Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...

Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp (16 March 1719 – 7 September 1763) was a Prussian lieutenant-general and an Imperial Russian

field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

. He was the youngest son of

Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp-Eutin (11 January 167324 April 1726) was a cadet of the reigning ducal House of Holstein-Gottorp who became prince of Eutin, prince-bishop of Lübeck and regent of the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp. He was the fat ...

and his wife

Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach Princess Margravine Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach (3 July 1682 – 22 December 1755) was a German princess. She was the daughter of Frederick VII, Margrave of Baden-Durlach and his wife Duchess Augusta Marie of Holstein-Gottorp. She mar ...

. He joined the Prussian army in 1741 and was appointed major general in 1744. In the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...

, he served under the command of Field Marshal Johann von Lehwaldt where he was promoted to lieutenant-general. In 1760 he fought in the Battle of Torgau after which he was dismissed by

Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...

for not being fast enough.''Georg Ludwig, Herzog von Holstein-Gottorp'' von Ernst Graf zur Lippe-Weißenfeld in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie He then served for

Peter III of Russia Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a s ...

, his second cousin once removed, and became field marshal on 21 February 1762. Due to the revolution on 4 June 1762, headed by his niece,

Catherine the Great , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anha ...

, he lost his position and returned to

Kiel Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland ...

where he died soon after.

Family

Sophie Charlotte de Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderbourg-Beck

Georg Ludwig married

Princess Sophie Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck Prince Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp (16 March 1719 – 7 September 1763) was a Prussian lieutenant-general and an Imperial Russian field marshal. He was the youngest son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin and his wife ...

(1722-1763) in 1750. She was the daughter of

Frederick William II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck Frederick William II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (18 June 1687 – 11 November 1749) was a Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. He served as Prussian field marshal and was appointed Governor of Berlin, but never filled the ...

. They had three children: * Friedrich (1751-1752), died in infancy; * Wilhelm (1753-1772), died young, unmarried; * Peter (1755-1829), who served as regent for his cousin before ultimately becoming

Grand Duke of Oldenburg 120px, Shield of the Counts of Oldenburg 120px, Shield of the Counts of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst This is a list of the counts, dukes, grand dukes, and prime ministers of Oldenburg. Counts of Oldenburg * 1088/1101–1108 Elimar I * 1108–114 ...

. Sophie died on 7 August 1763, exactly one month before her husband.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp 1719 births 1763 deaths Field marshals of Russia Prussian Army personnel House of Holstein-Gottorp 18th-century military personnel from the Russian Empire 18th-century Prussian people