The king who never arrived to rule Finland

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In October 1918, the Parliament of Finland elected Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse to their throne. Yet, the man known to his family as "Fischy" never set foot in the country, renouncing his crown just months later as the geopolitical landscape of Europe shifted forever.

Frederick Charles Louis Constantine, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse, lived a life defined by the shifting borders and collapsing monarchies of the early 20th century. Born at Panker Castle in Plön, Holstein, on 1 May 1868, he was the brother-in-law of German Emperor Wilhelm II. His election as King of Finland on 9 October 1918 was a significant moment for the young nation, but the victory was short-lived. By 14 December 1918, Frederick Charles renounced the throne without ever arriving in Finland to take up his position.

The decision to step aside was driven by a combination of personal and political pressures. As World War I drew to a close, his German birth became a political liability, despite his paternal grandmother's Danish roots. The abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II and the subsequent end of German monarchies made his position in Finland appear untenable to influential Finns. This political shift ultimately led Finland to adopt a republican constitution following subsequent elections.

Frederick's personal life was deeply intertwined with European royalty. On 25 January 1893, he wed Princess Margaret of Prussia, who was Queen Victoria's granddaughter and the youngest sibling of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The couple had six sons, including two sets of twins. His lineage continued through his eldest surviving son, Philipp, who succeeded him as head of the House of Hesse following Frederick's death on 28 May 1940.

While the official succession was complex, family documents suggest that his second surviving son, Prince Wolfgang of Hesse, was the intended successor to the Finnish throne. Wolfgang was prepared to travel to Finland and was even arranging a wedding to a Finnish lady at the time, whereas Philipp was unavailable due to military service.

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