Karl Gero, Duke of Urach

Karl Gero
Duke of Urach
Reign	24 March 1928 – 15 August 1981
Predecessor	Wilhelm
Successor	Karl Anselm
Born	19 August 1899
Died	15 August 1981 (aged 81)
Spouse	Countess Gabriele of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg
Father	Wilhelm, Duke of Urach
Mother	Duchess Amalie in Bavaria

Prince Karl Gero Albrecht Joseph Wilhelm Anton Maria of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 3rd Duke of Urach (19 August 1899 – 15 August 1981) was the head of the morganatic Urach branch of the House of Württemberg.

Life

He was born in Lichtenstein, then part of the Kingdom of Württemberg, at his family's Lichtenstein Castle, being the second son of Duke Wilhelm of Urach and his first wife Duchess Amalie in Bavaria.

In 1917 he graduated from the Karls-Gymnasium school in Stuttgart. After graduation he served in the First World War as a lieutenant. He was heavily wounded in 1918. After the war Karl Gero von Urach studied architecture, and later worked as an architect in Munich.

In 1928, on his father's death, Karl Gero became the third Duke (Herzog) of Urach, as his elder brother Wilhelm had resolved to marry morganatically. (Wilhelm was a director at Mercedes Benz for most of his life, and had two daughters).

In 1935 he entered Wehrmacht and became a Hauptmann, and in 1940 was promoted to Major. Until 1945 he was based at the local army headquarters at Tübingen and Ulm.

On 20 June 1940 Karl Gero von Urach married Countess Gabriele of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (1910–2005). The marriage was childless. Karl Gero von Urach died at Lichtenstein Castle on 15 August 1981, and his nephew Karl Anselm succeeded to the Dukedom.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Karl Gero, Duke of Urach

16. Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg               8. Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg                       17. Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt               4. Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach                             18. Karl-August Rhodis, Baron of Thunderfeldt               9. Baroness Wilhelmine of Tunderfeldt-Rhodis                       19. Therese, Baroness of Canstatt               2. Mindaugas II of Lithuania                                   20. Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco               10. Florestan I, Prince of Monaco                       21. Louise d'Aumont Mazarin               5. Princess Florestine of Monaco                             22. Charles-Thomas Gibert de Lametz               11. Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz                       23. Marie-Françoise Le Gras de Vaubercey               1. Karl Gero, Duke of Urach                                         24. Duke Pius August in Bavaria               12. Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria                       25. Princess Amélie Louise of Arenberg               6. Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria                             26. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria               13. Princess Ludovika of Bavaria                       27. Caroline of Baden               3. Duchess Amalie in Bavaria                                   28. Maximilian, Crown Prince of Saxony               14. John of Saxony                       29. Princess Caroline of Parma               7. Princess Sophie of Saxony                             30. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria (= 26)               15. Amalie Auguste of Bavaria                       31. Caroline of Baden (= 27)

References

• Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart – Bestand GU 126 – Karl Gero Herzog von Urach (1899–1981)

External links

• Website of the Urach family (German)