
He also had four children with his mistress Elisabeth Wünsch, a falconer's daughter. Both illegitimate sons, Friedrich Karl (1734–1796) and Friedrich Ferdinand Ludwig (1748–1811), and daughters Wilhelmine Eleonore (1743–1768) and Louise Charlotte (1746–1747) received palaces and the titles Freiherren and Freiinen von Falkenhausen.