Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Karl August Friedrich of Waldeck and Pyrmont (24 September 1704 – 29 August 1763) was Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Commander of the Dutch forces in the War of Austrian Succession.

Karl August
Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Reign1 January 1728 – 29 August 1763
PredecessorFriedrich Anton Ulrich
SuccessorFriedrich Karl August
Born(1704-09-24)24 September 1704
Hanau, Waldeck
Died29 August 1763(1763-08-29) (aged 58)
Arolsen, Waldeck and Pyrmont
SpouseCountess Palatine Christiane Henriette of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
IssuePrince Charles
Friedrich Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Prince Christian
George I, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Princess Caroline
Princess Louise
Prince Louis
HouseHouse of Waldeck and Pyrmont
FatherFriedrich Anton Ulrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
MotherCountess Palatine Louise of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld

Royal life and military career

Karl was the second son of Friedrich Anton Ulrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Countess Palatine Louise of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, youngest child of Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. In 1728 his father and his elder brother Christian Philip died, and so he became Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont.

The Waldecks had a tradition of military service in the Dutch Army.
Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck had already led the Dutch army in the War of the Grand Alliance. In the War of Austrian Succession, Karl was appointed as commander of the Dutch Army by the States-General of the Netherlands, as counterbalance to William IV, Prince of Orange, who relied completely on his brother-in-law the Duke of Cumberland. The Dutch army under Waldeck's command was defeated in the Battle of Fontenoy, the Battle of Rocoux and the Battle of Lauffeld. In 1746, Karl became Fieldmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire.

Marriage and children

In Zweibrücken, on 19 August 1741, Karl August married his first cousin Countess Palatine Christiane Henriette of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1725–1816), daughter of Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken.

The couple had seven children:

Ancestry

References

  • Marek, Miroslav. "Genealogy Euweb". Genealogy.EU.
Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Cadet branch of the House of Waldeck
Born: 24 September 1704 Died: 29 August 1763
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Friedrich Anton Ulrich
Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
1 January 1728 – 29 August 1763
Succeeded by
Friedrich Karl August
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