Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern

## Élisabeth-Christine von Braunschweig

*Élisabeth le Bien-Aimé*

Herzogliches Prinzessin von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Portrait of Élisabeth Christine de Brunswick, by Antoine Pesne, c. 1739

### Born

8th November 1715, Braunschweiger Stadtschloss, Wolfenbüttel, Herzogtum Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern

### Died

13th January 1797, Berliner Stadtschloss, Berlin, Preußen

### Burial

Hohenzollerngruft, Cathédrale Évangélique Suprême de Berlin, Berlin, Preußen

### House

Hohenzollern[By marriage]

Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern [By birth]

### Father

Ferdinand Albrecht II von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern

### Mother

Antoinette Amalie von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

### Siblings

Karl I, Herzog von Braunschweig-WolfenbüttelAnthony Ulrich von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Ludwig Ernest von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Ferdinand von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Luise von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Sophie Antoinette von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Albert von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Charlotte von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Theresa Natalie von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Juliana Maria von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Friedrich Franz von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

### Religion

Protestant-Lutheranism

**Élisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern** (8th November 1715 - 13th January 1797) was by birth, the Ducal Princess of Brunswick, and by marriage, the Queen of Prussia as consort to *Frédéric le Grand.* Born in the purple as a Duchess of Brunswick, Élisabeth Christine was born into one of the most influential princely houses of Europe. Her maternal aunt and namesake was the consort of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, thus making Élisabeth Christine a Protestant cousin of the formers' heir, the Archduchess *Maria Theresia*. Her marriage was a landmark in Brunswick diplomacy, as it further cemented the dignity of the Ducal House of Brunswick as one of the most distinguished dynasties in Europe.

Élisabeth Christine was remembered by many for her stoic nature, steadfast patriotism and for being the keeper of one of Europe's grandest courts during her tenure in Berlin. Prussia's court under Élisabeth Christine, whilst lavish in nature and ostentatious in being, lacked the cutthroat tendencies of Saint-Petersbourg, the strictness of Versailles, the boredom of London and the chaos of Vienna. Élisabeth Christine herself was a woman of greatness. A proponent of absolute monarchism, Élisabeth Christine rallied the nation in times of need; While Friedrich II was out leading the might of the *Walls of Brandenburg* against the enemies of the state, Élisabeth Christine entertained the court in Berlin.

Gracious in nature, pious in presence and kind-heartedly devoted as a sovereign, Élisabeth Christine was loved by all. Amongst her achievements were continuing the work of her husband's many reforms whilst he was out on the field. Working together, hand-in-hand, Élisabeth Christine and Friedrich II kept a happy, though, childless marriage; Working for the greater future and benefit of court and country. Even during peacetime, Élisabeth Christine was seen happily riding next to her husband in a habit of an officer of her husband's guard regiment. Élisabeth Christine was a strong and devoted character, known for her serious demeanour of unwavering loyalty, passionate statesmanship, beauty and piety. She became the embodiment as the *mother of the state.*

Throughout her forty-six-year tenure, Élisabeth Christine would see Prussia's brightest and darkest days in her reign. There was almost never a day where she wasn't attending to her work, accompanying Friedrich II or being seen by her courtiers and subjects. Undoubtedly with her position as Queen-Consort, Elisabeth was a fashion icon across Prussia and its sphere of influence. In every instance she was permitted, she would follow the latest fashion trends and was the leading influence on women's fashion at court. Likewise, Friedrich II was the leading match for men's fashion as the two were always seen in clothes that perfectly matched. She was often greeted by cheering crowds when she appeared in public and was committed to numerous charities. One of her notable achievements was the popularisation of the growing of mulberry trees and the manufactory of silk. She said of herself: *"God has graciously kept me, so that I need not reproach myself for any action by which any person has with my knowledge been hurt."*

In her twilight, Élisabeth Christine spent her final years between the many court residences and her private retreats. When he returned victorious from the Seven Years' War, Friedrich II awarded Élisabeth Christine the estate of his mother; le *Château de Monbijou.* Outside of Berlin, just north of the walls, was her private oasis and summer retreat at le Château de Schönhausen. Every year, the Queen often travelled across the realm to patronise the nation with the founding of charities and organisations. The death of the King in 1786 greatly impacted Élisabeth Christine. In public, she always referred to him as *''Our dear King,''* or *''...this dear Prince whom I love and adore.''* Indeed, there was a great relationship between the Lord and Lady of the Prussian Realm. In the years after the death of her husband, Élisabeth Christine bore witness to the horrors of the French Revolution and the rise of the Corsican monster, *Napoléon Bonaparte*.

The final years of Élisabeth Christine were spent increasingly in the shadow of her nephew, the overfed, debauched pig *Friedrich Wilhelm II*. In the years after the death of *Frédéric le Grand,* Élisabeth Christine would be witness to the downfall of the Friderician Enigma and the dawn of a new era of debauchery that unravelled decades of work in a matter of months. Due to her long experience in handling the representational life of the reign of *Frédéric le Grand,* the Queen Dowager, who, by her circumspection and natural dignity, was of more importance than the Queen regnant of her nephew; Élisabeth Christine was often consulted in court matters and managed to acquire great influence over her nephew in his early reign. Alas, her death in January of 1797 would mark the end of the Friderician *wit* in Prussia. In the wake of her death, the Iron Kingdom soon rusted away and shattered like glass from the Napoleonic sledgehammer.

## Early Life

### ***Birth***

The morning of November 8th, 1715, was remembered as one of great reverence. Erbprinzessin A*ntoinette Amalie von Wolfenbüttel* was surrounded by the majority of the Brunswicker court in her chambers of the Residenzschloss in Wolfenbüttel. Despite the small crowd, the windows and doors of the entire palace were ordered to be opened, in order to permit a frequent flow of air to prevent the princess from passing out.

Following a relatively mild birth, the happy and healthy *Élisabeth Christine de Brunswick* was brought into the world. The day was noticeably colder as winter was beginning to set in and as she was delivered. However, her birth was considered a happy occasion, as her mother had already produced to healthy boys. It is without saying, though, that Élisabeth Christine would not be the last child of the litter. Right until the year of her wedding, Élisabeth Christine would be joined by eleven other brothers and sisters; each the product of a healthy and fertile mother.