Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg
Encyclopedia
Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg, also known as Prince Franz Joseph of Battenberg, (24 September 1861 – 31 July 1924), was the youngest son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine
and Countess Julia von Hauke.
, which eventually went to his brother Alexander
. Francis Joseph nevertheless followed his brother to Bulgaria, where he served as a colonel
in the Bulgarian cavalry. He made a proposal of marriage to Consuelo Vanderbilt
in 1894, but she hated him on sight and refused. On 18 May 1897 he married Princess Ana Petrovic-Njegoš of Montenegro
, (Cetinje
18 August 1874 – 22 April 1971 Territet), daughter of Nicholas I of Montenegro
. There was no issue of the marriage.
He was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
(civil division) by Queen Victoria on 6 February 1896.
Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine
Prince Alexander Ludwig Georg Friedrich Emil of Hesse, GCB was the third son and fourth child of Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse and Wilhelmina of Baden.-Questioned parentage:...
and Countess Julia von Hauke.
Biography
At one time, he was considered for the throne of BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, which eventually went to his brother Alexander
Alexander, Prince of Bulgaria
Alexander Joseph, Prince of Bulgaria GCB , known as Alexander of Battenberg, was the first prince of modern Bulgaria, reigning from 29 April 1879 to 7 September 1886.-Early life:...
. Francis Joseph nevertheless followed his brother to Bulgaria, where he served as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Bulgarian cavalry. He made a proposal of marriage to Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Balsan , was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family...
in 1894, but she hated him on sight and refused. On 18 May 1897 he married Princess Ana Petrovic-Njegoš of Montenegro
Princess Anna of Montenegro
Anna Petrović-Njegoš, Princess of Montenegro was the seventh child and sixth daughter of Nicholas I of Montenegro and his wife Milena Vukotić.-Family and early life:...
, (Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
18 August 1874 – 22 April 1971 Territet), daughter of Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
. There was no issue of the marriage.
He was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(civil division) by Queen Victoria on 6 February 1896.