The "Wild Margrave" of Ansbach was born Karl Wilhelm Friedrich on May
12, 1712 in Ansbach. His uncle was King George II. of Great Britain. His
mother, Mark Countess Christiane Charlotte, had taken over the regency
after the death of the father in 1723 and provided building activity typical of
the age for the adornment of the Residenzstadt. She brilliantly transformed
the Margrave's residence "Onolzbach" (the ancient name of Anspach) and
she greatly embellished the gardens in the French style and also established
the Orangerie. After his wedding, Karl Wilhelm Friedrich took over the
regency of the Brandenburg Margraveship to tend to his critically ill mother
who died on Christmas, 1729.
12, 1712 in Ansbach. His uncle was King George II. of Great Britain. His
mother, Mark Countess Christiane Charlotte, had taken over the regency
after the death of the father in 1723 and provided building activity typical of
the age for the adornment of the Residenzstadt. She brilliantly transformed
the Margrave's residence "Onolzbach" (the ancient name of Anspach) and
she greatly embellished the gardens in the French style and also established
the Orangerie. After his wedding, Karl Wilhelm Friedrich took over the
regency of the Brandenburg Margraveship to tend to his critically ill mother
who died on Christmas, 1729.
Once, having heard that his dogs were not well fed by his kennel keep, he supposedly rode to the
man's house and shot him on his own doorstep. After an inn-keeper complained of some petty theft,
the Margrave had the thief hanged before the inn's door. In 1747, a servant-girl and her betrothed
soldier were said to have been hanged without trial for having plotted desertion so they could elope.
Another story tells of the Margrave riding out of his castle one day and asking the sentinel on guard
for his musket. When the sentinel naively gave it up, the Margrave called him a coward and had him
dragged by horses until dead.
man's house and shot him on his own doorstep. After an inn-keeper complained of some petty theft,
the Margrave had the thief hanged before the inn's door. In 1747, a servant-girl and her betrothed
soldier were said to have been hanged without trial for having plotted desertion so they could elope.
Another story tells of the Margrave riding out of his castle one day and asking the sentinel on guard
for his musket. When the sentinel naively gave it up, the Margrave called him a coward and had him
dragged by horses until dead.
Friederike Luise, born in 1714, was yet another sister of Friedrich the
Great. Her father wished to expand his power in the south of the realm
and married her off to another Hohenzollern, Karl Wilhelm Friedrich,
the son of Mark count Wilhelm Friedrich of Brandenburg. By the
connection of the two royals originating from related Hohenzollern lines,
the Prussian king could influence and secure succession on the Frankish
line. But it was a bad union for poor Friedrike. She suffered from a
disease which also afflicted her father, one that physicians termed
"Porphyrie", and she would have spells in which she had severe nausea
accompanied by paralyses and she "would seem dead."
Great. Her father wished to expand his power in the south of the realm
and married her off to another Hohenzollern, Karl Wilhelm Friedrich,
the son of Mark count Wilhelm Friedrich of Brandenburg. By the
connection of the two royals originating from related Hohenzollern lines,
the Prussian king could influence and secure succession on the Frankish
line. But it was a bad union for poor Friedrike. She suffered from a
disease which also afflicted her father, one that physicians termed
"Porphyrie", and she would have spells in which she had severe nausea
accompanied by paralyses and she "would seem dead."
| The Wild Margrave of Ansbach and his Long Suffering Wife |
| Wild Willy |
The Margrave was given to immoderation with purchases, drink, women and hunting, and he looked
for comfort with the common girls...and found it often. His passion for hunting had cost the state
10% of its annual budget. Karl William Friedrich possessed the largest falcon yard of Europe, and
between 1730 and 1748, he spent more than one half million guldens on the hobby. He also had
numerous buildings erected in Ansbach, and had the royal residence renovated by the architect
Leopoldo Retty. He then established two castle buildings in Gunzenhausen. 56 new churches and
parsonage buildings developed in its reign, and between 1736 to 1738, he had Gumbertus church in
Ansbach redesigned in the typical “markgräflichen" style.
for comfort with the common girls...and found it often. His passion for hunting had cost the state
10% of its annual budget. Karl William Friedrich possessed the largest falcon yard of Europe, and
between 1730 and 1748, he spent more than one half million guldens on the hobby. He also had
numerous buildings erected in Ansbach, and had the royal residence renovated by the architect
Leopoldo Retty. He then established two castle buildings in Gunzenhausen. 56 new churches and
parsonage buildings developed in its reign, and between 1736 to 1738, he had Gumbertus church in
Ansbach redesigned in the typical “markgräflichen" style.
