Grandduchessella...the portraits are really nice! And I enjoy so much reading your post, Guinevere...
I was thinking that Amalie was a very good matchmaker. One of her daughters became an empress, at least two of her daughters became queens and the others had also brilliant marriages. I´m glad knowing that Karoline had got a devoted husband in Max.
Strange thing...Karoline holding her youth´s dreams about Enghien, and her lovely step-daughter Augusta Amalia marrying Napoleon´s step-son, Eugene
I´m sorry knowing that Ludwig I didn´t treat Karoline so well. Can you explain it more?
Well...when Karolines Husband Max I Joseph died suddenly in March 1825, her Stepson, the new King Ludwig I told her only one week later that she should take her Residence as a Widow in Würzburg. Würzburg is a nice City but it was also far away from Munich. He wanted his Stepmother out of the Capital becaus he feared her Influence and her Popularity. Karoline , mourning her beloved Husband was still strong enough to refuse this Order and started to Built a Castle , called " Biederstein" near Munich. Until it was ready to move in, she travelled to her daughters to Vienna and Dresden.
Not a Month after his Fathers Death Ludwig I auctioned in public all personal Belongings, presents and Memories of Max I Joseph without asking the Widow Karoline or the Rest of the Family.Karoline was devastatet as were her daughters.
When Karoline died 1841 she has been the First protestant queen in catholic Bavaria. Her funeral was a scandal, especially for her protestant Son in Law Friedrich Wilhelm IV odf Prussia and the Husband of her Granddaughter Mathilde, Ludwig of Hessen Kassel. The Mourners followed her Casket to the Theatinerkirche and when they arrived, the Door of the Church did not open. So the blessing of the Casket had to be made outside the Church. When the Door of the catholic Theatiner Church opend all Priests wore their "normal Street Allday Clothes". There were no Candles, prayers, Songs for Karoline. The Casket was just put next to her Husbands Casket. Ludwig had to do a lot of Diplomatic work to compensate this disrespectful funeral of a Queen who was beloved by the family and People...