Author Archives: Scott

Elisabeth of Anhalt, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

source: Wikipedia

Elisabeth of Anhalt, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz source: Wikipedia

Princess Elisabeth Marie Friederike Amalie Agnes of Anhalt was born on September 7, 1857, at the Wörlitz Palace near Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, to Hereditary Prince Friedrich of Anhalt (later Duke Friedrich I of Anhalt) and Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg. She had five siblings:

Elisabeth’s christening was held on October 1, 1857, at the Wörlitz Church. She had the following godparents:

Her childhood was spent at the Hereditary Princely Palace in Dessau and the Wörlitz Palace, where she was educated privately by the family’s tutor and her governess. In 1871, her father succeeded as reigning Duke of Anhalt, and the family moved to the Residence Palace in Dessau.

Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. source: Wikipedia

Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz source: Wikipedia

Several years later, in 1876, she first met her future husband, the future Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Augusta of Cambridge. The two were second cousins once removed through their mutual descent from Carl II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. They met again later that year when Adolf Friedrich was visiting some mutual relatives, and they became engaged on December 29, 1876. They married at the Dessau Palace in the Duchy of Anhalt, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, on April 17, 1877, and had four children:

Quickly adapting to her role as Hereditary Grand Duchess, Elisabeth found a great ally in her mother-in-law, with whom she shared many interests. The two often hosted musical concerts and promoted numerous artists and musicians. She used her public profile to bring attention to causes that were important to her, including nature and flowers, becoming an honorary member of the Association for the Protection of Birds. After becoming Grand Duchess in 1904 following her father-in-law’s death, Elisabeth continued to support her causes while taking on a much more public role. Following the death of her youngest son in 1910, she established the Duke Karl Borwin Memorial Home in Neustrelitz, to provide a home for orphans and children in need.

Following her husband’s death in 1914, she remained the first lady of Mecklenburg-Strelitz during the reign of her unmarried son and became very active with the Red Cross during World War I. Following the abolition of the monarchy in 1918, Elisabeth remained in Neustrelitz, taking up residence in the Park House which she had inherited earlier that year from her son. After the new government took over Neustrelitz Palace, Elisabeth continued to fight for compensation for the loss of the family’s property. Remaining active right up until her death, Elisabeth remained in Neustrelitz, often hosting visits from her daughters and grandchildren, and staying in close contact with relatives throughout Europe. Her last public appearance was on July 19, 1933, when she attended a ceremony at the Hohenziertz Palace commemorating the death of Queen Luise of Prussia, who had been born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The following day, on July 20, 1933, Grand Duchess Elisabeth died in Neustrelitz, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Following her funeral, her remains were placed in the New Crypt at the Johanniterkirche in Mirow, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, alongside her husband and sons.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Mecklenburg-Strelitz Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz: The Duchy of Mecklenburg was divided and partitioned a number of times over the centuries.  In 1701, the last division created the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna recognized both Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz as grand duchies. Carl II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz became the first Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

On, February 23, 1918, Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich VI of Mecklenburg-Schwerin died by suicide. The heir presumptive was serving with the Russian military and had made it known that he wished to renounce his rights of succession. Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, served as Regent for the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The regency lasted only nine months, as on November 14, 1918, Friedrich Franz IV was forced to abdicate as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, as well as the Regent of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Today the territory encompassing the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz is in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

********************

source: Wikipedia

Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; Credit – Wikipedia

Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was born on July 22, 1848, in Neustrelitz,  Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, the son of the future Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Augusta of Cambridge. At the time of his birth, he was 14th in line to the British throne, as his mother was a granddaughter of King George III of the United Kingdom. Adolf Friedrich was the highest-ranking person in the British succession who did not hold any British titles.

His christening took place at Schloss Neustrelitz on August 12, 1848. Given the names Adolf Friedrich August Viktor Ernst Adalbert Gustav Wilhelm Wellington, he had twelve godparents:

At the age of 12, Adolf Friedrich became the Hereditary Grand Duke upon his father’s accession to the grand ducal throne. Initially educated privately at home, he later attended school in Dresden and then studied law at the University of Göttingen. After finishing his studies, he began a military career in the Prussian Army, where he fought during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and served on the General Staff of King Wilhelm I of Prussia. The following year, he represented his father at the proclamation of King Wilhelm I as German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles.