Margrave Karl Wilhelm of Ansbach could be good-natured and even kind when he wasn't in a bad
mood or drunk. He did small favors for his servants and sent food to the sick. He dealt with criminals
fairly unless they were military criminals, and then he could be brutal. He was religious and both built
and gave generously to them. He invested in schools and hospitals. But his temper was notorious and
his subjects were afraid of his erratic nature. This resulted in numerous stories, gossip and legends.
mood or drunk. He did small favors for his servants and sent food to the sick. He dealt with criminals
fairly unless they were military criminals, and then he could be brutal. He was religious and both built
and gave generously to them. He invested in schools and hospitals. But his temper was notorious and
his subjects were afraid of his erratic nature. This resulted in numerous stories, gossip and legends.
The cellar of St. Gumbertus church in Ansbach contains a cyrpt
containing 24 elaborate coffins of some of the old markgraves
and their family. It is the only section of the building surviving
from the original Romanesque collegiate foundation onto which
the church was added, and it is said to be haunted. It is here that
Wild Wilhelm was laid to rest among his ancestors.
containing 24 elaborate coffins of some of the old markgraves
and their family. It is the only section of the building surviving
from the original Romanesque collegiate foundation onto which
the church was added, and it is said to be haunted. It is here that
Wild Wilhelm was laid to rest among his ancestors.
Wilhelm Friedrich, who ruled from 1703 until 1732, assumed the Margraveship of Brandenburg-
Ansbach when his unmarried brother Georg Friedrich II was killed at the Battle of Kittensee in 1703.
Wilhelm Friedrich created the first public library in the Residenzstadt by decree of December 21,
1720. Margrave Georg Friedrich the Elder (1556 - 1603) had already formed the basis of the house
library, which served the Margrave's family and included theological works and Latin classical
authors and chronicles. His successor, Margrave Joachim Ernst (1603 - 1625) had preferred
historical and geographical books as well as works of war and fortress architecture; likewise, his son
and successor Albrecht V. (1639 - 1667) enjoyed theology. All fields of knowledge showed up in the
library of Margrave Johann Friedrich (1672 - 1686). "Wild Wilhelm", Karl Wilhelm Friedrich,
enriched it considerably throughout his life.
Ansbach when his unmarried brother Georg Friedrich II was killed at the Battle of Kittensee in 1703.
Wilhelm Friedrich created the first public library in the Residenzstadt by decree of December 21,
1720. Margrave Georg Friedrich the Elder (1556 - 1603) had already formed the basis of the house
library, which served the Margrave's family and included theological works and Latin classical
authors and chronicles. His successor, Margrave Joachim Ernst (1603 - 1625) had preferred
historical and geographical books as well as works of war and fortress architecture; likewise, his son
and successor Albrecht V. (1639 - 1667) enjoyed theology. All fields of knowledge showed up in the
library of Margrave Johann Friedrich (1672 - 1686). "Wild Wilhelm", Karl Wilhelm Friedrich,
enriched it considerably throughout his life.
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich died on August 3, 1757 at his hunting lodge after a hunting accident. It is said
that when his body was being moved through the streets, the assembled crown was not unhappy at
his demise. His legitimate son, Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander, was his successor and he would be
the last Margrave of Ansbach. His father left him great financial liabilities and burdened him with a
gigantic debt.
that when his body was being moved through the streets, the assembled crown was not unhappy at
his demise. His legitimate son, Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander, was his successor and he would be
the last Margrave of Ansbach. His father left him great financial liabilities and burdened him with a
gigantic debt.
| The Library |
Her marriage was so miserable that she once etched into a windowpane with her diamond that she
was unhappy yet she dare not show it. Friederike Louise lived a lonely life, both during her
philandering husband's lifetime, and after his death. She never returned to live in the royal residence.
Suffering from mental confusion and depression, she died February 4, 1784 at Unterschwaningen.
was unhappy yet she dare not show it. Friederike Louise lived a lonely life, both during her
philandering husband's lifetime, and after his death. She never returned to live in the royal residence.
Suffering from mental confusion and depression, she died February 4, 1784 at Unterschwaningen.
Early in the 18th century, the library held 14,000 volumes and choice incunabula, prints and
drawings. In 1818, it acquired 1,800 English, French and Italian classics. In addition, it housed
thousands of rare medical, legal and theological books and dissertations.
drawings. In 1818, it acquired 1,800 English, French and Italian classics. In addition, it housed
thousands of rare medical, legal and theological books and dissertations.
