Category Archives: German Royals

King Ludwig II of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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

King Ludwig II of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm) was born on August 15, 1845, at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria. He was the elder of two sons of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. He was named after his grandfather, the reigning King Ludwig I of Bavaria as the two shared a birthday, which was also the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France, the patron saint of Bavaria.

Ludwig had one younger brother who succeeded him:

Ludwig was raised primarily at Hohenschwangau Castle in Hohenschwangau in southwestern Bavaria by servants and tutors. His education was very strict, and he showed an early interest in art and literature. Neither Ludwig nor his brother were very close with their parents and were much closer to their grandfather King Ludwig I. At an early age, Ludwig developed a close friendship with Prince Paul of Thurn und Taxis who served as his aide de camp, as well as with his first cousin once removed Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (the future Empress Elisabeth of Austria), with whom he would remain very close for his entire life.

Ludwig and his fiancée, 1867. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig never married, but in January 1867, he became engaged to his first cousin once removed Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria. Sophie was the younger sister of Ludwig’s close friend Duchess Elisabeth. After postponing the marriage several times, Ludwig eventually broke the engagement in October of the same year. Most historians believe that Ludwig was actually gay, although he struggled to suppress his desires due to his strong Catholic faith.

Ludwig was just 18 years old when he became King of Bavaria upon his father’s death on March 10, 1864. He continued with his father’s policies and retained his ministers, but his interests were not in ruling the country. His interests lay almost solely in the arts. Soon after becoming King, he established a new Court Theater (now the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz) and began a lifelong project of constructing numerous palaces and castles. He strongly disliked public functions and formal social events, and by 1876 had largely withdrawn from public life. Despite this, and the tension it caused among his ministers, Ludwig remained very popular with the Bavarian people.

His reign saw Bavaria’s defeat in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, having sided with Austria. After the war, Bavaria was forced to enter into a mutual defense treaty with Prussia. Four years later, the country was forced to side with Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War. In late 1870, Bavaria joined the North German Confederation, losing its status as an independent Kingdom, but retaining a much more privileged status than many other constituent states.

In December 1870, King Ludwig was coerced into endorsing the creation of the new German Empire. Despite his endorsement, Ludwig was strongly opposed to the creation of the German Empire and refused to attend the proclamation ceremony held at the Palace of Versailles. In his place, he sent his brother Otto and his uncle Luitpold.

Richard Wagner, 1871. source: Wikipedia

By 1871, Ludwig spent most of his time pursuing his interests in the arts, music, and architecture. At a very young age, he first saw an opera by famed composer Richard Wagner and became enthralled with his work. Shortly after becoming King, he summoned Wagner to court and became his primary patron. Many credit King Ludwig’s support for establishing Wagner’s career and legacy. When Wagner was forced to leave Munich in 1865, the King considered abdicating to follow him into exile, but Wagner insisted that he remain. Ludwig provided Wagner with a home in Switzerland and continued to support him from afar. Eventually, Wagner returned and the relationship between the two continued. Along with Wagner, King Ludwig supported many other artists and saw over 200 private performances of plays ballets, and operas in the court theaters.

Besides his interest in the arts, King Ludwig is probably best known for his love of architecture. Using his personal funds, he built several magnificent palaces and castles, the most famous being Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle, c1900. source: Wikipedia

Neuschwanstein Castle was built near Hohenschwangau Castle where Ludwig spent much of his youth and was dedicated as a tribute to Richard Wagner. The cornerstone was laid in 1869 and construction went on for many years. It was not until 1884 that King Ludwig was able to take up residence in the still unfinished castle.  Other projects included Linderhof Palace, Herrenchiemsee, and the royal apartment at the Munich Residenz.

By 1885, Ludwig was millions of marks in debt due to his spending on his castles and palaces and had all but withdrawn from his duties as King of Bavaria. Several of his government ministers began trying to find grounds to depose him, believing him to be mentally ill. Ludwig’s uncle Luitpold agreed to become Regent, provided the ministers could reliably prove that Ludwig was unfit to rule. In early 1886, a medical report was drawn up, listing a string of bizarre behavior, Ludwig’s unwillingness to deal with state business, and many other supposed examples of his mental instability. In June 1886, the report was completed and signed by several psychiatrists including Dr. Bernhard von Gudden, the chief of the Munich Asylum. None had met Ludwig except von Gudden,  who met him one time, nearly twelve years earlier.

King Ludwig, c1882. source: Wikipedia

On the morning of June 10, 1886, Dr. von Gudden and several others arrived at Neuschwanstein to present Ludwig with a document of deposition. Ludwig had been made aware of the situation by a servant and ordered the castle to be surrounded by the local police. That same day, Ludwig’s uncle Luitpold was proclaimed Prince Regent. The commission returned again on the morning of June 12, and Ludwig was taken to Berg Castle on Lake Starnberg in Berg, Bavaria.

The following day, June 13, 1886, Ludwig went for a walk on the grounds of Berg Castle, accompanied by Dr. von Gudden and several attendants. Ludwig and the doctor went out again that evening without attendants but never returned. Several hours later, King Ludwig II’s and Dr. von Gudden’s bodies were found in the water of Lake Starnberg.

