Charles I of Württemberg

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Charles of Württemberg (German: Karl Friedrich Alexander, König von Württemberg) was the third King of Württemberg, from 25 June 1864 until his death in 1891.

He was born 6 March 1823 at Stuttgart, as HRH Charles Frederick Alexander, Crown Prince of Württemberg the son of William I, King of Württemberg (1781-1864) and his third wife Pauline of Württemberg (1800-1873).

He studied in Berlin and Tübingen.

On 13 July 1846 he married Olga Nikolaievna of Russia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas I and Charlotte of Prussia. Charlotte was a daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She took the name Alexandra upon her marriage.

Karl acceded to his father's throne in 1864, making Olga Queen of Württemberg

The couple had no children, perhaps because of Karl's homosexuality.^{[citation needed]} Karl became the object of scandal several times for his closeness with various men. The most notorious of these was the American Charles Woodcock, a former chamberlain whom Karl elevated to Baron Savage in 1888.^{[citation needed]} Karl and Charles became inseparable, going so far as to appear together in public dressed identically. The resulting outcry forced Karl to renounce his favorite. Woodcock returned to America, and Karl found private consolation some years later with the technical director of the royal theater, Wilhelm George.^{[citation needed]}

In 1870, Olga and Karl adopted Olga's niece Vera Konstantinova, the daughter of her brother Grand Duke Konstantin.

Under Charles' leadership, Württemberg became, in 1871, part of the German Empire.

He died, childless, at Stuttgart on 6 October 1891, and was succeeded as King of Württemberg by his agnatic cousin, his sister's son, William II of Württemberg. He rests, together with his wife, in the Old Castle in Stuttgart.

[edit] Ancestors

Charles I's ancestors in three generations

Charles I of Württemberg	Father: William I of Württemberg	Paternal Grandfather: Frederick I of Württemberg	Paternal Great-grandfather: Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt
		Paternal Grandmother: Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel	Paternal Great-grandfather: Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Princess Augusta Charlotte of Wales
	Mother: Pauline of Württemberg	Maternal Grandfather: Duke Louis of Württemberg	Maternal Great-grandfather: Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt
		Maternal Grandmother: Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg	Maternal Great-grandfather: Charles Christian, Duke of Nassau-Weilburg
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Carolina of Orange-Nassau

[edit] Bibliography

For Karl's alleged homosexuality and other familiar issues:

• Queen Olga of Württemberg (Traum der Jugend goldener Stern), Reutlingen, Günther Neske, 1955
• Jette Sachs-Colignon, Königin Olga von Württemberg, Stieglitz, 2002

Charles I of Württemberg House of Württemberg Born: 6 March 1823 Died: 6 October 1891
Regnal titles
Preceded by Wilhelm I	King of Württemberg 25 June 1864 – 6 October 1891	Succeeded by Wilhelm II

In order for this article to remain in the category LGBT people from Germany, the text of the article should make clear why it is relevant, and reliable sources should be cited to confirm it.