Sophia of Zelle

Born September, 15 1666 in Celle, died November, 13 1726 in the Castle of Ahlden. Became Queen of England by marrying her cousin George. She is best remembered for her affair with Philip Christoph von Königsmarck that led to her being imprisoned in the Castle of Ahlden for the last thirty years of her life.

Early life

Sophia Dorothea was the only child of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg and his wife Eleonore Desmier d'Olbreuse. Because her parents didn't have any sons, Sophia was the only successor, which made her a very eligible marriage partner. The list of suitors was long, even Charles XI, King of Sweden, wanted to marry her. But in order to keep the money in the family, her father gave her to her cousin George Louis, who later became King George I. The two of them married in 1682 and had two children, a son named George Augustus born in 1683 and a daughter named Sophia Dorothea born in 1687.

The Affair

The marriage was unhappy. George preferred the presence of his mistress Melusina von Schulenburg over his wife, and the limited amount of time he spent with her,he was very formal to her and frequently scolded for her lack of etiquette.

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