Prince Alexander of Prussia
Encyclopedia
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Alexander of Prussia (21 June 1820 – 4 January 1896) was the eldest child of Prince Frederick of Prussia
and his wife Princess Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg.
during the Austro-Prussian War
. During the morning of the decisive battle of Königgrätz
, a humorous account recounted that while on his horse, it ran away; Alexander was found later in the afternoon seated on the horse in a neighboring wood, stating that his horse had insisted on going there.
He served as a general of infantry in the Prussian army. He was also a chief of the Third West Infantry Regiment and chief of the Second Regiment of Grenadiers of the Guard in the Landwehr.
for three to four weeks.
A contemporary figure once recounted that:
Traveling in Switzerland, Alexander liked to stay under the title Count de Tecklenburg. He was described as an "extraordinary pedestrian
", because he "accomplished in twelve hours what the best walker in the valley takes sixteen hours to perform". In November 1852, Alexander went to visit his very ill friend the Duchess of Orleans at her estate at Lansanne, Switzlerland, though she survived for six more years.
, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the Bundesrath, and a number of generals from the Germany army. His death sent the Berlin court into mourning for a month, causing the planned season's functions and court festivities to be altered. Hunting excursions prearranged for the month were also canceled. Some of the members of his entourage received quite substantial legacies, but the rest of his estate passed to his younger brother Prince George of Prussia
, and after his death, to Alexander's godchild
Prince Oskar of Prussia
.
Much was written about Alexander's supposedly promiscuous ways. In her 1915 work Memories of forty years, Catherine Radziwill
recalled that:
Despite never marrying, another source said Alexander declared marriage to every woman he met, "no matter if she be princess or laundress, octogenarian or young girl, married or single".
Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863)
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia , known in English as Frederick, was a Prussian prince, general of the royal cavalry, and division commander.- Family :...
and his wife Princess Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg.
Military career
Alexander joined the army at a young age, and was attached to the headquarters of Crown Prince FrederickFrederick III, German Emperor
Frederick III was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888, the Year of the Three Emperors. Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl known informally as Fritz, was the only son of Emperor William I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service...
during the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
. During the morning of the decisive battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
, a humorous account recounted that while on his horse, it ran away; Alexander was found later in the afternoon seated on the horse in a neighboring wood, stating that his horse had insisted on going there.
He served as a general of infantry in the Prussian army. He was also a chief of the Third West Infantry Regiment and chief of the Second Regiment of Grenadiers of the Guard in the Landwehr.
Later years
In 1891, Alexander ended his cure at Marienblad and embarked for OstendOstend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
for three to four weeks.
A contemporary figure once recounted that:
"The charitable disposition of Prince Alexander of Prussia, the Emperor's cousin... is so well-known and often so appealed to in BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, that his secretary must acquired great experience in answering begging questions. He passes the greater part of the year in SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and at Schloss Rheinstein, his castle on the Rhine".
Traveling in Switzerland, Alexander liked to stay under the title Count de Tecklenburg. He was described as an "extraordinary pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
", because he "accomplished in twelve hours what the best walker in the valley takes sixteen hours to perform". In November 1852, Alexander went to visit his very ill friend the Duchess of Orleans at her estate at Lansanne, Switzlerland, though she survived for six more years.
Death and legacy
In late December 1895, Alexander was reported to be "critically ill". He died at a quarter to eleven on 4 January 1896 after ailing for some time. The Emperor and Empress were at his bedside when he died. On 9 January, Alexander's funeral was held in a Berlin cathedral. Members of the Imperial court attended, including the Emperor and Empress, Dowager Empress FrederickVictoria, Princess Royal
The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal was the eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert. She was created Princess Royal of the United Kingdom in 1841. She became German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III...
, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the Bundesrath, and a number of generals from the Germany army. His death sent the Berlin court into mourning for a month, causing the planned season's functions and court festivities to be altered. Hunting excursions prearranged for the month were also canceled. Some of the members of his entourage received quite substantial legacies, but the rest of his estate passed to his younger brother Prince George of Prussia
Prince George of Prussia
Prince Frederick William George Ernest of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern....
, and after his death, to Alexander's godchild
Godchild
, also known as Count Cain, is a gothic shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Kaori Yuki. Earl Cain consists of five parts or "Series": , , , , and the sequel series ....
Prince Oskar of Prussia
Prince Oskar of Prussia
Prince Oskar of Prussia was the fifth son of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein.-Education:...
.
Much was written about Alexander's supposedly promiscuous ways. In her 1915 work Memories of forty years, Catherine Radziwill
Catherine Radziwill
Princess Catherine Radziwiłł was a Polish princess from the Polish-Lithuanian aristocratic Radziwiłł family. She was born as Countess Ekaterina Adamovna Rzewuska. She married Prince Wilhelm Radziwiłł at age 15 and moved to Berlin to live with his family...
recalled that:
"[Prince Alexander], though none too intelligent, was extremely fond of society, feminine society in particular. I remember that one day, at my mother-in-law's house, he managed to decoy into an empty room a certain Madame von Wildenbruch, the wife of an illegitimate son of Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, and began kissing her with fervour, to the extreme stupefaction and anger of the lady in question, who, it must be added, was at that time nearly seventy years of age".
Despite never marrying, another source said Alexander declared marriage to every woman he met, "no matter if she be princess or laundress, octogenarian or young girl, married or single".
Titles and styles
- 21 June 1820 – 4 January 1896: His Royal Highness Prince Alexander of Prussia