Auguste-Dorothée de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (German: Augusta-Dorothea von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel) (b. October 2nd, 1749 - Present) is a princess of the House of Welf and a German princess of Brunswick. She is the daughter of Charles I de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duke de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and his wife Philippine-Charlotte de Prusse. She is the wife of the French Prince du Sang, Monseigneur Jean Marie de Bourbon-Penthièvre, Duc de Châteauvillain.
An eccentric and lively woman, Auguste charms those considered her friends with her fun-loving spirit and sense of pride. She is a patron of arts, often hosting composers, painters, and, sculptors.
Early Life[]
Augusta-Dorothea von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel was born at the Schloss Wolfenbüttel on October 2nd, 1749 to the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Charles I and his wife, Philippine-Charlotte of Prussia. Augusta was the twelfth child born to the ducal union and the fourth daughter who had survived past infancy and childhood.
Childhood[]
Her earliest years were spent in Wolfenbüttel. Her years at the Schloss Wolfenbüttel were too short to be of mention. When she was four, her father moved the capital back to Brunswick, as it had been prior to 1432. There in Brunswick, she moved into the Palace of Brunswick and was placed under the care of a governess. Throughout her childhood, she made public appearances, when she was spotted with her parents at the opera on numerous occasions. She and all her siblings shared a close relationship, often participating in ballets and concerts together. She also happened to be her father's favourite, as she was his youngest daughter.
The Duchess also enjoyed a life of luxury, gaining a taste for fine fashions and food, a inclination which would follow her into her later life. The young Duchess would also watch her sisters be married off, much to her despair, as she often relied on her sisters at the court.
Education[]
As her mother prized education, Augusta received an education that exceeded contemporary standards. She was instructed in German and literature, English, basic French, arithmetic, finances, philosophy, music, painting, science, history, and geography.
Marriage[]
In 1774, marriage negotiations between her father and King Louis XIV occurred. The King found in favour of a match between Augusta and Jean Marie de Bourbon-Penthièvre, Duc de Châteauvillain, to which both parties consented.
On Christmas day, 1774, Augusta was married by proxy. A reception was held by her father at the Palace of Brunswick, which was attended by family, including her sisters. On the 27th of December, she departed for Strasbourg, a trip which would take her four days. The princess had a party of 50 in her company and two dozen chests of luggage. She was greeted by the French party on January 1st, 1775 in Strasbourg. She was required to convert for the wedding. She married the same day in Strasbourg.
Court of Louis XV[]
She was formally introduced to King Louis XV and his court in the following days of her marriage. Her marriage was not received well by a majority of the court, who viewed her as a pawn in Prussia’s political game. She was further mocked for her thick accent. La Grande Dauphine took notice of the girl, who also happened to be her cousin and presented her with a post in her household.
Ancestry[]
| August II "der Jüngere" von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Ferdinand Albrecht II von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern | ||||||||||||||||
| Sophie Elisabeth zu Mecklenburg, Herzogin-consort von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Ferdinand Albrecht II von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel und Bevern | ||||||||||||||||
| Friedrich von Hessen-Eschwege, Landgraf von Hessen-Eschwege | ||||||||||||||||
| Christine von Hessen-Eschwege, Herzogin-Consort von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern | ||||||||||||||||
| Eleonore Katharine von Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Kleeburg, Landgräfin-Consort von Hessen-Eschwege | ||||||||||||||||
| Karl I von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Anton Ulrich von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Ludwig Rudolf von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Herzog von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Elisabeth Juliane von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Norburg, Herzogin-Consort von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Antoinette Amalie von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Herzogin-Consort von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel und Bevern | ||||||||||||||||
| Albert Ernst I von Oettingen-Oettingen, Fürst von Oettingen-Oettingen | ||||||||||||||||
| Christine Luise von Oettingen-Oettingen, Herzogin-Consort von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Christine Friederike von Württemberg, Fürstin-Consort von Oettingen-Oettingen | ||||||||||||||||
| Auguste-Dorothée de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchesse de Châteauvillain | ||||||||||||||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg, Kurfürst von Brandenburg und Herzog in Preußen | ||||||||||||||||
| Friedrich I von Preußen, Königin in Preußen und Kurfürstin von Brandenburg | ||||||||||||||||
| Luise Henriette von Nassau, Kurfürstin von Brandenburg und Herzogin in Preußen | ||||||||||||||||
| Friedrich Wilhelm I, König in Preußen und Kurfürst von Brandenburg | ||||||||||||||||
| Ernst August von Hannover, Kurfürst von Hannover | ||||||||||||||||
| Sophie Charlotte von Hannover, Königin in Preußen und Kurfürstin von Brandenburg | ||||||||||||||||
| Sophie von der Pfalz, Kurfürstin von Hannover | ||||||||||||||||
| Philippine Charlotte von Preußen, Herzogin-Consort von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | ||||||||||||||||
| Ernst August von Hannover, Kurfürst von Hannover | ||||||||||||||||
| George I, King of Great Britain | ||||||||||||||||
| Sophie von der Pfalz, Kurfürstin von Hannover | ||||||||||||||||
| Sophie Dorothea von Hannover, Königin in Preußen und Kurfürstin von Brandenburg | ||||||||||||||||
| Georg Wilhelm von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Herzog Braunschweig-Lüneburg und Calenberg | ||||||||||||||||
| Sophie Dorothea von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Prinzessin von Ahlden | ||||||||||||||||
| Éléonore Desmier d'Olbreuse, Herzogin-Consort Braunschweig-Lüneburg und Calenberg | ||||||||||||||||
Titles, Styles, & Honours[]
October 2nd, 1749 - January 1st, 1775; Sa Altesse Sérénissime, Auguste-Dorothée de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchesse de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchesse de Brunswick-Lüneburg, Princesse de Brunswick
January 1st, 1775 - Present; Sa Altesse Sérénissime, Auguste-Dorothée de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchesse de Châteauvillain, Duchesse de Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchesse de Brunswick-Lüneburg, Princesse de Brunswick