Adolf Friedrich’s wife Elisabeth of Anhalt; Credit – Wikipedia

While traveling through the various German monarchies in 1876, Adolf Freidrich met his future bride, Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt. She was the daughter of Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt, and Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg. The two met again later that year while Adolf Friedrich was visiting some mutual relatives, and became engaged on December 29, 1876. The couple was second cousins once removed, through their mutual descent from Carl II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Adolf Friedrich and Elisabeth married at Schloss Dessau in the Duchy of Anhalt, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, on April 17, 1877. After a honeymoon at Lake Geneva in Switzerland, they took up residence at the Hereditary Grand Ducal Palace in Neustrelitz, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, now in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

They had four children:

source: Wikipedia

Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; Credit –  Wikipedia

After being the heir apparent for 43 years, Adolf Friedrich succeeded to the Grand Ducal throne on May 30, 1904, following his father’s death. He made efforts to soothe the rocky relationship with Prussia and brought a more militaristic atmosphere to the Grand Ducal court. Much more liberal than his father, he modernized the system of government, in keeping with the rest of the German Empire. Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Mecklenburg-Schwerin were the only German monarchies that did not have an elected assembly at the time.

In 1908, Adolf Friedrich introduced a ministerial form of government. However, he continued to meet resistance from the nobility when trying to make further reforms, such as introducing a new constitution. In 1912, after being thwarted at every attempt, Adolf Friedrich offered to donate $2.5 million of his own funds to the national treasury and forfeit some of his sovereign rights, in exchange for a new constitution. Again, he was denied by the nobility. This was just a small example of his vast personal wealth. In January 1914, just months before his death, he was reported to be the second richest German sovereign, with a personal fortune of $88.75 million (over $2 billion today).

In March 1914, Adolf Friedrich fell ill and underwent an operation in a private hospital in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg. He never fully recovered and died at the hospital on June 11, 1914. He is buried in the New Crypt at the Johanniterkirche in Mirow, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Mecklenburg-Strelitz Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; Credit – Wikipedia

Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz: The Duchy of Mecklenburg was divided and partitioned a number of times over the centuries.  In 1701, the last division created the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna recognized both Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz as grand duchies. Carl II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz became the first Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

On, February 23, 1918, Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich VI of Mecklenburg-Schwerin died by suicide. The heir presumptive was serving with the Russian military and had made it known that he wished to renounce his rights of succession. Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, served as Regent for the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The regency lasted only nine months, as on November 14, 1918, Friedrich Franz IV was forced to abdicate as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, as well as the Regent of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Today the territory encompassing the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz is in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

********************

Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born in Neustrelitz,  Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on October 17, 1819. He was the eldest son of Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel, and had three siblings:

Friedrich Wilhelm was christened on November 2, 1819, and given the names Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Georg Ernst Adolf Gustav. Among his 19 godparents was his namesake – and cousin – the future King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia.

Along with his brother, Friedrich Wilhelm was educated privately at home. Shortly before turning 18, he left Neustrelitz to study law and history at the University of Bonn. After leaving Bonn in 1839, he spent some time at the Prussian court of his uncle, King Friedrich Wilhelm III, before traveling through Europe the following summer. On this trip, he spent time in Italy with his aunt and uncle, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their daughter Augusta, who would be his wife. Returning to Neustrelitz, he attended his sister’s wedding to the future King Frederik VII of Denmark and accompanied her to her new country. He then traveled to Potsdam, joining the Prussian Army in September 1841.

The following year, Friedrich Wilhelm traveled to London and became engaged to his cousin, Princess Augusta of Cambridge. She was the daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (a son of King George III of the United Kingdom) and Friedrich Wilhelm’s maternal aunt Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. Friedrich Wilhelm and his finacée were first cousins through their mothers and second cousins through their fathers. After receiving Queen Victoria’s consent to marry, Friedrich Wilhelm returned to Prussia where he requested and received a discharge from active service in the Prussian Army.

The marriage of Friedrich Wilhelm and Augusta, source: Wikipedia

The marriage of Friedrich Wilhelm and Augusta, source: Wikipedia

Friedrich Wilhelm and Augusta married on June 28, 1843, in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace in London, England. Following the wedding, Friedrich Wilhelm brought his new bride home to Neustrelitz where they received a warm welcome. They later returned to the United Kingdom, where Friedrich Wilhelm continued his education, earning his Law degree from the University of Oxford. Following the birth of a stillborn son in 1843, the couple went on to have two children:

While continuing to visit his wife’s family often in Britain, Friedrich Wilhelm began to spend more time living in Neustrelitz, preparing himself for his future role as Grand Duke. In 1851, he suffered an injury to his left eye which left him partially blind. Within a few years, the injury also took the sight in his right eye, leaving him completely blind. Because of this, he developed a close friendship with his cousin, King Georg V of Hanover, who was also blind.

