Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg (1826–1896)
Encyclopedia
Princess Elisabeth Pauline Alexandrine of Saxe-Altenburg (26 March 1826 – 2 February 1896) was a daughter of Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and his wife Duchess Amelia of Württemberg
. By marriage, she became Grand Duchess of Oldenburg.
. She was the fourth daughter born to Joseph, the then Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen and his wife Duchess Amelia of Württemberg
. Her official title was Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Hildburghausen until later that year, when her family moved to Altenburg
as a result of a transfer of territories among the various branches of the Ernestine Wettins. Elisabeth then took the title Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg. In 1834, her father succeeded as Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, but was forced to abdicate in the civil revolution of 1848 due to the conservative, anti-reform nature of his government.
Elisabeth and her siblings were educated by Carl Ludwig Nietzsche, the father of the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
. Her sisters included Queen Marie of Hanover
(wife of George V of Hanover
) and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia (wife of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia
). Through Alexandra, Elisabeth was an aunt of Queen Olga of Greece.
. He would succeed his father the following year as Grand Duke, making Elisabeth Grand Duchess of Oldenburg.
They had two children:
Elisabeth died on 2 February 1896. Her husband died four years later.
Duchess Amelia of Württemberg
Amalie Therese Louise Wilhelmina Philippine of Württemberg was a Duchess of Württemberg and an ancestor of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Sofía of Spain and five Kings of Greece....
. By marriage, she became Grand Duchess of Oldenburg.
Family and early life
Elisabeth was born on 26 March 1826 in HildburghausenHildburghausen
Hildburghausen is a town in Thuringia in central Germany, capital of the district Hildburghausen. It is situated on the river Werra, 20 km south of Suhl, and 25 km northwest of Coburg....
. She was the fourth daughter born to Joseph, the then Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen and his wife Duchess Amelia of Württemberg
Duchess Amelia of Württemberg
Amalie Therese Louise Wilhelmina Philippine of Württemberg was a Duchess of Württemberg and an ancestor of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Sofía of Spain and five Kings of Greece....
. Her official title was Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Hildburghausen until later that year, when her family moved to Altenburg
Altenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
as a result of a transfer of territories among the various branches of the Ernestine Wettins. Elisabeth then took the title Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg. In 1834, her father succeeded as Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, but was forced to abdicate in the civil revolution of 1848 due to the conservative, anti-reform nature of his government.
Elisabeth and her siblings were educated by Carl Ludwig Nietzsche, the father of the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
. Her sisters included Queen Marie of Hanover
Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg was Queen of Hanover and the consort of George V, a grandson of George III of the United Kingdom and Queen Charlotte.-Early life:Marie was born at Hildburghausen, as Princess Marie of...
(wife of George V of Hanover
George V of Hanover
George V was King of Hanover, the only child of Ernest Augustus I, and a grandchild of King George III of the United Kingdom. In the peerage of Great Britain, he was 2nd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, 2nd Earl of Armagh...
) and Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia (wife of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia
Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia was the second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.During the reign of his brother Alexander II, Konstantin was an admiral of the Russian fleet and reformed the Russian Navy. He was also an instrumental figure in the emancipation of the serfs...
). Through Alexandra, Elisabeth was an aunt of Queen Olga of Greece.
Marriage
On 10 February 1852, Elisabeth married her second cousin Peter, Hereditary Grand Duke of OldenburgPeter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg was the ruler of Oldenburg from 1853 to 1900.-Family:Duke Nikolaus Friedrich Peter was the only son of Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg by his second wife Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. He was born on 8 July 1827 in Oldenburg. In his youth, he...
. He would succeed his father the following year as Grand Duke, making Elisabeth Grand Duchess of Oldenburg.
They had two children:
| Name | |Death | Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg Frederick Augustus II was the last ruling grand duke of Oldenburg. He married Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, daughter of Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau and Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia... | 16 November 1852 | 24 February 1931 | married firstly Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia was a German princess. She was the second child of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau... and secondly Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a daughter of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg by his third wife Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt... . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Georg Ludwig of Oldenburg | 27 June 1855 | 30 November 1939 | |||
Elisabeth died on 2 February 1896. Her husband died four years later.
Titles and styles
- 26 March 1826 – 12 November 1826: Her Highness Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Hildburghausen
- 12 November 1826 – 10 February 1852: Her Highness Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg
- 10 February 1852 – 27 February 1853: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
- 27 February 1853 – 2 February 1896: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg