Princess Calixta of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Encyclopedia
Princess Calixta Agnes Adelaide Irmgard Helene Caroline Elise Emma of Lippe-Biesterfeld (14 October 1895 - 15 December 1982) was the wife of Prince Waldemar of Prussia, eldest son of Prince Heinrich of Prussia
.
as the eldest child of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Lippe-Biesterfeld and his wife Countess Gisela Berta Adelheid Klothilde Emma Klementine of Ysenburg and Büdingen in Meerholz. Her father was a colonel with the Prussian army. In 1905, her father assumed princely rank, causing Calixta to be granted the rank of princess with the style Her Serene Highness.
Princess Calixta was a first cousin of Princess Marie Adelheid of Lippe-Biesterfeld, as their fathers were brothers. Calixta and Marie Adelheid were also first cousins-once removed of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
, consort of Juliana of the Netherlands
.
, Germany
, Calixta married Prince Waldemar of Prussia, the eldest son of Prince Heinrich of Prussia
. As such, he was a nephew of Emperor Wilhelm II.
Prince Waldemar suffered from haemophilia
, and consequently there were no children. He spent much of his life in a hospital, and surprised many by choosing to marry.
for most of World War II
. In the spring of 1945, the couple fled to Tutzing
from approaching Russian troops, as Calixta was unwilling to leave him at the mercy of the Red Army despite Waldemar being in the throes of an attack of haemophilia. After a long and painfully debilitating journey through Prague
, they finally reached Tutzing, a few miles south of Munich
, where Waldemar received a blood transfusion. The American
army overran the area the following day, and diverted all medical resources and supplies to treat nearby concentration camp victims. Consequently, these actions prevented Waldemar's German doctor from treating him. There, Waldemar died on 2 May from blood loss, due to a lack of blood transfusion facilities.
Though a decree was issued declaring it illegal to have private graves dug until the needs of the camps had been satisfied, Calixta succeeded in persuading a gravedigger to help her bury her husband. She was alone however when she undressed her husband's body in preparation for burial, and was subsequently robbed of Waldemar's clothes. She soon discovered that the coffin was too small, as her husband's elbows would not fit into the space below the lid; the following day, she was forced to break her husband's arms, successfully sealing the lid of the coffin and laying him to rest.
As Dowager Princess Waldemar of Prussia, Calixta survived her husband by over 35 years, residing at Reinhartshausen Castle near Erbach
. She died on 15 December 1982 at Schloss Reinhartshausen, Erbach
, Hessen, Germany
, though another account has her dying at Eltville
, West Germany
.
Prince Heinrich of Prussia
Prince Henry of Prussia was a younger brother of German Emperor William II and a Prince of Prussia...
.
Family and early life
Countess Calixta of Lippe-Biesterfeld was born in PotsdamPotsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
as the eldest child of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Lippe-Biesterfeld and his wife Countess Gisela Berta Adelheid Klothilde Emma Klementine of Ysenburg and Büdingen in Meerholz. Her father was a colonel with the Prussian army. In 1905, her father assumed princely rank, causing Calixta to be granted the rank of princess with the style Her Serene Highness.
Princess Calixta was a first cousin of Princess Marie Adelheid of Lippe-Biesterfeld, as their fathers were brothers. Calixta and Marie Adelheid were also first cousins-once removed of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld , later Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, was prince consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and father of six children, including the current monarch Queen Beatrix....
, consort of Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
.
Marriage
On 14 August 1919 at Hemmelmark, Schleswig-HolsteinSchleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, 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...
, Calixta married Prince Waldemar of Prussia, the eldest son of Prince Heinrich of Prussia
Prince Heinrich of Prussia
Prince Henry of Prussia was a younger brother of German Emperor William II and a Prince of Prussia...
. As such, he was a nephew of Emperor Wilhelm II.
Prince Waldemar suffered from haemophilia
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
, and consequently there were no children. He spent much of his life in a hospital, and surprised many by choosing to marry.
World War II
Calixta and Waldemar resided in BavariaBavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
for most of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In the spring of 1945, the couple fled to Tutzing
Tutzing
Tutzing is a municipality in the district of Starnberg in Bavaria, Germany and is situated on the west bank of the Starnberger See south of Munich...
from approaching Russian troops, as Calixta was unwilling to leave him at the mercy of the Red Army despite Waldemar being in the throes of an attack of haemophilia. After a long and painfully debilitating journey through Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, they finally reached Tutzing, a few miles south of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, where Waldemar received a blood transfusion. The American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
army overran the area the following day, and diverted all medical resources and supplies to treat nearby concentration camp victims. Consequently, these actions prevented Waldemar's German doctor from treating him. There, Waldemar died on 2 May from blood loss, due to a lack of blood transfusion facilities.
Though a decree was issued declaring it illegal to have private graves dug until the needs of the camps had been satisfied, Calixta succeeded in persuading a gravedigger to help her bury her husband. She was alone however when she undressed her husband's body in preparation for burial, and was subsequently robbed of Waldemar's clothes. She soon discovered that the coffin was too small, as her husband's elbows would not fit into the space below the lid; the following day, she was forced to break her husband's arms, successfully sealing the lid of the coffin and laying him to rest.
As Dowager Princess Waldemar of Prussia, Calixta survived her husband by over 35 years, residing at Reinhartshausen Castle near Erbach
Erbach
-Places:*Erbach, a constituent community of Bad Camberg in Hesse*Erbach an der Donau, town in Baden-Württemberg**Erbach Castle, castle in Erbach an der Donau*Erbach im Odenwald, town in Hesse**Erbacher Schloss, castle in Erbach im Odenwald...
. She died on 15 December 1982 at Schloss Reinhartshausen, Erbach
Erbach
-Places:*Erbach, a constituent community of Bad Camberg in Hesse*Erbach an der Donau, town in Baden-Württemberg**Erbach Castle, castle in Erbach an der Donau*Erbach im Odenwald, town in Hesse**Erbacher Schloss, castle in Erbach im Odenwald...
, Hessen, 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...
, though another account has her dying at Eltville
Eltville
Eltville am Rhein is a town in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road ....
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Titles and styles
- 14 October 1895–1905: Her Illustrious Highness Countess Calixta of Lippe-Biesterfeld
- 1905 – 14 August 1919: Her Serene Highness Princess Calixta of Lippe-Biesterfeld
- 14 August 1919 – 2 May 1945: Her Royal Highness Princess Calixta of Prussia
- 2 May 1945 - 15 December 1982: Her Royal Highness Dowager Princess Calixta of Prussia