Prince Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode (30 October 1837, Gedern

Gedern

Gedern is a town in the Wetteraukreis district in Hesse, Germany, and historically belongs to Oberhessen. It is located northeast of Hanau at the foot of the Vogelsberg, once one of the largest inactive volcanoes in Europe.-Neighboring towns:...

 – 19 November 1896, Schloss Wernigerode) was an Imperial German

German Empire

The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...

 politician and the first Vice-Chancellor of Germany

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...

. He was born into the ancient noble family of Stolberg-Wernigerode

Stolberg-Wernigerode

The Principality of Stolberg-Wernigerode was a county of the Holy Roman Empire located in the Harz region around Wernigerode, now part of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.-History:...

 which had been quasi-sovereign rulers of their county until the German Mediatisation

German Mediatisation

The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....

 when they came under the jurisdiction of Prussia

Prussia

Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...

. Having been schooled in Duisburg

Duisburg

- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...

, he read law

Law

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 at the University of Göttingen. Between 1859 and 1861, he served as a cavalry officer

Officer (armed forces)

An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...

 in the Prussian army

Prussian Army

The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...

, and he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz

Anna Reuss of Köstritz

Princess Anna Elizabeth Reuss of Köstritz , was a princess of Reuss by birth and by marriage countess, and after 1890 princess, of Stolberg-Wernigerode.- Life :...

 in 1863. Having served in both the Reichstag

Reichstag (German Empire)

The Reichstag was the parliament of the North German Confederation , and of the German Reich ....

 and the Prussian regional legislature, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor under Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck

Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...

, and was instrumental in the development of the Zweibund with Austria. For most of his life he was known as Graf or Count Otto, but in 1890 he was granted the hereditary title of Prince (Fürst

Fürst

Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...

 in German.)

Marriage and issue

On 22 August 1863 at Staniszów

Staniszów

Staniszów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Podgórzyn, within Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....

 Castle, he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz

Anna Reuss of Köstritz

Princess Anna Elizabeth Reuss of Köstritz , was a princess of Reuss by birth and by marriage countess, and after 1890 princess, of Stolberg-Wernigerode.- Life :...

. They had the following children:

• Christian Ernest (1864–1940), Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode

married in 1891 Countess Marie of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1864-1942)

• Elizabeth (1866–1928)

married in 1885 Count Constantin of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1843-1905)

• Hermann (1867–1913)

married in 1910 princess Dorothea of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1883-1942)

• William (1870–1932)

married in 1910 Princess Elizabeth of Erbach-Schönberg (1883-1966)

• Henry (1871–1874)
• Marie (1872–1950)

married in 1902 Count William of Solms-Laubach (1861-1936)

• Emma (1875–1956)

married in 1894 Prince Charles of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

Charles of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

Prince Charles Ferdinand William of Solms-Lich-Hohensolms was a German politician. He was president of the First Chamber of the Estates of the Grand Duchy of Hesse.- Life :...

(1866-1920)