Princess Herzeleide of Prussia
Princess Herzeleide-Ina-Marie Sophie Charlotte Else of Prussia (25 December 1918 – 22 March 1989) was a member of the deposed House of Hohenzollern.[1] She was the only daughter of Prince Oskar of Prussia, the second from the youngest son of Emperor Wilhelm II, and his wife Countess Ina Marie von Bassewitz. She is the mother of Ernst-Johann Biron, Prince of Courland, the current head of the House of Biron.
Biography
Family and early life
Countess Herzeleide von Ruppin was born on Christmas Day 1918, shortly after the fall of the German Empire and the collapse of the monarchy. She was consequently given the name Herzeleide because it meant "heart's sorrow".[2] Herzeleide had three brothers: Princes Oscar, Burchard, and Wilhelm-Karl. Herzeleide and her brothers became Prince/Princess of Prussia on 21 June 1920 when their parents marriage was recognised as dynastic by the deposed Emperor Wilhelm II.
In early 1938, Herzeleide was one of three bridesmaids at the wedding of Crown Prince Paul of Greece to Frederica of Hanover, her first cousin.[3]
Marriage and issue
On 15 August 1938 in Potsdam Garrison Church, nineteen-year-old Herzeleide married thirty-one-year-old Karl Biron, Prince of Courland.[1][2][4][5] Karl was the eldest son and heir of Prince Gustav Biron of Courland, descendants of a former French family that obtained the Duchy of Courland by marriage in the 18th century. Along with the bride and groom's parents in attendance were former German Crown Prince Wilhelm, along with Emperor Wilhelm's consort, Hermine Reuss of Greiz.[2] Herzeleide wore a white silk gown with a headdress trimmed with myrtle, while all the male guests wore uniforms of the former German army.[4] The couple planned to stop at Doorn on their honeymoon to visit Emperor Wilhelm.[2][4]
They had three children:
- Princess Benigna Biron of Courland (2 July 1939) married to Johannes Christoph Robert Baron von Twickel on 3 May 1968.
- Nikolaus Maximilian Ludwig Karl Ernst-Johann Maria Baron von Twickel1 b. 1 Apr 1969
- Tassilo Heinrich Alexander Baron von Twickel1 b. 8 Dec 1976
- Ernst-Johann, Prince Biron of Courland (6 August 1940).
- Prince Michael Karl August Wilhelm Biron of Courland (20 January 1944) married to Kristin von Oertzen on July 1, 1969.
- Princess Veronika Biron of Courland b. 23 Jan 1970
- Prince Alexander Biron of Courland b. 18 Sep 1972
- Princess Calixta Johanna Margarethe Viktoria Sophie Elisabeth Biron of Courland b. 31 Jan 1975
- Princess Stephanie Biron of Courland b. 24 Sep 1975
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 25 December 1918 – 21 June 1920: Countess Herzeleide von Ruppin.
- 21 June 1920 – 15 August 1938: Her Royal Highness Princess Herzeleide of Prussia.
- 15 August 1938 – 1982: Her Royal Highness Herzeleide, Princess Biron of Courland.
- 1982 - 22 March 1989: Her Royal Highness Herxeleide, Dowager Princess Biron of Courland.
Ancestry
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References
- 1 2 Lundy, Darryl. "The Peerage: Herzeleide-Ina-Marie Sophie Charlotte Else Prinzessin von Preußen". Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "Princess Herzeleide Married in Potsdam; Granddaughter of Ex-Kaiser Wed to Prince de Courland", The New York Times, Potsdam, Germany, 17 August 1938
- ↑ "Greek Royal Family", The Irish Times, 10 January 1938
- 1 2 3 "Court & Personal; Wedding of Ex-Kaiser's Granddaughter", The Manchester Guardian, 17 August 1938
- ↑ Eilers Koenig, Marlene. "Princess Herzeleide marries". Royal Musings. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Princess Herzeleide of Prussia. |
