Wilhelm, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg

Wilhelm Paul Ludwig, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (German: Wilhelm Paul Ludwig Prinz zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg; 19 March 1817 – 10 March 1887) was a member of the princely house of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.^{[citation needed]} He became the fourth Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg in 1861.^{[citation needed]}

Wilhelm
4th Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Reign	1861–1887
Predecessor	Prince Adolf of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Successor	Prince Ernest Alban of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Born	(1817-03-19)19 March 1817 Stuttgart
Died	10 March 1887(1887-03-10) (aged 69) Karlsruhe, German Empire
Spouse	Countess Olga Clara of Schönburg-Glauchau Bertha Hagen
Issue	Prince Ludwig
Names William Paul Louis of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg German: Wilhelm Paul Ludwig zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
House	Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Father	Count William of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Mother	Dorothy Christine von Kahlden
Religion	Roman Catholic

Early life

Wilhelm was born on 19 March 1817 in Stuttgart, Germany, as the eldest son of Prince Wilhelm of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1783–1847) and his wife, Dorothea Christine von Kahlden (1791–1860). Wilhelm received a humanistic education by private teachers, and he studied science at the University of Bonn.^[1] He also studied law, political economy, philosophy, and art history. His friend from this time of studies was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who became the husband of Queen Victoria.^[2]

Career

In 1861, Wilhelm became the reigning prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg upon the death of his predecessor, Prince Adolf of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1805–1861).

Personal life

Wilhelm married Countess Olga Clara von Schönburg-Glauchau (1831–1868) on 20 April 1852 in Pillnitz bei Dresden. She was a daughter of Karl Heinrich Alban Graf und Herr von Schönburg-Forderglauchau (1804–1864) and his wife, Countess Amalie von Jenison-Walworth (youngest daughter of Count Franz von Jenison-Walworth). Before the death of his first wife in 1868, they were the parents of nine children together:^[3]

• Ernst Alban Ludwig, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1854–1931), who married Wanda, Countess of Wylich and Lottum, youngest daughter of Wilhelm Malte II, in 1886.^[4]
• Alfred, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1855–1925), who married Pauline, Countess of Reichenbach-Lessonitz, daughter of Wilhelm, Count of Reichenbach-Lessonitz (a younger son of William II, Elector of Hesse and Emilie Ortlöpp), in 1880.^[4]
• Vollrath, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1856–1919)^[4]
• Karl, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1858–1928)^[4]
• Friedrich Ernst Ludwig, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1860–1920), who married Hedwig Aloysia Muller, daughter of Anton Muller, in 1890.^[4]
• Marie, Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1861–1941), who married Friedrich Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld in 1882.^[4]
• Wilhelm Gustav Ludwig, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1863–1915), who married his cousin, Luise Baroness von Fabrice, daughter of Bernhard, Baron von Fabrice and Ida, Countess von Schönburg-Glauchau, in 1887.^[4]
• Ludwig, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1864–1899), who married Lady Anne Savile, daughter of John Savile, 4th Earl of Mexborough, in 1897.^[5][6][7]
• Adele, Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1866–1890), who married Gustav Biron von Kirland in 1885.^[4]

After the death of his first wife, Wilhelm married again. His second wife was Bertha Hagen (1845–1895).^[4]

On 10 March 1887, Wilhelm died at the age of 69.^[4]

Honours and awards

• Knight of Honour of the Johanniter Order, 21 October 1847^[8]
• Knight of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class, 5 October 1867^[8]
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Zähringer Lion, 1864^[9]