Monthly Archives: September 2018

Charlotte of Prussia, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Charlotte of Prussia, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Charlotte of Prussia was the first wife of the future Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She died eleven years before her husband’s accession. She was born Princess Friederike Luise Wilhelmine Marianne Charlotte of Prussia on June 21, 1831, at Schönhausen Palace in Berlin,  Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, the eldest child of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands.

Charlotte had three younger siblings:

Charlotte also had two younger half-siblings from her father’s morganatic second marriage to Rosalie von Rauch:

  • Count Wilhelm of Hohenau (1854-1930) – married (1) Laura, Countess Saurma von und zu der Jeltsch, had issue; (2) Princess Margaretha of Hohenlohe-Öhringen, had issue
  • Count Friedrich of Hohenhau (1857-1914) – married Charlotte von der Decken, had issue

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Following her parents’ divorce in 1849, Charlotte and her younger siblings Albrecht and Alexandrine were raised primarily by their aunt, Queen Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia. By this time, the family was already on the hunt for a suitable husband for Charlotte. As a granddaughter of both King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and King Willem I of the Netherlands, Charlotte was a very wealthy, and very sought-after young woman when it came to European princes looking for a bride. But she found her match in Hereditary Prince Georg of Saxe-Meiningen. He was the son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. The couple became engaged while Georg was serving in the Prussian military in Berlin, and was married at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on May 18, 1850. Truly a love match (although it was most certainly encouraged by Charlotte’s uncle, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia), Charlotte and Georg shared many of the same interests and unlike many marriages of the time, both were very happy to spend as much time together as possible. They would go on to have four children:

Charlotte with her three children, c1854; Credit – Wikipedia

Because of Georg’s military career, the family spent much of their marriage living in Berlin, where they had been given the use of the north wing of the Marble Palace by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. They also spent time at Villa Carlotta, a villa on Lake Como in Italy, which had been a wedding gift from Charlotte’s mother, and named in Charlotte’s honor. They also made trips to Meiningen, particularly returning for the births of several of their children.

Charlotte, the Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, died in childbirth, along with her son, on March 30, 1855, at just 23 years old, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen now in Thuringia, Germany. She is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen.

Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Georg II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1866 until his death in 1914. He was born in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 2, 1826, the only son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel.

Georg had one younger sister:

First educated privately at home by tutors, Georg later attended the University of Bonn where he studied art history, history, and law. He finished his studies at Leipzig University in 1847.

Charlotte of Prussia. source: Wikipedia

On May 18, 1850, Georg married Princess Charlotte of Prussia at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg. She was the daughter of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands. Charlotte and Georg had become engaged while Georg was serving in the Prussian military in Berlin, and their marriage was truly a love match.

Together they had four children:

Villa Carlotta. photo: By Jean-Christophe BENOIST – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16407555

Georg and Charlotte spent much of their marriage in Berlin, then in the Kingdom of Prussia, now in Germany, living in the north wing of the Marble Palace. They also spent time at Villa Carlotta, a villa on Lake Como in Italy that had been a wedding gift from Charlotte’s mother and named in her honor. Sadly, Charlotte died in March 1855, just after giving birth to their fourth child, who also died.

Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Although distraught over the loss of his beloved Charlotte, Georg set out to find another wife, primarily to be a mother to his children. While on his way to Italy, he met his second cousin, Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and they were quickly engaged. She was the daughter of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the elder half-sister of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. They married in Langenburg, Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on October 23, 1858, and had three children:

On September 20, 1866, Georg became Duke of Saxe-Meiningen when his father was forced to abdicate following his defeat in the Austro-Prussian War. Georg had remained loyal to the Prussians during the war, led several regiments of Meiningen soldiers, and took the first French flags at the Battle of Froeschweiler. He maintained a close friendship with Wilhelm I, King of Prussia (later German Emperor), and served on his staff.

Ellen Franz. source: Wikipedia

Georg was widowed again in February 1872, when Feodora died of scarlet fever. The following year, on March 18, 1873, he married once again. His third wife was Ellen Franz, a former actress. Georg created her Baroness von Heldburg just before their marriage at Villa Feodora in Bad Liebenstein. She did not become Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen because the marriage was considered morganatic. They had no children.

Georg, passionate about the theatre, established the Meiningen Theater in the late 1860s and early 1870s, with the help of his third wife. The company toured extensively throughout Germany and Europe from 1874-1890 and became renowned for its attention to detail and authenticity in its sets and costumes and the portrayals of the characters. Georg drew upon his extensive knowledge of history and art to design many of the costumes and scenery and choreograph many of the large crowd scenes within the productions. Having been interested in theatre since his youth, he was able to spend much of his time, effort, and money to create theatre productions that conveyed both lifelike reality and historical accuracy.

