Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg
| Prince Albert | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Born |
14 April 1843 Munich | ||||
| Died |
22 May 1902 (aged 59) Serrahn | ||||
| Spouse |
Princess Marie of Prussia Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Strelitz | ||||
| Issue |
Olga, Countess of Pückler-Burghauss and Freifrau von Groditz Marie, Princess Heinrich XXXV Reuss of Köstritz | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Wettin | ||||
| Father | Eduard of Saxe-Altenburg | ||||
| Mother | Luise Caroline Reuss of Greiz | ||||
Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg (Albert Heinrich Joseph Carl Viktor Georg Friedrich; Munich, 14 April 1843 – Serrahn, 22 May 1902) was a German prince of the ducal house of Saxe-Altenburg.[1]
Biography
Family and early life
Prince Albert was the eldest son (third in order of birth but the only one who survived to adulthood) of Prince Eduard of Saxe-Altenburg (youngest son of Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen) and his second wife, Princess Luise Caroline Reuss of Greiz.
He entered the Russian army early in life, and attained the rank of Major-General in this service, but subsequently exchanged it for the Prussian army, where he became a general of cavalry.[2]
Marriages
He was first married in Berlin on 6 May 1885 to Princess Marie of Prussia, widow of Prince Henry of the Netherlands.[1]
They had two daughters:
- Olga Elisabeth Carola Victoria Maria Anna Agnes Antoinette (b. Schloß Albrechtsberg, 17 April 1886 - d. Münster, 13 January 1955), married on 20 May 1913 to Karl Frederick, Count of Pückler-Burghauss and Freiherr von Groditz.
- Marie (b. Schloß Albrechtsberg, 6 June 1888 - d. Hamburg, 12 November 1947), married on 20 April 1911 to Prince Heinrich XXXV Reuss of Köstritz; they divorced in 1921 when Heinrich remarried to Princess Marie Adelheid of Lippe-Biesterfeld.
Albert was a conspicuous figure in Berlin society, and was a great favorite due to his "clever" mind, genial disposition, pleasant address, and enthusiasm as a sportsman.[3] Marie died in 1888.[3] Albert later married in Remplin on 13 December 1891 to the wealthy Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, only daughter of Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna of Russia.[1][3] They had no children.
The couple spent half of the year in Russia, where he was much missed in Berlin society.[3] In 1896, he and several other prominent social leaders left Berlin as a result of differences they held with Emperor Wilhelm II.[4] He and his family retired to their Schwerin estate.[5] Sources reported that the Emperor′s "arbitrary manners" became so intolerable to Albert and others, as they were used to the days of social courtesy under the old Wilhelm I.[4]
Prince Albert became a Rechtsritter (Knight of Justice) of the Order of Saint John in 1900. He died on 22 May 1902 at Remplin, his death "sincerely regretted" by all the royal houses in Germany.[1][3]
Ancestry
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lundy, Darryl. "The Peerage: Albrecht Heinrich Joseph Prinz von Sachsen-Altenburg". Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ↑ "Obituary". The Times (36776). London. 24 May 1902. p. 8.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Berlin-Malcom Clarke", Minneapolis Tribune, 22 July 1902
- 1 2 "Snubbed By The Kaiser", The New York Times, 17 February 1896
- ↑ "Britain and the Boers", The New York Times, Berlin, 9 February 1896