Leopold II, Prince of Lippe
| Leopold II | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Lippe | |
 | |
| Reign | 4 April 1802 – 1 January 1851 |
| Predecessor | Leopold I |
| Successor | Leopold III |
| Born |
6 November 1796 Detmold |
| Died |
1 January 1851 (aged 54) Detmold |
| Spouse | Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen |
| House | Lippe |
| Father | Leopold I |
| Mother | Pauline of Anhalt-Bernburg |
Leopold II of Lippe (Paul Alexander Leopold; 6 November 1796 – 1 January 1851) was the sovereign of the Principality of Lippe. He succeeded to the throne in 1802, and in 1820 he assumed control of the government from his mother who had been acting as regent due to his youth at accession.
Biography
Leopold II was born in Detmold, the eldest child of Leopold I, the reigning prince of Lippe and his consort Princess Pauline of Anhalt-Bernburg (1769–1820). He succeeded as Prince of Lippe on his father's death on 4 April 1802. As he was just six years old his mother Princess Pauline acted as regent until 3 July 1820 when he assumed control of the government.[1] During the regency, his mother had introduced a constitution in 1819 which created an assembly which at the time had more executive powers than any other assembly in Germany.[2]
In 1825 he constructed a Court Theatre. Among those to perform at the theatre were Albert Lortzing and Ludwig Devrient who were employed there from 1826 to 1833.[3]
In the last years of his reign the revolutions of 1848 broke out across all of Germany. Following his death in Detmold he was succeeded on the throne by his eldest son Leopold III.[4]
Marriage and children
Prince Leopold was married in Arnstadt on 23 April 1820 to Princess Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (1800–1867). They had nine children:
- Leopold III, Prince of Lippe (1821–1875), married Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1833–1896) on 17 April 1852.
- Princess Luise of Lippe (1822–1887)
- Woldemar, Prince of Lippe (1824–1895), married Sophie of Baden (7 August 1834 – 6 April 1904) on 9 November 1858.
- Princess Friederike of Lippe (1825–1897)
- Prince Friedrich of Lippe (1827–1854)
- Prince Hermann of Lippe (1829–1884)
- Alexander, Prince of Lippe (1831–1905)
- Prince Karl of Lippe (1832–1834)
- Princess Pauline of Lippe (1834–1906)
Ancestry
References
- ↑ Almanach de Gotha (87th ed.). Justus Perthes. 1850. p. 38.
- ↑ Knight, Charles (1839). Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. p. 37.
- ↑ Gadberry, Glen W (1995). Theatre in the Third Reich, the Prewar Years: Essays on Theatre in Nazi Germany. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 33, 34. ISBN 0-313-29516-6.
- ↑ "The Gentleman's Magazine". 1851. p. 335.
| Leopold II, Prince of Lippe Born: 6 November 1796 Died: 1 January 1851 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Leopold I |
Prince of Lippe 1802–1851 |
Succeeded by Leopold III |