As some of you have no doubt noticed, I'm on a roll with 18th century Russian questions
. And it seems to be one of the more neglected areas of althistory. So if my questions are repeats of previously asked questions - it has more to do with the fact that they previously dead-ended inconclusively than anything else.
My question has to do with the Emperor Paul. He married Princess Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt (Natalie Alexeïevna) who died in childbed with a stillborn child. Soon after, his mother insisted on him marrying Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg (Marie Feodorovna) by whom he had a further ten kids - what can I say, clearly they had nothing to do once the lights went out
.
Now, what would have happened if Wilhelmine's baby had been born alive? Catherine wasn't too fond of Wilhelmine,
and this would be the first occasion since Alexei I died, where a monarch would have two families - would maybe we see court parties forming around the new crown princess (Marie Feodorovna) and Wilhelmine's child?
My question has to do with the Emperor Paul. He married Princess Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt (Natalie Alexeïevna) who died in childbed with a stillborn child. Soon after, his mother insisted on him marrying Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg (Marie Feodorovna) by whom he had a further ten kids - what can I say, clearly they had nothing to do once the lights went out
Now, what would have happened if Wilhelmine's baby had been born alive? Catherine wasn't too fond of Wilhelmine,
"The Empress, though initially delighted with her daughter-in-law, realized that there was something wrong. Natalia was interested in French poetry, theater and most of all, politics. Being brought up in the free spirit of Europe, Natalia manifested independence in her statements, adhering to liberal ideas, and every now and then spoke in favor of the release of the peasants. This certainly didn't please the Empress. She commented that Natalia "loves extremes in all things" and that "she listens to no advice". Natalia's disappointment in her marriage prompted her to influence Paul to keep him distant to all, except to a small circle of friends."
Many contemporaries regarded Natalia as ambitious, arrogant, and egoistic. Maybe she was not the righthttp://arrayedingold.blogspot.com/2011/07/hessian-princess-in-russia-wilhelmine.html# wife for Paul nor the right woman to become the Empress of Russia someday...Perhaps, she thought that what she was doing at that time was right and people misunderstood her. Nevertheless, she had a very unhappy life in Russia which ended tragically.
and this would be the first occasion since Alexei I died, where a monarch would have two families - would maybe we see court parties forming around the new crown princess (Marie Feodorovna) and Wilhelmine's child?
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