Princess Louise of Prussia (1770–1836)
Princess Louise of Prussia (1770–1836), also known as Princess Frederica Louisa Wilhelmina of Prussia, was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and by marriage, Princess Antoni Radziwiłł.
Born on May 24, 1770, in Berlin, she was the daughter of Prince Ferdinand of Prussia and Margravine Elisabeth Louise of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Her father was a younger brother of Frederick the Great, making Louise his great-niece.
In 1796, Louise married Prince Antoni Radziwiłł, a Polish nobleman, politician, and composer, in Berlin. The marriage was considered a love match and was instrumental in fostering positive relations between the Prussian court and the Polish aristocracy. Antoni Radziwiłł later served as the Duke Governor of the Grand Duchy of Posen (Poznań) under Prussian rule.
Louise and Antoni Radziwiłł had seven children:
- Princess Elisa Radziwiłł (1803–1834), the subject of a potential marriage with William I, German Emperor. The marriage was ultimately prevented due to her non-royal status and disputed ancestry.
- Prince Bogusław Fryderyk Radziwiłł (1809–1873)
- Prince Wilhelm Paweł Radziwiłł (1797–1870)
- Prince Ferdynand Fryderyk Radziwiłł (1798-1830)
- Princess Luiza Radziwiłł (1799-1809)
- Princess Augusta Radziwiłł (1800-1806)
- Prince Michał Gedeon Radziwiłł (1801-1802)
Princess Louise was known for her involvement in charitable works and her patronage of the arts. She played a role in social and cultural life in both Berlin and Posen, where her husband served as governor. She maintained close ties with the Prussian royal family throughout her life.
Princess Louise died on December 7, 1836, in Berlin. Her legacy is intertwined with her husband's political and artistic career and with the thwarted potential marriage of her daughter Elisa to the future German Emperor.