Prince Wilhelm Karl, 2nd Duke of Urach 1864 – 1928

Biography

Prince Wilhelm Karl, 2nd Duke of Urach, was born on May 30, 1864, in Monaco, into a life of European nobility and privilege. As the second duke of his title, he inherited a position of considerable standing within the aristocratic circles of the era, carrying forward a legacy of distinguished lineage and family responsibility.

During a pivotal moment in European history, Prince Wilhelm Karl answered a call to leadership when Lithuania sought independence following World War I. From July 11 to November 2, 1918, he served as the Ruler of Lithuania during a transformative period for the nation. Though his reign was brief, it represented a significant chapter in both his life and Lithuania’s journey toward sovereignty and self-determination.

Prince Wilhelm Karl spent his later years in Rapallo, Italy, where he passed away on March 24, 1928. He was laid to rest at Ludwigsburg Palace in Ludwigsburg, Germany, returning in death to the ancestral lands of his family. His life spanned a remarkable era of change, during which he witnessed and participated in the reshaping of the European continent.