Category Archives: Former Monarchies

Georg, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Georg, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Georg of Saxony was born Prince Friedrich August Georg Ludwig Wilhelm Maximilian Karl Maria Nepomuk Baptist Xaver Cyriacus Romanus, on August 8, 1832, in Dresden,  Kingdom, now in the German state of Saxony. He was the second son of King Johann of Saxony and Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria. Georg had eight siblings:

Georg studied at the University of Bonn before beginning a military career which saw him fight in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War. In 1871, he represented Saxony at the Palace of Versailles for the proclamation of Prussian King Wilhelm I as the first German Emperor. In addition to his military career, Georg also chaired the Saxon Antiquities Association from 1855 until his accession in 1902. The organization was dedicated to the preservation of monuments and buildings in Saxony.

Infanta Maria Ana. source: Wikipedia

On May 11, 1859, at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, Portugal Georg married Infanta Maria Ana of Portugal. She was the daughter of the former Queen Maria II of Portugal and Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and a sister of King Pedro V of Portugal. Despite an unhappy marriage, they had eight children:

As his elder brother Albert had no children, Georg was heir-presumptive to the Saxony throne from the time of Albert’s accession in 1873. Albert died in 1902, and Georg became King of Saxony at nearly 70 years old. Because of his age, many people felt he should step down and let the throne pass to his son, Friedrich August. His unpopularity increased during the textile workers’ strike in Crimmitschau in 1903-1904. Refusing to give in to the demands for higher wages and better working conditions, the King sent military forces into the city to force the end of the strike.

Georg’s reign lasted only two years. After falling ill with influenza earlier in the year, King Georg died in Pillnitz on October 15, 1904. He is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral,  formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden,  Kingdom, now in the German state of Saxony.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Carola of Vasa, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Carola of Vasa, Queen of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

Queen Carola was the wife of King Albert of Saxony, and the last Queen of Saxony. She was born Princess Karolina Fredrika Franciska Stefania Amalia Cecilia of Vasa on August 5, 1833, at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Austria. Her parents were Gustav, Prince of Vasa (formerly Crown Prince of Sweden) and Princess Luise Amelie of Baden, and she had one older sibling – Prince Louis – who was born and died in March 1832.

Despite her title, Carola was not actually a member of the Vasa dynasty. Her grandfather King Gustaf IV Adolf of Sweden had been forced to abdicate the throne in 1809 and was eventually replaced by his uncle King Karl XIII. Karl had no children and this led to the choosing of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte to succeed him, thus establishing the Bernadotte dynasty which remains on the Swedish throne today. The family was forced to leave Sweden. Carola’s father and his siblings settled in Austria, where he went on to serve in the Austrian forces. No longer permitted to be styled a Prince of Sweden, he took on the title Prince of Vasa, a nod to the dynasty that had previously ruled Sweden in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Carola was christened two days after her birth. Her godparents included Franz I, Emperor of Austria, Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, Empress of Austria, Stephanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden, and Cecilia of Sweden, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg. Her early years were spent primarily at Eichhorn Castle in what is now Brno, Czech Republic. After her parents divorced in 1844, Carola and her mother moved to the Morawetz Castle in Morawetz (link in Czech), also now in the Czech Republic. Given a strict education, Carola developed a love of drawing and painting and a deep compassion for those less fortunate. This strong desire to help others continued for her entire life.

Carola was known as one of the most beautiful of the European princesses and had numerous suitors. Plans for a marriage to the French Emperor Napoléon III were refused by her father, who was strongly opposed to the Napoleonic monarchy and concerned by the unstable political situation in France.

Crown Prince Albert of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

In November 1852, Carola and her mother received a visit from Crown Prince Albert of Saxony, the son of King Johann of Saxony and Amalie Auguste of Bavaria. Albert was on a quest to find a suitable bride, and having been turned down by several others, set his sights on Carola. They became engaged on December 5, 1852. The following month, Carola and her mother moved to Brno, where Albert visited often. In June 1853, she made her way to the Kingdom of Saxony, arriving in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, accompanied by Albert, to a grand welcome from the people of Saxony. They married in the Dresden Cathedral on June 18, 1853. After two weeks of celebrations, they took up residence in the Taschenbergpalais in Dresden. Carola and Johann never had children. Between 1853 – 1860, Carola had ten miscarriages.

