William II of Württemberg

William II
King of Württemberg
Reign 6 October 1891 – 30 November 1918
Predecessor Charles I
Successor Monarchy abolished
Born (1848-02-25)25 February 1848
Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg
Died 2 October 1921(1921-10-02) (aged 73)
Bebenhausen, Weimar Republic
Spouse Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe
Issue Pauline, Princess of Wied
Prince Ulrich
Full name
Wilhelm Karl Paul Heinrich Friedrich
House Württemberg
Father Prince Frederick of Württemberg
Mother Princess Catherine of Württemberg
Religion Lutheran

William II (German Wilhelm II) (25 February 1848 in Stuttgart – 2 October 1921 in Bebenhausen) was King of Württemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918. He was the son of Prince Frederick of Württemberg (1808–1870) and his wife Princess Catherine Frederica of Württemberg (1821–1898), daughter of King William I of Württemberg (1781–1864); his parents were first cousins.

King of Württemberg

Upon the death of his childless maternal uncle, King Charles I (1823–1891), he succeeded to the throne of Württemberg. Though his claim appeared contrary to Salic law, as his mother Princess Catherine was the daughter of William I, on his father's side he was also the senior male-line descendant of Frederick I of Württemberg through his younger son Prince Paul.

In 1870 Württemberg took the side of Prussia in the Franco-German War. In 1871 Württemberg became a State of the German Reich, a significant limitation on its sovereignty.

Despite living in a landlocked kingdom, William II was a ship enthusiast. The king was instrumental in the establishment of the Württembergischer Yacht Club (formerly "Königlich Württembergischer Yacht-Club" or Royal Yacht Club of Württemberg) in 1911 on Lake Constance.

King William became a Generalfeldmarschall during World War I. In 1918, he was deposed from the throne along with the other German rulers. Considered to be a popular monarch, he had the habit of walking his two dogs in public parks in Stuttgart without bodyguards or the like, being greeted by his subjects with a simple Herr König ("Mister King"). William finally abdicated on 30 November 1918.[1]

Official portrait, 1892

Marriages and children

On 15 February 1877 at Arolsen he married Princess Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1857–1882). They had three children:

Marie died on 30 April 1882 in Stuttgart, from complications resulting from the birth of her third child. William, already depressed by the death of his only son, is said never to have recovered from this blow.

On 8 April 1886 at Bückeburg, he married Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe (1864–1946). They had no children.

Succession

With William II's death in 1921 without male issue, the royal branch of the House of Württemberg became extinct and the headship of the house devolved to Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg.

Arms

Royal Monogram of King Wilhelm II of Württemberg
Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg, 1817
Royal Monogram of King Wilhelm II of Württemberg, Variant

Styles

Ancestry

Decorations and awards

Awards of Württemberg
Grand Master of the following Orders:
Foreign awards

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William II of Württemberg.
  1. ↑ Abdication text (in German)
William II of Württemberg
Born: 25 February 1848 Died: 2 October 1921
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Charles I		 King of Württemberg
1891–1918 		Monarchy abolished
Titles in pretence
Loss of title
 — TITULAR —
King of Württemberg
1918–1921
Reason for succession failure:
Kingdom abolished in 1918		 Succeeded by
Duke Albrecht
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