Prince Wolfgang of Hesse
Encyclopedia
Prince and Landgrave
Wolfgang of Hesse-Kassel
(or Hesse-Cassel) (Wolfgang Moritz) (6 November 1896, Castle Rumpenheim, Offenbach am Main, Germany
– 12 July 1989), was the designated Hereditary Prince of the monarchy of Finland
(with the irredentistic
pretension to Estonia
), and as such, already called the Crown Prince
of Finland
officially until 14 December 1918, and also afterwards by some monarchists.
Wolfgang was the second-born of a pair of twins, the fourth child and son born to Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse
(1868–1940) and Princess Margaret of Prussia
(1872–1954). His maternal uncle was the German Emperor
William II. Wolfgang's father Frederick Charles of Hesse was elected King of Finland on 9 October 1918, to replace his first cousin once removed, the deposed Russian emperor, Nicholas II
, who was titled Grand Duke
of Finland. However, Frederick Charles renounced the throne on 14 December 1918, and the title was never actually held by the family.
Wolfgang would have been his father's heir as King of Finland instead of his elder twin Prince Philipp of Hesse (1896–1980), apparently because Wolfgang was with his parents in 1918 and ready to travel to Finland (where rumoredly a wedding to a Finnish lady already was in the preparation for the coming Crown Prince). Philip was in the military and incommunicado at the time.
Wolfgang married on 17 September 1924 Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden
(1902–1944), daughter of Prince Maximilian of Baden
and Princess Marie Louise of Hanover; they had no children. When Wolfgang died, his nephew Prince Heinrich of Hesse-Kassel
succeeded him in the claims to the throne of Finland.
Wolfgang adopted his nephew, Prince Karl Adolf of Hesse (born 1937), elder son of his younger brother Christoph who was killed in action
in 1943.
At the time of his death at the age of 92, Wolfgang was the only surviving great-grandchild of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
who had been born in her lifetime. Victoria died in 1901 and Wolfgang was born in 1896.
Landgrave
Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
Wolfgang of Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
(or Hesse-Cassel) (Wolfgang Moritz) (6 November 1896, Castle Rumpenheim, Offenbach am Main, 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...
– 12 July 1989), was the designated Hereditary Prince of the monarchy of Finland
Monarchy of Finland
The nation of Finland has never been an independent sovereign monarchy: no attempt to establish one was crowned with success. When it finally became established as a modern independent nation-state, it was— despite a very brief flirtation with monarchy—in the form of a republic.-Early...
(with the irredentistic
Irredentism
Irredentism is any position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession, actual or alleged. Some of these movements are also called pan-nationalist movements. It is a feature of identity politics and cultural...
pretension to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
), and as such, already called the Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
officially until 14 December 1918, and also afterwards by some monarchists.
Wolfgang was the second-born of a pair of twins, the fourth child and son born to Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse
Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse
Frederick Charles Louis Constantine, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse , Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin Prinz und Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel in German, was the brother-in-law of the German Emperor William II and the elected King of Finland from 9 October to 14 December 1918.-Early life:Frederick was...
(1868–1940) and Princess Margaret of Prussia
Princess Margaret of Prussia
Princess Margaret of Prussia was a daughter of Frederick III, German Emperor and Victoria, Princess Royal. She married Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse. In 1926 they became Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse...
(1872–1954). His maternal uncle was the German Emperor
German Emperor
This article is about the emperors of the German Empire. For full list of German monarchs before 1871, see List of German monarchs.The German Emperor was the official title of the Head of State and ruler of the German Empire, beginning with the proclamation of Wilhelm I as emperor during the...
William II. Wolfgang's father Frederick Charles of Hesse was elected King of Finland on 9 October 1918, to replace his first cousin once removed, the deposed Russian emperor, Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
, who was titled Grand Duke
Grand Duke
The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not...
of Finland. However, Frederick Charles renounced the throne on 14 December 1918, and the title was never actually held by the family.
Wolfgang would have been his father's heir as King of Finland instead of his elder twin Prince Philipp of Hesse (1896–1980), apparently because Wolfgang was with his parents in 1918 and ready to travel to Finland (where rumoredly a wedding to a Finnish lady already was in the preparation for the coming Crown Prince). Philip was in the military and incommunicado at the time.
Wolfgang married on 17 September 1924 Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden
Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden
Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden was a Princess and Landgravine of Hesse and wife of the designated Crown Prince of Finland.-Family:...
(1902–1944), daughter of Prince Maximilian of Baden
Prince Maximilian of Baden
Maximilian of Baden was a German prince and politician...
and Princess Marie Louise of Hanover; they had no children. When Wolfgang died, his nephew Prince Heinrich of Hesse-Kassel
Prince Heinrich of Hesse-Kassel
Prince Heinrich Wilhelm Konstantin Viktor Franz of Hesse-Kassel ....
succeeded him in the claims to the throne of Finland.
Wolfgang adopted his nephew, Prince Karl Adolf of Hesse (born 1937), elder son of his younger brother Christoph who was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
in 1943.
At the time of his death at the age of 92, Wolfgang was the only surviving great-grandchild of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
who had been born in her lifetime. Victoria died in 1901 and Wolfgang was born in 1896.
Ancestry
External links
- Article about the House of Hesse and the throne of Finland Helsingin SanomatHelsingin SanomatHelsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. Except after certain holidays, it is published daily. In 2008, its daily circulation was 412,421 on weekdays and 468,505 on Sundays...