In addition to the theatre, Georg was the patron of the Meiningen Court Orchestra. Under his patronage, the orchestra became prominent in the 1880s when Georg hired Hans von Bülow as its conductor. The orchestra served as an ensemble for Johannes Brahms, who conducted when premiering his Fourth Symphony. Brahms remained connected to the orchestra for the rest of his life. Following his death in 1897, Georg had a monument built in his honor in Meiningen’s English gardens.

Georg became nearly deaf in his later years and retired from public life. He died at Bad Wildungen, Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont, now in Hesse, Germany, on June 25, 1914. He is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel was the wife of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Kassel, Electorate of Hesse, now in Hesse, Germany, on September 6, 1804, to Wilhelm II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Auguste of Prussia, and had five siblings:

  • Prince Wilhelm (1798-1780) – died in childhood
  • Princess Karoline (1799-1854) – unmarried
  • Princess Luise (1801-1803) – died in childhood
  • Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Hesse (1802-1888) – married Gertrude Falkenstein, had issue
  • Prince Ferdinand (born and died1806) – died in infancy

Marie Friederike also had eight half-siblings from her father’s second morganatic marriage in 1841 to his longtime mistress Emilie Ortlöpp, Countess von Reichenbach-Lessonitz, who were all born before the marriage and styled Count/Countess von Reichenbach-Lessonitz:

  • Countess Luise (1813-1883) – married Karl, Count von Bose
  • Count Julius (1815-1822) – died in childhood
  • Countess Amalie (1816) – married (1) Wilhelm, Count von Lückner; (2) Karl, Baron von Watzdorf; (3) Wilhelm, Count von Lückner
  • Count Gustav Karl (1818-1861) – married Clementine Richter
  • Countess Emilie (1820-1891) – married Felix, Count Zichy-Ferraris
  • Countess Friederike (1821-1891) – married Wilhelm, Baron von Dungern
  • Count Wilhelm (1824-1866) – married Amelie, Baroness Goeler von Ravensburg
  • Countess Helene (1825-1898) – married Oswald, Baron von Fabrice

Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Although she had been considered as a potential bride for King Oscar I of Sweden several years earlier, Marie Friederike married Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on March 23, 1825. He was the son of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Marie Friederike and Bernhard had two children, born over seventeen years apart:

Marie Friederike was Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen from her marriage until her husband was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, in 1866 following the defeat of Austria, who he supported, in the Austro-Prussian War. The couple took up residence at the Great Palace (link in German) in Meiningen, where they would live the rest of their lives.

The Dowager Duchess died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany on January 1, 1888, having survived her husband for more than five years. She was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when her remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Bernhard II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1803 until his abdication in 1866. He was born on December 17, 1800, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, the youngest child of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Bernhard had two older sisters:

At just three years old, Bernhard became the reigning Duke of Saxe-Meiningen upon his father’s death in December 1803. Because of his youth, his mother served as Regent until Bernhard reached his majority. During this time, Luise Eleonore steered the duchy successfully through the Napoleonic Wars, the famine that followed, and the alignment with the Allies in 1813. Thanks to her efforts, Bernhard II found the duchy in relatively good financial shape upon assuming his role as Duke in 1821.

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel; Credit – Wikipedia

On March 23, 1825, Bernhard married Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. She was the daughter of Wilhelm II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Auguste of Prussia. Bernhard and Marie had two children:

Bernhard II saw the expansion of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1826. The previous year, the childless Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died with no heirs. As a result, Bernhard and the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Saxe-Hildburghausen divided the territories between them. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld ceded Saalfeld to Bernhard, and received the Gotha lands, becoming Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen ceded Hildburghausen to Bernhard, and received the Altenburg lands, becoming Duke of Saxe-Altenburg.

Although Bernhard had earlier aligned himself with Prussia, in the mid-1860s, Bernhard instead sided with Austria during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Following Austria’s defeat, the Prussians forced Bernhard to abdicate on September 20, 1866, in favor of his son Georg II, Saxe-Meiningen. Bernhard took up residence at the Great Palace in Meiningen, previously built as a dower home for his mother. His attempts to be named as an advisor to his son were refused, and he lived out the remainder of his life removed from any aspect of the duchy’s government. His relationship with Georg II was somewhat strained. Bernhard had never allowed Georg access to any government business during his reign, leaving the new duke with little hands-on experience in his new role. Bernhard also unsuccessfully attempted to have the German Emperor depose Georg II upon his morganatic marriage to Ellen Franz in 1873. It would be another five years before Bernhard would reconcile with his son, and meet his newest daughter-in-law.

Ducal Crypt Chapel, Meiningen. photo: Von kramer96 – Original uploader was Kramer96 at de.wikipedia.Originaltext: eigene Aufnahme, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19859816

Bernhard II died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on December 3, 1882. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when his remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.