In the summer of 1860, while visiting his wife’s family, Friedrich Wilhelm learned that his father was gravely ill. He and Augusta returned to Neustrelitz, where his father died on September 6, 1860. Friedrich Wilhelm succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His reign saw great changes in what would later become the German Empire. Initially, during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Mecklenburg-Strelitz remained neutral. The Prussian king guaranteed Friedrich Wilhelm that neutrality would be respected. However, the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck disagreed. He threatened to invade the Grand Duchy if Friedrich Wilhelm did not agree to mobilize his troops to fight alongside Prussia. Having no choice, the Grand Duke acceded to the demands and joined the war against Austria. While going against what Friedrich Wilhelm had wanted, the move likely extended his reign. While other states were annexed by Prussia and their rulers deposed, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz remained intact. Despite his animosity toward Prussia, Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined the North German Confederation later that year.

In 1870, Friedrich Wilhelm was again coerced into joining Prussia in its war against the French Empire. After Prussia’s overwhelming victory, the German Empire was established and the Prussian king was named Emperor (Kaiser) in 1871. The unification brought about great advancements in the Grand Duchy, and the Grand Duke took a particular interest in restoring and building churches. He also focused much of his time on improving the education systems and building and refurbishing schools throughout the Grand Duchy. Grand Duke Friedrich Wilhelm is credited with restoring the Grand Duchy’s financial resources, taking a country riddled with debt after the war, and amassing a great fortune in its treasury. In addition, his personal wealth made him the wealthiest of the German sovereigns at the time.

Schloss Neustrelitz, c1910. source: Wikipedia

Schloss Neustrelitz, c1910. source: Wikipedia

In early 1904, Grand Duke Friedrich Wilhelm fell ill and died at Schloss Neustrelitz in Neustrelitz, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on May 30, 1904. His funeral was held the following week at the Schloss Church and was attended by Wilhelm II, German Emperor. In keeping with tradition, his remains were placed in the New Crypt at the Johanniterkirche in Mirow, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Mecklenburg-Strelitz Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of the French

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of the French; Credit – Wikipedia

Empress Eugénie of the French was the wife of Emperor Napoleon III, the last French monarch. She was born Doña María Eugenia Ignacia Agustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick on May 5, 1826, in Granada, Spain. Her parents were Cipriano de Palafox y Portocarrero,8th Count of Montijo  and María Manuela Enriqueta Kirkpatrick de Closbourn y de Grevigné, and she had one older sister:

At six years old, she left Spain for Paris where she attended the Convent of the Sacré Coeur and the Gymnase Normal, Civil et Orthosomatique. In 1837, she left for a boarding school in the United Kingdom, with her sister, to learn English. In addition to her formal schooling, she also received an extensive education at home, under two English governesses. When her father died in 1839, the sisters returned to their mother in Madrid. Because of her mother’s position in Spanish society, Eugenie met Queen Isabella II of Spain and took several trips in Europe to find an appropriate husband.

Eugénie first met Prince Louis Napoléon in April 1849. At the time, he was president of the Second Republic. His attempts to seduce her failed, as she insisted on marriage before any physical relationship. Louis Napoleon became Emperor Napoleon III in December 1852, and the following month, on January 22, 1853, he announced his engagement to Eugénie. Following a civil ceremony at the Tuileries Palace, the couple married at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris on January 29, 1853. They had one son:

Eugénie with her husband and son, c1864. source: Wikipedia

Despite initial reservations about her less-than-royal background, Eugénie quickly became beloved by the French people. She traveled extensively, representing the Emperor – including the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 – and served as Regent during his absences from the country. She also became a close advisor to her husband, who often consulted her on important issues.

Villa Eugénie in Biarritz. source: Wikipedia

In 1854, they had a large summer villa – Villa Eugénie – built in Biarritz, where Eugénie often hosted Queen Victoria and other foreign royals. At the time, a small sleepy town, Biarritz quickly became a very popular destination for many of Europe’s royal and noble families. Today, the villa is known as the Hôtel du Palais, one of the most exclusive resorts in the area.

During the Franco-Prussian War, Eugénie served as Regent while her husband and son served on the German front. After several losses, she took it upon herself to name a new government and argued against her husband’s plan to return to Paris. A month later, the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Sedan, and the Emperor surrendered. As rioting began in Paris, the Empress quickly fled the city, making her way to England. By the time she set sail, the Second Empire had come to an end.

Eventually joined by her husband, the couple settled in Chislehurst in Kent, England. Widowed in 1873, she also lost her only son in 1879. She had developed a close friendship with Queen Victoria and spent several months at Osborne House after her son’s death. A few years later, in 1887, she was named godmother of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (later Queen of Spain). By then, she was living at Farnborough Hill in Hampshire, England. A few years later, in 1892, she had a Villa Cyrnos built in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the French Riviera, where she often hosted visits from Queen Victoria and other European royals, including Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia in 1909.

