Carolina of Orange-Nassau
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Her Serene Highness Fürstin Carolina zu Nassau-Weilburg née Her Serene Highness Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau, Princess-Regent of Friesland (February 28, 1743-May 6, 1787) was the daughter of HH Prince Willem IV of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands, and HRH Princess Anne (née Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland).
Princess Carolina was born in Leeuwarden. In 1747, it was declared that the position of Stadtholder could be inherited by females, thus making the young Princess Carolina the heiress presumptive to the position of Stadtholder. However, in 1748, a male heir, Willem, was born to her parents, thus displacing her and putting her second in line to the position.
Princess Carolina's father died in 1751, making her 3-year-old brother Willem V of Orange. At that point, her mother was appointed Princess-Regent. However, in 1759, her mother died, and Willem V was still just 10 years old. Then, Princess Carolina's grandmother, HH Princess Marie Luise, was made Princess-Regent. Princess Marie-Luise was regent until 1765, when she died. Willem V was now 17, but that was still not old enough to rule on his own. So, Princess Carolina was made Princess-Regent. She ruled until 1766, when Willem V turned 18.
During the regency of Princess Marie Luise, Princess Carolina married HSH Fürst Karl zu Nassau-Weilburg. She died in 1787.
