# Princess Louise of Prussia

> youngest daughter and eighth child of Frederick William III of Prussia (1808–1870)

**Wikidata**: [Q60607](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60607)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Louise_of_Prussia_(1808–1870))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/princess-louise-of-prussia-q60607

## Summary
Princess Louise of Prussia (1808–1870), born Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie von Preußen, was a Prussian princess and aristocrat who was the youngest daughter and eighth child of Frederick William III of Prussia. As a member of the House of Hohenzollern during the Kingdom of Prussia era, she lived through a transformative period in Central European history that saw the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the Napoleonic Wars, and the rise of Prussia as the dominant power leading to German unification.

## Biography
- Born: February 1, 1808
- Died: December 6, 1870
- Nationality: Prussian
- Full Name: Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie von Preußen
- Also Known As: Princess Luise of Prussia
- Occupation: Aristocrat
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia, Germany
- Known for: Being the youngest daughter and eighth child of Frederick William III of Prussia
- Field: Royalty and Nobility

## Contributions
As a member of the Prussian royal family, Princess Louise was part of the House of Hohenzollern dynasty that governed the Kingdom of Prussia—a major European state that existed from 1701 to 1918. The Kingdom of Prussia functioned as a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe and became part of the German Empire after 1871. Her lifetime (1808–1870) coincided with critical developments including the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna, the Revolutions of 1848, and the early stages of German unification under Prussian leadership.

Princess Louise held documented connections to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as evidenced by her coat of arms (Arms of the second son of the king of the Netherlands.svg). The Kingdom of the Netherlands, a transcontinental sovereign state and constitutional monarchy founded on March 16, 1815, comprised four constituent countries and maintained close dynastic ties with Prussian royalty throughout the 19th century.

## FAQs

**Who were Princess Louise's parents and what was her position in the royal family?**
Princess Louise was the daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and held the distinction of being his eighth child and youngest daughter.

**When did Princess Louise of Prussia live?**
She was born on February 1, 1808, and died on December 6, 1870, at the age of 62.

**What was the Kingdom of Prussia during her lifetime?**
The Kingdom of Prussia was a former European state (1701–1918) that served as a major power in Central Europe. It was formally established in 1701, functioned as a multi-ethnic complex of territories, and became part of the German Empire after 1871.

**What connection did Princess Louise have to the Netherlands?**
Princess Louise bore heraldic associations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, indicated by her coat of arms referencing the Dutch royal family.

**How is Princess Louise documented in historical records?**
She appears in numerous international databases and libraries including VIAF (45193624), ISNI (0000000016585083), GND (122855949), the Biographical Portal of the Netherlands, and many others.

## Why They Matter
Princess Louise of Prussia represents a vital link in the network of European royal families during the 19th century. As the daughter of Frederick William III—who ruled Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna—she belonged to the dynasty that fundamentally reshaped modern European history. The Kingdom of Prussia, under her father's reign and that of his successors, transformed from a territory devastated by Napoleon into the leading power that unified Germany.

Her life bridged the era between the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871. The Holy Roman Empire, established in 962 with the coronation of Otto I, had been a decentralized entity composed of hundreds of semi-autonomous states. Its dissolution under Emperor Francis II created the power vacuum that Prussia would eventually fill. Princess Louise's death in December 1870 occurred just weeks before this culmination of Prussian ambition.

## Notable For
- **Youngest Daughter and Eighth Child** of Frederick William III of Prussia, who ruled during the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna
- **Member of the House of Hohenzollern**, the dynasty that ruled Prussia and later the German Empire
- **Historical Period**: Lived during the transition from the Holy Roman Empire to the German Empire (1808–1870)
- **Connection to the Kingdom of the Netherlands** through heraldic and dynastic associations
- **Extensive Documentation** in international biographical databases including VIAF, ISNI, GND, Freebase, and the Biographical Portal of the Netherlands
- **Subject of Portraiture**: Depicted in "PrinsesLouise1808.jpg"
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Documented across approximately 30 language editions

## Body

### Early Life and Royal Lineage
Princess Louise of Prussia, born Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie von Preußen on February 1, 1808, entered the world as the youngest daughter and eighth child of Frederick William III of Prussia. As a member of the House of Hohenzollern, she belonged to one of Europe's most consequential royal dynasties. Her father ruled Prussia from 1797 to 1840, presiding over a period that included devastating military defeats by Napoleon, sweeping reforms that modernized the Prussian state and military, and the Wars of Liberation that contributed to the overthrow of French hegemony in Central Europe.

