Karl Wilhelm Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach

Carl Wilhelm Friedrich von Brandenburg-Ansbach (Ansbach, May 12 1712 - Gunzenhausen, August 3 1757), nicknamed the "Wild Markgrave", was between 1729 and his death Margrave of the Principality of Ansbach.

Life

Carl Wilhelm Friedrich was the son of Markgrave Wilhelm Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1686–1723) and his wife Duchess Christiane Charlotte of Württemberg (1694-1729).

During his youth, his mother ruled as regent. When he came to power, Carl Wilhelm Friedrich ruled as a typical Absolute Monarch with a luxurious courtlive. 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 many palaces and 56 churches built, amongst them a building in Triesdorf for his falcons, his greatest passion on which he spent more than half a Million Guilders between 1730 and 1748.

Carl Wilhelm Friedrich died of a stroke on August 2 1757.

Marriage and children

Carl Wilhelm Friedrich married Princess Friederike Luise of Prussia (1714–1784), daughter of King Frederick William I of Prussia.
They had four children :

* Karl Friedrich August (7 April 1733 - 9 May 1737)
* Christian Frederick (24 February 1736 - 5 January 1806)
* Wilhelmine Eleonore (20 September 1743 - 1768)
* Louise Charlotte (27 April 1746 - 31 January 1747)

He also had four children with his mistress Elisabeth Wünsch, a miller's daughter.
Both illegitimate sons, Friedrich Karl (1734 - 1796) and Friedrich Ferdinand Ludwig (1748 - 1811) received palaces and the title Freiherren von Falckenhausen.

Source

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Weblinks

* [http://www.rokoko-festspiele.de/ Biography]