Miss Prussia 2010 – Luise, The Legend

Do you remember that there once existed a kingdom in Europe called Prussia? It’s capital was Berlin, and it included parts of modern day Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. The state became abolished alter World War II, since it was seen as the source of all evil. In Germany, people from the south sometimes still use the word Saupreiß (literally: Stupid Prussian) to refer to inhabitants of the North. But that doesn’t mean that all history should be forgotten. This year, it is the 200th anniversary of the death of Prussia’s most beloved queen: Luise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1776 – 1810). In her honor, the Charlottenburg Palace presents the exhibition ‘Luise. The Life and Legend of the Queen’.

Luise was said to be extraordinary beautiful, and when she was 17 years old she married the crown prince of Prussia: William Frederich III. Their life was far from easy, since at the time of her reign Prussia was at war with France. They had to move from place to place, while the Prussian army was fighting Napoleon. Luise had 10 children, of whom 3 died in childhood. Her daughter Charlotte was to become the next Empress of Russia.

But why was she so special? What made her so loved with her people? She maintained loyal to her husband and his people, but what gained her most respect was her resistance to Napoleon. After the battle of Jena in 1806, in which more then 28,000 Prussian soldiers died, Queen Luise personally visited Napoleon I at his headquarters in Tilsit (Russia) to ask for peace. Of course he didn’t give in, but this gained her enormous popularity and respect among her people. When later Napoleon tried to destroy her reputation, it only made her even stronger.

The exhibition will be held from 6th march 2010 until 30th May 2010, in the Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, where she is also buried. More then 200 paintings, sculptures and historical documents will give us a look into the life of this remarkable woman. It includes masterpieces by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Johann Gottfried Schadow and Christian Daniel Rauch.

Luise died at the age of just 34, most probable from pneumonia. She became a symbol of virtue and hope, and her husband established the Luisen-Order to honor her. Don’t miss this chance to discover the woman behind the myth. Rent the best apartments in Berlin, and dive into European history.