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.
"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'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.
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.
1797-1803 Duke
1803-1806 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).
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.