Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1878–1900)
Encyclopedia
Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Bernhard Carl Alexander Hermann Heinrich Wilhelm Oscar Friedrich Franz Peter; 18 April 1878 – 1 October 1900) was a member of the Grand Ducal House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
and a Lieutenant
in the Prussian Army
. He bore the titles "Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Duke of Saxony" with the style "Highness
".
the second son of Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
. He was the younger brother of the last Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, William Ernest
. His grandparents on his fathers side were the reigning Grand Duke Charles Alexander
and his wife Princess Sophie of the Netherlands
, through whom he was in the line of succession to the Dutch throne
.
and was brought up to look upon himself as her future consort, with her mother Queen Emma
a proponent of the match. Although an engagement was reported to be close on numerous occasions the young Queen was not a fan of the match describing her cousin Prince Bernhard as "not handsome" and "not sensible".
When Queen Wilhelmina did not return Prince Bernhard's affection he was reported to have become depressed, dying at the age of 22 in Weimar. His sudden death was reported to be the result of tuberculosis
although there were rumors he may have committed suicide. Shortly after his death Queen Wilhelmina's engagement was announced to Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
The Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was created in 1809 by the merger of the Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. It was raised to a Grand duchy in 1815 by resolution of the Vienna Congress. In 1877, it officially changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Saxony , but this name was...
and a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
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...
. He bore the titles "Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Duke of Saxony" with the style "Highness
Highness
Highness, often used with a possessive adjective , is an attribute referring to the rank of the dynasty in an address...
".
Birth and family
Prince Bernhard was born in WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
the second son of Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was the wife of Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach....
. He was the younger brother of the last Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, William Ernest
William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Wilhelm Ernst Karl Alexander Friedrich Heinrich Bernhard Albert Georg Hermann was the last Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.-Biography:...
. His grandparents on his fathers side were the reigning Grand Duke Charles Alexander
Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Karl Alexander August Johann, Grand Duke of Saxony; 24 June 1818 – 5 January 1901) was the ruler of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from 1853 until his death.-Biography:...
and his wife Princess Sophie of the Netherlands
Princess Sophie of the Netherlands
Princess Sophie of the Netherlands was the only daughter of King William II of the Netherlands and of his wife Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of Russia...
, through whom he was in the line of succession to the Dutch throne
Line of succession to the Dutch Throne
The 1814 constitution stated that the oldest son of the monarch would succeed him , followed by the monarch's brother or his son. Only when there would be a complete lack of males in his near family, would the oldest daughter of the monarch succeed him...
.
Suitor to Dutch Queen Wilhelmina
Closely related to the Dutch Royal Family from a young age Prince Bernhard was seen as the ideal husband to the young Queen Wilhelmina of the NetherlandsWilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
and was brought up to look upon himself as her future consort, with her mother Queen Emma
Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont was Queen consort of William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg...
a proponent of the match. Although an engagement was reported to be close on numerous occasions the young Queen was not a fan of the match describing her cousin Prince Bernhard as "not handsome" and "not sensible".
When Queen Wilhelmina did not return Prince Bernhard's affection he was reported to have become depressed, dying at the age of 22 in Weimar. His sudden death was reported to be the result of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
although there were rumors he may have committed suicide. Shortly after his death Queen Wilhelmina's engagement was announced to Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.