Prince Ludwig of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Encyclopedia
Prince Ludwig Karl of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (born 19 July 1864 in Kreuzwertheim
, Kingdom of Bavaria
; died 26 March 1899 in Furageros outside Manila
, Philippine Republic
) was a London socialite
who became known for his mysterious disappearance, and subsequent reappearance in the Philippines
during the Spanish–American War in which he was killed during fighting between Emilio Aguinaldo
-led insurgent
s and the United States Army
at the Battle of Caloocan of the Philippine–American War. Ludwig was a Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and a member of the Princely House of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.
, Kingdom of Bavaria
and was the eighth child and sixth son of Wilhelm, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and his first wife, Countess Olga Clara of Schönburg-Forderglauchau. Ludwig's mother was a matrilineal ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer
.
, daughter of John Savile, 4th Earl of Mexborough
and his second wife Agnes Louisa Elizabeth Raphael, on 15 May 1897 in London.
s inquiring about his whereabouts. After much speculation, a telegram from Manila
published in March 1899 revealed the prince had been in Manila for many months and was present at the destruction of Patricio Montojo
's Spanish naval fleet
during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish–American War. While in Manila, Ludwig was suspected of acting as a "confidential agent" of the German government
. Prior to the surrender of Manila, Ludwig was allegedly permitted to cross in and out of Spanish and insurgent lines, as each side regarded him as friendly. Ludwig also allegedly served as "a voluntary aide-de-camp
" and interpreter to a General Miller, though he was never connected with the United States Army
.
and the Oregon
Volunteers, soldiers of the United States Army
, from a stone bridge
over the Malabon River near Furageros on 26 March 1899. Ludwig and the other spectators were then warned by an orderly
that they were in danger in their current position. The orderly addressed Ludwig directly: "I am speaking to you particularly. You have already given us some trouble by hanging around the firing line, and we will have no more of it." According to fellow civilian spectator C. S. Bradford in The New York Times
, Ludwig and a companion left the position and disappeared into the nearby forest
which later became the scene of fighting. Oregon
Volunteers soldiers were ordered to fire upon the houses in the woods, in one of which was Ludwig. A bullet fired by an Oregonian soldier entered Ludwig's right side, killing him instantly. Bradford and two others took charge of Ludwig's body. A passport
found on Ludwig's person was signed by Aguinaldo confirming that he had been granted permission to enter the lines of the insurgents at will. C. S. Bradford recounted these events to The New York Times upon his return from the Philippines to his home in San Francisco, California
in May 1899. Ludwig's date of death was also confirmed by the Oregon Volunteers in their official account of the war published in 1902.
Kreuzwertheim
Kreuzwertheim is a market community in the Main-Spessart district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany and the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Kreuzwertheim.- Location :...
, Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
; died 26 March 1899 in Furageros outside Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippine Republic
First Philippine Republic
The Philippine Republic , more commonly known as the First Philippine Republic or the Malolos Republic was a short-lived insurgent revolutionary government in the Philippines...
) was a London socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
who became known for his mysterious disappearance, and subsequent reappearance in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the Spanish–American War in which he was killed during fighting between Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
-led insurgent
Insurgent
Insurgent, insurgents or insurgency can refer to:* The act of insurgency-Specific insurgencies:* Iraqi insurgency, uprising in Iraq* Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, uprising in India* Insurgency in North-East India...
s and the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at the Battle of Caloocan of the Philippine–American War. Ludwig was a Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and a member of the Princely House of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.
Family
Ludwig was born on 19 July 1864 in KreuzwertheimKreuzwertheim
Kreuzwertheim is a market community in the Main-Spessart district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany and the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Kreuzwertheim.- Location :...
, Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
and was the eighth child and sixth son of Wilhelm, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and his first wife, Countess Olga Clara of Schönburg-Forderglauchau. Ludwig's mother was a matrilineal ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer
Lady Diana Beauclerk
Not to be confused with the 20th-century Princess of Wales of the same maiden nameLady Diana Beauclerk was an English noblewoman and artist....
.
Marriage
Ludwig married Lady Anne SavilePrincess Anne of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
Princess Anne of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg was an English socialite and aviation patron and enthusiast. Anne was both the first woman to attempt and perish in a transatlantic airplane flight...
, daughter of John Savile, 4th Earl of Mexborough
John Savile, 4th Earl of Mexborough
John Charles George Savile, 4th Earl of Mexborough , styled Viscount Pollington between 1830 and 1860, was a British peer and Tory politician...
and his second wife Agnes Louisa Elizabeth Raphael, on 15 May 1897 in London.
Spanish–American War
Ludwig disappeared from London society in 1898 prompting his friends to run an advertisement in London newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s inquiring about his whereabouts. After much speculation, a telegram from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
published in March 1899 revealed the prince had been in Manila for many months and was present at the destruction of Patricio Montojo
Patricio Montojo
Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón was a career Spanish naval officer most known for his defeat at the Battle of Manila Bay by Admiral George Dewey, a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War....
's Spanish naval fleet
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish–American War. While in Manila, Ludwig was suspected of acting as a "confidential agent" of the German government
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...
. Prior to the surrender of Manila, Ludwig was allegedly permitted to cross in and out of Spanish and insurgent lines, as each side regarded him as friendly. Ludwig also allegedly served as "a voluntary aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
" and interpreter to a General Miller, though he was never connected with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Philippine–American War
Ludwig was among several civilians observing the progress of the Battle of Caloocan, fought between insurgents led by Emilio AguinaldoEmilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation...
and the Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
Volunteers, soldiers of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, from a stone bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
over the Malabon River near Furageros on 26 March 1899. Ludwig and the other spectators were then warned by an orderly
Orderly
A medical orderly , is a hospital attendant whose job consists of assisting medical and/or nursing staff with various nursing and/or medical interventions. These duties are classified as routine tasks involving no risk for the patient.- Job details :Orderlies are often utilized in various hospital...
that they were in danger in their current position. The orderly addressed Ludwig directly: "I am speaking to you particularly. You have already given us some trouble by hanging around the firing line, and we will have no more of it." According to fellow civilian spectator C. S. Bradford in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Ludwig and a companion left the position and disappeared into the nearby forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
which later became the scene of fighting. Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
Volunteers soldiers were ordered to fire upon the houses in the woods, in one of which was Ludwig. A bullet fired by an Oregonian soldier entered Ludwig's right side, killing him instantly. Bradford and two others took charge of Ludwig's body. A passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
found on Ludwig's person was signed by Aguinaldo confirming that he had been granted permission to enter the lines of the insurgents at will. C. S. Bradford recounted these events to The New York Times upon his return from the Philippines to his home in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in May 1899. Ludwig's date of death was also confirmed by the Oregon Volunteers in their official account of the war published in 1902.
Titles and styles
- 19 July 1864 – 26 March 1899: His Serene Highness Prince Ludwig of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg