Wilhelm, Duke of Urach

Wilhelm
Duke of Urach
Reign28 March 1867 – 17 July 1869
Born(1810-07-06)6 July 1810
Stuttgart
Died17 July 1869(1869-07-17) (aged 59)
Lichtenstein Castle
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1841; died 1857)
(m. 1863)
IssuePrincess Augusta Eugenie
Princess Marie Josephine
Princess Eugenia Amalie
Princess Mathilde
Mindaugas II of Lithuania
Prince Karl
HouseWürttemberg (birth)
Urach (founder)
FatherDuke Wilhelm of Württemberg
MotherBaroness Wilhelmine von Tunderfeldt-Rhodis

Count Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander Ferdinand of Württemberg, 1st Duke of Urach (6 July 1810 – 17 July 1869), was the son of Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg (1761–1830), younger brother of King Frederick I of Württemberg, by his morganatic wife, Baroness Wilhelmine von Tunderfeldt-Rhodis (1777–1822), who had married in 1800.[1] He was the first Head of the House of Urach.

Wilhelm served as a cavalry officer in the army of the then-independent Kingdom of Württemberg. He also tested cannon for the Army of Württemberg, some of which can still be seen at Lichtenstein Castle, which he substantially rebuilt in the 1840s. He was inspired by the romantic historical novel Lichtenstein by Wilhelm Hauff (1826). Hauff was in turn inspired by the works of Walter Scott. He was created Duke of Urach on 28 March 1867, with the style of Serene Highness.[2]

Wilhelm was a junior member of the royal family of Württemberg. He was a nephew of King Frederick (d. 1816), and was a first cousin of King William I of Württemberg (ruled 1816–1864).