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Frydrichas
Karalius inigo-von-urachas
Reign 9 February 1991 – present
Predecessor Karolis II
Heir apparent Eberhard
Spouse Daniela Freiin von und zu Bodman (m. 1991)
Issue
Eberhard, Prince of Kaunas
Prince Anselm
Princess Amelie
Full name
Eberhard Frydrichas Inigo
House House of Urach
Father Eberhard, Prince of Urach
Mother Princess Iniga of Thurn and Taxis
Born 12 April, 1962 (1962-04-12) (age 61)
Kaunas, Lithuania Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940
Religion Catholic


Frydrichas of Lithuania (born 12 April 1962), is the reigning King of Lithuania. On February 9, 1991 he succeeded his brother Karolis II who abdicated in order to marry morganatically. He is the third son of Prince Eberhard of Urach, and Princess Iniga of Thurn and Taxis.

The King's heir apparent is Eberhard, Prince of Kaunas, the eldest child of the King and his wife, Queen Daniela.

Early life[]

Frydrichas was born in Kaunas, the fifth child and third son of Prince Eberhard of Urach and Princess Iniga of Thurn and Taxis. As a grandson of Mindaugas II he was styled Prince of Lithuania, although his father did not hold the title. At the time of his birth Frydrichas was third in line to succeed his uncle Karolis I with no expectations of becoming king. After ten years of battling the conservative elements of the Ltihuanian government, On March 11, 1990 his eldest brother King Karolis II announced his intentions to abdicate in order to marry Saskia Wusthof, who was not of royal birth. The following year was filled with personal as well as political turmoil for the royal family.

The initial plan was to allow the middle brother, Prince Vilhelmas Albertas, to succeed to the throne. Prince Vilhelmas renounced his succession rights for the same reason as the outgoing monarch. Frydrichas was sworn in as the new king before the Seimas on February 9, 1991.

Reign[]

During his reign, Lithuania actively promoted democracy in Eastern European and Asian nations. King Frydrichas, together with President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Javier Solana, Boris Gryzlov and Ján Kubiš, served as a mediator during Ukraine's political crisis, when two candidates in the 2004 presidential election, Viktor Yanukovych and Viktor Yushchenko, each claimed victory. Frydrichas recalled in an interview that "when I asked what we could do to help, Kuchma said the friends of the Ukrainian people should drop whatever they were doing and come to Kiev immediately." The next day international mediators met in Ukraine. The crisis was resolved after a new election was held.

Frydrichas enjoys a very high approval rating in Lithuania. He was also recognized for his support of Lithuanian youth. King Frydrichas was actively involved in government reorganizations in 2004 and 2006. In his 2006 State of the Nation address, Frydrichas stated that his top priorities were:

  • Increasing public participation in the political realm
  • Targeted and transparent use of the EU funds and opportunities for building a greater well-being in Lithuania
  • Reforms in public governance, education and science, social support and health care
  • The development of professional competence among civil servants, especially in assessing regulatory impacts
  • Approval of a political code of ethics
  • Direct mayoral elections, and elimination of the county system
  • Legislation regulating the selection, appointment, and promotion of judges
  • Controlling "brain drain" by supporting research and higher education infrastructure

On December 19, 2013 Frydrichas decided to boycott Sochi Winter Olympics together with German president Joachim Gauck, French president François Hollande, and American president Barack Obama due to Russia's human rights violations, attitudes and behavior with Eastern partners and Lithuania.

Relations with Russia[]

Frydrichas has always had a negative view of Russia. It's economic and military expansion throughout the 1990's was greatly criticized by the king. In May 2014, he said "Dignity, self-respect and mutual benefit, these are the principles that should set the basis for relations between countries and no doubt, knowing that this is our neighbor, we wish this country to democratize and cope with the arising economic challenges".

In June 2014, Frydrichas told German news magazine Focus: "[Putin] uses nationality as a pretext to conquer territory with military means. That's exactly what Stalin did." He also said Russia and Putin were "characterised by aggressiveness, violence, and a willingness to overstep boundaries."

Titles[]

Monarchical styles of
Frydrichas of Lithuania
Coat of arms of the kingdom of lithuania by tiltschmaster-d6x6o49
Reference style His Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty
Alternative style Sir
  • 12 April 1962 – 9 February 1991: His Serene Highness Prince Eberhard Frydrichas Inigo of Lithuania
  • 9 February 1991 – present: His Majesty The King of Lithuania
Frydrichas of Lithuania
House of Urach
Cadet branch of the House of Württemberg
Born: 12 April 1962
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Karolis II
King of Lithuania
1991–present
Incumbent
Heir:
Eberhard, Prince of Kaunas
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