Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (1854–1898)

Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (Marie Friederike Leopoldine Georgine Auguste Alexandra Elisabeth Therese Josephine Helene Sophie; 2 August 1854 – 8 October 1898) was the wife of Prince Albert of Prussia, Regent for the duchy of Brunswick.[1][2]

For other people called Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, see Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg.
Princess Marie
Princess Albert of Prussia
Born(1854-08-02)2 August 1854
Eisenberg
Died8 October 1898(1898-10-08) (aged 44)
Kamenz Castle
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1873)​
Issue
Full name
Marie Friederike Leopoldine Georgine Auguste Alexandra Elisabeth Therese Josephine Helene Sophie
HouseSaxe-Altenburg
FatherErnst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
MotherPrincess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau

Family

Marie was the only surviving child of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and his wife Princess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau, as her younger brother Georg died as an infant.[1] Because her father had no surviving sons to inherit his title, he was succeeded by Marie's cousin Ernst.

Marriage and issue

Marie arrived at Potsdam on the evening of 18 April 1873, where she was received by Prince Albert of Prussia, her fiance.[3] The couple drove to Bellevue Castle, where they were received by the Emperor and Empress.[3]

On 9 April 1873 in Berlin, Marie married Prince Albert, a grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia.[1][2] Other reports have them being married on 19 April.[1][4] Albert's parents had been unhappily married to each other and later divorced; as he chose to wait before getting married and was 36 at the time of their wedding, this is believed to be the reason he did not marry earlier.[5] Spectators commented that the wedding ceremony was grander than most, with Dragoon Guards opening the procession and the Emperor and Empress in attendance.[5] Marie was described as possessing "girlish beauty, and [a] modest unpretending demeanor" that "at once captivated the hearts of the multitude".[5]

They had the following children:

Later life

In 1885, Albert was appointed Regent for the Duchy of Brunswick, replacing Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, who had been removed from office by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.[6] Ernest Augustus was also a distant relative of Marie's, as his mother Queen Marie was born a princess of Saxe-Altenburg. After accepting the regency, Albert and Marie resided chiefly in Brunswick, Berlin, and Kamenz.[6]

Princess Marie died on 8 October 1898 at Kamenz Castle.[1][2][4] Emperor Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta Victoria attended her funeral, which was held at the castle where she died.[7]

Prince Albert died in 1906. They were buried in the Mausoleum auf dem Hutberge in the park of Schloss Kamenz/Silesia. After World War II, the mausoleum was plundered and they were reburied in the park.[8]

Titles and styles
  • 2 August 1854 – 9 April 1873: Her Highness Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg[5]
  • 9 April 1873 – 8 October 1898: Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Prussia

Ancestry

References
  1. Lundy, Darryl. "The Peerage: Marie Prinzessin von Sachsen-Altenburg". Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  2. "Princess Maria of Prussia Dies", The New York Times, 9 October 1898
  3. "Germany", The Manchester Guardian, Berlin, 19 April 1873
  4. "Princess Maria of Saxony Dead", The Washington Post, Berlin, 9 October 1898
  5. "A Royal Marriage", The New York Times, Berlin, 7 May 1873
  6. "Memorial Notices", The Manchester Guardian, 11 October 1898
  7. "The Kaiser Goes To A Funeral", The New York Times, 12 October 1898
  8. "Saxe-Altenburg". Royaltyguide.nl. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
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