View source for Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden

{{Short description|Grand Duke of Baden from 1907 to 1918}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Expand German|topic=bio|Friedrich II. (Baden, Großherzog)|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Frederick II
| full name = Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leopold August
| image = GrandDukeFriedrichII.jpg
| caption = Grand Duke Frederick II in 1915
| alt = A photograph of Frederick in his 58th year
| birth_date = {{birth date|1857|7|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Karlsruhe]], [[Grand Duchy of Baden]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1928|8|9|1857|7|9|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Badenweiler]], [[Weimar Republic]]
| house        = [[House of Zähringen|Zähringen]]
| father = [[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden]]
| mother = [[Princess Louise of Prussia]]
| succession = [[Grand Duke of Baden]]
| reign = 28 September 1907 – 22 November 1918
| predecessor = [[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden|Frederick I]]
| successor = ''Monarchy abolished''
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Princess Hilda of Nassau]]|1885}}
}}

'''Frederick II''' (9 July 1857 – 9 August 1928; {{langx|de|Friedrich II. Großherzog von Baden}}) was the last sovereign [[Grand Duke of Baden]], reigning from 1907 until the abolition of the [[Germany|German]] monarchies in 1918. The [[Weimar Republic|Weimar]]-era [[States of the Weimar Republic|state]] of [[Republic of Baden|Baden]] originated from the area of the [[Grand Duchy of Baden]].

==Life==
''Friedrich "Fritz" Wilhelm Ludwig Leopold August Prinz von Baden'' was born on 9 July 1857, in [[Karlsruhe]] in the [[Grand Duchy of Baden]] to [[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden]] and [[Princess Louise of Prussia]].

As a student at the [[Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg|University of Heidelberg]], Frederick was a member of the [[German Student Corps|Suevia Corps]], a student [[Fraternity|fraternal]] organization. On 20 September 1885 in [[Schloss Hohenburg]], he married [[Princess Hilda of Nassau]], the only daughter of the exiled Duke [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Adolphe of Nassau]] who later succeeded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg. There was no surviving issue from the marriage. Frederick became the head of the [[House of Zähringen]] on 28 September 1907, after the death of his father Frederick I, who was the sovereign grand duke of Baden reigning from 1856 to 1907. He abdicated on 22 November 1918, amidst the tumults of the [[German Revolution of 1918–1919]] which resulted in the abolition of the grand duchy. After the death of his cousin [[Carola of Vasa]], he became the representative of the descent of the [[Kings of Sweden]] of the [[House of Holstein-Gottorp]].

==Military Career==
[[File:Baden-friedrich-2.jpg|thumb|right|Grand Duke Friedrich as a staff officer]]

In October 1880, Frederick joined the [[Prussian Army]] as a soldier in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards (''1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß'') Potsdam. After his marriage in 1885, he was transferred to the 5th Baden Infantry Regiment No. 113 (''5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113'')<ref>[https://wiki.genealogy.net/IR_113 wiki-de.genealogy.net]</ref> in [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]. He took command of the regiment on 22 March 1889.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2">Günter Wegner: ''Stellenbesetzung der Deutschen Heere 1815-1939. Band 2: Die Stellenbesetzung der aktiven Infanterie-Regimenter sowie Jäger- und MG-Battalione, Wehrbezirkskommandos und Ausbildungsleiter von der Stiftung bzw. Aufstellung bis 1939'', Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück 1992, ISBN 3-7648-1782-8</ref> The regiment's barracks were later named after him as the ''Erbgroßherzog-Friedrich-Kaserne''. Friedrich served in Berlin from 1891 to 1893 as commander of the 4th Guards Infantry Brigade.<ref name="Wegner, Band 1">Günter Wegner: ''Stellenbesetzung der Deutschen Heere 1815-1939. Band 1: Die Höheren Kommandostellen'', Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, ISBN 3-7648-1779-8</ref> On 11 April 1893, he was named commander of the [[29th Division (German Empire)|29th Division]] in Freiburg.<ref name="Wegner, Band 1" /> On 27 January 1897, Kaiser Wilhelm II appointed him commanding general of the [[VIII Corps (German Empire)|VIII Army Corps]] (''VIII. Armeekorps'') in [[Koblenz]], where he was garrisoned until 1901.<ref name="Wegner, Band 1" /> While in Koblenz, [[Paul von Hindenburg]], among others, served as Chief of the General Staff under Friedrich's command. 