Crown Princess Carola, c1865. source: Wikipedia

As Crown Princess, Carola quickly became involved in charity work. She visited field hospitals in Vienna and founded the Albert Commission, which supported military care during the War of 1870-1871. She took over the patronage of several organizations that supported widows and orphans and provided food and medical care for wounded soldiers. She founded several hospitals and nursing schools. In recognition of her work, Carola was awarded several orders including the Saxon Order of Sidonia and the Prussian Order of Luise.

These activities increased further after her husband ascended the Saxony throne on October 29, 1873. In addition to supporting organizations that provided medical care, she was also instrumental in establishing several organizations to provide training for a growing workforce due to an increase in industrialization. Through her efforts, homes were built for families who needed housing, nurses received more proper training, and advances were made in the care and treatment of tuberculosis within Saxony. Schools and nursing homes were established, along with several women’s organizations that provided vocational training. Queen Carola is often credited for greatly contributing to the increasing professional independence of women.

Queen Carola, c1902. source: Wikipedia

Carola was widowed in 1902 and retired to her country home in Strehlen, Kingdom of Saxony, now Strzelin, Poland, appearing in public only occasionally. She continued working with several of her patronages, but most were passed on to the new Queen. Living a relatively simple life in Strehlen, the Dowager Queen spent several years working on, and constantly revising, her will which would end up giving a large part of her estate to charity. Her health began to decline, as a result of diabetes, which she had suffered from for several years. She died on the morning of December 15, 1907, at her villa in Strehlen. After laying in state at her villa, her coffin was taken to the Dresden Cathedral in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany where she is buried beside her husband in the Wettin Crypt.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Albert, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Albert, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Albert of Saxony was born Prince Friedrich August Albert Anton Ferdinand Joseph Karl Maria Baptist Nepomuk Wilhelm Xaver Georg Fidelis on April 23, 1828, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany. He was the eldest son of King Johann of Saxony and Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria, and had eight siblings:

Albert attended the University of Bonn, but his education was primarily designed for his military career. He served in the First Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian War and was a distinguished military officer. He became Crown Prince of Saxony upon his father’s accession in 1854 and continued to serve with the Saxon and Prussian forces.

Carola of Vasa. source: Wikipedia

On June 18, 1853, in Dresden, Albert married Princess Carola of Vasa. She was the daughter of Gustaf, Prince of Vasa (formerly The Crown Prince of Sweden) and Princess Luise Amelie of Baden. The couple had no children.

Albert’s father died on October 29, 1873, and he succeeded him as King of Saxony. For the most part, his reign was quiet and uneventful, as he focused primarily on military affairs and did not involve himself much in politics. Perhaps his greatest contribution was the establishment of the Albertstadt, a suburb in Dresden. In the late 1890s, he was appointed to serve as an arbitrator in the dispute over succession in the Principality of Lippe.

After a reign of nearly 29 years, King Albert died at Sibyllenort Castle in Sibyllenort, Kingdom of Prussia, now Szczodre, Poland, on June 19, 1902, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Georg. Like his predecessors, he is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony), in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Amalie Auguste of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Amalie Auguste of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Amalie was the wife of King Johann of Saxony. She was born Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria in the Electorate of Bavaria, later the Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, on November 13, 1801, the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife Princess Karoline of Baden.

Amalie had six siblings including her twin sister Elisabeth Ludovika

From her father’s first marriage to  Princess Auguste of Hesse-Darmstadt, Amalie had five half-siblings:

Prince Johann of Saxony, c1832. source: Wikipedia

On November 21, 1822, in Dresden, Amalie married Prince Johann of Saxony, the son of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. At the time, Johann was fourth in the line of succession for the Saxony throne, with little expectation that he would ever become King. From all accounts, the marriage was a happy one, and the couple had nine children:

Amalie’s husband became the heir presumptive to the Saxony throne in 1836, when King Anton died and was succeeded by Johann’s elder brother King Friedrich August II. Amalie and her husband were close with the King and his wife (who was Amalie’s younger sister), and the two women worked together to support numerous charities and institutions. In 1851, Amalie became Chairwoman of the Women’s Association of Dresden, founded by her sister some years earlier.

