Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (1854–1898)
Encyclopedia
Princess Marie Friederike Leopoldine Georgine Auguste Alexandra Elisabeth Therese Josephine Helene Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg (2 August 1854 – 8 October 1898) was the wife of Prince Albert of Prussia, Regent for the duchy of Brunswick
.
, as her younger brother Georg died as an infant. Because her father had no surviving sons to inherit his title, he was succeeded by Marie's cousin Ernst.
on the evening of 18 April 1873, where she was received by Prince Albert of Prussia, her fiance. The couple drove to Bellevue Castle, where they were received by the Emperor and Empress.
On 9 April 1873 in Berlin
, Marie married Prince Albert, a grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia
. Other reports have them being married on 19 April. Albert's parents had been unhappily married to each other and later divorced; as he chose to wait before getting married and was 36 at the time of their wedding, this is believed to be the reason he did not marry earlier. Spectators commented that the wedding ceremony was grander than most, with Dragoon Guards
opening the procession and the Emperor and Empress in attendance. Marie was described as possessing "girlish beauty, and [a] modest unpretending demeanor" that "at once captivated the hearts of the multitude".
They had the following children:
, replacing Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, who had been removed from office by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
. Ernest Augustus was also a distant relative of Marie's, as his mother Queen Marie
was born a princess of Saxe-Altenburg. After accepting the regency, Albert and Marie resided chiefly in Brunswick, Berlin
, and Kamenz
.
Princess Marie died on 8 October 1898 at Kamenz Castle
. Emperor Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta Victoria attended her funeral, which was held at the castle where she died.
Prince Albert died in 1906. They were buried in the Mausoleum auf dem Hutberge in the park of Schloss Kamenz/Silesia. After World War II
, the mausoleum was plundered and they were reburied in the park.
Duchy of Brunswick
Brunswick was a historical state in Germany. Originally the territory of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in the Holy Roman Empire, it was established as an independent duchy by the Congress of Vienna in 1815...
.
Family
Marie was the only surviving child of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and his wife Princess Agnes of Anhalt-DessauPrincess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau
Princess Frederica Amalia Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau was the eldest daughter of Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt by his wife Frederica Wilhelmina of Prussia...
, as her younger brother Georg died as an infant. Because her father had no surviving sons to inherit his title, he was succeeded by Marie's cousin Ernst.
Marriage and issue
Marie arrived at 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....
on the evening of 18 April 1873, where she was received by Prince Albert of Prussia, her fiance. The couple drove to Bellevue Castle, where they were received by the Emperor and Empress.
On 9 April 1873 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Marie married Prince Albert, a grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
. Other reports have them being married on 19 April. Albert's parents had been unhappily married to each other and later divorced; as he chose to wait before getting married and was 36 at the time of their wedding, this is believed to be the reason he did not marry earlier. Spectators commented that the wedding ceremony was grander than most, with Dragoon Guards
Dragoon guards
Dragoon Guards was the designation used to refer to certain heavy cavalry regiments in the British Army from the 18th century onwards. While the Prussian and Russian armies of the same period included dragoon regiments amongst their respective Imperial Guards, different titles were applied to these...
opening the procession and the Emperor and Empress in attendance. Marie was described as possessing "girlish beauty, and [a] modest unpretending demeanor" that "at once captivated the hearts of the multitude".
They had the following children:
- Prince Friedrich Heinrich Albrecht (1874–1940)
- Prince Joachim AlbrechtPrince Joachim Albert of PrussiaPrince Joachim of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern. He was the second eldest son of Prince Albert of Prussia and his wife Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg...
(1876–1939); married Marie von Blich-Sulzer and Karoline Kornelia Stockhammer - Prince Friedrich WilhelmPrince Friedrich Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, great-grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia.-Early life and education:...
(1880–1925); married Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-SchillingsfürstPrincess Agatha of Hohenlohe-SchillingsfürstPrincess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was a German noblewoman. She was the daughter of Victor II, Duke of Ratibor, and his wife, Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth.-Issue:...
Later life
In 1885, Albert was appointed Regent for the Duchy of BrunswickDuchy of Brunswick
Brunswick was a historical state in Germany. Originally the territory of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in the Holy Roman Empire, it was established as an independent duchy by the Congress of Vienna in 1815...
, replacing Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, who had been removed from office by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
. Ernest Augustus was also a distant relative of Marie's, as his mother Queen Marie
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...
was born a princess of Saxe-Altenburg. After accepting the regency, Albert and Marie resided chiefly in Brunswick, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and Kamenz
Kamenz
Kamenz is a Lusatian town in eastern Saxony, Germany, with a population of 18,243, and is part of the Bautzen district. The town is located about northeast of Dresden and about northwest of Bautzen....
.
Princess Marie died on 8 October 1898 at Kamenz Castle
Kamieniec Zabkowicki
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a village in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany under the name of Kamenz. Kamieniec Zabkowicki is an important...
. Emperor Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta Victoria attended her funeral, which was held at the castle where she died.
Prince Albert died in 1906. They were buried in the Mausoleum auf dem Hutberge in the park of Schloss Kamenz/Silesia. After 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...
, the mausoleum was plundered and they were reburied in the park.
Titles and styles
- 2 August 1854 – 9 April 1873: Her Highness Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
- 9 April 1873 – 8 October 1898: Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Prussia