Frederick VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach


Frederick VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach was the Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1659 until his death.

Life

He was born at Karlsburg Castle, in Durlach as the son of Friedrich V, Margrave of Baden-Durlach and Barbara of Württemberg. He studied in Strasbourg and Paris where he particularly enjoyed the science of war. Later he participated in the defense of German territories against the Ottoman invasion of 1663. Frederick later also participated in the Franco-Dutch War.
After the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648 he did not take time out to recover from his war crafts. As early as 1663, the Turks had penetrated deep into Hungary. The imperial army of Emperor Leopold I began to organize a common defense against the Turks and demanded that Baden-Durlach should also provide troops. Frederick VI participated in this war as a Major General.
The Emperor granted, even before the war began, to Frederick and his cousin, Margrave William of Baden-Baden, the right to use the style Serene Highness. This title was hereditary until 1803, when Margrave Charles Frederick of the in 1771 re-united margraviate of Baden was raised to Elector after he had greatly expanded his territory during the German Mediatisation.
In the battle against the Turks, Frederick's cousin Louis William distinguished himself and earned himself the nickname Türkenlouis. After the Turks were defeated, Frederick participated on the Dutch side in the Franco-Dutch War. In 1676, he began a siege on the fortress of Philippsburg; after he captured the city on 17 September of that year, it was added to the Baden-Durlach territories.
He died on 10 or 31 January 1677 at the Karlsburg Castle in Durlach.

Marriages and issue

Frederick VI married his first wife on 30 November 1642 Christine Magdalene, the daughter of the Count Palatine John Casimir of Kleeburg. They had the following children:
Frederick VI's second marriage was a morganatic one. His second wife was Johanna Bayer of Sendau, ; her descendants are the Barons of Münzesheim.

Footnotes