page_title: Natalia Alexeievna (Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt)
section_title: Journey to Russia and Marriage
hierarchical_section_title: Natalia Alexeievna (Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt) / Life / Journey to Russia and Marriage
caption_attribution_description: Portrait of Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeyevna of Russia (1755-1776), Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt // Regional Art Museum, Lugansk
context_page_description: Natalia Alexeievna, Tsarevna of Russia was the first wife of Paul Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia, son of the Empress Catherine II. She was born as Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt as the fifth child of Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and his spouse Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken.
context_section_description: In 1772, Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich of Russia was 18-years-old, and his mother, Empress Catherine II, began the search for a bride for him. After a long search, two candidates remained: Sophia Dorothea of Württemberg and Wilhelmina. But Sophia Dorothea was just 13-years-old, and Catherine II urgently needed an heir, so the Empress was forced to opt for one of the remaining three unmarried daughters of the Landgrave; however, this option did not please her. In a letter to her envoy, she wrote:
  Princess Wilhelmina of Darmstadt is described to me, especially in terms of the goodness of her heart, as the perfection of nature; but aside from the fact that, so far as I know, perfection does not exist in the world, you say that she has an impetuous mind prone to discord. This, in combination with the mind of her sovereign-father and with the large number of sisters and brothers, some of whom are already married, and some of whom are still waiting to be betrothed to royalty, prompts me in this regard toward caution. However, I ask you to take the trouble to resume your observations...
  King Frederick II of Prussia — to whom Catherine turned for "recommendations" in this matter — wanted the marriage, moreover because the Landgrave's eldest daughter Frederica was married to the heir of the Prussian throne and so, an alliance between Prussia and Russia would be a beneficial outcome.
  In October 1772, Catherine wrote to Nikita Ivanovich Panin:
  The Landgravine, thank God, has three more daughters for marriage; ask her to come here with all them; we will be very unhappy if we don't choose one of the three that are suitable for us. Let's look at them, and then decide. These daughters are: Amalie (aged 18); Wilhelmina (aged 17) and Louise (aged 15)... I don’t particularly dwell on the praise lavished on the eldest of the princesses of Hesse by the King of Prussia, because I know how he chooses and what he needs, and the one he likes could hardly please us. According to him - the stupider, the better: I have seen and known those chosen by him.
  Unable to decide which one was worthy, the Empress sent an invitation to Wilhelmina, her sisters and their mother to visit Russia. The three Princesses studied to perfect their French, worked on their dancing, practiced dropping deep curtseys, and completed their wardrobes. Their first stop was in Berlin where from there a flotilla of four ships, sent by Catherine, which took them to Russia. It was the Grand Duke Paul's best friend, young Andrei Razumovsky, who commanded the frigate that carried the young ladies and their mother. He was immediately captivated by these charming passengers, and was particularly taken with Wilhelmine. She was not insensible to the admiration of Andrei.
  The meeting of the Tsarevich with the Hessian princesses occurred in Gatchina on 15 June 1773. Paul chose Wilhelmina; she was very pretty, gay and exuberant, and the heir of the Russian throne was very delighted with her. Catherine wrote:
  ...My son from the first minute fell in love with princess Wilhelmine, I gave him three days to see if he wоuld waver, and since this princess is superior in all aspects to her sisters...the eldest is very meek; the youngest seems to be very clever; the middle one has all the qualities we have hoped for: her face is charming, the features are correct, she is gentle, smart; I am very pleased with her, and my son is in love...
  On 27 June 1773 the Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt and her three daughters were awarded with the Order of Saint Catherine. Almost one month later, on 15 August, Princess Wilhelmina was accepted in the Orthodox faith with the name and title of Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna, and the next day her betrothal with the Tsarevich Paul took place amidst great ostentation.
caption: An anonymous portrait of Wilhelmine Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt, soon to be the Tsesarevna of Russia.
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