by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018
Augusta Reuss of Köstritz, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Credit – Wikipedia
Princess Auguste Mathilde Wilhelmine Reuss of Köstritz was the first wife of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was born in Klipphausen, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany, on May 26, 1822, the daughter of Heinrich LXIII, Prince Reuss of Köstritz and his first wife, Countess Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode, who died giving birth to her last child. Auguste’s father married her mother’s sister Countess Caroline of Stolberg-Wernigerode.
(Note: All males of the House of Reuss were named Heinrich plus a number. In the Older Line, the numbering covered all male children and the numbers increased until 100 was reached and then started again at 1. In the Younger Line, the system was similar but the numbers increased until the end of the century before starting again at 1. This tradition was seen as a way of honoring Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich VI (reigned 1191 – 1197) who had benefitted the family. Therefore, the Roman numerals seen after names are NOT regnal numbers.)
Auguste had five siblings:
- Joanna (1820-1878) – married Prince Ferdinand of Schoenaich-Carolath
- Heinrich IV, Prince Reuss of Köstritz (1821-1894) – married Princess Luise Reuss of Greiz, had issue
- Heinrich VI (born and died1823) – died in infancy
- Heinrich VII (1825-1906) – married Princess Marie Alexandrine of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, had issue
- Heinrich X (1827- 1847) – unmarried
Auguste had six half-siblings from her father’s second marriage Countess Caroline of Stolberg-Wernigerode:
- Heinrich XII (1829-1866) – married Anna, Countess of Hochberg, Baroness to Fürstenstein, no issue
- Heinrich XIII (1830-1897) – Anna, Countess of Hochberg, Baroness to Fürstenstein, no issue
- Louise (1832-1862) – unmarried
- Heinrich XV (1834-1869) – married Countess Luitgarde of Stolberg-Wernigerode,
- Anna (1837-1907) – married Prince Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode, had issue
- Heinrich XVII (1839-1870) – unmarried
Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Credit – Wikipedia
In Ludwigslust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on November 3, 1849, Auguste married Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II, and the couple had six children:
- Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1851-1897) – married Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, had issue
- Duke Paul Friedrich (1852-1923) – married Princess Marie of Windisch-Grätz, had issue
- Duchess Marie (1854-1920) – married Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, had issue
- Duke Nikolaus (1855-1856) – died in infancy
- Duke Johann Albrecht (1857-1920) – married (1) Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, no issue; (2) Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla, no issue
- Duke Alexander (born and died 1859) – died in infancy
Memorial to Grand Duchess Auguste, Schwerin Castle. photo: By Ruchhöft-Plau – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6596407
Sadly, three years after giving birth to her youngest child, Grand Duchess Auguste, aged 39, died on March 3, 1862, in Schwerin, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The cause of Auguste’s death is unclear. At that time, there were mentions of “heart disease associated with a bronchial ailment” and “fever.” It is quite possible that she died from tuberculosis which was widespread at the time. Auguste is buried in the Schwerin Cathedral, and a memorial was built in her honor on the grounds of Schwerin Castle in 1905.
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