King Ludwig II’s death remains a mystery. It was ruled a suicide by drowning, but no water was found in his lungs during an autopsy. One belief is that Ludwig was murdered while trying to escape and another is that he died of natural causes, possibly due to the extremely cold temperature of the water.

King Ludwig II lying in state, June 1886. Source: Wikipedia

After laying in state in the royal chapel at the Munich Residenz in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, a grand funeral was held, and his remains were interred in the crypt of the Michaelskirche in Munich. In keeping with tradition, his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting in Altötting, Bavaria.  He was succeeded as King by his brother, Otto. However, Otto had also been declared mentally ill – also by Dr. von Gudden – and so their uncle Luitpold remained Prince Regent.

Tomb of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

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.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Maximilian II of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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

King Maximilian II of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Maximilian II of Bavaria was born November 28, 1811, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, the eldest son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He had eight younger siblings:

Maximilian studied history and constitutional law at the University of Göttingen and the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin (now Humboldt University) from 1829-1831 and reportedly said that had he not been born into his position, he would have liked to be a professor. In 1830, he was named a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. He was also an avid hiker, and while on a hike in 1829, he came across the ruins of Hohenschwangau Castle. Three years later, he purchased the castle and had it rebuilt as a summer residence for his family.

On January 23, 1842, Maximilian became engaged to Princess Marie Friederike of Prussia, the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Marie Anne of Hesse-Homburg. The two married on October 12, 1842, in Munich, and had two sons:

King Maximilian II with his wife and sons, Ludwig (left) and Otto (right). source: Wikipedia

Maximilian came to the throne suddenly on March 20, 1848, when his father abdicated, and quickly introduced reforms to the constitution to establish a more constitutional monarchy. Unlike his father, who focused on his personal interests and extravagance, Maximilian focused primarily on his duties. However, his tendency to rely heavily on the advice of his ministers, along with his frequent travels, often led to long delays before any decisions were made.

Maximilian wanted to preserve Bavaria’s independence in the German Confederation and refused to accept the constitution put forth by the Frankfurt National Assembly in 1849. At home, he was a strong supporter of science and the arts. He worked to transform Munich into one of the most cultural and educational cities in Europe, and funded studies into the art, costumes, and customs of the Bavarian people, promoting a sense of national identity in the face of growing Pan-Germanism. He also supported many writers and developed a close friendship with the Danish writer Hans Christian Anderson.

Another of Maximilian’s passions was architecture and the building and restoration of several royal residences. In addition to rebuilding Hohenschwangau Castle, he oversaw the rebuilding of Hambach Castle and the redesigning of Berg Castle. He also had several other residences built, including a villa on Rose Island which later became a favorite getaway of his son, King Ludwig II.

King Maximilian II, c1860. source: Wikipedia

King Maximilian II died suddenly on March 10, 1864, after a brief illness. He is buried in a small chapel in the Theatinerkirche in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany while his heart is entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting.

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.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Therese Charlotte Luise Friederike Amalie of Saxe-Hildburghausen was the wife of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. She was born on July 8, 1792, at Jagdschloss Seidingstadt, the summer residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Hildburghausen, in Straufhain, Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, now in Thuringia, Germany. Therese was the fifth of the six daughters and the sixth of the eleven children of  Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

She was the sixth of eleven children, and her siblings included:

Therese was raised primarily at Schloss Hildburghausen in Hildburghausen, now in the German state of Thuringia, where the family’s finances were often strained. Her mother, who was very intelligent and artistic, brought musicians and artists to the court to teach the children, along with various prominent scholars. Therese proved to be a very good student, mastering several languages at a young age, and excelling in the arts.

In 1809, Therese was included on a list of prospective brides for Napoleon I, Emperor of the French who was looking to marry into one of the old royal houses of Europe. However, the future King Ludwig I of Bavaria would become her husband. Ludwig was the son of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. The couple met in December 1809 when Ludwig visited Hildburghausen and became engaged on February 12, 1810. After prolonged negotiations, primarily due to Therese’s unwillingness to convert to Catholicism, she and her family traveled to Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, for the marriage.

Therese and Ludwig married on October 12, 1810, and celebrations were held for several days following at the Theresienwiese in Munich, a large outdoor space named in her honor. Theresienwiese is the site of Oktoberfest, held each year to commemorate the wedding.

Ludwig and Therese had nine children:

 

Queen Therese, painting by Joseph Stieler, 1825. source: Wikipedia

Seemingly always pregnant, Therese still managed to participate in charitable events and organizations. While living in Salzburg, she organized meals for the poor and was the patron of the Salzburg Women’s Association. In October 1825, Ludwig and Therese became King and Queen of Bavaria following the death of King Maximilian I Joseph. Therese soon began a more public role, devoting much of her time to assisting the poor, widows, orphans, and the sick. She became the patron of several organizations, including the Women’s Association for Infant Care Institutions. In 1827, she established The Order of Therese which still exists to this day.

