Prince Augustus William of Prussia
German general

Prince Augustus William of Prussia

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German general
A.K.A.
Augustus William of Prussia, August Wilhelm of Prussia, August Wilhelm
Gender:
Male
Places:
Germany
Is:
Military personnel
Work field:
Military
Birth:
9 August 1722(Berlin)
Death:
12 June 1758(Oranienburg)
Family:
Mother:
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover
Father:
Frederick William I of Prussia
Siblings:
Frederick II of Prussia
Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia
Prince Henry of Prussia
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Wilhelmine of Prussia
Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Anna Amalia
Abbess of Quedlinburg
Princess Friederike Luise of Prussia
Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia
Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia
Spouse(s):
Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Children:
Frederick William II of Prussia
Prince Henry of Prussia
Wilhelmina of Prussia
Princess of Orange
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The details
Biography

Introduction

Augustus William of Prussia (German: August Wilhelm; 9 August 1722 – 12 June 1758) was Prince of Prussia and a brother of Frederick II. He was the second surviving son of Frederick William I and Sophia Dorothea. Although popular at the Prussian court and often favored by his father (who treated Frederick very cruelly) Augustus lacked the brilliance of Frederick and their younger brother, Henry. On Frederick William's death in 1740, Augustus William became Crown Prince of Prussia when Frederick ascended the Prussian Throne.
He was a younger brother of Friederike Sophie, Frederick II, Wilhelmina and Louisa Ulrika.
Augustus was a general in the War of the Austrian Succession, and distinguished himself in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg. But in the Seven Years' War, owing to the fatal retreat of Zittau during the Battle of Kolin in 1756, he incurred the wrath of his brother the King, and withdrew from the army. This conflict between the two brothers led to a correspondence, which was published in 1769.
He married Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Because his older brother had no children, Augustus's oldest son inherited the throne as Frederick William II of Prussia on Frederick's death. The prince was the owner of the future Crown Prince's Palace in Berlin. Augustus died suddenly in 1758 at Oranienburg, according to some of "a broken heart," in reference to his brother Frederick II's harsh treatment of him for his incompetent military leadership in the Battle of Kolin. In reality, he died from a brain tumor.
He was given the L’Ordre de l’Harmonie.

Issue

  • Frederick William II of Prussia (1744–1797)
    • married (1) Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg. They had one child Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia (1767–1820), who married Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, the second son of George III of the United Kingdom.
    • married (2) Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt and had issue.
  • Prince Henry of Prussia (1747–1767) died unmarried.
  • Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia (1751–1820) married William V, Prince of Orange and had issue.
  • Prince Emil of Prussia (1758–1759) died in infancy.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

  • 9 August 1722 – 12 June 1758 His Royal Highness Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia

Ancestry