Empress Eugénie visiting wounded soldiers at Farnborough Hall, 1914. source: Wikipedia

Very active during World War I, Eugénie supported several hospitals in France and funded a military hospital at Farnborough Hill. She also donated her yacht to the British Navy. For her contributions to the war effort, she was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1919 by King George V.

Empress Eugénie, photographed in 1920. source: Wikipedia

Empress Eugénie died on July 11, 1920, while visiting relatives at the Liria Palace in Madrid. She is buried in the Imperial Crypt at St. Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough, Hampshire, England with her husband and son.

Sarcophagus of Eugénie, above the altar, at St. Michael’s Abbey; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon III of the French

by Scott Mehl    © Unofficial Royalty 2016

source: Wikipedia

Emperor Napoleon III of the French. source: Wikipedia

Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, was the last monarch of France, reigning from 1852 until 1870. He was born Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (but typically known as Louis-Napoléon) in Paris, France on April 20, 1808. His parents were Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland (younger brother of Emperor Napoleon I) and Hortense de Beauharnais, the daughter of Emperor Napoleon’s first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais and her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais. He had two elder siblings:

Louis-Napoléon’s christening took place at the Palace of Fontainebleau in France on November 4, 1810 – over two years after his birth – with Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise serving as his godparents.

Following Emperor Napoleon’s defeat at the  Battle of Waterloo and the subsequent Bourbon Restoration, all members of the Bonaparte family were forced to leave France. Louis-Napoleon and his mother settled in Switzerland, where Hortense purchased Schloss Arenberg. Louis-Napoleon studied for some time in Augsburg, Bavaria, and developed a slight German accent that would remain for the rest of his life.

In 1823, the family moved to Rome, and Louis-Napoleon became involved with the Carbonari, fighting against Austria’s presence in northern Italy. Forced to flee in 1831, he soon made his way back to France, traveling incognito with his mother – using the name Hamilton – and arrived in Paris on April 31, 1831. In a secret meeting, the French King Louis-Philippe permitted them to remain in Paris, provided they remained incognito, and their stay was brief. However, their identities were soon discovered, and they were forced to leave the city just a week later, and made their way back to Switzerland.

Louis-Napoléon joined the Swiss Army and began writing about his political views. After an unsuccessful coup attempt in October 1836, King Louis Philippe demanded that he be turned over to France, but the Swiss government refused as he was a Swiss citizen. He later traveled to London, Brazil, and New York, and returned to Switzerland in the fall of 1837 to be at his mother’s deathbed. After the death of his mother Hortense on October 5, 1837, Louis-Napoleon spent some time at Schloss Arenberg before returning to London the following year. He soon began plans for another attempt to take the French throne. Sailing to Boulogne in 1840, he was quickly arrested. A quick trial took place and he was sentenced to life in prison in the fortress of Ham. While imprisoned, he spent much time writing – publishing essays and articles in numerous newspapers and magazines throughout France. Still hoping to fulfill his quest to claim the French throne, he managed to escape from Ham in May 1846.  While renovations were being made to his cell, he disguised himself as one of the workers and walked right out through the main gates. Following his escape, he quickly made his way back to England. The next month, his father died, leaving Louis-Napoleon as the sole heir to the Bonaparte dynasty.

The French Revolution of 1848 led to the abdication of King Louis-Philippe, and the declaration of the Second Republic. Louis-Napoleon quickly left for France, while the deposed King went into exile in England. Ignoring his advisers who urged him to seize power, Louis-Napoleon instead declared his loyalty to the Republic and returned to London where he closely watched events unfold in his homeland. In September of that year, he was elected to the French National Assembly and returned to Paris as the country prepared to elect the first President of the French Republic. He immediately threw his hat into the ring, and on December 20, 1848, was declared the winner of the election. Taking the title Prince-President, Louis-Napoleon took up residence at the Élysée Palace.

After a failed attempt to change the law which would have required him to step down at the end of his 4-year term, Louis-Napoleon soon saw a chance to take power by force. In December 1851, with the support of several military generals, Louis-Napoleon’s forces took control of the national printing office and newspaper offices. Posters were quickly put up announcing the dissolution of the National Assembly, the return of universal suffrage, and new elections. Quickly overpowering his opponents, Louis-Napoleon established himself as the sole source of rule within France – supported by a referendum held in December 1851, in which the overwhelming majority of voters agreed to his claim of power.

Not content with being simply a Prince-President, he arranged for the Senate to schedule another referendum to decide if he should be declared Emperor. On December 2, 1852, following an overwhelming vote in his favor, the Second Republic ended and the Second French Empire was declared. Louis-Napoleon took the throne as Napoleon III, Emperor of the French. He quickly made the Tuileries Palace in Paris his official residence.

