Karl, Grand Duke of Baden

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Karl Ludwig Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden (July 8, 1786 in Karlsruhe-December 8, 1818 in Rastatt) became ruler of Baden on June 10, 1811 and ruled until his death.

He was the son of Karl Ludwig of Baden and Amelie of Hesse-Darmstadt, the daughter of Ludwig IX of Hesse-Darmstadt. He was the brother-in-law of the rulers of Bavaria, Russia and Sweden. His oldest sister Karoline was the queen consort of King Maximilan I of Bavaria, his second eldest sister Louise was the Empress consort of Tsar Alexander I of Russia and his third eldest sister Frederica was the queen consort of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden.

Karl was 25 years old when he became the Grand Duke. He succeeded his grandfather Karl Friedrich upon the latters death, as Karl's father had died in 1801 during a trip to Sweden.

[edit] Events that occurred during his reign

The end of Napoleon's rule and the Congress of Vienna, which confirmed the territorial gains Baden had made during the Napoleonic era.
1818 The passing of a new, liberal constitution
The height of Friedrich Weinbrenner's career
1817 The start of the administration of the Rhine by Johann Gottfried Tulla
The premiere of the velocipede by Karl Drais

[edit] Marriage and family

Hereditary Prince Charles was married on April 8, 1806, Stéphanie de Beauharnais (August 28, 1789-January 29, 1860), daughter of Claude de Beauharnais and the adopted daughter of Napoleon Bonaparte. They had the following children:

Louise (June 5, 1811-July 19, 1854) married her first cousin Prince Gustav of Sweden (November 9, 1799-August 4, 1877) on November 9, 1830.
Son (September 10, 1812-October 16, 1812)
Josephine (October 21, 1813-June 19, 1900) married Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (September 7, 1811-June 2, 1885) on October 21, 1834.
Alexander (May 1, 1816-May 8, 1817)
Marie (October 11, 1817-October 17, 1888) married William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton (February 15, 1811-July 15, 1863) on February 23, 1843

As Grand Duke Charles did not have any surviving male children, upon his death he was succeeded by his uncle Louis I. A theory states that Kaspar Hauser was his son.