Queen Therese with her family, c1830. source: Wikipedia

Queen Therese maintained a great interest in state affairs and was very aware of the politics of the day. She often deputized for the King while he was out of the country, and kept him fully informed of what was happening at home. Sadly, however, her marriage was not always a very happy one. King Ludwig had a constant stream of mistresses, few of which were kept very private. Therese often left the country in defiance of her husband’s actions and received much sympathy and support from the Bavarian people. When Ludwig’s relationship with Lola Montez began in 1846, Queen Therese refused to back down. She publicly chastised the King and refused his request to grant Montez the Order of Therese.

Queen Therese, painting by Julie von Egloffstein, c1836. source: Wikipedia

In March 1848, King Ludwig I abdicated because he refused to reign as a constitutional monarch, and lost the support of his family and government ministers. Queen Therese enjoyed a more private life with her growing family. She died on October 26, 1854, in Munich,  Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and was initially buried in the royal crypt at the Theatinerkirche in Munich. Three years later, her husband had her remains moved to St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich where he was also buried after his death in 1868. As she was not Catholic, her heart was not interred at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting with the other Bavarian Kings and their consorts. Instead, it is interred at St. Boniface’s Abbey.

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.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Ludwig I of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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

King Ludwig I of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig I of Bavaria (Ludwig Karl August) was born on August 25, 1786, at the Hôtel des Deux-Ponts in Strasbourg, France. He was the eldest son of the future King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his first wife, Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt, and was named for his godfather King Louis XVI of France.

Ludwig had four full siblings:

Ludwig had seven half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Caroline of Baden:

When Ludwig was born, his father was serving with the French army stationed at Strasbourg. By the time he was 13, his father had become Duke of Zweibrücken, and then Elector of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine. On January 1, 1806, Ludwig became Crown Prince when his father became the first King of Bavaria.

Ludwig studied with Johann Michael Sailer at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Landshut (now in Munich), and the University of Göttingen, and became proficient in several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. He also received a strong religious education from the Catholic priest Joseph Anton Sambuga.

As was expected at the time, Ludwig also pursued a military career. Despite being against his father’s alliance with the French Emperor Napoleon I, he fought with the allied Bavarian troops in the French wars. He served as commander of the 1st Bavarian Division in VII Corps and led his division into the Battle of Abensberg in 1809. At the Treaty of Ried in 1813, Bavaria left the Confederation of the Rhine and joined the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon. Just days later, Bavaria formally declared war against France, a move Ludwig strongly supported.

Ludwig served briefly as governor-general of the Duchy of Salzburg and spent much of the next 10 years in Würzburg and at Villa Malta, his home in Rome. During this time, he was an ardent supporter of the Greek War of Independence, even providing a loan of 1.5 million florins from his personal funds for the effort. Years later, his generosity would be rewarded when his second son Otto was named King of Greece.

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Ludwig’s wife; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 12, 1810, Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the daughter of Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The wedding was held in a large outdoor space called the Theresienwiese in Munich. Named for his bride, Theresienwiese is the site of Oktoberfest, held every year to commemorate the wedding.

Ludwig and Therese had nine children:

Ludwig became King of Bavaria upon his father’s death on October 13, 1825. His reign saw the reorganization of the administrative regions of Bavaria and the establishment of the city of Ludwigshafen. The King established the Ludwig Canal between the Main and Danube rivers, and in 1835, the first German railway was constructed between the cities of Fürth and Nuremberg.

However, his previous liberal policies became more repressive after the July Revolution of 1830. Several years earlier, he had reinstated policies of strict censorship greatly opposed by the population. In 1837, he saw the Ultramontanes, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, gained control of Parliament and begin making drastic changes to the constitution, including the removal of civil rights granted to Protestants. Ludwig himself was a strong opponent of Protestantism, but his views changed in 1841 following the funeral of his Protestant stepmother Queen Caroline. Catholic factions held large demonstrations and King Ludwig, who had a very close relationship with Queen Caroline, was greatly disturbed by the disturbances.

Lola Montez, circa 1851. source: Wikipedia

In 1846, Ludwig met Lola Montez, an Irish dancer and actress, who had come to Munich, and she quickly became his mistress. She was very unpopular with the Bavarian people, because of her influence over the King, and became even more so when they found out that she was trying to become a naturalized citizen. The Ultramontanes fought strongly against the naturalization, resulting in the King removing them from power. The following year, after becoming naturalized, the King granted her the title Countess of Landsfeld along with a large annuity.

By 1848, Ludwig’s reign was coming to an abrupt end. Facing protests and demonstrations by students and the middle classes, the King had ordered the university closed. Shortly after, the crowds raided the armory on their way to storm the Munich Residenz. Ludwig’s brother Karl appeased the protesters, but the damage was done. The King’s family and advisors turned against him, forcing him to sign the March Proclamation, giving substantial concessions toward a constitutional monarchy. Unwilling to rule this way, King Ludwig I abdicated on March 20, 1848.

