Carl Theodor was orphaned at an early age and received a for that time unusually thorough education at the court of his uncle Carl Philipp in Mannheim. He learned five languages and pursued the natural sciences, literature, art, history and theology. In addition, he played several musical instruments and perfected his skills in riding, fencing and dancing. The education of the future elector even included studies at the universities of Leiden (Holland) and Leuven (Belgium).
In 1742 he married his cousin Elisabeth Augusta, and in the same year he assumed the title of Elector following the death of this childless uncle. This also included the advancement of the arts. He founded an academy for painters and sculptors, the "Akademie der Wissenschaften" (Academy of the Sciences), the electoral "Deutsche Gesellschaft" (German Society), which successfully supported German-language theater, and the "Nationaltheater" (National Theater).
As the last Bavarian in the Wittelsbach line, Carl Theodor had to take up his electoral inheritance in Munich. In 1777 he left his residence in the Palatinate.
While the work in Schwetzingen continued, a magnificent court developed in Munich. Among other things, Carl Theodor had the English garden laid out and successfully promoted industry, the manufacture of hand-made products and agriculture.
The later Electress and granddaughter of Carl Philipp was engaged to the then 11 year old Carl Theodor at the age of 14. She had a gift for the artistic and cultivated a wide range of intellectual interests.
After 19 years of marriage a son was born in 1761, who, however, died the same night from the difficult birth. Elisabeth Augusta herself was not allowed to have more children after that. However, her relationship to Carl Theodor had already been strained for many years and their marriage had become an unhappy one following these events. Elisabeth Augusta completely withdrew to her palace in Oggersheim, founded her own court there and cultivated artistic interests. She was well loved by her subjects for her work as a benefactress.
Margrave Karl Friedrich is a ruler at the turn of an age. When he came to power at 18, the electoral-absolutist reign was the God-given form of government all over Europe. Karl Friedrich became one of the first modern, enlightened electors. He attempted to speed up the progress of his country. In addition to law and administration, the reform-oriented monarch also promoted education.
During his term of government, Karl Friedrich von Baden rose to Elector and in 1806 to Grand Duke of Baden. At the end of his life Baden had transformed itself from a non-uniform, fragmented margraviate to a "Mittelstaat" (medium-sized state) many times larger than the old margraviate.
Karl Friedrich's first marriage was with Karoline Luise von Hessen-Darmstadt (1723-1783). The Hessian princess was extraordinarily well educated and had many talents. She drew, painted and produced etchings. Her greatest interest was devoted to the natural sciences. Her extensive collections were used to found the picture gallery, today the "Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe" (Karlsruhe State Art Gallery), and the "Naturkundemuseum" (Museum of Natural History). Her marriage to Karl Friedrich was a very happy one. As an intelligent ruler she succeeded in reinforcing the positive efforts of her husband. Due to her special knowledge and capabilities, she was also called the "hessische Minerva" (Hessian Minerva). In her day the intellectual "crème de la crème" of Europe met at the court in Baden.
However, she never resided in Schwetzingen, as it did not become part of the territory of Karl Friedrich again until the Palatinate was reorganized and divided up in 1803.
Following the death of Karoline Luise, the Margrave was married a second time, this time to the 40 years younger Luise Geyer von Geyersberg. Due to the her unequal social standing, her marriage to the elector was only a morganatic one. From 1804 a generous apartment with elegant, modern wallpaper was furnished for her in the former suite of guest rooms.
For political reasons, the hereditary Prince of Baden was married to the niece and adopted daughter of Napoleon, Stephanie de Beauharnais-Napoleon. Napoleon sought to establish family ties with several older European dynasties.
The marriage in 1806 between Karl and Stephanie was unhappy for many years. According to contemporary reports, Karl appears to have been a weak person of poor education. Under bad influence he at first continued his dissolute bachelor's life so that even Napoleon felt induced to direct an official complaint at the address of his (Karl's) grandfather. Schwetzingen was assigned to the couple as their summer residence, however as both lived in separate places for the first years of their marriage - he in Karlsruhe, Stephanie in Mannheim -, only Grand Duchess Stephanie initially used the spacious garden complex with her royal household.
The fate of Stephanie Louise Adrienne de Beauharnais was determined by the political upheavals of her time. Born in 1789, the year of the Revolution, she had to be brought to safety from the Reign of Terror as a small child. As a relative of the new ruling royal family, Napoleon's niece then came unexpectedly into the grand environment of the French Emperor's court. Napoleon included her in his dynastic policy of alliances and adopted her to marry her to Karl, the hereditary Prince of Baden.
In a foreign country and among a Grand-Ducal family hostile towards her, she led an unhappy life for many years. She saw her main duty in caring for her daughters. The two sons died early. Due to her diverse artistic and intellectual interests, her widow's seat in Mannheim developed to a modest yet lively court in great social demand. Over the course of time Stephanie became a recognized German Princess, but in her heart she remained French.