First mentioned as Baierrute, Bayreuth began life as a settlement above
the Roter Main River and developed into a town in the 15th century. In
1603, Margrave Christian of Brandenburg-Kulmbach decided to move
his residence to Bayreuth, and many famous substantial buildings were
added to the town after the Thirty Years War. When Christian died in
1655, his grandson Christian Ernst, who ruled from 1661-1712,had the
fountain of the Margraves and an equestrian monument erected.
Bayreuth's real golden age came during the reign of Wilhelmine, 1709-
1758, Friedrich the Great's talented and witty favorite sister who had
been forced into marrying Margrave Friedrich of Bayreuth in 1731.
the Roter Main River and developed into a town in the 15th century. In
1603, Margrave Christian of Brandenburg-Kulmbach decided to move
his residence to Bayreuth, and many famous substantial buildings were
added to the town after the Thirty Years War. When Christian died in
1655, his grandson Christian Ernst, who ruled from 1661-1712,had the
fountain of the Margraves and an equestrian monument erected.
Bayreuth's real golden age came during the reign of Wilhelmine, 1709-
1758, Friedrich the Great's talented and witty favorite sister who had
been forced into marrying Margrave Friedrich of Bayreuth in 1731.
Bayreuth then was a small, insignificant, if not provincial, town a population of only 7,000. Missing
the activity and culture of Berlin, and as soon as circumstances would permit when her husband
came into his inheritance in 1735, Wilhelmine invited the best Italian and French artists, poets,
composers and architects to Bayreuth and turned the hamlet into a "miniature Versailles" where her
guests indulged themselves in a fairy tale world.
the activity and culture of Berlin, and as soon as circumstances would permit when her husband
came into his inheritance in 1735, Wilhelmine invited the best Italian and French artists, poets,
composers and architects to Bayreuth and turned the hamlet into a "miniature Versailles" where her
guests indulged themselves in a fairy tale world.
Artists, musicians and intellectuals spiritually erased their
national borders for a time and embraced the Rococo style
of the period to transcend their respective geographical
boundaries. Galli de Bibienas, from a family of architects and
stage designers in Northern Italy, designed the most beautiful
theater of all of Europe for Margravine Wilhelmine in 1728.
Several parks and castles were built, and in 1748, the
Markgräfliches Opernhaus, below, opened.
national borders for a time and embraced the Rococo style
of the period to transcend their respective geographical
boundaries. Galli de Bibienas, from a family of architects and
stage designers in Northern Italy, designed the most beautiful
theater of all of Europe for Margravine Wilhelmine in 1728.
Several parks and castles were built, and in 1748, the
Markgräfliches Opernhaus, below, opened.
Wilhelmine had a great love of music and she composed herself,
although much of her work was lost. Her compositions include
the opera Argenore and several arias. She and Voltaire maintained
an extensive correspondence about art, religion and philosophy,
and she dedicated herself to scientific study. She only had one
daughter. Her husband had infamously taken a mistress later in
their marriage, causing family discord.
although much of her work was lost. Her compositions include
the opera Argenore and several arias. She and Voltaire maintained
an extensive correspondence about art, religion and philosophy,
and she dedicated herself to scientific study. She only had one
daughter. Her husband had infamously taken a mistress later in
their marriage, causing family discord.
In 1769, the last Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (or Brandenburg-Bayreuth) died without an
heir, and the state was annexed by neighboring Ansbach. Bayreuth was no longer a state capital.
Soon after, it became Prussian, then French in 1806 under occupation by the Napeolonian forces
who caused the town grave suffering from repeated demands for food, money and war contributions.
It became Bavarian in 1810. The years following the Margrave's and the Margravine's passing
plunged Bayreuth into a fairy tale like slumber for decades, having lost its guiding lights until roused
from its sleep decades later by Richard Wagner.
heir, and the state was annexed by neighboring Ansbach. Bayreuth was no longer a state capital.
Soon after, it became Prussian, then French in 1806 under occupation by the Napeolonian forces
who caused the town grave suffering from repeated demands for food, money and war contributions.
It became Bavarian in 1810. The years following the Margrave's and the Margravine's passing
plunged Bayreuth into a fairy tale like slumber for decades, having lost its guiding lights until roused
from its sleep decades later by Richard Wagner.
Their building operations included the rebuilding of their summer residence, the Ermitage, and they
founded the University of Erlangen as well as an academy of the fine arts, which almost bankrupted
them. In the 18th century, it was fashionable to shed old cultural and political divisions of Europe.
founded the University of Erlangen as well as an academy of the fine arts, which almost bankrupted
them. In the 18th century, it was fashionable to shed old cultural and political divisions of Europe.
| Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine von Bayreuth |
Her remarkable life was related in her Memoires de ma Vie, written or revised between 1748 and her
death, although their authenticity has been questioned.
death, although their authenticity has been questioned.