Alexander, Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Alexander Konrad Friedrich Heinrich Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn,[1][2] (born 22 November 1943 in Salzburg, Austria), a German businessman, is head of the Princely House Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.
Alexander | |||||
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Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn | |||||
Born | Salzburg, Austria | 22 November 1943||||
Spouse | Countess Gabriela of Schönborn-Wiesentheid | ||||
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House | Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn | ||||
Father | Ludwig, 6th Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn | ||||
Mother | Baroness Marianne von Mayr-Melnhof | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Biography
He was born in Salzburg as the first son of Ludwig, 6th Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (1915–1962) and his wife Baroness Marianne von Mayr-Melnhof (born 1919).[3] Following Prince Ludwig's death in 1962, Alexander succeeded as head of the princely house and, by tradition, as the 7th Prince (German: Fürst) zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.[1]
Ancestry
Alexander is a descendant of James II of England and his illegitimate son James Fitzjames, 1st Duke of Berwick, through his father's grandmother Marie Auguste Yvonne de Blacas d'Aulps, daughter of Louis, Duke of Blacas.
Later life
Prince Alexander is vice president of Europa Nostra[4] and president of Europa Nostra Germany. From 1986 to 2013, he served as president of the German Castles Association,[1] which elected him on 28 April 2013 honorary president as well as president of the "Stiftung der Deutschen Burgenvereinigung" (Foundation of the German Castles Association).
Marriage and children
Alexander married Countess Gabriela of Schönborn-Wiesentheid in 1969 at Schloss Weißenstein, Pommersfelden.[1] They have seven children.[5]
- Heinrich, Hereditary Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1971) married in 2003 Donna Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta (born 1975),[6] daughter of Don Niccolo, Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta, and they have issue.
- Princess Alexandra (born 1973) married firstly in 1994 Hereditary Prince Carl Eugen zu Oettingen-Wallerstein (divorced in 2002), and married secondly Count Stefano Hunyady de Kéthely in 2006,[1] and has issue from both marriages.
- Prince Casimir (born 1976) married (civilly) in 1999 Corinna Larsen (divorced in 2004),[1] and married secondly to American model Alana Camille Bunte in 2019, and has issue from both marriages.[7]
- Princess Filippa (1980–2001) married in June 2001 Count Vittorio Mazzetti d'Albertis (born 1965). She was killed in an automobile accident in England three months later, without issue.[8]
- Prince Ludwig (Louis) born 1982);[9] married in 2011 Countess Philippa Spannocchi (born 1982), and they have issue.[1]
- Princess Sofia (born 1986) married in 2020 to Archia Akhavan-Kharazian, London based businessman of Iranian and Spanish roots.
- Prince Peter (born 1992).
Patronages
- Honorary President of the German Castles Association.
Honours
- National honours
- Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate.
- Member of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2004).
- German Monument Protection Prize [Karl-Friedrich-Schinkel-Ring] (2018).
- Foreign honours
- Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
References
- Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX. "Sayn-Wittgenstein". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2011, pp. 331-333. (German). ISBN 978-3-7980-0849-6.
- In 1919 royalty and nobility lost their privileges in Germany, hereditary titles were to be legally borne thereafter only as part of the surname, according to Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution.
- "Mamarazza". Feb 14, 2011. Retrieved Aug 8, 2020.
- "Europa Nostra". Archived from the original on 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- Website of the house Sayn-Wittgenstein: Familie aktuell Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. 2011-07-18.
- "Civil Marriage of Hereditary Prince Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Donna Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta".
- "Royal Wedding in Hanover: The Guests (Part 1)". www.castleholic.com. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
- "Filippa's Angel". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
- "Eurohistory: Engagement of Prince Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn". Jan 31, 2011. Retrieved Aug 8, 2020.