Therese of Saxe-Altenburg
Encyclopedia
Teresia Amalia Karolina Josefina Antoinetta of Saxe-Altenburg (Thérèse), (21 December 1836 – 9 November 1914), was a Princess of Sweden and Norway as the spouse of Prince August of Sweden & Norway, Duke of Dalarna
.
, Thérèse spent her childhood in Bavaria
. After her father's death in 1852, she lived with her cousin, Queen Marie of Hanover
, and a maternal uncle.
visited her in Düsseldorf
, and after he had spent a week to get to know her their engagement was announced. They were married in Altenburg, and she was then styled Princess of Sweden and Norway and Duchess of Dalecarlia (Dalarna).
In Sweden her name was Teresia (legal spelling from 1901). She has been described as small and frail in her appearance. Teresia and August were not romantically involved, but were good friends, and lived together harmoniously. They had no children. Teresia had mental problems and sometimes collapsed. August once said: They call me stupid, but they should hear my Therese! More affectionately, he also called her my little Hopsy-Totsie (Swedish: min lilla hoppetossa). She was a friend of her sister-in-law's Eugenie
, and visited her in Gotland
during summers. She was interested in music and often present in a royal seat at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
.
Widowed in 1873, she was given Louis De Geer
as a guardian. During that time, she upheld a correspondence with Ohan Demirgian, a known Armenian con-artist with whom she made an acquaintance in 1869, when his presence at court caused a scandal. Demirgian was believed to have been a pimp
, and now offered himself as her agent in negotiations for a new marriage. In 1875, Fritz von Dardel wrote: The Duchess of Dalarna is now declared to be out of her senses by her relatives in Germany and at their reqcuest, she will remain in Switzerland
over the winter to be treated by a doctor. She returned to Sweden in 1890, where she resided at Haga Palace
. She was then commonly called "The Haga Duchess". She became known for her good kitchen, and ate so much that she was overweight with time. She died in 1914.
Prince August, Duke of Dalarna
Prince Nikolaus August, Duke of Dalarna was the youngest of the five issue of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg.-Early life:...
.
Early life
Born to Prince Eduard of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Amalie of Hohenzollern-SigmaringenPrincess Amalie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Princess Amalie Antoinette Karoline Adrienne of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was a member of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and a Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen by birth...
, Thérèse spent her childhood 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...
. After her father's death in 1852, she lived with her cousin, 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...
, and a maternal uncle.
Marriage
In 1864, Prince August of Sweden and Norway, Duke of DalarnaPrince August, Duke of Dalarna
Prince Nikolaus August, Duke of Dalarna was the youngest of the five issue of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg.-Early life:...
visited her in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, and after he had spent a week to get to know her their engagement was announced. They were married in Altenburg, and she was then styled Princess of Sweden and Norway and Duchess of Dalecarlia (Dalarna).
In Sweden her name was Teresia (legal spelling from 1901). She has been described as small and frail in her appearance. Teresia and August were not romantically involved, but were good friends, and lived together harmoniously. They had no children. Teresia had mental problems and sometimes collapsed. August once said: They call me stupid, but they should hear my Therese! More affectionately, he also called her my little Hopsy-Totsie (Swedish: min lilla hoppetossa). She was a friend of her sister-in-law's Eugenie
Princess Eugenie of Sweden
Princess Eugenie of Sweden and Norway was a member of the Royal House of Bernadotte and a dilettante artist.-Biography:...
, and visited her in Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
during summers. She was interested in music and often present in a royal seat at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
.
Widowed in 1873, she was given Louis De Geer
Louis Gerhard De Geer
Baron Louis Gerhard De Geer of Finspång was a Swedish statesman and writer.De Geer was born at Finspång manor. He was a lawyer, and in 1855 became president of the Göta Hovrätt, or lord justice for the appellate court of Götaland. From 7 April 1858 to 3 June 1870 he was Prime Minister of Justice...
as a guardian. During that time, she upheld a correspondence with Ohan Demirgian, a known Armenian con-artist with whom she made an acquaintance in 1869, when his presence at court caused a scandal. Demirgian was believed to have been a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
, and now offered himself as her agent in negotiations for a new marriage. In 1875, Fritz von Dardel wrote: The Duchess of Dalarna is now declared to be out of her senses by her relatives in Germany and at their reqcuest, she will remain in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
over the winter to be treated by a doctor. She returned to Sweden in 1890, where she resided at Haga Palace
Haga Palace
Haga Palace , formerly known as the Queen's Pavilion , is located in Hagaparken, Solna Municipality in Metropolitan Stockholm, Sweden. The palace, built in 1802 1805, was modelled after ballet-master Gallodiers Italian villa in Drottningholm by architect Carl Christoffer Gjörwell on appointment by...
. She was then commonly called "The Haga Duchess". She became known for her good kitchen, and ate so much that she was overweight with time. She died in 1914.