King Ludwig I, c1860. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig spent the rest of his life in Bavaria, devoting his time to supporting and fostering the arts. He published several books of poems during his reign and translated several plays. On February 29, 1868, King Ludwig died in Nice, France, aged 81, having survived his wife and five of his children. He was buried at St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany. Keeping with tradition, his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting in Altötting, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, 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.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, wife of King Manuel II Portugal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen  source: Wikipedia

Augusta Viktoria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was the wife of King Manuel II of Portugal from 1913 until he died in 1932.  As he had already been deposed, she was never actually Queen of Portugal, although she was often styled as such by courtesy.

Augusta Viktoria was born on August 19, 1890, in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, the daughter of Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern and Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. For several years, her father had been the heir presumptive to King Carol I of Romania, his paternal uncle. However, he renounced his rights to the Romanian throne in 1886, and it eventually passed to his younger brother who became King Ferdinand of Romania. Augusta Viktoria had younger twin brothers, who married two sisters:

Wedding of Augusta Viktoria and the former King Manuel II of Portugal source: Wikipedia

In 1912, Augusta Viktoria met the former King Manuel II of Portugal while both were visiting Switzerland. Manuel had become King in 1908 following the assassinations of his father and elder brother but was deposed two years later when the Portuguese First Republic was declared. Augusta Viktoria and Manuel were second cousins, both great-grandchildren of Queen Maria II of Portugal. They married on September 4, 1913, at Sigmaringen Castle. in Sigmaringen, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Following a honeymoon in Munich, they settled at Fulwell Park, Manuel’s home outside London, England. Augusta Viktoria and Manuel had no children.

Manuel and Augusta Viktoria attending Wimbledon, 1930.

Manuel and Augusta Viktoria attending Wimbledon, 1930; Credit – Wikipedia

Manuel died July 2, 1932, at Fulwell Park, in Middlesex, England. Several years later, on April 23, 1939, Augusta Viktoria married Count Robert Douglas, head of the Swedish comital house of Douglas (a branch of the Scottish Clan Douglas). The couple lived at Langenstein Castle in Orsingen-Nenzingen   Baden, Germany, and had no children.

Widowed in 1955, Augusta Viktoria continued to live in Germany and died on August 29, 1966, at Eigeltingen, Baden-Württemerg, Germany. She is buried at Langenstein Castle.

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.

Portugal Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Queen of Portugal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Queen of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Stephanie Josepha Friederike Wilhelmine Antonia of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was the wife of King Pedro V of Portugal. She was born on July 15, 1837, in Krauchenwies, Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, the eldest daughter of Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern and Princess Josephine of Baden. Stephanie had five siblings:

Stephanie grew up in Düsseldorf, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia,   primarily at Jägerhof Castle, where her father served as a Division Commander in the Prussian forces. As was typical at the time, she was trained by some of the leading artists of the day, including the painter Heinrich Mücke and the pianist Clara Schumann.

Queen Estefania and King Pedro. source: Wikipedia

In December 1857, Stephanie became engaged to King Pedro V of Portugal, the son of Queen Maria II of Portugal and Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. They were married by proxy at St. Hedwig’s Cathedral in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on April 29, 1858, with her brother Leopold standing in for the groom. She then set out for Portugal, arriving on May 17. The following day, Stephanie and Pedro were formally married at the Church of St. Dominic in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 18, 1858. She took on the Portuguese spelling of her name, becoming Queen Estefania of Portugal. The King indulged his new wife greatly, sparing no expense to decorate her rooms at the Palace of Necessidades, and making every effort to make her feel comfortable in her new home.

Princess Stephanie’s arrival in Lisbon, May 17, 1858. source: Wikipedia

Having been very involved in charitable works in Düsseldorf, Stephanie quickly threw herself into similar work in Portugal. Along with her husband, she founded several hospitals and charities that served the poor and suffering, quickly becoming much-loved by the Portuguese people.

After a visit to the town of Vendas Novas, Stephanie fell ill with diphtheria. At just 22 years old, Queen Estefania of Portugal died in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 17, 1859. She is buried at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon. Her husband, King Pedro V, was greatly saddened by his wife’s death and fell into a deep depression. He died of typhoid fever just two years later and was succeeded by his brother King Luís I.

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.

Portugal Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, King Consort of Portugal

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, King Consort of Portugal – source: Wikipedia

Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the husband of Queen Maria II of Portugal and was created King Consort following the birth of their eldest son.

He was born Ferdinand August Franz Anton on October 29, 1816, in Vienna, Austria the eldest child of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Maria Antonia Koháry de Csábrág. Ferdinand had three younger siblings:

Through his father, Ferdinand was a first cousin of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert, as well as King Leopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico, born Princess Charlotte of Belgium.

