Category Archives: German Royals

Amalie Auguste of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Amalie Auguste of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Amalie was the wife of King Johann of Saxony. She was born Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria in the Electorate of Bavaria, later the Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, on November 13, 1801, the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife Princess Karoline of Baden.

Amalie had six siblings including her twin sister Elisabeth Ludovika

From her father’s first marriage to  Princess Auguste of Hesse-Darmstadt, Amalie had five half-siblings:

Prince Johann of Saxony, c1832. source: Wikipedia

On November 21, 1822, in Dresden, Amalie married Prince Johann of Saxony, the son of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. At the time, Johann was fourth in the line of succession for the Saxony throne, with little expectation that he would ever become King. From all accounts, the marriage was a happy one, and the couple had nine children:

Amalie’s husband became the heir presumptive to the Saxony throne in 1836, when King Anton died and was succeeded by Johann’s elder brother King Friedrich August II. Amalie and her husband were close with the King and his wife (who was Amalie’s younger sister), and the two women worked together to support numerous charities and institutions. In 1851, Amalie became Chairwoman of the Women’s Association of Dresden, founded by her sister some years earlier.

Upon King Friedrich August II’s death in August 1854, the throne passed to Johann, and Amalie succeeded her own sister as Queen of Saxony. Her husband would reign until his death on October 29, 1873, succeeded by the couple’s eldest son, King Albert.

Queen Amalie Auguste – source: Wikipedia

Queen Amalie Auguste survived her husband by four years, dying in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany, on November 8, 1877. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Johann, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Johann, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Johann of Saxony reigned from 1854 until 1873. He was born in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany on December 12, 1801, the third son and fifth child of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. He was given the names Johann Nepomuk Maria Joseph Anton Vincenz Aloys Franz de Paula Stanislaus Bernhard Paul Felix Damasus. Johann had five siblings:

Initially, Johann was far enough down the line of succession that there seemed little chance he would ever inherit the throne. However, by the time his brother became King Friedrich August II in 1836, Johann was his heir presumptive. He received an education intended to prepare him for his possible future role, and took an active part in the government, serving in the First Chamber of the Saxon Parliament after the new Constitution was passed in 1831.

Amalie Auguste of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

Johann married Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony on November 21, 1822. She was the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Karoline of Baden. The couple had nine children:

Johann became King of Saxony upon his brother’s death on August 9, 1854. His reign saw much progress within Saxony, including extending the railroad network, introducing free trade – including a commercial treaty with France – and establishing the Judiciary Organization. Under King Johann’s oversight, Saxony became one of the most modern and progressive of the German states.

In 1866, Johann aligned Saxony with Austria and fought alongside them in the Austro-Prussian War. After being defeated, Saxony joined the North German Confederation, and later the German Empire in 1871.

Johann was an avid student of literature, and under a pseudonym, published numerous translations into German, including Dante’s Divine Comedy.

King Johann died at Pillnitz Castle in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany on October 29, 1873. He is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2017

Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony; Credit –  Wikipedia

Queen Maria Anna of Saxony was the second wife of King Friedrich August II of Saxony. She was born Princess Maria Anna Leopoldine Elisabeth Wilhelmine of Bavaria, in the Electorate of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, on January 27, 1805, to the future King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Caroline of Baden. She was the identical twin of Sophie Friederike, the mother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria.

Maria had six full siblings:

Maria Anna had five older half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to  Princess Auguste of Hesse-Darmstadt:

Maria Anna’s husband Friedrich August of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

On April 24, 1833, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, Maria Anna married Crown Prince Friedrich August of Saxony. He was the son of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. They had no children.

Three years later, on June 6, 1836, she became Queen of Saxony upon her husband’s accession to the throne. Shortly after becoming Queen, she founded a women’s association to combat the famines plaguing parts of Saxony. This association continued to exist until the early 1930s.

photo: Von Haeferl – Eigenes Werk, CC-BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43093011

On August 9, 1854, King Friedrich August II was killed in an accident while traveling in Tyrol, Austria. Queen Maria Anna had a chapel built on the site that was dedicated a year later.