Napoleon with his wife and son, c1862. source: Wikipedia

Napoleon with his wife and son, c1862. source: Wikipedia

After being turned down by Princess Carola of Vasa (daughter of the deposed Swedish King Gustaf IV Adolf), and Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (a niece of Queen Victoria), Napoleon III found his future bride – Eugénie de Montijo, Countess of Teba and Marquise of Ardales. The two had first met in 1849 at a reception at the Eylsée Palace. Just weeks after becoming Emperor, Napoleon announced the couple’s engagement, and they were married a week later. A civil ceremony was held on January 29, 1853, at the Tuileries Palace, followed by a religious ceremony on January 30, 1853, at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. They had one son:

The early years of Napoleon’s reign saw a very heavily censored press, and a Legislature that was almost unanimous in their support.  By the early 1860s, censorship had been eased and a more liberal regime emerged.  The Emperor improved conditions for the poor and made sure that education was mandatory and free for all French citizens.  He promoted industry and banking, developed the rail system throughout France, and worked to build strong political and economic relationships with the United Kingdom and other allies throughout Europe.

In July 1870, France entered the Franco-Prussian War. Without significant allied support, and with unprepared and limited forces, the French army was quickly defeated. Emperor Napoleon was captured at the Battle of Sedan and quickly surrendered on September 1, 1870. As word reached Paris, the Third Republic was declared on September 4, 1870, ending – for the last time – the French monarchy. Emperor Napoleon was held by the Prussians in a castle in Wilhelmshöhe, near Kassel. It wasn’t until peace was established between France and Germany that he was released in March 1871, and quickly went into exile. Arriving in England on March 20, 1871, Napoleon and his family settled at Camden Place, a large country house in Chislehurst, England.

the last known photo of Emperor Napoleon III, 1872. source: Wikipedia

The last known photo of Emperor Napoleon III, 1872. source: Wikipedia

After falling ill in the summer of 1872, and undergoing two operations, Emperor Napoleon III died at his home Camden Place on January 9, 1873. He was initially buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chislehurst, but in 1888, his remains were moved to the Imperial Crypt at St. Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough, Hampshire, England.

Sarcophagus of Napoleon III of France at St. Michael’s Abbey; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, Queen of the French

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2016

painting by Louis Hersent. source: Wikipedia

Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, Queen of the French. Credit – WIkipedia

Princess Maria Amalia Teresa of Naples and Sicily was the wife of Louis Philippe I, King of the French. She was born on April 26, 1782, at the Caserta Palace in Caserta, Kingdom of Naples, now in Italy, to King Ferdinand IV of Naples (also King Ferdinand III of Sicily) and Maria Carolina of Austria. At the time, Naples and Sicily were two independent kingdoms. Years later, Ferdinand joined them together as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, becoming Ferdinando I, King of the Two Sicilies. This made him the founder of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon. Maria Amalia had 17 siblings:

Maria Amalia had 17 siblings:

While still very young, Maria Amalia was engaged to her first cousin, the Dauphin of France. His mother, Queen Marie Antoinette was Maria Amalia’s maternal aunt. However, this ended upon his death in 1789. Her youth was spent in upheaval – the events in France – particularly the execution of her aunt – and subsequent conflict during the First Coalition soon found the family fleeing Sicily for the safety of Naples. After spending two years in Austria, she returned to Naples in 1802 but four years later, when Napoleon invaded, the family again fled, this time settling in Palermo where British forces protected them.

It was in Palermo, in 1806, that she met her future husband, who had also been forced from his home in France. The relationship was not without controversy, primarily because of Louis Philippe’s father’s role in the downfall and eventual execution of Maria Amalia’s aunt, Marie Antoinette. Finally winning over Maria Amalia’s mother, the couple were married in Palermo on November 25, 1809. The bride took the French version of her name – Marie Amélie. They had ten children:

Marie Amélie with her eldest son, c1818. source: Wikipedia

Marie Amélie with her eldest son, c1818. source: Wikipedia

For the first several years of their marriage, they lived in Palermo at the Palazzo Orléans, a palace given to them by her father, where they raised their growing family. Following the Bourbon Restoration, the family was permitted to return to France, taking up residence at the Palais-Royal in Paris. Despite their limited financial resources, they spent millions of francs restoring the palace and turning it into one of the centers of Parisian high society.

In 1830, King Charles X was overthrown during the July Revolution and forced to abdicate. The King named Louis Philippe as Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom, entrusting him to name the King’s grandson as his successor and to serve as regent. Instead, the Chamber of Deputies named Louis Philippe as King, swearing him as King of the French on August 9, 1830. Marie Amélie found herself, very reluctantly, as Queen of the French. She was strongly against her husband accepting the throne and tried to refuse it on his behalf. She saw the throne as nothing but a means of destroying her peaceful family life and putting all of their lives in constant jeopardy.