Queen Maria II of Portugal, painted by John Simpson. source: Wikipedia

Ferdinand married Queen Maria II of Portugal at the Palácio das Necessidades in Lisbon, Portugal on April 9, 1836, and was created Prince Consort. The marriage, arranged by Ferdinand’s uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium, proved to be a happy one. Over the next seventeen years, they had eleven children:

In keeping with tradition, Ferdinand was elevated to King Consort following the birth of their eldest son, the future King Pedro V. Although titled as King, Ferdinand preferred to stay out of politics and left the affairs of state to his wife. He instead focused his attention on the arts. However, like his cousin Albert, Ferdinand often stood in for his wife during her numerous pregnancies. The Queen supported Ferdinand’s love of the arts and his interest in maintaining and restoring the architectural heritage of many buildings and monuments in Portugal. In the late 1830s, Ferdinand purchased the former monastery of Our Lady of Pena and its surrounding land, and the nearby Castle of the Moors, located in the Sintra Mountains. Having stood unused for some time, the buildings at the monastery were in desperate need of repair. Ferdinand restored them and built around them a stunning palace that would serve as a summer residence for the royal family. Today, the Pena National Palace is a national monument and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and is used for state functions.

King Ferdinand with his daughter-in-law, Queen Maria Pia, and his sons Infante Augusto, and King Luís, 1862. source: Wikipedia

On November 15, 1853, Queen Maria II died after giving birth to their last child. Ferdinand served as Regent for his eldest son King Pedro V until he came of age. In 1862, after the overthrow of King Otto of Greece, Ferdinand was named as a candidate for the Greek throne, which he quickly declined. Several years later, after the overthrow of Queen Isabella II of Spain, he was offered the Spanish throne. Again, he declined, preferring to enjoy his private life.

King Ferdinand and The Countess of Edla, c1885. source: Wikipedia

On June 10, 1869, in Lisbon, Ferdinand married again to Elise Hensler, a Swiss-born American actress. The couple first met in 1860 when Elise was performing in an opera in Lisbon. A relationship quickly began, as the two found their shared passion for arts and gardening. Just before they married, Ferdinand’s cousin, Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, created Elise Countess of Edla in her own right. They had no children. Ferdinand and Elise lived at the Pena National Palace where they indulged their love of gardening and continued their unyielding support for the arts, including sponsoring several noted Portuguese artists and musicians.

King Ferdinand died at the Pena National Palace in Sintra, Portugal on December 15, 1885, survived by only three of his children. He is buried beside his first wife in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza, at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon, Portugal.

Several years after Ferdinand’s death, his widow sold his estates, including the Pena National Palace and the Palace of the Moors, to Ferdinand’s grandson, King Carlos I. The Countess of Edla survived her husband by 44 years. She passed away in Lisbon on May 21, 1929, and is buried in the Prazeres Cemetery in Lisbon.

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.

Portugal Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress of Austria

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, Duchess in Bavaria, known as Sisi, was born on December 24, 1837, at Herzog-Max-Palais (Duke Max Palace) in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany. Today the palace is the Munich headquarters of the Deutsche Bundesbank, formerly the State Central Bank of Bavaria, and there is a plaque on the building commemorating Sisi’s birth.

Austria_Germany_August_2012 543

Plaque on the Deutsche Bundesbank in Munich commemorating the birth of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Sisi’s father was Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria, from a junior branch of the House of Wittelsbach.  Maximilian Joseph did much to promote Bavarian folk music. He played the zither, the national instrument of Bavaria, and composed music for it.

Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria playing the zither; Credit – Wikipedia

Sisi’s mother was Princess Ludovika of Bavaria, the daughter of Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria and his second wife Caroline of Baden.

Ludovika of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

Although the family had a home in Munich, Herzog-Max-Palais (Duke Max Palace), Sisi’s parents had no obligations with the Bavarian royal court and their nine children spent much time living a carefree, unstructured, unrestrained childhood at Schloss Possenhofen on Lake Starnberg.  Sisi had a close relationship with her father, and he allowed her to stay away from classes to spend time with him. Her hobbies included horseback riding, drawing, and writing poems.

Equestrian portrait of Sisi at Schloss Possenhofen, 1853; Credit – Wikipedia

Sisi’s eight siblings:

The painting below is a group portrait of Sisi’s siblings given to her by her brother Karl Theodor on the occasion of her wedding.

(left to right) Sophie, Maximilian Emanuel, Karl Theodor, Helene, Ludwig Wilhelm, Mathilde and Marie; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1848, Emperor Ferdinand of Austria abdicated and his 18-year-old nephew Franz Joseph succeeded him. The feeling in the Imperial Court was that the young emperor should marry and produce heirs as soon as possible. Franz Joseph’s domineering mother, Princess Sophie of Bavaria was the sister of Sisi’s mother. Sophie considered several princesses as the future empress, however, Sophie wanted to forge a relationship with her familial House of Wittelsbach of Bavaria and the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. She arranged for a match between Franz Joseph and Helene, Duchess in Bavaria, Sisi’s eldest sister. In 1853, Helene traveled with her mother and her younger sister Sisi to the resort of Bad Ischl, Upper Austria to meet her first cousin Franz Joseph with the hopes that she would become his bride. Instead, Franz Joseph fell in love with the 15-year-old Sisi. Franz Joseph told his mother that if he could not marry Sisi, he would not marry at all. Five days later their engagement was officially announced.

