Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Feodora Victoria Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the second wife of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on July 7, 1839, the youngest child of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the half-sister of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Through her mother, she was the niece of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Feodora had five older siblings:

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 23, 1858, in Langenburg, Kingdom of Württemberg, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Feodora married Georg, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen as his second wife. Georg was the son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. The couple was second cousins through their mutual descent from Christian Albrecht, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern. Georg’s first wife, Charlotte of Prussia, had died in 1855 and left two young children. The marriage was primarily intended to find a mother for his children and was not a love match. He never got over the death of his first wife, with whom he shared many common interests. The same could not be said for his relationship with Feodora. His attempts to foster in her a love of the arts and theater proved unsuccessful, and he quickly realized that Feodora would never compare to his beloved Charlotte. Despite their differences, Feodora and Georg had three sons:

Feodora helped found a Meiningen branch of the Albert Association, an organization linked to the Red Cross, which later led to the foundation of the Red Cross Sisterhood. Following the death of their youngest son in 1865, Feodora began to spend much of her time at Villa Feodora, a small residence in Bad Liebenstein, and avoided Meiningen as much as possible. She became Duchess upon her husband’s accession in 1866, and that year commissioned the Feodor Hospital in Bad Liebenstein, which she supported through the rest of her life.

Villa Feodora, Bad Liebenstein. photo: Von Gunnar1m – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3965316

Feodora, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen, died in, Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on February 10, 1872, having contracted scarlet fever the previous month. She is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen.

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.

Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Charlotte of Prussia, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Charlotte of Prussia, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Charlotte of Prussia was the first wife of the future Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She died eleven years before her husband’s accession. She was born Princess Friederike Luise Wilhelmine Marianne Charlotte of Prussia on June 21, 1831, at Schönhausen Palace in Berlin,  Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, the eldest child of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands.

Charlotte had three younger siblings:

Charlotte also had two younger half-siblings from her father’s morganatic second marriage to Rosalie von Rauch:

  • Count Wilhelm of Hohenau (1854-1930) – married (1) Laura, Countess Saurma von und zu der Jeltsch, had issue; (2) Princess Margaretha of Hohenlohe-Öhringen, had issue
  • Count Friedrich of Hohenhau (1857-1914) – married Charlotte von der Decken, had issue

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Following her parents’ divorce in 1849, Charlotte and her younger siblings Albrecht and Alexandrine were raised primarily by their aunt, Queen Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia. By this time, the family was already on the hunt for a suitable husband for Charlotte. As a granddaughter of both King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and King Willem I of the Netherlands, Charlotte was a very wealthy, and very sought-after young woman when it came to European princes looking for a bride. But she found her match in Hereditary Prince Georg of Saxe-Meiningen. He was the son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. The couple became engaged while Georg was serving in the Prussian military in Berlin, and was married at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on May 18, 1850. Truly a love match (although it was most certainly encouraged by Charlotte’s uncle, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia), Charlotte and Georg shared many of the same interests and unlike many marriages of the time, both were very happy to spend as much time together as possible. They would go on to have four children:

Charlotte with her three children, c1854; Credit – Wikipedia

Because of Georg’s military career, the family spent much of their marriage living in Berlin, where they had been given the use of the north wing of the Marble Palace by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. They also spent time at Villa Carlotta, a villa on Lake Como in Italy, which had been a wedding gift from Charlotte’s mother, and named in Charlotte’s honor. They also made trips to Meiningen, particularly returning for the births of several of their children.

Charlotte, the Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, died in childbirth, along with her son, on March 30, 1855, at just 23 years old, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen now in Thuringia, Germany. She is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen.

Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Georg II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1866 until his death in 1914. He was born in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 2, 1826, the only son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel.

Georg had one younger sister:

First educated privately at home by tutors, Georg later attended the University of Bonn where he studied art history, history, and law. He finished his studies at Leipzig University in 1847.

Charlotte of Prussia. source: Wikipedia

On May 18, 1850, Georg married Princess Charlotte of Prussia at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg. She was the daughter of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands. Charlotte and Georg had become engaged while Georg was serving in the Prussian military in Berlin, and their marriage was truly a love match.