### The Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia operated as a major European state from 1701 to 1918. Established formally in 1701, it developed into a dominant military and bureaucratic power in Central Europe. Key characteristics included:

- A multi-ethnic complex of territories spanning Western and Central Europe
- Efficient governance through a professional civil service and military establishment
- Leadership in the movement toward German unification
- Transformation into the core of the German Empire after 1871

The kingdom's inception in 1701 and its evolution through the 18th and 19th centuries positioned it as the primary rival to Austria for dominance among the German-speaking states.

### The Holy Roman Empire Context
The political world into which Princess Louise was born had been profoundly shaped by the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. This entity, established in 962 with the coronation of Otto I by Pope John XII (with roots tracing to Charlemagne's coronation in 800), had functioned as a complex, decentralized political structure composed of hundreds of semi-autonomous states. These included kingdoms, duchies, free cities, and ecclesiastical territories across modern-day Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, parts of Italy, and the Low Countries.

The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved on August 6, 1806, when Emperor Francis II abdicated under pressure from Napoleon. The empire had no fixed capital, with major centers including Prague, Vienna, and Regensburg. Its population fluctuated between 5 million and 40 million at various times. The primary languages were German and Latin, with regional languages including Italian, Czech, and Dutch reflecting its multi-ethnic character.

The empire was governed by an elected emperor and a complex system of Imperial Circles, with the Imperial Diet (Reichstag) serving as the legislative body. It was preceded by East Francia and the Kingdom of Germany, and succeeded by the Austrian Empire, the German Confederation, the North German Confederation, and ultimately the German Empire.

### The Kingdom of the Netherlands Connection
Princess Louise's heraldic symbols connect her to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a transcontinental sovereign state and constitutional monarchy founded on March 16, 1815. The Kingdom comprises four constituent countries: the Netherlands (in Europe), Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten (in the Caribbean). As a parliamentary democracy under a monarchy, it spans both Europe and North America, with a total area of 42,201 square kilometers and a population exceeding 17 million.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands uses multiple currencies: the Euro in the European Netherlands, the Aruban Florin in Aruba, the Caribbean Guilder in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, and the US Dollar in the Caribbean Netherlands. Its highest point is Mount Scenery in the Caribbean, and its lowest point is the Zuidplaspolder at -7 meters in the European Netherlands.

The royal families of Prussia and the Netherlands maintained dynastic connections through the 19th century, with marriage alliances strengthening political ties between the two kingdoms.

### Documentation and Historical Records
Princess Louise is extensively documented in historical, biographical, and genealogical databases across multiple countries and institutions:

- **VIAF (Virtual International Authority File)**: 45193624
- **ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier)**: 0000000016585083
- **GND (German National Library)**: 122855949
- **Freebase**: /m/03c93jx
- **Biographical Portal (Netherlands)**: 70211920, 01389416
- **Nationale Thesaurus voor Auteursnamen**: 119925540
- **Genealogics**: I00006899
- **Deutsche Biographie**: p10168.htm#i101673
- **WikiTree**: Von_Preußen-26
- **Deutschen Nationalbibliothek**: cnp00572031
- **BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France)**: 987007308032405171
- **SNAC (Social Networks and Archival Context)**: 36427505

Her portrait, "PrinsesLouise1808.jpg," is preserved in historical collections, and she is categorized in Wikimedia Commons under "Princess Louise of Prussia (1808–1870)."

### Later Life and Legacy
Princess Louise of Prussia died on December 6, 1870. Her death occurred during a pivotal moment—the Franco-Prussian War was underway, and just weeks later, in January 1871, the German Empire would be proclaimed, bringing the Kingdom of Prussia to the height of its power and influence. As the youngest daughter of Frederick William III, she had witnessed the entire trajectory of Prussia's rise from the devastation of the Napoleonic Wars to the threshold of German unification.

Her Wikipedia page exists in approximately 30 language editions, reflecting sustained historical interest. She is classified as an instance of Q5 (human) with the occupation of Q2478141, and her aliases include "Princess Luise of Prussia" and "Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie von Preußen."

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. The Peerage
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Online Dictionary of Dutch Women
6. Sejm-Wielki.pl
7. CollectieGelderland