The Dowager Queen Maria Anna died on September 13, 1877, in Wachwitz, Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony), in Dresen.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Karoline of Austria, Crown Princess of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Maria Karoline of Austria, Crown Princess of Saxony; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Karoline of Austria was the first wife of the future King Friedrich August II of Saxony. She never served as Queen, as she died before her husband’s accession. She was born Maria Karoline Ferdinande Theresia Josephine Demetria in Vienna, Austria, on April 8, 1801, one of twelve children of Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor (later Emperor Franz I of Austria) and his second wife, Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies. Maria Karoline was named after an elder sister who had died as a child.

Maria Karoline (center, holding a basket) with her parents and siblings, painting by Josef Kreutzinger circa 1805. source: Wikipedia

Maria Karoline had eleven siblings:

Maria Karoline’s mother died when she was just six years old, and her father went on to remarry twice.

Friedrich August of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

At the age of 18, Marie Karoline married Prince Friedrich August of Saxony on October 7, 1819, in Dresden. He was the son of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. At the time, he was third in line to the throne of Saxony. The couple had no children.

From all accounts, the marriage was not a happy one. Maria Karoline suffered from epilepsy, often plagued with seizures which more or less left her incapacitated for long periods. She became Crown Princess in 1830 when her father-in-law relinquished his rights to the throne in favor of Friedrich August, who was also proclaimed Prince Co-Regent with his uncle, King Anton.

Dresden Cathedral, circa 1840; Credit – Wikipedia

After much suffering, Crown Princess Marie Karoline died at Schloss Pillnitz, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on May 22, 1832. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friedrich August II, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Friedrich August II, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Friedrich August II of Saxony reigned from 1836 until 1854, having succeeded his childless uncle, King Anton. He was born in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany, on May 18, 1797, and given the names Friedrich August Albrecht Maria Clemens Joseph Vincenz Aloys Nepomuk Johann Baptista Nikolaus Raphael Peter Xavier Franz de Paula Venantius Felix. His parents were Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Carolina of Parma.

He had six siblings:

Maria Karoline of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 7, 1819, Friedrich August married Archduchess Maria Karoline of Austria, the daughter of Emperor Franz I of Austria and Princess Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies. They had no children. Maria Karoline suffered from epilepsy and died at Pillnitz Castle on May 22, 1832.

Maria Anna of Bavaria. source: Wikipedia

The following year, on April 24, 1833, he married Princess Maria Anna of Bavaria. She was the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Karoline of Baden. There were no children from this marriage either.

Friedrich August was appointed Co-Regent by his uncle, King Anton, in September 1830. While Anton had little interest in matters of politics or government, Friedrich August was an eager participant and worked to bring change to the country, bringing Free Autonomy to the cities and removing restrictions on the farmers. When King Anton died on June 6, 1836, Friedrich August succeeded him as King Friedrich August II.

Friedrich August’s reign was relatively uneventful, and the new King typically deferred to his ministers to make any decisions. During the March Revolution, he brought more liberal ministers into the government and eliminated censorship, but soon decided to reverse his decision, dissolving the Saxon Parliament. He was briefly forced to flee during the May Uprising but returned after several days.

The King preferred to spend his time developing his collection of fossils and other items, establishing a vast natural history collection. In this quest, he traveled extensively, including a visit to the United Kingdom in 1844 where he was a guest of Queen Victoria.

The Königskapelle, source: Wikipedia

On August 9, 1854, King Friedrich August II died in Karrösten, Austria, from injuries sustained in a carriage accident. The previous day while traveling in the Tyrol, the King had fallen from the carriage into the path of one of the horses which stepped on his head. He was buried the following week, in the Wettin Crypt at Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany. His widow, Dowager Queen Maria Anna, had a chapel built on the site of the King’s accident. The Königskapelle (King’s Chapel) was consecrated the following year.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Theresia of Austria, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Maria Theresia of Austria, Queen of Saxony; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Maria Theresia was the wife of King Anton of Saxony. She was born Archduchess Maria Theresia Josepha Charlotte Johanna of Austria, in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Italy, on January 14, 1767, the eldest child of Pietro Leopoldo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain. Maria Theresia’s paternal grandparents were the formidable and powerful  Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa, who was in her own right Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary, Queen of Croatia, and Queen of Bohemia, and Francis Stephen, Holy Roman Emperor, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Duke of Lorraine. Even though her husband was the nominal Holy Roman Emperor, Maria Theresa wielded real power.  Maria Clementina’s maternal grandparents were Carlos III, King of Spain and Maria Amalia of Saxony.