Upon King Friedrich August II’s death in August 1854, the throne passed to Johann, and Amalie succeeded her own sister as Queen of Saxony. Her husband would reign until his death on October 29, 1873, succeeded by the couple’s eldest son, King Albert.

Queen Amalie Auguste – source: Wikipedia

Queen Amalie Auguste survived her husband by four years, dying in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany, on November 8, 1877. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Johann, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Johann, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Johann of Saxony reigned from 1854 until 1873. He was born in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany on December 12, 1801, the third son and fifth child of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. He was given the names Johann Nepomuk Maria Joseph Anton Vincenz Aloys Franz de Paula Stanislaus Bernhard Paul Felix Damasus. Johann had five siblings:

Initially, Johann was far enough down the line of succession that there seemed little chance he would ever inherit the throne. However, by the time his brother became King Friedrich August II in 1836, Johann was his heir presumptive. He received an education intended to prepare him for his possible future role, and took an active part in the government, serving in the First Chamber of the Saxon Parliament after the new Constitution was passed in 1831.

Amalie Auguste of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

Johann married Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony on November 21, 1822. She was the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Karoline of Baden. The couple had nine children:

Johann became King of Saxony upon his brother’s death on August 9, 1854. His reign saw much progress within Saxony, including extending the railroad network, introducing free trade – including a commercial treaty with France – and establishing the Judiciary Organization. Under King Johann’s oversight, Saxony became one of the most modern and progressive of the German states.

In 1866, Johann aligned Saxony with Austria and fought alongside them in the Austro-Prussian War. After being defeated, Saxony joined the North German Confederation, and later the German Empire in 1871.

Johann was an avid student of literature, and under a pseudonym, published numerous translations into German, including Dante’s Divine Comedy.

King Johann died at Pillnitz Castle in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany on October 29, 1873. He is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2017

Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony; Credit –  Wikipedia

Queen Maria Anna of Saxony was the second wife of King Friedrich August II of Saxony. She was born Princess Maria Anna Leopoldine Elisabeth Wilhelmine of Bavaria, in the Electorate of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, on January 27, 1805, to the future King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Caroline of Baden. She was the identical twin of Sophie Friederike, the mother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria.

Maria had six full-siblings:

Maria Anna had five older half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to  Princess Auguste of Hesse-Darmstadt:

Maria Anna’s husband Friedrich August of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

On April 24, 1833, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, Maria Anna married Crown Prince Friedrich August of Saxony. He was the son of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. They had no children.

Three years later, on June 6, 1836, she became Queen of Saxony upon her husband’s accession to the throne. Shortly after becoming Queen, she founded a women’s association to combat the famines that were plaguing parts of Saxony. This association continued to exist until the early 1930s.

photo: Von Haeferl – Eigenes Werk, CC-BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43093011

On August 9, 1854, King Friedrich August II was killed in an accident while traveling in Tyrol, Austria. Queen Maria Anna had a chapel built on the site that was dedicated a year later.

The Dowager Queen Maria Anna died on September 13, 1877, in Wachwitz, Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony), in Dresen.

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Maria Karoline of Austria, Crown Princess of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Maria Karoline of Austria, Crown Princess of Saxony; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Karoline of Austria, Crown Princess of Saxony

Maria Karoline of Austria was the first wife of the future King Friedrich August II of Saxony. She never served as Queen, as she died before her husband’s accession. She was born Maria Karoline Ferdinande Theresia Josephine Demetria in Vienna, Austria on April 8, 1801, one of twelve children of Franz II, Holy Roman Emperor (later Emperor Franz I of Austria) and his second wife Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies. Maria Karoline was named after an elder sister who had died as a child.