In 1902, Frederick left active army service because, as hereditary Grand Duke, he was expected to support the aging Grand Duke Frederick I in Karlsruhe and Kaiser Wilhelm II had refused his request to take command of the [[XIV Corps (German Empire)|XIV Army Corps]], which was headquartered in Baden and comprised the majority of Baden's contingent of the Prussian Army, for functional reasons.<ref>Lothar Machtan: ''Prinz Max von Baden: Der letzte Kanzler des Kaisers.'' Suhrkamp Verlag, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-518-42407-0, S. 167.</ref>

After leaving active military service, Frederick was promoted to ''[[Generaloberst]]'' (Colonel General) with the rank of ''[[Generalfeldmarschall]]'' (Field Marshal). On 7 October 1907, he succeeded his father in the largely ceremonial position of ''Generalinpekteur'' (General Inspector) of the [[Imperial German Army#Army inspectorate|V Army Inspectorate]] in Karlsruhe.<ref name="Wegner, Band 1" /> On mobilization at the end of July 1914, the V Army Inspectorate formed the core of the [[7th Army (German Empire)|7th Army]], but command was passed to ''Generaloberst'' [[Josias von Heeringen]], and for health reasons Grand Duke Frederick II was unable to serve again during the First World War. 

Friedrich held the following ranks during his military career: 
[[File:Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany with the Grand Duke Friedrich II of Baden.jpg|thumb|260px|Frederick II with [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II]] in 1908]]

* 1875 : ''Sekondelieutenant'' ([[Leutnant]])
* 1881 : ''Premierlieutenant'' ([[Oberleutnant]])
* 1882 : ''[[Hauptmann]]''
* 1884 : ''[[Major (rank)|Major]]''
* 1889 : ''[[Oberst]]''
* 1891 : ''[[Generalmajor]]''
* 1893 : ''[[Generalleutnant]]''
* 1897 : ''[[General (Germany)|General der Infanterie]]''
* 1905 : ''[[Generaloberst]] with the rank of [[Generalfeldmarschall]]''

==Death==
After his death in 1928, the headship of the house was transferred over to his first cousin who was the last Chancellor of [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]], [[Prince Maximilian of Baden]].

==Honorary titles==
* [[Colonel-in-chief|Chief]] of the 5th Baden Infantry Regiment No. 113 (''5. Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113''), 22 March 1891.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2" />
* [[Colonel-in-chief|Chief]] of the 1st Baden Life Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 109 (''1. Badisches Leib-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 109''), 28 September 1907.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2" />
* [[Colonel-in-chief|Chief]] of the 1st Baden Life Guard Dragoon Regiment No. 20 (''1. Badisches Leib-Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 20''), 28 September 1907.<ref name="Wegner, Band 3">Günter Wegner: ''Stellenbesetzung der Deutschen Heere 1815-1939. Band 3: Die Stellenbesetzung der aktiven Regimenter, Battalione und Abteilungen von der Stiftung bzw. Aufstellung bis zum 26. August 1939'', Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück 1993, ISBN 3-7648-2413-1</ref>
* [[Colonel-in-chief|Chief]] 1st Baden Field Artillery Regiment "Grand Duke" No. 14 (''Feldartillerie-Regiment Großherzog (1. Badisches) Nr. 14''), 7 October 1907<ref name="Wegner, Band 3" />
* [[Inhaber]] of the Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment "Grand Duke Friedrich II of Baden" (''Königlich Bayerisches 8. Infanterie-Regiment „Großherzog Friedrich II. von Baden“''), 1907.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2" />
* [[Colonel-in-chief|Chief]] of the 8th Württemberg Infantry Regiment "Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden" No. 126 (''Infanterie-Regiment „Großherzog Friedrich von Baden“ (8. Württembergisches) Nr. 126''), 16 July 1908.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2" />
* [[Colonel-in-chief|Chief]] of the Saxon 4th Infantry Regiment No. 103 (''Königlich Sächsisches 4. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 103''), 17 October 1908.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2" />
* [[À la suite]] of the Prussian 1st Regiment of Foot Guards (''1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß''), 20 October 1883.<ref name="Wegner, Band 2" />
* [[À la suite]] of the Prussian 1st Guards Uhlan Regiment (''1. Garde-Ulanen-Regiment''), 18 October 1884.<ref name="Wegner, Band 3" />
* [[À la suite]] of the Imperial Navy 1st Sea Battalion (''I. Seebataillon'')
* Honorary General of the [[Swedish Army]], 1906<ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges statskalender|year=1915|page=201|url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1915/0201.html|via=runeberg.org|access-date=2018-01-06|language=sv}}</ref>

