Princess Eulalia of Thurn and Taxis
Encyclopedia
Princess Eulalia Maria Antoine Eleonore of Thurn and Taxis, also known as Illa, (21 December 1908 - 30 December 1993) was the eldest child of Prince Friedrich Lamoral of Thurn and Taxis and his wife Princess Eleonore de Ligne. She belonged to the Czech branch of the House of Thurn and Taxis.
. Though her official name was Eulalia, everyone in her family referred to her as "Illa".
. When it came time for the wedding in February 1929, Illa changed her mind and refused to marry him. Her timing meant that the bishop of Regensburg, as well as all of the guests, were all assembled and ready to attend the wedding before her announcement was made. She went to her fiance's father and declared that her "heart belonged to" Prince Philipp Ernst of Thurn and Taxis, his youngest son, and that she found it "incompatible with the dictates of her conscience" to marry her fiance. Albert subsequently consulted her paternal grandfather, who was the head of the Czech branch, and the two next summoned a family council. Both branches of the family involved said they commended Illa for her candor and courage, and also credited her with "the sincerest motivations springing from a deep religious conviction that it would be wrong to marry Prince Raphael when she really loved Prince Philippe". After informing Prince Albert, she apparently "burst into hysterical sobbing" and left soon after for her estates in Czechoslovakia
. Her decision was not officially announced until the following day.
Illa had met the two brothers at about the same time, and "the wisdom of an alliance" between herself and Prince Raphael seemed clear. In the week leading up to the wedding however, Illa spent time with Philipp daily and grew feelings for him while staying at the Regensburg
home of his and her fiance's parents. A devout Catholic
, Illa's "deep religious conviction" would not allow her to trap herself in a marriage with someone she did not love. Prince Raphael later married to another relative, his second cousin Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis; the couple were the parents of Prince Max Emanuel, the current heir presumptive
to the Thurn and Taxis throne.
On 8 September 1929, Illa married Prince Philipp Ernst at the Schloss Taxis
. They had three children:
Prince Philipp died on 23 July 1964 at the age of 56 at the Schloss Hohenberg in Bavaria
. Princess Illa died on 30 December 1993 at the age of 85.
Family and early life
Princess Eulalia of Thurn and Taxis was born on 21 December 1908 to the Czech branch of the House of Thurn and Taxis. She was born and raised at the Schloss Biskuptiz in CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Though her official name was Eulalia, everyone in her family referred to her as "Illa".
Engagement to Prince Raphael
Princess Illa was engaged to Prince Raphael Ranier of Thurn and Taxis, a younger son of Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn and Taxis from 1928 to the following year. He belonged to the main branch of the House of Thurn and Taxis, as he was a descendant of Karl Anselm, 4th Prince of Thurn and TaxisKarl Anselm, 4th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
-Titles and styles:*2 June 1733 – 8 November 1739: His Serene Highness Prince Karl Anselm of Thurn and Taxis*8 November 1739 – 17 March 1773: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis...
. When it came time for the wedding in February 1929, Illa changed her mind and refused to marry him. Her timing meant that the bishop of Regensburg, as well as all of the guests, were all assembled and ready to attend the wedding before her announcement was made. She went to her fiance's father and declared that her "heart belonged to" Prince Philipp Ernst of Thurn and Taxis, his youngest son, and that she found it "incompatible with the dictates of her conscience" to marry her fiance. Albert subsequently consulted her paternal grandfather, who was the head of the Czech branch, and the two next summoned a family council. Both branches of the family involved said they commended Illa for her candor and courage, and also credited her with "the sincerest motivations springing from a deep religious conviction that it would be wrong to marry Prince Raphael when she really loved Prince Philippe". After informing Prince Albert, she apparently "burst into hysterical sobbing" and left soon after for her estates in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Her decision was not officially announced until the following day.
Illa had met the two brothers at about the same time, and "the wisdom of an alliance" between herself and Prince Raphael seemed clear. In the week leading up to the wedding however, Illa spent time with Philipp daily and grew feelings for him while staying at the Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
home of his and her fiance's parents. A devout Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Illa's "deep religious conviction" would not allow her to trap herself in a marriage with someone she did not love. Prince Raphael later married to another relative, his second cousin Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis; the couple were the parents of Prince Max Emanuel, the current heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the Thurn and Taxis throne.
Marriage to Prince Phillip
On 7 May 1929, the engagement of Illa to Prince Philipp Ernst of Thurn and Taxis, her former fiance's youngest brother, was formally announced. Their engagement had been tentatively approved until Philipp became of age, and he received his father's blessing before the betrothal was announced; the couple planned on a September wedding.On 8 September 1929, Illa married Prince Philipp Ernst at the Schloss Taxis
Schloss Taxis
Schloss Taxis is a privately owned castle in Dischingen in the Heidenheim district of Baden-Württemberg in Germany...
. They had three children:
- Prince Albrecht Friedrich Maria Lamorel Kilian of Thurn and Taxis (5 Jul 1930); married Baroness Alexandra von der Ropp, no issue. Their marriage is considered unequal by Thurn and Taxis family law.
- Princess Marguerite Eleonore Marie Franziska Antoine de Padua of Thurn and Taxis (1 Dec 1933)
- Princess Antonia Maria Margareta Theresia vom Kinde Jesu of Thurn and Taxis (28 Jan 1936)
Later life
Illa's father was murdered on 10 May 1945 at Schloss Biskupitz.Prince Philipp died on 23 July 1964 at the age of 56 at the Schloss Hohenberg in Bavaria
Bavaria
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...
. Princess Illa died on 30 December 1993 at the age of 85.
Titles and styles
- 21 December 1908 – 8 September 1929: Her Serene Highness Princess Eulalia of Thurn and Taxis
- 8 September 1929 – 30 December 1993: Her Serene Highness Princess Philipp Ernst of Thurn and Taxis