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. The
Golden Ages of Bayreuth 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.
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. The
Golden Ages of Bayreuth 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.
Bayreuth until then was a small, insignificant, if not provincial, town with 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.
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.
Artists, musicians and intellectuals spiritually erased their national borders for a time and embraced
the Rococo style of the period to transcend their respective earthly 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 opened.
the Rococo style of the period to transcend their respective earthly 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 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. A midi file of her work
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. A midi file of her work
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 when the occupation by the Napeolonian forces
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 when the occupation by the Napeolonian forces
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 its authenticity has been questioned.
her death, although its authenticity has been questioned.
The foundation of Erlangen University was laid by Margrave Friedrich with the aid of Wilhelmine.
The first ‘Friedrich University' was erected in Bayreuth in 1743, but within a year it was moved to a
building on the main street in Erlangen which had once housed the ‘Ritter-akademie' (the Knights
Academy). The university opened on November 4,1743, the third university in Franken, but in its
early days it was one of the smallest institutions of its kind, with only 64 students in its first year,
taught by 16 professors; the average number of students rose to 200 and remained so for some time.
The university was renamed the Friedrich-Alexander University in honour of the next Margrave of
Ansbach, Alexander, and it became Friedrich-Alexander University. In 1818, the University acquired
a significant number of buildings in Erlangen. Bavarian king, Maximilian I Joseph, donated the
palace, the palace gardens, the Orangery and other buildings previously owned by the margraves.
The first ‘Friedrich University' was erected in Bayreuth in 1743, but within a year it was moved to a
building on the main street in Erlangen which had once housed the ‘Ritter-akademie' (the Knights
Academy). The university opened on November 4,1743, the third university in Franken, but in its
early days it was one of the smallest institutions of its kind, with only 64 students in its first year,
taught by 16 professors; the average number of students rose to 200 and remained so for some time.
The university was renamed the Friedrich-Alexander University in honour of the next Margrave of
Ansbach, Alexander, and it became Friedrich-Alexander University. In 1818, the University acquired
a significant number of buildings in Erlangen. Bavarian king, Maximilian I Joseph, donated the
palace, the palace gardens, the Orangery and other buildings previously owned by the margraves.