The Margrave married incognito in 1734 with his falcon keeper's daughter Elisabeth Wünsch. The
four children from this marriage were raised under the noble name he gave them, von Falkenhausen,
and were provided with their own estates. The descendants of the Barons von Falkenhausen live on
today. The "Wild Margrave" was the embodiment of an absolutist prince: highly intelligent, self-
confident and loving both opulence and the simple country life. He had differences with his brother-
in-law, Friedrich the Great, yet managed to hold his own politically.
four children from this marriage were raised under the noble name he gave them, von Falkenhausen,
and were provided with their own estates. The descendants of the Barons von Falkenhausen live on
today. The "Wild Margrave" was the embodiment of an absolutist prince: highly intelligent, self-
confident and loving both opulence and the simple country life. He had differences with his brother-
in-law, Friedrich the Great, yet managed to hold his own politically.
Ansbach was not totally spared from the ravages of World War
Two Allied bombing. The Ansbach Schloss was originally a moated
medieval castle which left no place for a garden, thus the old royal garden
was separate from the Schloss. The Orangerie in the heart of the garden
was built in the French style from 1726 to 1728 and ranks among the
largest garden gardens of southern Germany. The Orangerie, dangerous
as it was, suffered from two strong bomb attacks near the end of war in
February of 1945 and had to be totally rebuilt and replanted.
Two Allied bombing. The Ansbach Schloss was originally a moated
medieval castle which left no place for a garden, thus the old royal garden
was separate from the Schloss. The Orangerie in the heart of the garden
was built in the French style from 1726 to 1728 and ranks among the
largest garden gardens of southern Germany. The Orangerie, dangerous
as it was, suffered from two strong bomb attacks near the end of war in
February of 1945 and had to be totally rebuilt and replanted.
Then there is the most famous story of him shooting a chimney sweep off of a roof, one version
claiming it was to amuse his mistress and the other insisting it was because he had a sudden fit of
rage. The Schaitbergers were the royal chimney sweeps in Ansbach during this time, and there is no
record of any of them having been shot. However, Leonhardt Schaitberger, who was the same age as
the Margrave and carried the title of "Hochfürstlich Onolzbachischer Hoff Caminfegermeister", lost
one of his sons to a "chimney fall" in the late 1750's.
claiming it was to amuse his mistress and the other insisting it was because he had a sudden fit of
rage. The Schaitbergers were the royal chimney sweeps in Ansbach during this time, and there is no
record of any of them having been shot. However, Leonhardt Schaitberger, who was the same age as
the Margrave and carried the title of "Hochfürstlich Onolzbachischer Hoff Caminfegermeister", lost
one of his sons to a "chimney fall" in the late 1750's.
And that is how her husband regarded her. From the start, he found her unattractive with her limp
and bad teeth. He found it distasteful to sleep with her and complained of her, apparently making no
secret of his aversion to her. She had repeated miscarriages and lost one son, but in 1736, she gave
birth to the future Margrave, Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander. The princess spent a great deal of
her time alone and with her sister, Wilhelmine of Bayreuth at Unter-schwaningen.
and bad teeth. He found it distasteful to sleep with her and complained of her, apparently making no
secret of his aversion to her. She had repeated miscarriages and lost one son, but in 1736, she gave
birth to the future Margrave, Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander. The princess spent a great deal of
her time alone and with her sister, Wilhelmine of Bayreuth at Unter-schwaningen.
A nearby bomb blast also shattered the palace window where, long before, the unhappy wife of the Wild Margrave once
scratched her sorrowful message into a window pane. Shortly after the transfer of the Margraveship to Prussia, the
famous Ansbach library was tragically hauled away and dispersed to various and sundry places throughout Prussia, and
after the looting and plundering by the Soviets and Allies after World War Two, much of it was lost forever. The old
Frankonian record books were scattered. A bust of Voltaire, a gift of the last Margrave, Karl Wilhelm's son Alexander,
to his castle library, remained as the only article of art left the original Ansbach library.
scratched her sorrowful message into a window pane. Shortly after the transfer of the Margraveship to Prussia, the
famous Ansbach library was tragically hauled away and dispersed to various and sundry places throughout Prussia, and
after the looting and plundering by the Soviets and Allies after World War Two, much of it was lost forever. The old
Frankonian record books were scattered. A bust of Voltaire, a gift of the last Margrave, Karl Wilhelm's son Alexander,
to his castle library, remained as the only article of art left the original Ansbach library.