Famous Palace Residents

Eberhard Ludwig
1676 - 1733

In 1693, at the age of 16, Eberhard Ludwig already becomes the ruling duke. He acquires glory as a general in the War of Spanish Succession under the brilliant military leader Prince Eugen.

He sees the large new palace buildings, which are erected around 1700 in Southern Germany, based on the example of the French court - for example in Munich. As a result, a modest new hunting palace north of Stuttgart is replanned and grows over the years to a new residence, complemented by a city which he gives his name - Ludwigsburg.

Eberhard Ludwig lives there with his mistress, Wilhelmine von Grävenitz. His wife resides in the Altes Schloß (Old Palace) in Stuttgart. Eberhard Ludwig transformed the modest Württemberg court into one of the "most numerous in Germany", as a contemporary writes.

Of great benefit to the state was Eberhard Ludwig's "Dritte Steuer-Instruktion" (Third Tax Directive), which was intended to achieve a more just tax legislation. In addition, he attempted to promote the state economy.


Wilhelmine von Grävenitz
1686-1744

"Die Grävenitz", as Duke Eberhard Ludwig's mistress is called today, dominated the events at the Württemberg court for 20 years. One of the parties at the court had introduced her to the young Duke, because it was hoped that he would be easier to control through a mistress.

Wilhelmine von Grävenitz is still notorious today for her power politics. She succeeded with great skill in surrounding the Duke with her protégés and confidants, enabling her to rule the state for over two decades. The Duke even evaded protests from the imperial court concerning the situation due to his love for her. The mistress resided in Ludwigsburg in the suite of rooms directly below that of the Duke in the Alter Hauptbau (Old Main Building), and the two were linked by a small staircase. It is said that Wilhelmine von Grävenitz was not beautiful, however no reliable portrait has been preserved.


Carl Eugen
1728 - 1793

Carl Eugen's father, Carl Alexander, dies when the future Duke is still a small child. As an adolescent he is sent together with his two younger brothers to Prussia, to the court of Friedrich II (the Great) to be educated.
When not yet 16 years old he is declared of age and accedes to the throne.

His government appears rather hapless in both its domestic and its foreign policy. Neither is he successful in his attempts to turn Württemberg into an electorate of military significance, nor is he able to deprive the traditionally influential government participation of the Württemberg Diet of its power. His marriage to the niece of the Prussian King is also a failure; no successor to the throne is born and the young Duchess leaves the court after a few years.

On the other hand, he is extremely successful as a builder of palaces and as the focus of a magnificent royal court. Carl Eugen puts on extravagant court festivities, opera and theater performances at enormous expense. Ludwigsburg was the site of one the Europe's largest opera houses for several years. New palace buildings were erected at short intervals. These include the Neues Schloß (New Palace) in Stuttgart, the Seeschloß (Lake Palace) near Ludwigsburg, Solitude Palace, Grafeneck, Einsiedel, and finally Hohenheim.

In later years the Duke retires to the country, where he lives an almost bourgeois life with his mistress and later second wife Franziska. However, the atmosphere necessary for this simple life, the Palace of Hohenheim with its immense gardens, costs the state coffers almost exactly as much as the earlier magnificent spectacles.


Elisabeth Friederike von Brandenburg-Bayreuth
1732 - 1780

Carl Eugen's first wife was the niece of the Prussian King Friedrich II (the Great). The French philosopher Voltaire called her Europe's most beautiful child. Elisabeth Friederike and Carl Eugen met when the 13 year old Prince stopped over in Bayreuth on the way from Stuttgart to Berlin. The wedding was celebrated in 1748 in great splendor, first in Bayreuth, then in Württemberg. The Ordenskapelle (Order Chapel) at Ludwigsburg Palace was converted to a Protestant court chapel for the Duchess.

It soon became apparent that the young couple did not harmonize. The Duke continued the amorous life he had enjoyed before their marriage without interruption and often devoted himself to crude amusement. In 1756 the situation had apparently become unbearable for Elisabeth Friederike. Tired of the intrigues, the adultery and the humiliations by the flighty Duke, she fled from the, at that time not particularly cultivated, grand Württemberg court. Up until her death she lived in separation from Carl Eugen in the margravate of her parents, in Neustadt an der Aisch and also in Bayreuth Palace.


Friedrich
1754 - 1816
1798 Elector, from 1806 King

The nephew of Duke Carl Eugen has primarily been remembered by the people of Württemberg as "fat Friedrich" due to his corpulence. During his rule Württemberg was significantly expanded and was first raised to an electorate in 1803, then to a kingdom in 1806. The price of elevation was the rapprochement of the state to France and Napoleon.

Friedrich succeeded in giving the state a streamlined central structure. For the new representative tasks of the Kingdom of Württemberg he had the existing palaces refurbished in the classicist style based on the French example. The furnishings of his era are still found in large parts of Ludwigsburg Palace, for example in the Neuer Hauptbau (New Main Building) and the Schloßtheater (Palace Theater).


Charlotte Mathilde
1766 -1828
Princess of Great Britain, Queen of Württemberg

Charlotte Mathilde was the daughter of the English King. She survived her husband Friedrich by 14 years, during which she had the eastern wing of the Neuer Hauptbau converted to her widow's seat. Furnishings with numerous embroidered and painted porcelain objects handmade by the queen herself can still be seen there today.