She avoided politics at all costs and did everything in her power to remain quietly in the background. Her time was spent primarily raising her large family and taking part in the charity work that had been a part of her life for many years. During her husband’s reign, she became known for her simple life, shying away from formal functions, and giving most of her large allowance to the poor.

However strongly she had been against her husband accepting the throne, she was just as strongly in support of his retaining it. When he was forced to abdicate on February 24, 1848, the Queen was heartbroken that he had not taken her advice to take control of the troops and defend his crown. Two days later, the National Assembly declared the Second Republic, once again ending the French monarchy. The family left Paris and were eventually welcomed in England by Queen Victoria, who gave them the use of Claremont House in Surrey, England.

Queen Marie Amélie, c1865. source: Wikipedia

Queen Marie Amélie, c1865. source: Wikipedia

After her husband’s death two years later, Queen Marie Amélie lived a very private life, spending time with much of her family and enjoying a close relationship with the British Royal Family.

At the age of 83, Queen Marie Amélie died at Claremont House on March 24, 1866. She was buried at the St. Charles Borromeo Chapel in Weybridge, England, and per her request, her gravestone identified her as Duchess of Orléans instead of Queen of the French. Ten years later, her remains, along with those of her husband, were moved to the Chapelle royale de Dreux in Dreux, France.

Memorial to Louis Philippe and Maria Amalia at the Royal Chapel of Dreux; Credit – By Real politik – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6656193

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Louis Philippe I, King of the French

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Louis Philippe I, King of the French – Source – Wikipedia

Louis Philippe I, King of the French, reigned over France from 1830 until he was forced to abdicate in 1848. He was born at the Palais Royal in Paris, France on October 6, 1773, the eldest child of Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans and Louise Marie Adélaïde of Bourbon.

He had four siblings:

At the onset of the French Revolution, Louis Philippe fled France to avoid likely execution, the fate of his father and other members of the French royal family including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.  He traveled extensively around Europe and spent several years in the United States.

Maria Amalia, with her eldest son, c1818. source: Wikipedia

Maria Amalia, with her eldest son, c1818. source: Wikipedia

On November 25, 1809, in Palermo, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, now in Italy, Louis Philippe married Princess Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily. She was the daughter of King Ferdinando I of the Two Sicilies and Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria. They had ten children:

In 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French was overthrown, and the Bourbons returned to the French throne. Louis Philippe returned to France and was welcomed into the French court during the reign of his cousin, King Louis XVIII. Louis XVIII died in 1824 and was succeeded by his brother, King Charles X. Louis Philippe had a close relationship with Charles but his liberal views were quite in contrast to the staunchly conservative Charles, and he was often viewed as a threat to the stability of the King’s reign.

King Louis Philippe, photographed c1842. source: Wikipedia

King Louis Philippe, photographed c1842. source: Wikipedia

In August 1830, King Charles X abdicated, naming his grandson Henri, Duke of Bordeaux his successor. King Charles X also made Louis Philippe the Lieutenant General of the Realm and charged him with announcing the King’s successor to the Chamber of Deputies and to serve as regent for the young Henri. However, Louis Philippe did not make any such announcement, and within days, the Chamber of Deputies instead proclaimed Louis Philippe as the new monarch of France. He took the throne on August 9, 1830, taking the title King of the French, attributing his role as King of the people instead of a territorial area. It was also an attempt to cut off any attempts of the descendants of King Charles to lay claim to the throne.

Outwardly, Louis Philippe avoided much of the pomp and ceremony – and spending – which had dominated the reigns of his predecessors. Initially much loved by the French people, he soon became unpopular when it was clear that his government became increasingly conservative and many felt that it no longer truly represented the average citizen of France. Working conditions worsened, and the divide between the rich and the poor continued to widen. This, combined with the economic crisis of 1847, led to the French Revolution of 1848 and, once again, the end of the French monarchy.

On February 24, 1848, Louis Philippe abdicated in favor of his grandson Philippe, Count of Paris. Afraid that he may be imprisoned and executed, he quickly left Paris, and using a disguise, made his way to England. Two days later, the Second Republic was declared, once again ending the monarchy in France.

Claremont, c1860. source: Wikipedia

Claremont, c1860. source: Wikipedia

In England, Louis Philippe and his wife took up residence at Claremont, a country house in Surrey, England. Claremont had a significant royal history. It had originally been purchased as a home for Princess Charlotte of Wales and her husband, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (later King Leopold I of the Belgians). After Charlotte’s death, Leopold retained ownership of the house until he died in 1865. However, after becoming King of the Belgians in 1831, he gave use of the estate to his niece Queen Victoria. Victoria, in turn, loaned the house to Louis Philippe and Marie-Amelie, who were the parents-in-law of King Leopold I from his second marriage to their daughter Louise Marie. It would later become the home of Queen Victoria’s son, Leopold, Duke of Albany, following his marriage in 1882.