Together they had four children:

Villa Carlotta. photo: By Jean-Christophe BENOIST – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16407555

Georg and Charlotte spent much of their marriage in Berlin, then in the Kingdom of Prussia, now in Germany, living in the north wing of the Marble Palace. They also spent time at Villa Carlotta, a villa on Lake Como in Italy that had been a wedding gift from Charlotte’s mother, and named in her honor. Sadly, Charlotte died in March 1855, just after giving birth to their fourth child, who also died.

Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Although distraught over the loss of his beloved Charlotte, Georg set out to find another wife, primarily to be a mother to his children. While on his way to Italy, he met his second cousin, Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and they were quickly engaged. She was the daughter of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the elder half-sister of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. They married in Langenburg, Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on October 23, 1858, and had three children:

On September 20, 1866, Georg became Duke of Saxe-Meiningen when his father was forced to abdicate following his defeat in the Austro-Prussian War. Georg had remained loyal to the Prussians during the war, led several regiments of Meiningen soldiers, and took the first French flags at the Battle of Froeschweiler. He maintained a close friendship with Wilhelm I, King of Prussia (later German Emperor), and served on his staff.

Ellen Franz. source: Wikipedia

Georg was widowed again in February 1872, when Feodora died of scarlet fever. The following year, on March 18, 1873, he married once again. His third wife was Ellen Franz, a former actress. Georg created her Baroness von Heldburg just before their marriage at Villa Feodora in Bad Liebenstein. She did not become Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen because the marriage was considered morganatic. They had no children.

Georg, passionate about the theatre, established the Meiningen Theater in the late 1860s and early 1870s, with the help of his third wife. The company toured extensively throughout Germany and Europe from 1874-1890 and became renowned for its attention to detail and authenticity in its sets and costumes and the portrayals of the characters. Georg drew upon his extensive knowledge of history and art to design many of the costumes and scenery and choreograph many of the large crowd scenes within the productions. Having been interested in theatre since his youth, he was able to spend much of his time, effort, and money to create theatre productions that conveyed both lifelike reality and historical accuracy.

In addition to the theatre, Georg was the patron of the Meiningen Court Orchestra. Under his patronage, the orchestra became prominent in the 1880s when Georg hired Hans von Bülow as its conductor. The orchestra served as an ensemble for Johannes Brahms, who conducted when premiering his Fourth Symphony. Brahms remained connected to the orchestra for the rest of his life. Following his death in 1897, Georg had a monument built in his honor in Meiningen’s English gardens.

Georg became nearly deaf in his later years and retired from public life. He died at Bad Wildungen, Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont, now in Hesse, Germany, on June 25, 1914. He is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, 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.

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel was the wife of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Kassel, Electorate of Hesse, now in Hesse, Germany, on September 6, 1804, to Wilhelm II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Auguste of Prussia, and had five siblings:

  • Prince Wilhelm (1798-1780) – died in childhood
  • Princess Karoline (1799-1854) – unmarried
  • Princess Luise (1801-1803) – died in childhood
  • Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Hesse (1802-1888) – married Gertrude Falkenstein, had issue
  • Prince Ferdinand (born and died1806) – died in infancy

Marie Friederike also had eight half-siblings from her father’s second morganatic marriage in 1841 to his longtime mistress Emilie Ortlöpp, Countess von Reichenbach-Lessonitz, who were all born before the marriage and styled Count/Countess von Reichenbach-Lessonitz:

  • Countess Luise (1813-1883) – married Karl, Count von Bose
  • Count Julius (1815-1822) – died in childhood
  • Countess Amalie (1816) – married (1) Wilhelm, Count von Lückner; (2) Karl, Baron von Watzdorf; (3) Wilhelm, Count von Lückner
  • Count Gustav Karl (1818-1861) – married Clementine Richter
  • Countess Emilie (1820-1891) – married Felix, Count Zichy-Ferraris
  • Countess Friederike (1821-1891) – married Wilhelm, Baron von Dungern
  • Count Wilhelm (1824-1866) – married Amelie, Baroness Goeler von Ravensburg
  • Countess Helene (1825-1898) – married Oswald, Baron von Fabrice

Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Although she had been considered as a potential bride for King Oscar I of Sweden several years earlier, Marie Friederike married Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on March 23, 1825. He was the son of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Marie Friederike and Bernhard had two children, born over seventeen years apart:

Marie Friederike was Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen from her marriage until her husband was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, in 1866 following the defeat of Austria, who he supported, in the Austro-Prussian War. The couple took up residence at the Great Palace (link in German) in Meiningen, where they would live the rest of their lives.

