Louise, Queen of Prussia is one of the most heroic figures of the Napoleonic war era. She rallied the country to resist Napoleon and did everything in her power to maintain Prussian rights under the tyrannical regime of Napoleon. Her son William I became the first Emperor of Germany, and she was a beloved Prussian heroine for over a century. Show All     Download:     PDF       EPUB

QUEEN LOUISE OF PRUSSIA.

Translator's Preface

There have been greater queens in history,—Elizabeth of England, Catherine of Russia, Maria Theresa of Austria, and others,—greater in diplomacy and state-craft and power, but none purer, nobler, or lovelier than Louise, Queen of Prussia, whose pathetic life is narrated in this volume. No queen has suffered more from the calamities inflicted upon her family, from the personal insults of a victorious enemy, and from the misfortunes which visited her country; and no queen has been more deeply beloved.

The brutal attempt made by Napoleon to destroy her reputation is one of the most disgraceful events in his career. The insult was avenged sixty-five years later, when her second son, William the Third, vanquished Napoleon's nephew, entered Paris in triumph, and was crowned Emperor of United Germany at Versailles. She will ever remain in history the ideal of a noble, beautiful woman of refined character, lofty patriotism, charitable nature, and exemplary goodness. The story of her sufferings and of the patience with which she endured them; of her love for her husband and children and country, which never wavered, as told in this little volume, must commend her to all who admire purity, beauty, truth, and love.

G. P. U.

CHICAGO, July 1, 1909.

Appendix

The following is a chronological statement of the principal events in Prussian history connected with this volume:

1770	Birth of Frederick William the Third.
1776	Birth of Louise.
1793	Marriage of Frederick William the Third and Louise.
1805	Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz.
1806	Frederick William the Third declares war against France.
1806	Defeat of Prussians at Jena and Aucrstadt.
1806	Napoleon enters Berlin.
1807	Frederick William the Third signs humiliating treaty at Tilsit.
1809	German War of Liberation.
1810	Death of Louise.
1812	Frederick William the Third joins France against Russia.
1813	Frederick William the Third joins in the war of Liberation.
1815	Frederick William the Third joins the Holy Alliance.
1840	Death of Frederick William the Third.
1871	William the First, Louise's second son, vanquishes France
1871	William the First crowned Emperor of United Germany at Versailles.