She had fifteen younger siblings:

Maria Theresia and her siblings were raised by their parents instead of a household of servants and governesses – something quite unusual for the time. Despite their father’s position, they were brought up very simply and kept away from the pomp and ceremony of court. As Maria Theresia grew up, she became a very private person and enjoyed a simple and religious home life.

Anton of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

On October 18, 1787, in Dresden, Maria Theresia married, as his second wife, Prince Anton of Saxony. They were previously married by proxy in Florence on September 8, 1787. At the time, Anton was heir-presumptive to his brother, the Elector of Saxony, who later became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. However, it was assumed that Friedrich August would have children, and Anton would not inherit the throne which pleased the very private princess. The couple had four children, none of whom lived past infancy:

  • Maria Ludovika (1795-1796) – died in infancy
  • Friedrich August (born and died 1796) – died at birth
  • Maria Johanna (1798-1799) – died in infancy
  • Maria Theresia (born and died 1799) – died at birth

After the death of her sister-in-law, Princess Caroline of Parma (married to Prince Maximilian of Saxony) in 1804, Maria Theresia helped to raise Caroline’s children.

Dresden Cathedral; Credit – By User:Kolossos – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5032853

Upon her brother-in-law’s death on May 5, 1827, Maria Theresia and her husband became King and Queen of Saxony. Sadly, her tenure as Queen was short-lived. Just six months after her husband’s accession, Queen Maria Theresia died in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on November 7, 1827. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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.

Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Anton, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. . Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Anton, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Anton was the second king of Saxony, reigning from 1827 to 1836. He was born Anton Clemens Theodor Maria Josef Johann Evangelista Johann Nepomuk Franz Xavier Aloys Januar on December 27, 1755, in Dresden, in the Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany to Friedrich Christian, Elector of Saxony, and Princess Maria Antonia of Bavaria.

His siblings were:

Maria Carolina of Savoy. source: Wikipedia

On October 24, 1781, in Dresden, Anton married Princess Maria Carolina of Savoy, the daughter of Vittorio Amadeo III, King of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy and Infanta Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. Sadly, the marriage ended just over a year later when Maria Carolina died from smallpox. They had no children.

Maria Theresia of Austria. source: Wikipedia

Anton married a second time on October 18, 1787. His new bride was Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria, the daughter of Pietro Leopoldo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (and later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Infanta María Luisa of Spain.

The couple had four children, all of whom died at birth or shortly after:

  • Princess Maria Ludovika of Saxony (1795-1796) – died in infancy
  • Prince Friedrich August of Saxony (born and died 1796) – died at birth
  • Princess Maria Johanna of Saxony (1798-1799) – died in infancy
  • Princess Maria Theresia of Saxony (born and died 1799) – died at birth

Anton became King of Saxony on May 5, 1827, upon the death of his elder brother, King Friedrich August I. Despite having been heir to the throne for many years, Anton had little experience in government and was therefore content with continuing the policies and goals of his late brother.

By 1830, following the July Revolution in France, Saxony began to see some small uprisings, usually directed at the Constitution. To maintain peace, several changes took place. In September 1830, Anton appointed his nephew and heir, Friedrich August, as Co-Regent. The following year, a new constitution was established, making Saxony a true constitutional monarchy.

After a reign of just nine years, King Anton died in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on June 6, 1836. He is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony). As he had no male heirs, he was succeeded by his nephew King Friedrich August II.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, Queen of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

The first Queen of Saxony, Amalie Auguste, was the wife of King Friedrich August I of Saxony. She was born Countess Maria Amalie Auguste of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, in Mannheim, Palatinate of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on May 10, 1752, the daughter of Count Palatine Friedrich Michael of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler and Countess Palatine Maria Francisca of Sulzbach. Amalie had four siblings:

Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony,  source: Wikipedia

On January 29, 1769, Amalie married Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony (the future King Friedrich August I). At the time of her marriage, she became the Electress of Saxony, the last to hold this title. In addition to three stillborn children, the couple had one daughter:

Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler, Queen of Saxony- source: Wikipedia

On December 20, 1806, Amalie became the first Queen of Saxony when the Electorate of Saxony was elevated to a kingdom, and her husband assumed the throne as King Friedrich August I of Saxony. She also became Duchess of Warsaw the following year when the newly created Duchy of Warsaw, a protectorate of the French Empire, was placed in personal union with the Kingdom of Saxony by the French Emperor Napoléon. She remained Duchess of Warsaw until 1815, when the Duchy of Warsaw was dissolved at the Congress of Vienna.

