Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Encyclopedia
Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (10 August 1869 – 3 September 1955) was a daughter of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg by his third wife Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
. By her marriage to Frederick Augustus II
, she became the consort of the last reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg.
. She was an older sister of Hendrik, Prince consort of the Netherlands, husband of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, making her an aunt of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. She was also a younger half-sister of Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. Through Frederick Francis, she was an aunt of Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark
and Cecilie, the last Crown Princess of Germany
. Elisabeth was also a half sister of Marie, Grand Duchess of Russia, who was the mother of Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
, the pretender to the Russian throne.
Her paternal grandparents were Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg and Princess Alexandrine of Prussia
. Her maternal grandparents were Prince Adolph of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Princess Mathilde of Schonburg-Waldenburg.
. His first wife Elisabeth Anna
had died the previous year, leaving only one surviving daughter: Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Oldenburg
. Frederick Augustus was thus in need of a male heir. He succeeded as Grand Duke of Oldenburg in 1900, making Elisabeth Grand Duchess consort of Oldenburg.
They had four children:
Frederick was forced to abdicate his throne at the end of World War I
, when the former Grand Duchy of the German Empire joined the post-war German Republic. He and his family took up residence at Rastede Castle, where he took up farming and local industrial interests. A year after his abdication, he asked the Oldenburg Diet for a yearly allowance of 150,000 marks
, stating that his financial condition was "extremely precarious".
In 1931, Frederick died in Rastede. Elisabeth died on 3 September 1955, having been widowed for 24 years.
Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was the consort and third wife of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was mother of Prince Hendrik, consort of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and father of Queen Juliana.-Early life:...
. By her marriage to Frederick Augustus II
Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Frederick Augustus II was the last ruling grand duke of Oldenburg. He married Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, daughter of Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau and Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia...
, she became the consort of the last reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg.
Family
Elisabeth was related to many of Europe's royal families. She was the eldest child of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg by his third wife Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-RudolstadtPrincess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was the consort and third wife of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was mother of Prince Hendrik, consort of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and father of Queen Juliana.-Early life:...
. She was an older sister of Hendrik, Prince consort of the Netherlands, husband of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, making her an aunt of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. She was also a younger half-sister of Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. Through Frederick Francis, she was an aunt of Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark
Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Alexandrine Auguste of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the queen consort of King Christian X of Denmark.-Family:She was born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in the city of Schwerin...
and Cecilie, the last Crown Princess of Germany
Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Crown Princess of Germany and Prussia as the wife of German Crown Prince William, the son of German Emperor William II...
. Elisabeth was also a half sister of Marie, Grand Duchess of Russia, who was the mother of Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia was a member of the Russian Imperial Family. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the deaths of Tsar Nicholas II and his brother Michael, Cyril assumed the Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia and later the title Emperor and Autocrat of all the...
, the pretender to the Russian throne.
Her paternal grandparents were Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg and Princess Alexandrine of Prussia
Princess Alexandrine of Prussia
Alexandrine, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the wife and consort to Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as well as the daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.-Family:Alexandrine was the seventh child and fourth daughter of Frederick...
. Her maternal grandparents were Prince Adolph of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Princess Mathilde of Schonburg-Waldenburg.
Marriage
On 24 October 1896, Elisabeth married Frederick Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of OldenburgFrederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Frederick Augustus II was the last ruling grand duke of Oldenburg. He married Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, daughter of Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau and Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia...
. His first wife Elisabeth Anna
Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia
Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia was a German princess. She was the second child of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau...
had died the previous year, leaving only one surviving daughter: Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Oldenburg
Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Oldenburg
Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Oldenburg was a member of the House of Holstein-Gottorp. She was the only surviving child of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg by his first wife Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia.Sophia Charlotte is best known for her unhappy and well-publicized marriage...
. Frederick Augustus was thus in need of a male heir. He succeeded as Grand Duke of Oldenburg in 1900, making Elisabeth Grand Duchess consort of Oldenburg.
They had four children:
| Name | |Death | Nicolas Frederick William, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg was the eldest son of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, last ruling Grand Duke of Oldenburg... | 10 August 1897 | 3 April 1970 | married Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1899–1948) Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont was the only daughter of Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, last reigning Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, and wife of Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg.-Early life:... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duchess Alexandrine | 25 March 1900 | 26 March 1900 | |||
| Duchess Ingeborg Alix | 1901 | 1996 | married Prince Stephan Alexander Victor of Schaumburg-Lippe | ||
| Duchess Altburg Marie Mathilde Olga Duchess Altburg of Oldenburg Duchess Altburg Marie Matilda Olga of Oldenburg was a daughter of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg by his second wife Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.-Early life:... |
1903 | 2001 | married Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont was the heir apparent to the throne of the Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont and a General in the SS. From 1946 until his death he was the head of the Princely House of Waldeck and Pyrmont... |
||
Frederick was forced to abdicate his throne at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when the former Grand Duchy of the German Empire joined the post-war German Republic. He and his family took up residence at Rastede Castle, where he took up farming and local industrial interests. A year after his abdication, he asked the Oldenburg Diet for a yearly allowance of 150,000 marks
Marks
Marks , also spelled Marx, named after Karl Marx, is a town in Saratov Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Saratov. Population: It was founded in 1767 as a Volga German community called Baronsk . It was soon renamed Yekaterinenshtadt , after Catherine the Great. In 1918, it was granted town...
, stating that his financial condition was "extremely precarious".
In 1931, Frederick died in Rastede. Elisabeth died on 3 September 1955, having been widowed for 24 years.
Titles and styles
- 10 August 1869 – 24 October 1896: Her Highness Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- 24 October 1896 – 13 June 1900: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
- 13 June 1900 – 24 February 1931: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
- 24 February 1931 – 3 September 1955: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Grand Duchess of Oldenburg