King Louis Philippe died at Claremont on August 26, 1850. He was buried at St. Charles Borromeo Chapel in Weybridge, England. In 1876, ten years after his wife’s death, both of their remains were reinterred at the Chapelle royale de Dreux in France.

Memorial to Louis Philippe and Maria Amalia at the Royal Chapel of Dreux; Credit – By Real politik – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6656193

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Teresa of Savoy, Countess of Artois

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Teresa of Savoy, Countess of Artois

Maria Teresa of Savoy was the wife of the future King Charles X of France, although she died before he took the throne. She was born on January 31, 1756, at the Royal Palace of Turin in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia, now in Italy. She was the daughter of the future King Vittorio Amadeo III of Sardinia and Infanta Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. She had eleven siblings:

The marriage of Maria Teresa of Savoy and the Count of Artois, 1773. source: Wikipedia

The marriage of Maria Teresa of Savoy and the Count of Artois, 1773. source: Wikipedia

On November 16, 1773, at the Chapel Royal at the Palace of Versailles, Maria Teresa married Charles Philippe, Count of Artois (the future King Charles X of France). He was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France, a son of King Louis XV of France and Marie Leszczyńska of Poland. Having taken the French version of her name – Marie Thérèse – she retained her style of Royal Highness because her husband was a grandson of the French sovereign. She was styled, however, simply the Countess of Artois. The couple had four children:

The marriage was just one of three marriages between the two families. Two years earlier, her elder sister had married Louis Stanislas, Count of Provence (the future Louis XVIII), and later her younger brother (the future King Carlo Emanuele IV of Sardinia) married Clotilde of France.

Marie Thérèse with her three surviving children, painted by Charles Leclercq, c1783. source: Wikipedia

Marie Thérèse with her three surviving children, painted by Charles Leclercq, c1783. source: Wikipedia

Regarded as very plain and unattractive, Marie Thérèse was overshadowed at the French court by her sister-in-law, Marie Antoinette, and was very unpopular. Her reputation improved a bit, however, when she began quickly to provide children and heirs – something her sister-in-law had so far been unable to do.

In July 1789, just days after the storming of the Bastille, Marie Thérèse and her family fled the country, settling for some time in her native Savoy. They eventually moved to Graz, Austria, where Marie Thérèse died on June 2, 1805. She is buried in the Imperial Mausoleum next to the Graz Cathedral.

Grave of Maria Teresa at the Imperial Mausoleum next to the Graz Cathedral; Credit – www. findagrave.com

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Charles X of France

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

source: Wikipedia

King Charles X of France – source: Wikipedia

King Charles X was the last King of France from the House of Bourbon. He was born at the Palace of Versailles in France on October 9, 1757. His grandfather King Louis XV of France created him Count of Artois at birth.  Charles was the sixth child and third son of Louis, Dauphin of France, and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony. He had seven siblings:

He was given the names Charles Philippe at his christening in the Chapel Royal at the Palace of Versailles. His godparents were King Carlos III of Spain and his aunt Sophie-Philippine of France.

Engraving of the marriage of Charles and Maria Teresa of Savoy, 1773. source: Wikipedia

Engraving of the marriage of Charles and Maria Teresa of Savoy, 1773. source: Wikipedia

On November 16, 1773, at the age of 16, Charles married Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy at the Chapel Royal at the Palace of Versailles. She was the daughter of King Vittorio Amadeo III of Sardinia and Infanta Maria Antonia of Spain. Maria Teresa’s elder sister was the wife of Charles’ elder brother Louis Stanislas (later King Louis XVIII). The couple had four children:

Following the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, Charles and his family took refuge in Savoy and then traveled through Europe. After the French monarchy was abolished in September 1792, Charles’s brother King Louis XVI and his family were imprisoned and executed the following year. Charles escaped to the United Kingdom, where he was warmly welcomed by King George III who gave him a large allowance and provided him with apartments at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. Charles also had a residence in Mayfair, London, where he spent much of his time with his longtime mistress, Louise d’Esparbès de Lussan. His elder brother, now the titular King Louis XVIII, eventually came to the United Kingdom in 1807.