The Dowager Duchess died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany on January 1, 1888, having survived her husband for more than five years. She was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when her remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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.

Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Bernhard II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1803 until his abdication in 1866. He was born on December 17, 1800, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, the youngest child of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Bernhard had two older sisters:

At just three years old, Bernhard became the reigning Duke of Saxe-Meiningen upon his father’s death in December 1803. Because of his youth, his mother served as Regent until Bernhard reached his majority. During this time, Luise Eleonore steered the duchy successfully through the Napoleonic Wars, the famine that followed, and the alignment with the Allies in 1813. Thanks to her efforts, Bernhard II found the duchy in relatively good financial shape upon assuming his role as Duke in 1821.

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel

On March 23, 1825, Bernhard married Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. She was the daughter of Wilhelm II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Auguste of Prussia. Bernhard and Marie had two children:

Bernhard II saw the expansion of the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1826. The previous year, the childless Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died with no heirs. As a result, Bernhard and the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Saxe-Hildburghausen divided the territories between them. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld ceded Saalfeld to Bernhard, and received the Gotha lands, becoming Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen ceded Hildburghausen to Bernhard, and received the Altenburg lands, becoming Duke of Saxe-Altenburg.

Although he had earlier aligned himself with Prussia, in the mid-1860s, Bernhard instead sided with Austria during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Following Austria’s defeat, the Prussians forced Bernhard to abdicate on September 20, 1866, in favor of his son, Georg II. Now the former Duke, Bernhard took up residence at the Great Palace in Meiningen, previously built as a dower home for his mother. His attempts to be named as an advisor to his son were refused, and he lived out the remainder of his life removed from any aspect of the duchy’s government. His relationship with Georg II was somewhat strained – Bernhard had never allowed Georg access to any government business during his reign, leaving the new duke with little hands-on experience in his new role. Bernhard also later attempted – unsuccessfully – to have the German Emperor depose Georg II upon his morganatic marriage to Ellen Franz in 1873. It would be another five years before he would reconcile with his son, and meet his newest daughter-in-law.

Ducal Crypt Chapel, Meiningen. photo: Von kramer96 – Original uploader was Kramer96 at de.wikipedia.Originaltext: eigene Aufnahme, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19859816

Bernhard II died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on December 3, 1882. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when his remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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.

September 1918: Royalty and World War I

by Susan Flantzer

  • Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander Thynne
  • Timeline: September 1, 1918 – September 30, 1918
  • A Note About German Titles
  • September 1918 – Royals/Nobles/Peers/Sons of Peers Who Died In Action

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Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander Thynne

Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander Thynne; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Born on February 17, 1873, Lord Alexander Thynne was the youngest of the six children and the third of the three sons of John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath and The Honorable Frances Vesey, daughter of Thomas Vesey, 3rd Viscount de Vesci.

Known as Alex, he had five older siblings:

Alex joined the Wiltshire Yeomanry Territorials as a second lieutenant in 1897 and served in the Boer War (1899-1902). In 1910 , he was elected an Member of Parliament for Bath and held that position until his death. At the start of World War I, he was in camp with the Wiltshire Yeomanry Territorials as a Major in command of “A” Company and the second in command of the regiment. His first cousin Colonel Ulric Thynne was the commanding officer.

Alex arrived in France in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and almost immediately became the commanding officer of the 8th Battalion Gloucester Regiment due to the previous commanding officer’s injury. On July 30, 1916, while urging his men on, Alex was shot in the chest, damaging his right lung and liver. He spent some time in an army hospital in Boulogne, France and returned in mid-August to England to recover. In mid-December, having been declared fit for duty and now attached to the 10th Battalion Worcester Regiment, he returned to France.