Franz Joseph in 1853; Credit – Wikipedia

Sisi in 1855; Credit – Wikipedia

Franz Joseph and Sisi were married at 4 PM on April 24, 1854, at the Augustinerkirche, the parish church of the Imperial Court of the Habsburgs, a short walk from Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. It had taken an hour for the wedding procession to walk through the palace corridors and courtyards and down the street to the church. The ceremony was conducted by Cardinal Joseph Othmar Rauscher, Archbishop of Vienna with 1,000 guests in attendance including 70 bishops.

Austria_Germany_August_2012 176

Augustinerkirche in Vienna, Austria; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Wedding of Franz Joseph and Sisi; Credit – Wikipedia

Sisi, who had been brought up in a relaxed atmosphere, was bored and tired after the wedding, but her duties were not yet done. After the wedding, the newlyweds proceeded down a 50-yard carpet back to the Hofburg Palace where for two hours they received their wedding guests. When dinner was finally served at 10 PM, Sisi had no appetite. The strict and formal reality of the Habsburg court’s protocol had astonished her. When her family left Vienna to return to Bavaria, Sisi’s father told her that he could not tolerate the Vienna court etiquette and that she would have to visit him at Schloss Possenhofen. Her sister Helene expressed her relief that Franz Joseph had not chosen her as his bride.

The couple had four children:

Sisi with her two eldest surviving children, Gisela and Rudolf in 1858; Credit – Wikipedia

Sisi’s youngest child, Marie Valerie in 1870; Credit – Wikipedia

The marriage was not a happy one for Sisi. Although her husband loved her, Sisi had difficulties adjusting to the Austrian court and did not get along with Imperial family members, especially her mother-in-law. Sisi felt emotionally distant from her husband and fled from him as well as her duties at court, by frequent traveling.  In 1885, Franz Joseph began a long-standing private relationship with actress Katharina Schratt that would last the rest of his life. The exact nature of their relationship is unclear. Some believe that Katharina and Franz Joseph were lovers while others believe that their relationship was platonic. Katharina always maintained the strictest discretion regarding her relationship with Franz Joseph. Sisi tolerated the relationship and even seemed to encourage it.

Empress Elisabeth of Austria in Courtly Gala Dress with Diamond Stars by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1865; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1860, Sisi suffered from severe coughing. The diagnosis of lung disease and the recommendation of a cure in Madeira, Portugal was used by Sisi as a pretext to escape from court life and take her first trip alone away from Vienna. When Sisi returned to Vienna, she suffered a severe relapse. The doctors diagnosed pulmonary consumption and Sisi escaped to the Greek island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea. Sisi quite liked Corfu and in 1889-1891, she had the Achilleion Palace built there. Sisi’s travels to escape life at court continued for the rest of her life.

Achilleion Palace in Corfu, Greece; By Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23107846

Sisi had very rigorous exercise habits. Besides riding every day for hours, she had a gymnasium with wall bars, a high bar, and rings in the frame of a door. When she was in her 40s, Sisi began to suffer from sciatica and could not ride anymore. She then increased her gymnastic routines and began fencing lessons. In addition, she took long walks, sometimes walking 20 miles a day.

Sisi_dressing and exercise room

Sisi’s dressing and exercise room at Hofburg Palace; Photo Credit – http://www.hofburg-wien.at

Franz Joseph kept his heir Crown Prince Rudolf away from all state affairs. Under pressure from his father, Rudolf married Princess Stephanie of Belgium, daughter of King Leopold II of the Belgians. The couple had one child, Elisabeth Marie. On January 30, 1889, at Mayerling, a hunting lodge in the Vienna Woods which Rudolf had purchased, in an apparent suicide plot, Rudolf shot his 17-year-old mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera, and then shot himself. Crown Prince Rudolf had no sons, so the succession would pass to Emperor Franz Joseph’s brother, Archduke Karl Ludwig and his eldest son, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. In a matter of days, Archduke Karl Ludwig renounced his succession rights in favor of his son Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 sparked World War I.

Crown Prince Rudolf; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

After Rudolf’s death, Sisi spent little time with her husband, preferring to travel. However, a warm and friendly correspondence between the couple existed. In 1898, despite being warned about possible assassination attempts, Sisi traveled incognito to Geneva, Switzerland. She stayed at the Hotel Beau-Rivage, where she enjoyed a meal of timbale de volaille, crème glacèe à l’Hongroise, and iced champagne. She asked her lady-in-waiting Irma, Countess Sztáray to send the menu to Franz Joseph because she had enjoyed the meal so much. Afterward, Sisi visited the aviaries, aquarium, and conservatories, and bought presents for her grandchildren.