Amalie’s husband died in May 1827 and was succeeded by his younger brother Anton. Queen Amalie survived her husband by a year and a half, dying in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on November 15, 1828. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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.

Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friedrich August I, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. . Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Friedrich August I, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

Friedrich August I was the first King of Saxony, reigning from 1806 to 1827. He was born Prince Friedrich August Josef Maria Anton Johann Nepomuk Alois Xavier on December 23, 1750, in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany, the eldest surviving child of Prince (later Elector) Friedrich Christian of Saxony and Princess Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria.

Friedrich August had six siblings:

Upon his father’s death on December 17, 1763, Friedrich August became Elector of Saxony, reigning as Friedrich August III. As he was only thirteen years old, his mother served as Regent, and his uncle, Prince Franz Xavier, served as his representative until his eighteenth birthday in 1768. During this time, his uncle relinquished the throne of Poland to Stanisław II Augustus on Friedrich August’s behalf. However, under the terms of the new Polish Constitution, he remained heir to the Polish throne, which he would later refuse upon Stanisław’s death in 1798.

Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. source: Wikipedia

In January 1769, Friedrich August married Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, the daughter of Count Palatine Friedrich Michael of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler and Countess Palatine Maria Francisca of Sulzbach. She was also the sister of the future King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. In addition to three stillborn children, Friedrich August and Amalie had one daughter:

As Elector, Friedrich August was not involved in establishing the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxon forces suffered significant losses, and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony.

The following year, the French Emperor Napoléon established the Duchy of Warsaw as a protectorate of the French Empire. In the Duchy’s constitution, he joined it with the House of Saxony, creating King Friedrich August I the Duke of Warsaw on June 9, 1807.

Under the watchful and controlling eye of Napoleon, Friedrich August attempted to join the Sixth Coalition in 1813, starting with a clandestine pact with Austria. However, word got back to Napoleon, who quickly squashed the King’s efforts. The Emperor demanded the full support of Saxony, including their forces. Despite his misgivings about Napoleon, he trusted the Prussians even less, so the Saxons fought alongside the French in the Battle of Leipzig. The Prussians had no real intent to bring Saxony into the Coalition and had already formed a separate alliance with Russia, with the agreement that Prussia would annex Saxony. Instead of any support for Friedrich August, he was arrested by the Prussians and taken into custody.

After being released from prison in February 1815, King Friedrich August I delayed agreeing to any of the terms set out at the Congress of Vienna. Having no choice, he soon agreed to the peace treaty presented by Prussia and Russia. On May 21, 1815, he signed the treaty, which gave more than half of the Saxony territory to Prussia, and the next day, he abdicated as Duke of Warsaw. Polish territory was divided amongst Russia, Austria, and Prussia, with the Russian area becoming the Kingdom of Poland, and the Russian Emperor as King. Upon returning home to Saxony in July 1815, the king received a warm welcome from the people of Saxony. He would remain on the throne for another twelve years.

Dresden Castle, c1896. source: Wikipedia

King Friedrich August I died at Dresden Castle in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on May 5, 1827. He is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony). As he had no male heirs, he was succeeded by his younger brother Anton.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Wedding of Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

source: Wikipedia

Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha were married in Coburg in October 19-20, 1932. They were the parents of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Gustaf Adolf’s Early Life

Gustaf Adolf (second from left) with his parents and siblings, 1912. source: Wikipedia

Prince Gustaf Adolf Oscar Fredrik Arthur Edmund of Sweden was the eldest son of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught. He was born at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on April 22, 1906, and was soon joined by four younger siblings – Ingrid, Bertil, Sigvard, and Carl Johan. His education began privately at home and then he attended the Lundbergs School, a private boarding school in Värmland. After graduating in 1925, he began a military career, serving in the cavalry. He attended the Military Academy Karlberg and the War College, and later studied at Uppsala University and the Stockholm School of Economics.

In addition to his studies and military training, Gustaf Adolf (known within the family as Edmund) became quite skilled at both fencing and horse riding. He went on to become Swedish champion in saber fencing and competed in show jumping in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. He served as president of the Swedish Olympic Committee from 1933 until his death. He also was an avid steeplechase rider, although he later gave that sport up at the time of his marriage. Gustaf Adolf was also very involved with scouting, from the time he was a young boy. He remained involved his entire life, later serving as the first president of the Swedish Scouting Federation, and serving on the World Scout Committee.

Sibylla’s Early Life

Sibylla (center) with her parents and siblings, c1915. source: Wikipedia

Her Royal Highness Princess Sibylla Calma Marie Alice Bathildis Feodora of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha on January 18, 1908. She was the second of five children of Carl Eduard, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born Prince Charles Edward of Albany) and Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. Her father was a grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (son of Victoria’s youngest son, Leopold, Duke of Albany), and her mother was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria’s half-sister, Feodora of Leiningen. Her siblings were Johann Leopold (1906-1972), Hubertus (1909-1943), Caroline Mathilde (1912-1983), and Friedrich Josias (1918-1998). At birth, she also held the title Princess of the United Kingdom, as her father was born a British prince.

Sibylla was educated at home, and then attended the Gymnasium Alexandrinum in Coburg, and then the Kunstgewerbeschule in Weimar, Saxony. During World War I, Sibylla’s father – despite being born a British prince – sided with the Germans as the reigning Duke of one of the German states. For this, his cousin, King George V of the United Kingdom had him stripped of the Order of the Garter which he had received in 1902. He was deposed in November 1918 and formally announced that he had “ceased to rule”, although he never technically abdicated. The family retained Schloss Callenberg in Coburg, as well as several other properties in Europe, and were given the right to live at Veste Coburg. They also received significant compensation for other lost possessions and properties.

In March 1919, the family was stripped of their British titles and peerages under the British Titles Deprivation Act. Sibylla lost her style of Royal Highness (which was derived from her father’s British title) and became simply Her Highness Princess Sibylla.

The Engagement

Despite being second cousins (both were great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), Gustaf Adolf and Sibylla did not meet until November 1931 at the wedding of Lady May Cambridge in London. Lady May was a first cousin of Sibylla and a second cousin of Gustaf Adolf. Sibylla and Gustaf Adolf’s sister, Ingrid, were both bridesmaids, and it was Ingrid who introduced them. A romance quickly developed, and soon there was much public speculation over a possible engagement.

Gustaf Adolf was very coy with the press, denying any engagement but still telling the media to “wait and see”. In mid-June 1932, he traveled to Coburg along with his sister Ingrid. Two days later, on June 16, after having received the formal consent of King Gustaf V of Sweden, the couple’s engagement was announced at Schloss Callenberg in Coburg.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, The Crown Prince of Sweden, Sibylla and Gustaf Adolf, The Crown Princess of Sweden, The Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

In the days leading up to the wedding, Sibylla and Gustaf Adolf, along with her parents, hosted a reception at the Veste Coburg for the press, who were able to find out many of the details of the wedding and see the display of wedding gifts. There were also several dinners and gala events, including a gala performance at the Opera, with many of the royal guests in attendance. In addition, a select few residents of Coburg were invited to attend as well.

Wedding Guests

Over sixty members of royal and noble families from Europe attended the wedding. One very prominent absentee was the groom’s grandfather, King Gustaf V, who refused to attend due to Coburg’s Nazi connections. He was instead officially represented by the Swedish Ambassador to Berlin. Some of the notable guests were:

The Groom’s Family
Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and Crown Princess Louise
Prince Sigvard, Duke of Uppland
Princess Ingrid
Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland
Prince Carl Johan, Duke of Dalarna

The Bride’s Family
The Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Prince Johann Leopold
Prince Hubertus
Princess Caroline Mathilde
Prince Friedrich Josias

Royal Guests
Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria
King Ferdinand of Bulgaria
Prince Harald of Denmark and Princess Helena Adelaide
Princess Feodora of Denmark
Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark
Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway
Grand Duchess Victoria Melita of Russia
Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia
The Duke of Connaught
The Earl and Countess of Athlone

The Wedding Attire

For the church ceremony, the bride wore a simple gown of white silk satin with a long train. The train had belonged to Sibylla’s paternal grandmother, The Duchess of Albany, who had received it from Queen Victoria. Made of white satin, embroidered with silver and ostrich feathers, it was nine feet in length.

