** World War II Europen Theater -- Ukraine NAZI policies









Hessian Royalty: Prince Alexander of Hesse (1823-88)


Figure 1.--.

The younger sons of the reigning family of many small German states are generally lost to history. This did not prove to be the case with Alexander. This was in large measure to the fact that his sister Marie mairred the Tsarvitch who became Alexander II. He purued a successful military career in Russia before running afoul of the Tsar over his Polish wife. Standing up to the Tsar ruined his future in Russia. Family connections provided close relations with the Bitish royal family. One of his sons persued a storied naval career as did a grandson--Lord Louis Montbatten of Burma. Another son, Henry, actually mairred into the British royal family.

Parents

His father was Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse (1830-48). His mother was Princess Wilhelmina of Baden. There were, however many rumors. Many wispered that Alexander's father and that of his sister Marie (who bdecame Tsarina) was actually the Baron Augustus Senarxlens, the Grand Duchess' chamberlain. [Vickers, p. 8.]

Siblings

His older brother Louis (1806- ) inherited the Grand Duchy as Louis III. Alexander had another older brother, Charles (1809- ) and a sister Marie (1824- ) mairred the Russian Tasevich (future Alexander II) in 1841. Louis mairred twice, but had no children. He was succeded by the son of his younger brother Charles as Louis IV.

Childhood

As his sister Marie and he were close in age, they must have been very close. The two other brothers were much older.

Childhood Clothing


Education


Russian Army

After his sister Marie mairred the Tsarevich in 1841, Alexander decided that his future lay with Russia. He followed the martial tradition of Hesse and served with distibction in Russia. He had a regiment of lancers named after him and was awarded the Cross of St. George. The Tsar considered him as a husband for his niece. Prince Alexander appeared to have a secure future in Russia. This changed abruptly when he fell in love with one of his sister's ladies in waiting--a Polish Countess Julie von Hauke. The Tsar was furious and forbade the mairrage.

Marriage

Alexander after a brief trip to England in the end contaracted a morganastic mairrage. The couple eloped from St. Perersburg and were mairred in Breslau. He returned to Hesse where is older brother was also outraged by the lowly dynastic status of his brother's Polish wife. Alexander was allowed to retain his rank of Prince, and the Countess was given the defunct title of Princess of Battenburg. (Battenburg is a town in the north of Hesse where they unitially lived. Their children would have no claim to the throne of Hesse. The Countess' rank was gradually risen as time passed and they eventually returned to Darmstadt. There was always, however, a slight hint of scandal associated with the Battenberg's because of the Countesses origins. Even Himmler when he read the Gestapo file on the Battenbergs is reported to have commented, "I believe that the Battenbergs have always behaved somewaht peculiarly." [Heald, Philip, p. 20.]

Career

Prince Alexander served as a Foeld Marshal in the Austrian Army.

Children

Alexander and the Countess had five children. The family was raised primarily at Heiligenberg Castle in Hesse.

Marie (1852- )

Princess Marie von Battenberg was born in 1852.

Louis (1854-1921)

The eldest son was thorougly German, but spoke excellent English even as a child. The royal families of Britian and Hesse were constant visitors to each other's court. This was especially the case when Princess Alice mairred Louis IV. Louis was a serious, studious boy. He had one surprising interest and that was to become a sailor. Hessians had always been soldiers and of course had no navy. The German Empire was just beginning to lay the foundation for one. His father disapproved of the idea. Louis insisted and so at the age of 14 left Hesse for England in 1868. He was supported by Queen Victoria's son Prince Alfred who had pursued a naval career. Louis with his foreign accent had a hard time in cadet school, but made a very successful naval career--even being appointed captain pf Dreadnought, the most powerful ship of its day. Louis, mairred Princess Victoria Alberta of Hesse in 1884. She was the daughter of Louis IV of Hesse and Princess Alice. During World War I, Louis had to resign from the navy because of anti-German sentiment. Louis was Lord Mountbatten's father.

Alexander--Sandro (1857)

Alexander known as "Sandro" in the family was born in 1857. He was appointed soverign prince of Bulgaria in 1879. Prince Alexander objected to Bulgaria's democratic constitution and attempted to institute arbitrary royal authority. He had wanted to marry Princess Victoria of Prussia, but both Emperess Augusta and Prince Wilhelm's wife Donna objected non-royal origins of Sandro's mother. (Actually Donna herself had humble origins.) Her brother Prince Wilhelm also objected, in part because of his non-royal orgins and in part because of the unstable Bulgarian throne. He was forced to abdicated by Tsar Nicholas III.

Henry Maurice (1858-96)

Another son, Maurice was born in 1858. He fell in love with Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter. Queen Victoria was horrified at the idea as she had planned for Princess Beatrice to stay by her as she grew older. Apparently the Princess was not to happy with that arrangement. Prince Henry found an unexpected ally in the Princess of Wales who was not normally fond of Germans, even members of the family. The matter was resolved when the Prince agreed that he and Princess Beatrice would live the Queen. The two were married in 1885 about the same time the affair between his brother Alexander and Princess Victoria was unwinding. The mairrage was criticised both in England and Prussia. Queen Victoria, however, became quite attached to Prince Henry. His name in the family was "Liko". The marriage ended tragically. Prince Henry participated as a volunteer in the Ashanti Expeditionary Force to Sierra Leone where he contracted malaria. The Prince died at sea in 1896 while returning home. Princess Beatrice was devastated by her husband's death.

Francis Joseph (1861)

Francis Joseph, Prince of Battenberg, was born in 1861.

Home Life

The Battenburgs had a small palace in Darmstadt, but it was Heiligenburg Castle that they really called home. It was located about 15 km south of Darmstadt. It was originally a farm house, but successive generations of royals considerably expanded it. It was well situated and a wonderfull place to bring up children.

Sources

Heald, Tim. Philip: A Portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh (William Morrow and Company, Inc.: New York, 1991).

Vickers, Hugo. Alice: Princess Andrew of Greece (St. Martin's Press: New York, 2000), 477p.









HBRC








Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site royal pages:
[Return to the Main Hesse-Darnstadt page]
[Return to the Main Hesse page]
[Return to the Main royal pages]
[Austria] [Belgium] [Bulgaria] [Denmark] [France] [German Empire] [German states] [Italy] [Luxenburg]
[Monaco] [Netherlands] [Norway] [Romania] [Russia]
[Spain] [United Kingdom]





Created: December 5, 2001
Last updated: October 18, 2003