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If you're a fan of Netflix's 'Bridgerton' spin-off 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,' you've probably asked yourself just how much of the period drama is based on real life, and how much is fiction. Though the show dramatizes certain aspects of her life, it actually is loosely based on the real-life Queen Charlotte. Born on May 19, 1744, the German royal's life changed forever when she married the newly ascended King George III. And while it was for political convenience, it became one of the most successful royal marriages in British history.

So who was this queen, really? Click on to find out.

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Charlotte was born into the royal family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a duchy in northern Germany.

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When King George III ascended the throne following the death of his grandfather, King George II, he needed a queen. Not wanting someone who would get involved in his royal affairs, George considered several German princesses before choosing Charlotte.

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With a relatively low level of education, compared to many of her royal counterparts, Charlotte nonetheless studied languages, natural history, religion, and household management.

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George believed that Charlotte would be the best candidate for his wife, as she wouldn’t be interested in the affairs of the crown. This turned out to be true.

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Another factor as to why she was chosen was due to their closeness in age. When they married, George was 22 and Charlotte was 17.

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George and Charlotte didn’t meet before their engagement. In fact, they got married less than six hours after she arrived in England.

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Together, Charlotte and George had 15 children, 13 of whom lived into adulthood.

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Despite the nature of their arrangement, by all accounts Charlotte and George are said to have had a loving marriage.

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King George III famously suffered from recurrent mania, possibly bipolar disorder. In 1788, his mental condition declined to the point that he was moved to Kew Palace, and kept separate from his family.

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Charlotte’s hair is said to have turned white by 1789 due to the stress of his illness.

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But even through her husband's failing mental health, Charlotte remained at his side through thick and thin.

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Although German, Queen Charlotte's family is believed to be traced back to Martin Alfonso de Sousa Chichorro, the illegitimate son of Alfonso III of Portugal and his Moorish mistress Oruana (also referred to as Madragana). However, there are 600 years between Charlotte and her rumored African ancestor.

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While her racial background can't be entirely confirmed, art historians have noted portraits of her having more European features and fair skin, and others showing a darker complexion with a fuller nose and mouth. Back then, artists were typically encouraged to downplay features deemed "undesirable," which included non-European features.

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Although her level of education was considered relatively simple for a monarch, Charlotte continued to educate herself after her marriage to George.

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When she first arrived in England, she couldn’t speak English, but she quickly picked it up. She was also highly interested in natural sciences and would regularly visit Kew Gardens to learn about botany.

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The Queen ensured that all of her daughters had the best education available to them at the time.

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She also founded multiple orphanages and became a patron for various hospitals.

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As well as her charity work, Charlotte was also a lover and patron of the arts. She was friends with Bach and even invited Mozart (pictured) to play at the Royal Palace when he was just eight years old.

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When the Queen first arrived in England, she brought with her two Pomeranians. But lapdogs weren't her only pets. She was an avid collector of wild animals, having a zebra and an elephant on palace grounds.

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Throughout her life, Charlotte was an avid user of snuff, a type of smokeless tobacco. She owned over 90 snuff boxes and had a collection of over 350 different bottles of snuff from the Royal Manufactory of Seville.

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Although they never met in person, Queen Charlotte and Marie Antoinette (pictured) were avid pen pals. They would regularly express their mutual love for art and music.

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When the French Revolution first broke out, Marie Antoinette shared her concerns, and Charlotte prepared lodgings for the French royal family should they need to flee. However, it was too late

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Bested as the longest-reigning consort by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Charlotte is the second longest-reigning consort and the longest-reigning female consort in British history. She served for 57 years and 70 days.

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In her hometown of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, it was a tradition to decorate a single yew branch. However, Charlotte took it a step further by lavishly decorating a whole tree.

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Though St James's Palace was the official residence of the royal couple, George purchased a nearby property: Buckingham House. The couple moved there in 1762, making it the Buckingham Palace.

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In 1792, Charlotte purchased Frogmore House as a country retreat for her and her unmarried daughters.

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Queen Charlotte died on November 17, 1818, at the age of 74. She was later buried at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

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Just over a year after her death, King George III died from pneumonia on January 29, 1820, at age 81. Due to his illness, he probably wasn't aware or capable of understanding her death.

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George was succeeded by two of his sons, George IV and William IV, who both died without legitimate children. As a result, his son Prince Edward's only legitimate child, Victoria, took the throne.

Sources: (History) (People) (The Hollywood Reporter)