In January 1917, Alex received the Distinguished Service Order and the Croix de Guerre. He returned to the Wiltshire Regiment and became the commanding officer of the 6th (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) Battalion. The battalion was engaged in heavy fighting in Ypres and Cambrai. In March 1918, the battalion was in Baupaume and suffered heavy casualties. Alex was wounded by a piece of shrapnel that was embedded in his left arm. By the end of March 1918, he was back in England recovering. Despite suffering severe wounds twice, Alex was anxious to return to duty. On the same day he was deemed fit to return to duty, he wrote a letter requesting to return to his original battalion in France. He could have taken a position behind the lines or back in England or he could have returned to his duties in Parliament – Members of Parliament were exempt from military service – but that was not his style.

Alex was back in France by the end of May 1918 and on September 14, 1918, he was killed at the age of 45. The following letter was written by an army chaplain to his next of kin, his brother Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath:

“It is with very great regret that I write to offer you my sincere sympathy on the death of your brother Lord Alex. Thynne, in command of this battalion. He was killed while on his way to take over some fresh Head-Quarters. A shell burst right on top of the party whilst they were trying to shelter in a ditch at the side of the road. The doctor was badly wounded, the Signal Officer was killed instantly, and your brother died from the effects of his wounds within a few minutes. The bodies were brought down to our transport lines this morning, and they were buried this evening at 6.00pm. The Senior Chaplain took the service and I helped him. The coffin was carried by four sergeant-majors and the bugler sounded the “Last Post” at the end of the service. The Divisional General was present and a good many others. Your brother’s death will be a great loss to the Battalion, to every man of which he endeared himself. Personally, although I have been only a few months with him, I shall miss him very much.” (Information from Led by Lions: MPs and Sons Who Fell in the First World War by Neil Thornton)

Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander Thynne was buried in the Bethune Town Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France.

Grave of Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander Thynne: Photo Credit – www.findagrave.com

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Timeline: September 1, 1918 – September 30, 1918

The Western Front in France in September 1918; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

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A Note About German Titles

Many German royals and nobles died in World War I. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent states, most of them ruled by royal families. Scroll down to German Empire here to see what constituent states made up the German Empire.  The constituent states retained their own governments, but had limited sovereignty. Some had their own armies, but the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. In wartime, armies of all the constituent states would be controlled by the Prussian Army and the combined forces were known as the Imperial German Army. German titles may be used in Royals Who Died In Action below. Refer to Unofficial Royalty: Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles.

24 British peers were also killed in World War I and they will be included in the list of those who died in action. In addition, more than 100 sons of peers also lost their lives, and those that can be verified will also be included.

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September 1918 – Royals/Nobles/Peers/Sons of Peers Who Died In Action

The list is in chronological order and does contain some who would be considered noble instead of royal. The links in the last bullet for each person is that person’s genealogical information from Leo’s Genealogics Website or to The Peerage website If a person has a Wikipedia page or a website page with biographical information, their name will be linked to that page.

Wolf Ernst, Graf von Stolberg-Wernigerode

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Prince Ferdinand of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

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Prince Albrecht of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

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Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander George Thynne (see above)

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Lieutenant Colonel The Honorable Arthur Reginald Clegg-Hill

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Ferdinand-Joseph, Graf von Galen

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Ferdinand, Graf von Wolff Metternich zur Gracht

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Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the wife of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and later served as Regent for her young son. She was born in Langenburg, in the Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany,  on August 11, 1763, to Christian Albrecht, 2nd Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern. Luise Eleonore had six siblings:

  • Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1762-1825) – married Amalie of Solms-Baruth, had issue
  • Gustav Adolf (1764-1796) – unmarried
  • Christine Caroline (1765-1768) – died in childhood
  • Ludwig Wilhelm (1767-1768) – died in infancy
  • Christian August (1768-1796) – unmarried
  • Auguste Karoline (1769-1803) – unmarried

Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

On November 27, 1782, Luise Eleonore married Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. After ten years of marriage, they began their family and had three children:

In December 1803, her husband died and her three-year-old son became the reigning Duke. Luise Eleonore became Regent and is credited with steering the duchy through some very difficult times. Forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806 and provide troops, Luise arranged to import wheat into the duchy to help fight the great famine that was ravaging many of the Saxon states. Unlike several of the other rulers, Luise refused to leave Meiningen to flee the French and Russian forces. Having managed to maintain her authority, she joined with the Allies in 1813 having saved the duchy for her son. She instituted special taxes in the duchy, in order to provide the large dowry – 6,000 florins a year – for her daughter Adelheid upon her marriage to the future King William IV of the United Kingdom. Luise Eleonore continued to work to restore the duchy’s finances and economic position within Europe, leaving a well-managed government to her son upon his majority in 1821.

