Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
| Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | |
|---|---|
| Tsarevna of Russia | |
Portrait by Johann Gottfried Tannauer, 1710s | |
| Born | 28 August 1694 |
| Died | 2 November 1715 |
| Spouse | Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia |
| Children | Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeievna Peter II of Russia |
| House | Welf |
| Father | Louise Rudolph, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Mother | Princess Christine Louise of Oettingen-Oettingen |
| Religion | Lutheran |
Charlotte Christine Sophie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (28 August 1694-2 November 1715) was Tsarevna, or crown princess, of Russia by her marriage to Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia. She was born a German princess because she was the daughter of Louis Rudolph, the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a place in the Holy Roman Empire. She died in childbirth when her second child was born, who later became Peter II of Russia. She died before her father-in-law (father of her husband), Peter the Great, so she never became Empress of Russia.
Life
Family
Charlotte Christine was born in 1694[1], and she was the daughter of Louis Rudolph[2], the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and her mother was Princess Christine Louise of Oettingen-Oettingen. Not a lot is known about her childhood, but it is known that she lived in Saxony under the Prince-elector.
Marriage
In 1711, she married the Tsarevich, or crown prince, of Russia, Alexei Petrovich. The marriage was unhappy, and she was treated badly by her husband.[1]
Death
In late 1715, the Tsarevna went into labour (gave birth to a child). Emperor Peter was happy when the child turned out to be a boy,[3] who was also named Peter. Not a long time after, Charlotte began to suffer from postpartum (after birth) complications, and she died not long after.[3] She put her children in the care of their grandfather before she died, and was buried unembalmed as she said her will.[3]
Children
- Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeievna (21 July 1714[4] - 22 November 1728), died in childhood
- Peter II (23 October 1715 - 30 January 1730[5]), became Emperor of Russia[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Duchess Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg". The British Museum. 12 September 2025.
- ↑ "ЭСБЕ/Шарлотта, супруга царевича Алексея Петровича — Викитека". ru.wikisource.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Leningrad (1991). Петербург в иностранных описаниях [Petersburg in Foreign Descriptions] (in Russian). p. 180.
On the 22nd of this month, the imperial princess, the Tsarevich's wife, to the great joy of the Tsar, was delivered of a son, who was christened Peter and given the title of Grand Duke. But the Tsar's joy was soon overshadowed by the death of the princess who had given life to the infant, which occurred on the ninth day after her birth , in the 21st year of her life, after 4 years and 6 days of marriage to a man completely unworthy of such a virtuous and worthy princess. Convinced that her end was approaching, she wished to see the Tsar, and when he came, she took leave of him most touchingly, with the most moving words, entrusting her two children to his care, and her servants to his protection. And, embracing and washing the children with tears of maternal love, she handed them over to the Tsarevich; he took the children to his apartments, but never returned and did not even inquire about their mother and his charming wife. Indeed, from the day of their wedding until their death, and even on this touching and sensitive occasion, he never showed the slightest marital affection or concern for her, so it can be said that she was truly unhappy. When the doctors tried to persuade her to take medicine, she said with deep feeling: "Do not torture me any more, but let me die peacefully, because I do not want to live any more." She passed away on November 1 , and her body, according to her own will, was buried on the 7th without embalming in the large fortress church with all the honors and pomp due to her by birth.
- ↑ "The Romanov Dynasty". Tumblr. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Peter II | Grandson of Peter I, Reformer, Tsar | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2025-09-13.