Maria Karoline (center, holding a basket) with her parents and siblings, painting by Josef Kreutzinger c1805. source: Wikipedia

Maria Karoline had eleven siblings:

Maria Karoline’s mother died when she was just six years old, and her father went on to remarry twice.

Friedrich August of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

At the age of 18, Marie Karoline married Prince Friedrich August of Saxony on October 7, 1819, in Dresden. He was the son of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma. At the time, he was third in line to the throne of Saxony. The couple had no children.

From all accounts, the marriage was not a happy one. Maria Karoline suffered from epilepsy, often plagued with seizures which more or less left her incapacitated for long periods of time. She became Crown Princess in 1830 when her father-in-law relinquished his rights to the throne in favor of Friedrich August, who was also proclaimed Prince Co-Regent with his uncle, King Anton.

Dresden Cathedral; Credit – By User:Kolossos – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5032853

After much suffering, Crown Princess Marie Karoline died at Schloss Pillnitz, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on May 22, 1832. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friedrich August II, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Friedrich August II, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Friedrich August II of Saxony reigned from 1836 until 1854, having succeeded his childless uncle, King Anton. He was born in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany, on May 18, 1797, and given the names Friedrich August Albrecht Maria Clemens Joseph Vincenz Aloys Nepomuk Johann Baptista Nikolaus Raphael Peter Xavier Franz de Paula Venantius Felix. His parents were Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Carolina of Parma.

He had six siblings:

Maria Karoline of Austria; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 7, 1819, Friedrich August married Archduchess Maria Karoline of Austria, the daughter of Emperor Franz I of Austria and Princess Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies. They had no children. Maria Karoline suffered from epilepsy and died at Pillnitz Castle on May 22, 1832.

Maria Anna of Bavaria. source: Wikipedia

The following year, on April 24, 1833, he married Princess Maria Anna of Bavaria. She was the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Karoline of Baden. There were no children from this marriage either.

Friedrich August was appointed Co-Regent by his uncle, King Anton, in September 1830. While Anton had little interest in matters of politics or government, Friedrich August was an eager participant and worked to bring change to the country, bringing Free Autonomy to the cities and removing restrictions on the farmers. When King Anton died on June 6, 1836, Friedrich August succeeded him as King Friedrich August II.

Friedrich August’s reign was relatively uneventful, and the new King typically deferred to his ministers to make any decisions. During the March Revolution, he brought more liberal ministers into the government and eliminated censorship, but soon decided to reverse his decision, dissolving the Saxon Parliament. He was briefly forced to flee during the May Uprising but returned after several days.

The King preferred to spend his time developing his collection of fossils and other items, establishing a vast natural history collection. In this quest, he traveled extensively, including a visit to the United Kingdom in 1844 where he was a guest of Queen Victoria.

The Königskapelle, source: Wikipedia

On August 9, 1854, King Friedrich August II died in Karrösten, Austria, from injuries sustained in a carriage accident. The previous day while traveling in the Tyrol, the King had fallen from the carriage into the path of one of the horses which stepped on his head. He was buried the following week, in the Wettin Crypt at Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany. His widow, Dowager Queen Maria Anna, had a chapel built on the site of the King’s accident. The Königskapelle (King’s Chapel) was consecrated the following year.

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Theresia of Austria, Queen of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Maria Theresia of Austria, Queen of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

Queen Maria Theresia was the wife of King Anton of Saxony. She was born Archduchess Maria Theresia Josepha Charlotte Johanna of Austria, in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, now in Italy, on January 14, 1767, the eldest child of Pietro Leopoldo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain. Maria Theresia’s paternal grandparents were the formidable and powerful  Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa, who was in her own right Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary, Queen of Croatia, and Queen of Bohemia, and Francis Stephen, Holy Roman Emperor, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Duke of Lorraine. Even though her husband was the nominal Holy Roman Emperor, Maria Theresa wielded real power.  Maria Clementina’s maternal grandparents were Carlos III, King of Spain and Maria Amalia of Saxony.

She had fifteen younger siblings:

Maria Theresia and her siblings were raised by their parents instead of a household of servants and governesses – something quite unusual for the time. Despite their father’s position, they were brought up very simply and kept away from the pomp and ceremony of court. As Maria Theresia grew up, she became a very private person and enjoyed a simple and religious home life.

