Carl, Prince of Wied

Carl, Prince of Wied (German: Friedrich August Maximilian Wilhelm Carl Fürst zu Wied; 27 October 1961 – 12 March 2015 ^[1]) was the son of Frederick William, 7th Prince of Wied. In 2000 he succeeded his father, becoming the 8th titular Prince of Wied.^[2]

Early life

Carl was born at Neuwied, West Germany, the second child of Frederick William, Prince of Wied (1931–2000), (grandson of William Frederick, Prince of Wied and Princess Pauline of Württemberg) and his first wife, Princess Guda of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 1939), (daughter of Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Duchess Altburg of Oldenburg). Through his father he was a descendant of the kings William II of Württemberg, William I of the Netherlands and Frederick William III of Prussia. Through his mother he descended from the sovereign rulers George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg.

Although his full name was Friedrich August Maximilian Wilhelm Carl, he was primarily known the last of these, "Carl".^[2]

Marriage

Carl was married 26 April 1998 in Birstein to Princess Isabelle of Isenburg (b. 1973), third child and second daughter of Franz Alexander, Prince of Isenburg, head of the mediatized House of Isenburg and his wife, Countess Christine von Saurma-Jeltsch.^[2] Isabelle is a sister of Sophie, Princess of Prussia and Archduchess Katharina of Austria-Este.^[2]

Carl and Isabelle had four children:^[2]

• Maximilian, Prince of Wied (b. 10 August 1999)
• Prince Frederick William of Wied (b. 9 May 2001)
• Princess Marie Elisabeth of Wied (b. and d. 29 March 2003)
• Princess Louise of Wied (b. 2 November 2004)

With his family, Carl lived in Neuwied castle, while other members of his family live in Burg Runkel.^[2]

Prince of Wied

Less than six weeks after the death of his father in August 2000, Carl's elder brother, Prince Alexander, renounced his prerogatives as first-born son,^[3] whereupon the dynastic legacy devolved upon Carl.^[2] Carl was also in the line of succession to the British throne as a descendant of Princess Augusta of Great Britain, daughter of Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II of Great Britain).

Death

Carl died suddenly and unexpectedly following a heart attack in the early hours of March 12, 2015, in the Marienhaus hospital in Neuwied. He was succeeded by his 15-year-old son Maximilian.

Titles and styles^[2]

• 27 October 1961 – 4 October 2000: His Serene Highness Prince Carl of Wied
• 4 October 2000 – 12 March 2015: His Serene Highness The Prince of Wied

Ancestry

References and notes

Bibliography

• thePeerage.com - Friedrich August Maximilian Wilhelm Carl Fürst zu Wied
• Genealogics - Leo van de Pas - Carl, 8.Fürst zu Wied
• Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Band XIX, 2011