Another heirloom was her veil of Brussels lace. It had originally belonged to Queen Sofia, the consort of King Oscar II of Sweden (the great-grandparents of the groom), and has since become a traditional wedding bride for several Swedish brides. Instead of a tiara, Sibylla wore a crown of myrtle and flowers. She carried a bouquet of large white lilies.

The groom wore his uniform as a Lieutenant in the Swedish Guards, adorned with the sash and star of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order (of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) and the star and insignia of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim and Order of the Sword.

The attendants wore simple white dresses, with pale blue shoes and white floral headdresses with blue ribbon. The blue matched the color of the groom’s regiment.

The Civil Ceremony

The civil ceremony took place on October 19, 1932, at the Coburg Castle. The brief ceremony was officiated by the Nazi Mayor of Coburg, Herr Franz Schwede. The groom wore a morning suit, while the bride wore a red wine dress. The Mayor gave a short speech, in which he recognized the joint effort of the Coburgers and the Swedes in defending the Coburg Castle during the Thirty Years’ War. He concluded that this must surely be a good omen for the success of the couple’s marriage.

Following the mayor’s speech, the marriage register was signed. Gustaf Adolf and Sibylla chose their fathers to serve as witnesses. The register was signed on a table that had originally belonged to Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the older brother of the couple’s mutual great-grandfather, Prince Albert. After the ceremony, the couple drove to St. Moritz’s Church for the rehearsal of their religious wedding the following day.

That evening, Gustaf Adolf and Sibylla, along with their parents and royal guests, viewed a torchlight procession of members of various civil organizations dancers and musicians, as well as Nazi stormtroopers. This was followed by a private dinner at the castle.

The Religious Ceremony

The religious ceremony was held on October 20, 1932, at the St. Moritz Church in Coburg. In the very traditional Lutheran service, the bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, to Handle’s “Prelude”.

The bride and groom had the following attendants:

  • Princess Ingrid of Sweden
  • Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia
  • Princess Feodora of Denmark
  • Princess Caroline of Denmark
  • Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein
  • Countess Dagmar Bernadotte (trainbearer)
  • Prince Wilhelm of Prussia
  • Prince Alexander of Prussia
  • Prince Bertil of Sweden
  • Prince Sigvard of Sweden
  • Prince Carl Johan of Sweden
  • Prince Friedrich Josias of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (trainbearer)

The Wedding Banquet

Processing back to the castle (note the swastika displayed in the background). source: Wikipedia

Following the ceremony, the couple greeted the crowds gathered outside the church and then processed by car back to the Castle – with the roads lined with well-wishers – where a banquet was held in the Congress Hall. The guests dined on:

Wildsuppe von Fasan
(wild pheasant soup)

Seezungenfilet, gebacken, Rémouladensauce
(baked filet of sole with Rémoulade sauce)

Tarteletten mit Gänseleberpastete
(Tartelettes with goose liver pate)

Poularden, gebraten, Erbsengemüse, Kompott, Salat
(fried poulard with peas, compote and salad)

Wallsee Pudding

Käsegebäck
(Cheese pastry)

Return to Sweden

Haga Palace. photo By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4389507

Gustaf Adolf and Sibylla spent a month honeymooning in Italy before returning to Sweden. They sailed into Trelleborg on November 24 and took the train to Stockholm, arriving the next day and being greeted by the Prime Minister and members of the Royal Family. They traveled by motorcade to the Royal Palace, where a Te Deum was held in the Royal Chapel. The following day, a reception was held in the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry in the palace, followed by a musical performance in the Hall of State and then dinner in the White Sea Ballroom. The next day, a gala performance was held at the Royal Opera.

Tragically, Gustaf Adolf was killed in a plane crash in 1947, leaving Sibylla widowed with five young children. She continued to take a very active role in the Swedish Royal Family, and after the death of Queen Louise in 1965, she served as the first lady for her father-in-law. Sibylla died in November 1972, just ten months before her son succeeded to the throne as King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Children

Gustaf Adolf and Sibylla with their five children in 1946; Credit – Wikipedia

Gustaf Adolf and Sibylla had four daughters and one son:

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