Charles, Comte d’Artois, c1798, painted by Henri-Pierre Danloux. source: Wikipedia

Charles, Comte d’Artois, c1798, painted by Henri-Pierre Danloux. source: Wikipedia

When Napoleon was overthrown in 1814 and Louis XVIII formally made King of France, Charles served as Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom until the new King could return to France. While supporting his brother, Charles was also very vocal in his disagreement with many of the King’s liberal policies. On September 16, 1824, King Louis XVIII died, and Charles succeeded to the French throne as King Charles X. He would be very unpopular with the French people, and would not remain on the throne for long. While his brother had been much more liberal, and accepting of the changes needed to retain the monarchy in an evolving France, Charles longed for a return to absolute rule. He often instructed his prime minister to change or remove laws that he felt were too liberal.

King Charles X’s actions led to the July Revolution of 1830 and his abdication. After ordering General Elections to be held, Charles was not happy with the results, and on July 6, 1830, he suspended the constitution. Several weeks later, he issued four ordinances, censoring the press, dissolving the newly elected chamber, changing the electoral system, and calling for new elections in September. When these ordinances were published, there were quick calls for revolution. When rioting began, a team of ministers pleaded with the King to revoke the mandates but the King refused any compromise. By the end of the night, the members of the Chamber of Deputies had decided that the King must go and that they should pass the throne to the Duke of Orléans who would become Louis-Philippe, King of the French.

On July 31, 1830, King Charles X left the Château de Saint-Cloud, intending to take refuge at Versailles. However, he was met by revolutionary troops and instead went to the Grand Trianon and the Château de Rambouillet the following day. Louis-Philippe, the Duke of Orléans declared himself Lieutenant-General.

On August 2, 1830, King Charles X abdicated the French throne, skipping over his son and naming his grandson Henri, Duke of Bordeaux as his successor. Louis-Philippe refused to accept the terms of the abdication and instead had himself proclaimed King of the French. With an approaching mob, Charles and his family left Rambouillet and sailed to the United Kingdom. They lived briefly at Lulworth Castle in Dorset before returning to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In the winter of 1832, the family moved to Prague at the invitation of Emperor Franz I of Austria, taking up residence at the Prague Castle. They remained there until the Emperor’s death in 1835 when they purchased Kirchberg Castle.

In the fall of 1835, Charles traveled to Austria’s Mediterranean coast to enjoy the warmer weather. While in Görz, Austria (now Gorizia, Italy), he contracted cholera. The former King Charles X of France died at the Strassoldo Palace in Görz on November 6, 1836. He was buried in the crypt of the Kostanjevica Monastery in what is now Pristava, Slovenia

Tombs of Charles X and his son Louis at the Kostanjevica Monastery; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Giuseppina of Savoy, Countess of Provence

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

source: Wikipedia

Maria Giuseppina of Savoy, Countess of Provence; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Giuseppina Luigia of Savoy was the wife of King Louis XVIII of France, although he did not become King until after her death. She was born on September 2, 1753, at the Royal Palace of Turin, in Turin, Duchy of Savoy, now in Italy, daughter of King Vittorio Amadeo III of Sardinia and Infanta Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. She had eleven siblings:

On May 14, 1771, at the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France, Maria Giuseppina married Louis Stanislas of France, Count of Provence. He was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of Saxony. She took on the French version of her name Maria Joséphine and was styled Countess of Provence. The couple had no children, although she did have several miscarriages.

From all accounts, there was little love in the marriage. It was the first of three marriages arranged between the royal families of Sardinia and France. Considered ugly and ill-mannered, Marie Joséphine never quite fit in at the Court of Versailles. She and her husband had a strained relationship with his brother and sister-in-law, the future King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and saw themselves as better suited to be next-in-line for the French throne.

After being forced to return to Paris in October 1789, Marie Joséphine and her husband took up residence at the Luxembourg Palace, still distancing themselves from the rest of the royal family who were living at the Tuileries Palace. They successfully escaped to the Austrian Netherlands in June 1791. By then, she and her husband fought constantly, and she found comfort in the company of her lady-in-waiting, Marguerite de Gourbillon. Many have speculated that the two were lovers, although there is no conclusive evidence of this.

In June 1795, Marie Joséphine’s husband became the titular King of France following the death of the only surviving son of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. However, as the French monarchy had been abolished years earlier, the two remained in exile as Count and Countess of Provence. They continued living in different parts of Europe before moving to England in 1808, taking up residence at Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, England.

Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, England. source: Wikipedia

Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, England. source: Wikipedia

On November 13, 1810, Marie Joséphine died at Hartwell House. Following a grand funeral, attended by the British Royal Family, she was interred in the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The following year, her husband had her remains moved to the Cagliari Cathedral in Sardinia, now in Italy. Here, her brother, King Carlo Felice of Sardinia, had a large monument built in her honor.

Tomb of Marie Therese. photo by Giova81 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3880082

Tomb of  Marie Joséphine. photo by Giova81 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3880082

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty