Henriette Mendel
Encyclopedia
Henriette Mendel, Baroness von Wallersee (July 31, 1833 – November 12, 1891) was a German
actress, and the mistress
and, later, morganatic
wife of Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria. By him she was the mother of Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
.
, Hesse-Darmstadt
, she was the daughter of Adam Mendel and of Anna Sophie Müller. In English she is usually known as Henrietta Mendel.
She was an actress at Darmstadt's Großherzoglich Hessischem Hoftheater when she and Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria
fell in love. As a Duke in Bavaria
(Herzog in Bayern,) Ludwig was a high ranking member of Bavaria
's Royal House of Wittelsbach
. He was a nephew of Maximilian II of Bavaria
(and thus a cousin of the future "Mad King" Ludwig II of Bavaria
.) He was also a cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
. Ludwig's younger sister Elisabeth
was even married to Franz Joseph.
The couple had an illegitimate daughter, Marie Louise, born on February 24, 1858. Marie would later became famous under her married name, Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
.
When Henriette became pregnant a second time, a morganatic marriage
was arranged. Ludwig renounced succession rights to the Bavarian throne on March 9, 1859. The couple's son Karl Emanuel was born on May 9, 1859, Henriette was created Freifrau von Wallersee on May 19, 1859, and the marriage occurred on May 28, 1859 in Augsburg
, Bavaria, at which time her children became Freiin and Freiherr von Wallersee.
Karl Emanuel only survived a few months, dying on August 1, 1859. The couple had no more children.
The baroness died November 12, 1891 in Munich
, Bavaria of stomach cancer
. One year later, her widower, Duke Ludwig, married Barbara Antonie Barth
, who had been created Baroness von Bartolf, on November 19, 1892.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
actress, and the mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
and, later, morganatic
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
wife of Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria. By him she was the mother of Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
Countess Marie Louise Larisch von Moennich was...
.
Biography
Born Auguste Henriette Mendel in DarmstadtDarmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, Hesse-Darmstadt
Grand Duchy of Hesse
The Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine , or, between 1806 and 1816, Grand Duchy of Hesse —as it was also known after 1816—was a member state of the German Confederation from 1806, when the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was elevated to a Grand Duchy, until 1918, when all the German...
, she was the daughter of Adam Mendel and of Anna Sophie Müller. In English she is usually known as Henrietta Mendel.
She was an actress at Darmstadt's Großherzoglich Hessischem Hoftheater when she and Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria
Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria
Ludwig Wilhelm was Duke in Bavaria.-Early life:Ludwig Wilhelm was the eldest child of Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria, and was brother of Empress Sissi.-Relationships and issues:He renounced his rights as firstborn, to marry the actress Henriette Mendel Ludwig...
fell in love. As a Duke in Bavaria
Duke in Bavaria
Duke in Bavaria was a title used among others since 1506, when primogeniture was established, by all members of the House of Wittelsbach, with the exception of the Duke of Bavaria which began to be a unique position...
(Herzog in Bayern,) Ludwig was a high ranking member of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
's Royal House of Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria.Members of the family served as Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria , Counts Palatine of the Rhine , Margraves of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland , Elector-Archbishops of Cologne , Dukes of...
. He was a nephew of Maximilian II of Bavaria
Maximilian II of Bavaria
Maximilian II of Bavaria was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. He was son of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.-Crown Prince:...
(and thus a cousin of the future "Mad King" Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and der Märchenkönig, the Fairy tale King...
.) He was also a cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
. Ludwig's younger sister Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
was even married to Franz Joseph.
The couple had an illegitimate daughter, Marie Louise, born on February 24, 1858. Marie would later became famous under her married name, Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
Countess Marie Louise Larisch von Moennich was...
.
When Henriette became pregnant a second time, a morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
was arranged. Ludwig renounced succession rights to the Bavarian throne on March 9, 1859. The couple's son Karl Emanuel was born on May 9, 1859, Henriette was created Freifrau von Wallersee on May 19, 1859, and the marriage occurred on May 28, 1859 in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, Bavaria, at which time her children became Freiin and Freiherr von Wallersee.
Karl Emanuel only survived a few months, dying on August 1, 1859. The couple had no more children.
The baroness died November 12, 1891 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Bavaria of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
. One year later, her widower, Duke Ludwig, married Barbara Antonie Barth
Barbara Antonie Barth
Barbara Antonie Barth , aka Baroness Antonie von Bartolf, was an actress and the second wife of Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria. They married on November 19, 1892. They divorced in 1913....
, who had been created Baroness von Bartolf, on November 19, 1892.
Further reading
- Countess Marie Larisch, My Past, G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York & London, 1913. Ghostwritten by Maude Mary Chester ffoulkes