Princess Cecilia of Sweden (1807–1844)

This article is about 19th-century princess. For 16th-century princess, see Princess Cecilia of Sweden.

Princess Cecilia
Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
180px Painting by Theodor Hamacher, 1847.
Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
Tenure	5 May 1831 – 27 January 1844
Born	(1807-06-22)22 June 1807 Stockholm, Sweden
Died	Oldenburg
Burial	Ducal (Herzogliches) Mausoleum, Gertrudenfriedhof, Oldenburg
Spouse	Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Issue	Duke Alexander Duke Nikolaus Duke Elimar
House	Holstein-Gottorp
Father	Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Mother	Frederica of Baden
Religion	Lutheran

Cecilia of Sweden (22 June 1807 in Stockholm – 27 January 1844 in Oldenburg) was a composer, a Swedish princess by birth, and Grand Duchess of Oldenburg by marriage. She was the daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Frederica of Baden.

Biography

The youngest of four children, Cecilia left Sweden in 1810 with her family after her father was deposed as king of Sweden by the Coup of 1809. She was raised in her mother's home country, the Grand Duchy of Baden (Germany). After her parents were divorced in 1812, she was raised mainly by her grandmother Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt in Bruchsal.

She met Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg in 1830, and after an hour's conversation, the marriage was decided. She went to her brother in Vienna, where her wedding took place in the presence of the Austrian Emperor Francis I. She relocated to the city of Oldenburg in June 1831.

Cecilia had an interest in culture. As Grand Duchess of Oldenburg she composed the melody of a hymn for Oldenburg. The hymn was later added with lyrics by Theodor von Kobbe and named ‘Heil dir, o Oldenburg’. In 1833, Cecila supported the founding of the city's first theatre, which today is the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater. She was, however, never known to be close to the population in Oldenburg, where she lived a life confined to the circles of the court. A bridge, a square and a road are named after her, as well as a school. In honour of the late Cecilia, the locality Cäciliengroden at the Jade Bight near Wilhelmshaven (later incorporated into Sande in Frisia) was named after her.

Cecilia died at the age of 36 from puerperal fever, a few days after giving birth to her third child Anton. She was buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in the Churchyard of St. Gertrude (St. Gertrudenkirchhof / Gertrudenfriedhof) in the city of Oldenburg. Her sister, Amalia Maria Charlotta, was buried there, too.

Cecilia as Grand Duchess of Oldenburg.

Marriage

She married Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1783–1853) on 5 May 1831 in Vienna. Both being members of the House of Holstein-Gottorp and descendants of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin, they were distant cousins. It was Augustus' third marriage.

They had three sons together:

• Alexander Friedrich Gustav (16 June 1834 – 6 June 1835)
• Nikolaus Friedrich August (15 February 1836 – 30 April 1837)
• Anton Günther Friedrich Elimar (23 January 1844 – 17 October 1895)

Titles and styles

• 22 June 1807 – 5 May 1831: Her Royal Highness Princess Cecilia of Sweden
• 5 May 1831 – 27 January 1844: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

Ancestry

Family of Princess Cecilia of Sweden (1807–1844)

16. Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin               8. Adolf Frederick of Sweden                       17. Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach               4. Gustav III of Sweden                             18. Frederick William I of Prussia               9. Louisa Ulrika of Prussia                       19. Sophia Dorothea of Hanover               2. Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden                                   20. Christian VI of Denmark               10. Frederick V of Denmark                       21. Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach               5. Sophia Magdalena of Denmark                             22. George II of Great Britain               11. Louise of Great Britain                       23. Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach               1. Princess Cecilia of Sweden                                         24. Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Baden-Durlach               12. Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden                       25. Princess Amalia of Nassau-Dietz               6. Margrave Charles Louis of Baden                             26. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt               13. Landgravine Karoline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt                       27. Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg               3. Frederica of Baden                                   28. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (= 26)               14. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt                       29. Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg (= 27)               7. Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt                             30. Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken               15. Caroline of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld                       31. Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken

References

• This article is partially based on its equivalent on Spanish Wikipedia
• Gisela Niemöller: Die Engelinnen im Schloß. Eine Annäherung an Cäcilie, Amalie und Friederike von Oldenburg. Isensee, Oldenburg 1997, ISBN 3-89598-463-9

Princess Cecilia of Sweden (1807–1844) House of Holstein-Gottorp Born: 22 June 1807 Died: 27 January 1844
German royalty
Vacant Title last held by Princess Ulrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel as Duchess of Oldenburg	Grand Duchess of Oldenburg 5 May 1831 – 27 January 1844	Vacant Title next held by Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg