Catherine Pavlovna of Russia - Marriages

Marriages

Described as beautiful and vivacious, Ekaterina was married to her first cousin Duke George of Oldenburg on 3 August 1809. Although their marriage was arranged, Ekaterina was devoted to her husband. George was the second son of Peter, Duke of Oldenburg and his wife, Duchess Frederica of Württemberg. It was said that he was not handsome but Ekaterina reportedly cared for him deeply, and his death in 1812 due to typhoid fever saddened her greatly. The couple resided in Tver, where George had been appointed governor general. In Tver, Catherine lived a lavish court life and entertained with balls, grand dinners and similar events in the pattern of the Imperial court, to create "a Small Saint Petersburg" in Tver. She also supported N.M. Karamzin to write his later famous historical work. Tsar Alexander adopted reactionary ideas from a patriotic group which she dominated. In 1812, some conspirators who planned deposed Tsar Alexander had the ambitions to put her on the throne as Empress Catherine III.

In 1812, she supported the suggestion to summon a national militia, and formed a special regiment of chasseurs which took part in many of the great battles of the era. During 1813-1815, Ekaterina travelled to England with her brother Tsar Alexander I to meet the Prince Regent and again during the Vienna Congress. She was not without influence upon his political acts during these trips. She also supported the marriage between her youngest sister Anna and William II of the Netherlands.

It was in England where she met the Crown Prince William of Württemberg. It was love at first sight for the couple. However, William was then married to Princess Charlotte of Bavaria and took the then drastic step by divorcing her. William then married Ekaterina in 1816 in Saint Petersburg. Upon her husband's accession as king, Ekaterina, now Queen Katharina of Württemberg, became active in charity works in her adopted homeland. She established numerous institutions for the benefit of the public. She supported elementary education and organized a charity foundation during the hunger of 1816.

Ekaterina died at Stuttgart, in January 1819, of erysipelas complicated by pneumonia. After her death her husband built Württemberg Mausoleum in Rotenberg, Stuttgart dedicated to her memory. William later remarried to his first cousin Princess Pauline of Württemberg.