Anton of Saxony. source: Wikipedia

On October 18, 1787, in Dresden, Maria Theresia married, as his second wife, Prince Anton of Saxony. They were previously married by proxy in Florence on September 8. At the time, Anton was heir-presumptive to his brother, the Elector of Saxony, who later became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. However, it was assumed that Friedrich August would have children, and Anton would not inherit the throne which pleased the very private princess. The couple had four children, none of whom lived past infancy:

  • Maria Ludovika (1795-1796) – died in infancy
  • Friedrich August (born and died 1796) – died at birth
  • Maria Johanna (1798-1799) – died in infancy
  • Maria Theresia (born and died 1799) – died at birth

After the death of her sister-in-law, Princess Caroline of Parma (married to Prince Maximilian of Saxony) in 1804, Maria Theresia helped to raise Caroline’s children.

Dresden Cathedral; Credit – By User:Kolossos – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5032853

Upon her brother-in-law’s death on May 5, 1827, Maria Theresia and her husband became King and Queen of Saxony. Sadly, her tenure as Queen was short-lived. Just six months after her husband’s accession, Queen Maria Theresia died in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on November 7, 1827. She is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony).

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Saxony Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Anton, King of Saxony

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Saxony: The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of Elector for several centuries. Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony was not involved in the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, which brought about the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Staying out of the politics, he was drawn in when Napoleon advanced into German territory, siding with Prussia. The Saxony forces suffered significant losses and Friedrich August soon surrendered. He was forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine and had to cede territory to the Kingdom of Westphalia. However, the trade-off was Saxony’s elevation to a kingdom. So on December 20, 1806, Friedrich August became King Friedrich August I of Saxony. On November 13, 1918, the last King of Saxony, Friedrich August III formally abdicated the Saxony throne, bringing about the end of the monarchy. . Today, the land that was once the Kingdom of Saxony is located in the German state of Saxony, in the east of Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Anton, King of Saxony – source: Wikipedia

King Anton was the second king of Saxony, reigning from 1827 to 1836. He was born Anton Clemens Theodor Maria Josef Johann Evangelista Johann Nepomuk Franz Xavier Aloys Januar on December 27, 1755, in Dresden, in the Electorate of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany to Friedrich Christian, Elector of Saxony, and Princess Maria Antonia of Bavaria.

His siblings were:

Maria Carolina of Savoy. source: Wikipedia

On October 24, 1781, in Dresden, Anton married Princess Maria Carolina of Savoy, the daughter of Vittorio Amadeo III, King of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy and Infanta Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. Sadly, the marriage ended just over a year later when Maria Carolina died from smallpox. They had no children.

Maria Theresia of Austria. source: Wikipedia

Anton married a second time on October 18, 1787. His new bride was Archduchess Maria Theresia of Austria, the daughter of Pietro Leopoldo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany (and later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Infanta María Luisa of Spain.

The couple had four children, all of whom died at birth or shortly after:

  • Princess Maria Ludovika of Saxony (1795-1796) – died in infancy
  • Prince Friedrich August of Saxony (born and died 1796) – died at birth
  • Princess Maria Johanna of Saxony (1798-1799) – died in infancy
  • Princess Maria Theresia of Saxony (born and died 1799) – died at birth

Anton became King of Saxony on May 5, 1827, upon the death of his elder brother, King Friedrich August I. Despite having been heir to the throne for many years, Anton had little experience in government and was therefore content with continuing the policies and goals of his late brother.

By 1830, following the July Revolution in France, Saxony began to see some small uprisings, usually directed at the Constitution. To maintain peace, several changes took place. In September 1830, Anton appointed his nephew and heir, Friedrich August, as Co-Regent. The following year, a new Constitution was established, establishing Saxony as a true constitutional monarchy.

After a reign of just nine years, King Anton died in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony, on June 6, 1836. He is buried in the Wettin Crypt at the Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony). As he had no male heirs, he was succeeded by his nephew, King Friedrich August II.

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