Great Palace, Meiningen. source: Wikipedia

Following her Regency, Luise Eleonore moved into the newly built Great Palace (link in German) in Meiningen, built by her son Bernhard for her to use as her dower home. While living there for the rest of her life, Luise Eleonore traveled extensively throughout Europe, including an extended visit to her daughter Adelheid in England, with whom she was very close.

The Dowager Duchess died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 30, 1837, at the age of 73. She was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when her remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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.

Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Georg I was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1782 until 1803. He was born in the Imperial Free City of Frankfurt, now in Hesse, Germany, on February 4, 1761, the youngest son of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. Georg had seven siblings:

Georg also had ten elder half-siblings from his father’s first, morganatic, marriage to Philippine Elisabeth Caesar. Although all were given the title Prince/Princess, none were eligible to succeed to the ducal throne.

Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Georg became Duke of Saxe-Meiningen in July 1782, upon the death of his childless brother, Karl Wilhelm. Just four months later, he married Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg on November 27, 1782, in Langenburg, Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Luise Eleonore was the daughter of Christian Albrecht, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern. After ten years of marriage, Georg and Luise Eleonore started their family, having three children:

One of the first things Georg did upon becoming Duke was to open the Ducal library and art collections to the public. He also oversaw the design of the new English Garden in Meiningen on the site of the former municipal cemetery and began to transform Meiningen into a prestigious royal city. In neighboring Bad Liebenstein, he oversaw the redesign of the town, as well as Altenstein Castle and its surrounding parks. He also founded a Forestry Academy in neighboring Dreissigacker. Using his own funds, he established a new school to be built in honor of his son’s birth and also founded a school for the poor along with providing free medical care.

Having always been in poor health, Georg I died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany on December 24, 1803, after developing a fever. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when his remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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Luise of Stolberg-Gedern, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern was the wife of Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Gedern, Principality of Stolberg-Gerdern, now in the German state of Hesse, on October 13, 1764, the daughter of Christian Karl, Prince of Stolberg-Gedern and Countess Eleonore of Reuss-Lobenstein.

Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

On June 5, 1780, Luise married Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. They had no children, and just two years later, Karl Wilhelm died.

Duke Eugen of Württemberg; Credit – Wikipedia

Luise remarried on January 21, 1787, marrying Duke Eugen of Württemberg in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in the German state of Thuringia. He was the son of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Sophie Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Luise and Eugen had five children:

The former Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen died in Carlsruhe, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, now Pokój, Poland on May 24, 1834, having survived both of her husbands and two of her children. She is buried in the cemetery in Carlsruhe.

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Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl Wilhelm was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1763-1782. He was born in the Imperial Free City of Frankfurt, now in the German state of Hesse, on November 19, 1754, to Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. Karl Wilhelm had seven siblings:

Karl Wilhelm also had ten elder half-siblings from his father’s first morganatic marriage to Philippine Caesar. None of those siblings were in the line of succession to the ducal throne.

At just eight years old, Karl Wilhelm succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Because of his age, his mother served as Regent and was instrumental in bringing the duchy back from the brink of financial and economic disaster. Following his mother’s example, Karl Wilhelm worked to reduce the size of his court and help restore the finances of the duchy. He promoted education for the people of Saxe-Meiningen and founded one of the first teachers’ colleges.

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl Wilhelm married Princess Luise of Stolberg-Gedern on June 5, 1780, in Gedern, Principality of Stolberg-Gedern, now in the German state of Hesse. She was the daughter of Christian Karl, Prince of Stolberg-Gedern and Countess Eleonore of Reuss-Lobenstein. They had no children.

Karl Wilhelm died in Sonneberg, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on July 21, 1782, at just 27 years old. He was initially buried at the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany. His remains were later moved to the Meiningen municipal cemetery in 1977.  He was succeeded by his younger brother Georg I.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty