Marie-Charlotte de Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg

## Princesse de Löwenstein

### House

Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg (By birth)Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (By marriage)

### Born

February 18th, 1718, Hôtel de Sonderbourg, Vienna

### Spouse

Charles-Thomas, Prince de Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort

### Father

Léopold de Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderbourg-Wiesenbourg

### Siblings

Marie-Thérèse AnneMarie-Eleonore CatherineMarie-Gabrielle FélicitéMarie-Antoinette Henriette

### Religion

Protestant-Lutheranism

**Marie-Charlotte de Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg** (18th February, 1718 - Présent) is an Austrian-born Bohemian aristocrat and current-reigning ***Princesse-Consort de Löwenstein.*** Born into the illustrious House of Oldenburg as a scion of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg, Marie-Charlotte enjoyed a lavish upbringing, initially as a courtesan of the Imperial Court held in Vienna. Cultured, worldly and kind, Marie-Charlotte's beauty and charm led to her attracting of the love and attention of Charles-Thomas, the newly-crowned Prince de Löwenstein at the time of her marriage.

Although raised as a Roman Catholic, Marie-Charlotte abandoned her family's faith, converting to Protestantism and taking up the torch of enlightenment that was spreading across Europe during the time of her youth. Following the spark of the Austrian succession crisis, Marie-Charlotte and her husband found themselves to be victims of Habsburg Austria's imperialistic desires and greed with the occupation of their lands by Austrian troops in what eventually sprawled into the War of the Polish Succession. With their loyalties tested, Charles-Thomas and Marie-Charlotte were successful in negotiating their allegiance to the Kingdom of Prussia in return for Bohemian liberation against the Austrians and their treachery. For several years, between 1735 to 1740, the couple travelled across Europe with their family, taking a Grand Tour in the major courts, from Versailles to London and as far as Berlin, Stockholm and Saint-Petersburg. Returning to Germany in the summer of 1740, they would solidify their allegiance to the King of Prussia by taking refuge in Berlin during the outbreak of the Prussian offensive in the Grand Duchy of Silesia, sparking the War of the Austrian Succession.

Considered a beautiful and worldly figure, Marie-Charlotte brought her charms along with her wherever her husband went. Together, following their marriage, Marie-Charlotte and Charles-Thomas fostered a happy, though, childless marriage. Although a loving husband, Marie-Charlotte sometimes became at odds with her husband, who much preferred the hunt of the stag to the safari of romance. In the pursuit of happiness, Marie-Charlotte would fill the void of motherhood by becoming an avid salonière in Prussian society, visiting the many salons of Berlin, Rheinsberg and Frankfurt. In her twilight, Marie-Charlotte spent her final years on various committees for charities and hospitals, providing aide to the poor, needy, sick and widowed.

**I.** Early Life

Marie-Charlotte was born to the **Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg** and **Marie-Élisabeth Princess of Leichtenstein**, she was born in Vienna.

Marie-Charlotte was brought up with her sisters by their governess, whom she learned so much from. She was often privately tutored by governess. She was taught to speak French, Italian, English and Latin. She was seen as the smart one of the five children.

Marie-Charlotte was shadowed by her older sisters Marie-Thérèse Anne, Marie-Eleonore Catherine, Marie-Gabrielle Félicité. Everyone expected Marie-Charlotte to marry a Comte or even a low ranking person of nobility. With her father being a Duke she had many suitors by the age of 14.

**II.** Adolescence

By the age of 15 Marie-Charlotte showed close interest in helping people and even helping her family. She helped her father plan many of his famous events. Her mother and father took her to many events at the court of **Holy Roman Emperor Charles** **VI**. Her father would take her to the Imperial Palace with him and she would be sent off to learn from some of the governess to the Imperial Children.

While at the court of Charles VI with her mother she met Prince Karl Thomas zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort, who was heir to ***Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort.*** Marie-Charlotte and Karl began to get close. She would see him only a few more times before he went back home with his parents. She would remain in Vienna while her parents work on trying to find a suitor. In June of 1734, her father Duke Léopold would get a letter from the newly crowned Prince that he wanted Marie-Charlotte to be his consort. So in 1734, Marie-Charlotte and her mother set off for Löwenstein to meet the Prince.

**III.** Reign and Tenure

Marie-Charlotte was sad to leave her parents but was happy she was in a marriage with the person she loved. Marie-Charlotte became ***Fürstin*** ***zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort.*** She was a reigning Princess in a respected principality. Marie-Charlotte would find her self wanting children in her life, with this in mind she pushed for her and her husband to have children.

**IV.** Later Life and Death etc.