Prince Augustus William Of Prussia

Prince Augustus William of Prussia (German: August Wilhelm) was born on 9 August 1722 and died on 12 June 1758. He was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and the second surviving son of King Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. His elder siblings included Wilhelmina, who later became Margravine of Bayreuth; Frederick, who ascended the throne as King of Prussia; Friedrike Louise, who became Margravine of Ansbach; and Louisa Ulrika, who was later Queen consort of Sweden.

Augustus William was favored by his father over his older brother Frederick in certain aspects and was considered popular at the Prussian court. Following Frederick's accession to the throne in 1740, Augustus became the heir presumptive and subsequently moved into the Crown Prince's Palace in Berlin, which was the residence of the former crown prince. His sister Louisa Ulrika's marriage to the King of Sweden in 1744 resulted in her founding the Ordre de l'Harmonie, of which Augustus was among the first recipients.

During his military career, Augustus served as a general in the War of the Austrian Succession and distinguished himself at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg. However, during the Seven Years' War, he was involved in the Battle of Kolin in 1757, where a retreat during the engagement at Zittau was seen as a failure. This event caused disfavor with his brother, King Frederick the Great, leading to his withdrawal from the army. The strained relationship between the brothers was documented in a correspondence published in 1769.

Augustus William died suddenly at Oranienburg in 1758. Some historical accounts suggest that his death was due to a "broken heart," allegedly from Frederick II’s harsh treatment related to his military shortcomings at the Battle of Kolin. However, medical records indicate that he died of a brain tumor.

He married Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and their union produced several children. Because his older brother Frederick had no children, Augustus’s eldest son inherited the throne as Frederick William II of Prussia upon Frederick's death.

His notable children included:

- Frederick William II of Prussia (1744–1797), who married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg, with whom he had a daughter, Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, who later married Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, the second son of King George III of the United Kingdom.

- Prince Henry of Prussia (1747–1767), who died unmarried.

- Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia (1751–1820), who married William V, Prince of Orange.

- Prince Emil of Prussia (1758–1759), who died in infancy.

Augustus William’s ancestry includes members of the House of Hohenzollern and connections to European royal families through his siblings and descendants.