Princess Cecilia of Sweden (1807–1844)

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.

This article is about 19th-century princess. For 16th-century princess, see Princess Cecilia of Sweden.
Princess Cecilia
Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
Tenure5 May 1831 – 27 January 1844
Born(1807-06-22)22 June 1807
Stockholm, Sweden
Died27 January 1844(1844-01-27) (aged 36)
Oldenburg
Burial
Ducal (Herzogliches) Mausoleum, Gertrudenfriedhof, Oldenburg
Spouse
IssueDuke Alexander
Duke Nikolaus
Duke Elimar
HouseHolstein-Gottorp
FatherGustav IV Adolf of Sweden
MotherFrederica of Baden
ReligionLutheran

Biography

After birth, she was raised under the supervision of the royal governess Charlotte Stierneld. 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 Elimar. 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
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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)
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
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