Sophie Marie Dorothea of W�rttemberg
Sophie Marie Dorothea Auguste Louise of Württemberg or Maria Fedorovna (October 25, 1759 - November 5, 1828) was Empress consort to Emperor Paul I of Russia.
She was born in Stettin to Frederick II Eugene of Württemberg (January 21, 1732 - December 23, 1797) and his wife Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt (December 18, 1736 - March 9, 1798).
Her paternal grandparents were Charles I Alexander, Duke of Württemberg (January 24, 1684 - March 12, 1737) and his wife Marie-Auguste of Thurn und Taxis. The former had become Reigning Duke of Württemberg in 1733 following his long service under Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor. His mostly Protestant subjects suspected him of contemplaiting their conversion to his own belief of Roman Catholicism. The later was daughter to Anselm Franz, Fürst of Thurn und Taxis.
Her maternal grandfather Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (December 27, 1700 - March 4, 1771) was son to
Philip William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1669 - 1711) and his wife Joanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau (1682 - 1750). He was also grandson to Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg and his second wife Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (September 28, 1636 - August 6, 1689).
Her maternal grandmother was Princess Sophie Dorothee Marie of Prussia (January 25, 1719 - November 13, 1765). She was daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and his wife Princess Sophia Dorothea of Great Britain. The later was herself daughter to George I of Great Britain and his Queen consort Sophia of Celle.
She married Paul on October 7, 1776. Their marriage resulted in the birth of ten children:
- Alexander I of Russia (December 23, 1777 - December 1, 1825).
- Grand Duke Constantine of Russia (May 8, 1779 - June 27, 1831). Better known as governor of Poland. He was excluded from the will of his older brother.
- Grand Duchess Alexandra of Russia (August 9, 1783 - March 16, 1801). On October 30, 1799 she married Joseph Anton, Archduke of Austria, a son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor.
- Grand Duchess Elena of Russia (December 24, 1784 - September 24, 1803. On October 23, 1799 she married Frederick Ludvig of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a son of Friedrich Franz I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Their son became Paul Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
- Grand Duchess Maria of Russia (February 16, 1786 - June 23, 1859). She is better known as patroness to Franz Liszt.
- Grand Duchess Catherine of Russia (May 21, 1788 - January 19, 1831). She was Queen Consort to King William I of Württemberg.
- Grand Duchess Olga of Russia (July 22, 1792 - January 26, 1795).
- Grand Duchess Anna of Russia (January 18, 1795 - March 1, 1865). Reportedly denied a marriage proposal by Napoleon I of France due to the advice of her mother. Later Queen consort to William II of the Netherlands.
- Nicholas I of Russia (July 6, 1796 - March 2, 1855).
- Grand Duke Michael of Russia (February 8, 1798 - September 9, 1849). He married Helene Charlotte of Württemberg.
She became Empress dowager on March 23, 1801 with the assassination of her husband. She died in Pavlovsk at the age of 69, having survived several of her children.