Last photograph of Sisi and her lady-in-waiting shortly before her death; Credit – Wikipedia

The next day, September 10, 1898, Sisi was due to take a ferry across Lake Geneva to the town of Territet. As Sisi and her lady-in-waiting were walking to the ferry’s landing, the Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni rushed at her and stabbed her in the heart with a pointed file. The puncture wound was so small that it was initially not noticed and it was thought that Sisi had just been punched in the chest. Sisi thanked all the people who had rushed to help and conversed with her lady-in-waiting about the incident. Only when onboard the ferry did she finally collapse and then the severity of her wound came to light. The ferry captain ordered the ferry back to Geneva and Sisi was taken back to the hotel on an improvised stretcher. A doctor and a priest were summoned. The doctor confirmed that there was no hope and the priest administered the Last Rites. Sisi died without regaining consciousness.

File_Sissi

The file that was used to stab Sisi on display at the Hofburg Palace; Credit – http://www.hofburg-wien.at

An artist’s rendition of the stabbing of Sisi by the Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni; Credit – Wikipedia

Luigi Lucheni originally wanted to assassinate Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans, but the duke had left Geneva earlier. He then selected Sisi as his victim when a Geneva newspaper revealed that the woman traveling under the pseudonym of “Countess of Hohenembs” was Empress Elisabeth of Austria.  Lucheni was sentenced to life imprisonment, and in 1910 he hanged himself with his belt in his prison cell.

Franz Joseph never fully recovered from his wife’s death. Sisi was buried in Franz Josephs Gruft (Franz Joseph’s Crypt) in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna, Austria where her son Rudolf had been buried. When Franz Joseph died in 1916, his tomb was placed between the tombs of his wife and son.

Emperor Franz Joseph at Sisi’s coffin in the Imperial Crypt

Sisi’s tomb on the left, Franz Joseph’s tomb in the middle, Rudolf’s tomb on the right; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

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.

Austria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, Empress of Austria

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2016

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, Empress of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria was born on February 8, 1792, in Mannheim, then in the Electorate of the Palatinate, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. She was the third daughter and the fourth of the five children of Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria and his first wife Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. At the age of two, Caroline Augusta contracted smallpox and her face was left scarred. When Caroline Augusta was four years old, her mother died of tuberculosis.

Caroline Augusta had four siblings:

In 1797, Caroline Augusta’s father married his second wife Caroline of Baden, and Caroline Augusta had seven half-siblings, including two sets of identical twin sisters:

Caroline Augusta’s father was an ally of Napoleon and as a consequence of a treaty signed in December 1805 by Napoleon and Caroline of Augusta’s future husband Emperor Franz I of Austria, certain Austrian holdings in Germany were passed to her father and he became King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria.  Napoleon had also elevated another ally Friedrich Wilhelm Karl, Elector of Württemberg to the status of King. As a symbol of this alliance with Napoleon, Friedrich’s daughter Catharina married Napoleon’s youngest brother Jérôme Bonaparte, the king of the newly created Kingdom of Westphalia. To prevent Napoleon from arranging a marriage for his heir Crown Prince Wilhelm, King Friedrich I of Württemberg arranged a marriage of convenience between his son Wilhelm and Caroline Augusta of Bavaria. The couple was married in Lutheran and Catholic ceremonies in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Germany, on June 8, 1808. After the marriage ceremony, Wilhelm told Caroline Augusta, “We are victims of politics.”

Wilhelm and Caroline Augusta’s marriage was never consummated and the couple lived apart in separate wings in the Royal Palace in Stuttgart, the capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg. Wilhelm, who was nine years older, paid no attention to the 16-year-old Caroline Augusta, who was often lonely. She spent her time writing letters to her favorite brother Crown Prince Ludwig, learning Italian and English, walking, reading, and painting. After Napoleon’s fall in 1814, Wilhelm and Caroline Augusta’s marriage was dissolved by a Lutheran consistory set up by King Friedrich I of Württemberg. Caroline Augusta received a generous financial settlement and went to live with an aunt in Neuburg an der Donau, Bavaria. Pope Pius VII dissolved her first marriage on January 12, 1816, so she could be married again in the Catholic Church.

Emperor Franz I with his wife Caroline Augusta at the theater; Credit – Wikipedia

Caroline Augusta’s brother Crown Prince Ludwig held some marriage negotiations for his sister without the knowledge of their father. Ludwig had communicated with the widowed Ferdinando III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, the brother of Franz I, Emperor of Austria. However, when Emperor Franz heard of his brother’s possible marriage plans with Caroline Augusta, he became interested in her for himself. Franz had been widowed for a third time in April 1816. Ferdinand withdrew his marriage proposal for Caroline Augusta in favor of his brother. On October 29, 1816, Caroline Augusta and Franz were married by proxy in Munich, Bavaria. The groom was represented by the bride’s brother Crown Prince Ludwig. On November 10, 1816, Caroline Augusta and Franz were married in person at the Augustinerkirche near the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria.