== Decorations and awards ==
;German orders and decorations<ref name = "HofUndStaat">''[https://digital.blb-karlsruhe.de/blbihd/periodical/titleinfo/6113864 Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden]'' (1910), "Großherzogliches Haus", pp. 1-2</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* {{flag|Baden}}:
** Knight of the [[House Order of Fidelity]]<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch ... Baden'' (1876), "Großherzogliche Orden" p. 57</ref>
** Knight of the [[Order of Berthold the First]]<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch ... Baden'' (1880), "Großherzogliche Orden" p. 72</ref>
** Friedrich-Luise Medal
** Jubilee Medal for 1902
** Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Grand Duke Friedrich I and Grand Duchess Luise
* {{Flag|Anhalt}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Albert the Bear]], ''1889''<ref>''[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_LR03AAAAYAAJ/page/n33  Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Herzogtums Anhalt]'' (1894), "Herzogliche Haus-Orden Albrecht des Bären" p. 17</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Bavaria}}: 
** [[Order of St. Hubert|Knight of St. Hubert]], ''1885''<ref>''[https://archive.org/details/hofundstaatshan00landgoog/page/n37/mode/2up  Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Bayern]'' (1908), "Königliche Orden", p. 7</ref>
** [[Military Merit Order (Bavaria)|Military Merit Order]], Grand Cross with Swords (16 August 1915)<ref>Erhard Roth: ''Verleihungen von militärischen Orden und Ehrenzeichen des Königreichs Bayern im Ersten Weltkrieg 1914-1918'', Phaleristischer Verlag Michael Autengruber, Offenbach am Main, 1997, ISBN 3-932543-19-X</ref>
* {{flag|Brunswick}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Henry the Lion]]
* {{flagicon|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}} {{flagicon|Saxe-Altenburg}} {{flagicon|Saxe-Meiningen}} [[Ernestine duchies]]: Grand Cross of the [[Saxe-Ernestine House Order]], ''1879''<ref>''[https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00243753/Sachsen_Coburg_Gotha_166999342_1890_0057.tif?logicalDiv=jportal_jparticle_00484309 Staatshandbücher für das Herzogtum Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha]'' (1890), "Herzogliche Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden" p. 46</ref>
* {{flagicon|Grand Duchy of Hesse}} [[Hesse and by Rhine]]: Grand Cross of the [[Ludwig Order]], ''29 December 1874''<ref>''[https://archive.org/details/hofundstaatshan00gergoog/page/n36 Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Hessen]'' (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen" p. 12</ref>
* {{Flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg}} [[Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]: 
** [[House Order of the Wendish Crown]], Grand Cross with Crown in Ore (1877)
** [[House Order of the Wendish Crown]], Grand Cross with Crown in Ore with Collar (1912)
** [[Military Merit Cross (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)|Military Merit Cross]] 1st and 2nd Class (1916)<ref>''Regierungsblatt für Mecklenburg-Schwerin'', Verleihungsliste für das Militärverdientkreuz, XIX.Veröffentlichung (13 October 1916), XXII.Veröffentlichung (28 October 1916).</ref> 
* {{flag|Nassau}}: [[Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau|Knight of the Gold Lion of Nassau]]
* {{flag|Oldenburg}}: [[House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis|Grand Cross of Honour of the Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig]]
* {{flag|Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}: [[Order of the White Falcon|Grand Cross of the White Falcon]], ''1877''<ref>''[https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00185861/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_16_0245.tif Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906150133/https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00185861/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_16_0245.tif |date=6 September 2020 }}'' (1900), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. 16</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Saxony}}: [[Order of the Rue Crown|Knight of the Rue Crown]]<ref name="p12">Justus Perthes, ''Almanach de Gotha'' (1921) [https://archive.org/details/almanachdegotha1922goth/page/12 p. 12]</ref>
* {{Flag|Schaumburg-Lippe}}: Cross of Honour of the House Order of Lippe, 1st Class
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} [[Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont|Waldeck-Pyrmont]]: Cross of Merit, 1st Class
* {{flag|Württemberg}}: [[Order of the Crown (Württemberg)|Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown]], ''1875''<ref>''[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Pc5CAAAAYAAJ/page/n63  Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg]'' (1907), "Königliche Orden" p. 28</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]:
** [[Order of the Black Eagle|Knight of the Black Eagle]], ''9 July 1875''; with Collar, ''1877''<ref>{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste|volume=1|chapter-url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=5&skin=2021|page=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=15&skin=2021 7]|language=German|chapter=Schwarzer Adler-orden|location=Berlin|year=1886}}</ref>
** [[Order of the Red Eagle|Grand Cross of the Red Eagle]]
** Grand Commander's Cross of the [[Royal House Order of Hohenzollern]]
** [[Iron Cross]] (1914), 1st and 2nd Class
** Officer's Service Decoration Cross
** [[Centenary Medal (Prussia)|Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Medal]]
** Commemorative Medal for the Silver Wedding of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta, ''27 February 1906''
* {{flagicon|Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen}} [[Hohenzollern]]: Cross of Honour of the [[Princely House Order of Hohenzollern]], 1st Class
}}
;Foreign orders and decorations<ref name = "HofUndStaat"/>
* {{flagicon|Austrian Empire}} {{flagicon|Kingdom of Hungary|1844}} [[Austria-Hungary]]:
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of St. Stephen of Hungary|Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen]], ''1885''<ref>[http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm "A Szent István Rend tagjai"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022855/http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm|date=22 December 2010}}</ref>
** Military Jubilee Cross, ''14 August 1908''
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]]
* {{flag|Empire of Brazil}}: [[Order of the Southern Cross|Grand Cross of the Southern Cross]]
* {{flag|Denmark}}: [[Order of the Elephant|Knight of the Elephant]], ''13 October 1897''<ref name="p12"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Jørgen Pedersen|title=Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glw-AQAAIAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag|language=da|isbn=978-87-7674-434-2|page=463}}</ref>
* {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}: [[Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation|Knight of the Annunciation]], ''10 September 1897''<ref name="dell'interno1900">{{cite book|author=Italia : Ministero dell'interno|title=Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKVreIv7hYkC&pg=PR3|year=1900|publisher=Unione tipografico-editrice|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=TKVreIv7hYkC&pg=PA54 54]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: [[Order of the Netherlands Lion|Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion]]
* {{flag|Kingdom of Romania}}:
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of Carol I]], with Collar
** [[Order of the Star of Romania|Grand Cross of the Star of Romania]]
* {{flag|Russian Empire}}: [[Order of St. Andrew|Knight of St. Andrew]]
* {{flagicon|Sweden|1844}} {{flagicon|Norway|1844}} [[Sweden-Norway]]:
** [[Order of the Seraphim|Knight of the Seraphim]], with Collar, ''20 September 1881''<ref name="p12"/><ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges statskalender|year=1925|page=807|url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1925/0813.html|via=runeberg.org|access-date=2018-01-06|language=sv}}</ref>
** [[Order of St. Olav|Grand Cross of St. Olav]], ''27 September 1897''<ref>{{citation|title=Norges Statskalender|language=Norwegian|year=1908|pages=869–870|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bFU1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA869|chapter=Den kongelige norske Sanct Olavs Orden|access-date=17 September 2021|author1=Norway }}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}}: Honorary Grand Cross of the [[Royal Victorian Order]], ''16 June 1905''<ref name="The London Gazette, Issue: 27807 Page: 4251">{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27807/page/4251/data.pdf |title=The London Gazette, Issue: 27807 Page: 4251|newspaper=The London Gazette|language=en|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= '''Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden'''
| 2 = 2. [[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden]]
| 3 = 3. [[Princess Louise of Prussia]]
| 4 = 4. [[Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden]]
| 5 = 5. [[Princess Sophie of Sweden]]
| 6 = 6. [[Wilhelm I, German Emperor]]
| 7 = 7. [[Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach]]
| 8 = 8. [[Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden]]
| 9 = 9. [[Louise Caroline of Hochberg|Baroness Louise Caroline Geyer of Geyersberg]]
| 10 = 10. [[Gustav IV Adolf, King of Sweden]]
| 11 = 11. [[Princess Frederica of Baden]]
| 12 = 12. [[Frederick William III, King of Prussia]]
| 13 = 13. [[Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]]
| 14 = 14. [[Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach]]
| 15 = 15. [[Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (1786–1859)|Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://KA.Stadtwiki.net/Friedrich_II._von_Baden Frederick II, Grand Duke of Baden] in ''[[Stadtwiki Karlsruhe]]'' ([[City wiki]] of Karlsruhe), German

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Zähringen]]|9 July|1857|9 August|1928}}
{{s-roy|de}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden|Frederick I]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[Grand Duke of Baden]]|years=28 September 1907 – 22 November 1918}} 
{{s-non|reason=Monarchy abolished|reason2=[[German Revolution]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden|Frederick I]]|as=[[List of rulers of Baden|grand duke]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of rulers of Baden|Head of state of Baden]]|years=28 September 1907 – 22 November 1918}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Anton Geiß]]|as=[[List of rulers of Baden|president]]}} 
{{s-pre}}
{{s-new|loss|reason=Republic declared}} 
{{s-tul|title=[[Grand Duke of Baden]]|years=22 November 1918 – 9 August 1928|reason=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Prince Maximilian of Baden|Maximilian]]}} 
{{s-end}}

{{Final hereditary rulers in the German Empire}}
{{Princes of Baden}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frederick 02 Of Baden, Grand Duke}}
[[Category:House of Zähringen]]
[[Category:Nobility from Karlsruhe]]
[[Category:1857 births]]
[[Category:1928 deaths]]
[[Category:Heidelberg University alumni]]
[[Category:Grand dukes of Baden]]
[[Category:Hereditary princes of Baden]]
[[Category:Monarchs who abdicated]]
[[Category:Colonel generals of Prussia]]
[[Category:19th-century Prussian military personnel]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary]]
[[Category:Annulled Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Karlsruhe]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]