Family of Franz I, Emperor of Austria: From left to right: Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, Empress of Austria; Franz I, Emperor of Austria; Napoleon II of France, Duke of Reichstadt (Franz’s grandson); Princess Sophie of Bavaria, Archduchess of Austria; Marie-Louise of Austria, Duchess of Parma (Franz’s daughter and Napoleon II’s mother); the future Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria; and Archduke Franz Karl of Austria in 1826 by Leopold Fertbauer; Credit – Wikipedia

The couple had no children and Caroline Augusta played no role in politics instead, she devoted herself to charitable activities. Through her efforts, child-care institutions, hospitals, and homes for workers were built. After her husband, Emperor Franz I of Austria died in 1835, Caroline Augusta lived in Salzburg to stay out of the way of her half-sister Sophie who had married Franz’s son Archduke Franz Karl in 1824. Emperor Franz I had been succeeded by his son Ferdinand who abdicated in 1848. At that time, Archduke Franz Karl was persuaded to renounce his succession rights in favor of his eldest son Franz Joseph, who reigned from 1847 – 1916. Caroline Augusta was on good terms with her nephew Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria (Sissi) who was her niece.

Caroline Augusta in old age; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

The Dowager Empress Caroline Augusta died on February 9, 1873, a day after her 81st birthday. She was buried in Vienna at the Capuchin Church in the Imperial Crypt in the Franzensgruft (Franz’s Vault) where her husband and his three other wives are also buried.

Tomb of Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, fourth wife of Holy Roman Emperor Franz II/Emperor Franz I of Austria; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

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.

Austria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth of Wied, Queen of Romania

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2016

Elisabeth of Wied, Queen of Romania – source: Wikipedia

Queen Elisabeth of Romania was the wife of Romania’s first king, Carol I. She was born Princess Pauline Elisabeth Ottilie Luise of Wied on December 29, 1843, at Schloss Monrepos in Neuwied, Principality of Wied, now in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Her parents were Hermann, Prince of Wied and Princess Marie of Nassau, and she had two younger brothers:

Through her mother, Elisabeth’s first cousins included Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg, Queen Emma of the Netherlands, Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany, and King Gustaf V of Sweden.

Elisabeth was educated by tutors including German linguist Georg Sauerwein and famed pianist Clara Schumann. Elisabeth was an avid student and wanted to become a teacher. Her love of music and the arts,  particularly writing, would shape the woman she would become as an adult. During her early years studying with Georg Sauerwein her pseudonym ‘Carmen Sylva’ was born.

Carol and Elisabeth, circa 1870s; Credit – Wikipedia

In the late 1850s, Elisabeth was considered as a prospective bride of the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, but he was not interested. In 1861, she first met her future husband, Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Several years later, he was elected Ruling Prince of the United Principalities of Romania, taking the name Prince Carol I. After meeting again in 1869 when Carol was touring Europe in search of a bride, the couple was married in Neuwied on November 15, 1869. They had one daughter Maria born in September 1870. Maria died of scarlet fever in 1874, and Elisabeth never fully recovered from the loss of her only child.

Elisabeth with her husband and daughter, 1873. source: Wikipedia

Soon Romania was embroiled in the Russo-Turkish War, and Elisabeth worked tirelessly to care for the wounded, arranging for hospitals, ambulance services, and medicine. She later established the Queen Elisabeth Society which provided free medical care for the needy, and the Queen Elisabeth Blind Asylum in 1909, for the visually impaired. In addition, she became an ambassador of sorts, promoting Romanian culture and arts throughout the country and Europe. At a time when traditional Romanian costume was often considered ‘peasants garments’, Elisabeth and her ladies-in-waiting often dressed in the outfits for public appearances. She arranged for exhibits of Romanian crafts at the Universal Exhibitions in Paris in 1867,1889 and 1900 and held an exhibit Women in the Arts and Crafts in Berlin in 1912. When Romania was not quite part of the normal ‘tourist circuit’, Elisabeth promoted the country and would even receive travelers on the Orient Express when they would stop in Sinaia.

A relentless patron of the arts, she often hosted writers, composers, and musicians, and helped promote their works. In later years, she had a concert hall built near Peleș Castle specifically for George Enescu, the famed Romanian musician. But her true passion was writing. Under the pseudonym Carmen Sylva, she wrote hundreds of poems, plays, novels, short stories, and essays, and thanks to her fluency in several languages, she published numerous translations of other works.

Shortly after becoming Queen of Romania in 1881, Elisabeth became embroiled in controversy. Having no children, King Carol had adopted his nephew, the future King Ferdinand, as his heir. Ferdinand soon became involved with one of Elisabeth’s ladies-in-waiting, Elena Văcărescu. Elisabeth encouraged the relationship, even though a marriage would be forbidden under the Romanian constitution which stated that the heir was not permitted to marry a Romanian citizen. The scandal resulted in Elena, Ferdinand, and Elisabeth being sent out of the country. Elisabeth returned for some time to Neuwied, while Ferdinand was sent on a tour of Europe to find an appropriate wife.

Dowager Queen Elisabeth, 1915. source: Wikipedia

In her later years, Elisabeth continued to support and promote the arts and continued with her writing. She died on March 2, 1916, and is buried beside her husband at the Cathedral of the Curtea de Argeş Monastery.

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.

Romania Resources at Unofficial Royalty