#grand duke ernest louis of hesse-darmstadt

[ykzzr]

Ernst Louis and his son Georg Donatus in 1907❤️.

[loiladadiani]

Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse (1868 - 1937)

Ernst Ludwig was the elder son of Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He grew up with his four sisters (to whom he was very close) in Darmstadt. His only brother died in 1873 at the age of 3. One of his sisters was Alexandra, Empress of Russia.

He married his cousin Victoria Melita, Princess of Saxe Coburg and Gotha; they had two children, one stillborn boy and a beautiful girl, Elizabeth (Ella), who died of typhoid fever. The couple divorced after her death, and Ernest then married Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (nicknamed Onor by the family). The union produced two children: Louis, Prince of Hesse and By Rhine, and George Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and By Rhine. George Donatus married Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, and older sister of Prince Phillip (sometimes all roads seem to lead to our dear Prince Phillip.)

Photographs: 1. Ernst Ludwig, Onor, and their two children, George Donatus and Louis; 2. An older Ernst Ludwig, with his grandson.

[princessvictoriamelita]

Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse and by Rhine on his wedding day, 19 April 1894.

[empress-alexandra]

In Darmstadt, 1899. 

From the top: Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia,  Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia (?), Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia, Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse, Grand Duchess Victoria Melita of Hesse, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. Two years after this picture was taken Ernest and Victoria divorced. In 1905 Victoria Melita married  Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, thus becoming Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia.

Original picture.

[thehessiansisters]

Group photograph of the Hessian sisters along with Ernest Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, Prince Louis of Battenberg, Princess Alice of Battenberg, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia and Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, possibly in Darmstadt, 1887.

[classical-gentry]

In Darmstadt, 1899.

From the top: Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia,  Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia (?), Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia, Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse, Grand Duchess Victoria Melita of Hesse, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. Two years after this picture was taken Ernest and Victoria divorced. In 1905 Victoria Melita married  Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, thus becoming Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia.

[germanaustriannoblesandroyals]

House of Coburg & of Hesse: Princess Alice of Great Britain & Ireland

Alice was born as the third child and second daughter to Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. Nearly all of her siblings either married into German houses or married women from German houses, the only exceptions were King Edward VII and Princess Louise. During her childhood, she bonded closely with her older siblings Victoria and Albert (Edward VII) and was not pleased when Vicky married and left the British court.

From an early age Alice displayed a caring nature. At only eleven years old, she visited the wounded soldiers of the Crimean War along side her mother and older sister. Later she would go on to take care of her maternal grandmother and then father when they were dying. She was also the one who informed her brother Edward of their father’s death because the queen refused to do so since she blamed Edward for Albert’s death. In the following months, the monarchy basically rested on Alice’ shoulders. Her mother secluded herself and Alice became her personally secretary and physical embodiment of the monarchy.

When it became time to marry, Alice’ mother told Victoria to look for a suitable husband for her sister. She only found two: The Prince of Orange and Prince Albrecht (Albert) of Prussia. The first was not interested in Alice and the second did not deem himself worthy of Alice. Victoria’s last suggestion for a future brother-in-law was Louis of Hesse, The Grand Duke of Hesse’s nephew. Louis and his brother visited Windsor and at the end of their visit it was clear that Alice and Louis had found a connection.

The couple became engaged on April 30th, 1861. Their wedding however was a small ceremony since Prince Albert had died less than half a year earlier and the court was still in mourning. On July 12th, 1862, Louis and Alice arrived in Bingen and were received by a cheering crowd despite the pouring rain. The couple lived rather modestly in Darmstadt’s old quarter since the Grand Duke was unwilling and/or uncapable to built a new residence befitting his niece-in-law’s status from the low Hessian funds. But Alice did not seem to mind and spent as much of her time as possible in Hesse and even took art lessons from the court painter.

Louise and Alice would welcome seven children in the following twelve years; two sons and five daughters. Their daughters Alix and Elisabeth married into the Russian royal family, with Alix becoming Empress of All the Russias as Alexandra Feodorovna. The oldest daughter Victoria married Louis of Battenberg and was later created Marchioness of Milford Haven. Irene married her first cousin Prince Henry of Prussia, a son of Alice’ sister Victoria, and Ernest, the Hessian heir, married his first cousin Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a daughter of Alice’ younger brother Alfred. Unfortunately the youngest son died after falling out of a windows when due to being a haemophiliac his internal bleedings would not stop.

Later in life, her caring nature would lead her to reform the social conditions in Darmstadt during her time as Grand Duchess. She championed public health reforms and introduced more hygenic practices for women who had just given birth. However, she felt overwhelmed and exhausted by her new duties as first lady. She tried to distract herself as often as possible with art and painting.

But Alice’ life would not be a long one. In November 1878, the Hessian children began suffering from diphtheria, except for Elisabeth who was visiting her paternal grandmother at the time. Alice’ caring nature would be her death sentence. She nursed her children back to health with the exception of her youngest daughter Marie who did not survive diphtheria. Unfortunately Alice got infected as well, probably from a kiss she gave her son to comfort him when she told him about Marie’s death.

Alice died on December 14th, 1878, at only 35 years old and she was buried only four days later in Darmstadt with a Union Jack draped over her coffin. She was the first of Queen Victoria’s children to die and was remembered fondly by her family. Her brother Albert, better known as Edward VII, even described her as his favourite sister. Alice is the great-grandmother of the current Duke of Edinburgh

// Katharina Rivilis in Vom Reich zur Republik - Episodes 01 & 02

[ella-indigo]

Princess Elisabeth of Hesse (1895-1903) in 1900 by Hugo Thiele.

[mashkaromanova]

Alexandra Feodorovna, 1896

“My darling Ernie,

As I have just a little free time before we go off to the Christening of Militza’s little Boy, I hasten to write to you. - We shall be on the run this week to Petersburg, as there are several regimental feasts we must go to - a bore I must confess, as one would prefer remaining quiet a little. - Nicky has much to do, but still he managed to go out shooting twice last week, & he looked & felt much the better for it. - We walk twice daily to-gether. as the snow is not thick. At Gatchina they are able to sledge since 8 days, - wh. Misha enjoys greatly. We have been there several times, but yesterday, it being sweet Baby’s first Birthday, we remained quietly here. - Paul’s children come & play with her sometimes, wh. she enjoys very much. I slid down the hill with her the other day even. She goes out as long as it is not too cold & has splendid red red cheeks. -

Mossy with her four sons in three years, is charming? Mavra was expecting again, but it has gone wrong & is all over this time. - I am with anxiety awaiting the news from Irene; God grant all may go well. - The little red flanell [sic] jackets & frocks are getting on for the Alice Hosp[ital]: as my annual Xmas gift, & I love making them. Those happy weeks at Darmstadt with you darlings, seem like a dream to me; so long ago it all seems. What a joy it was being again in my old home after two long, long years, wh. I had left so suddenly & with such sad & unsure feelings. It touched me deeper than I can say that the people had not forgotten their old Ahhlise!

I wonder if you will go to the Mausoleum to-day - sweet little May’s death day; already 18 years ago since she was taken from us. Have you still got her cap under your cushion in bed? - How nice for dear Ducky that Sandra is with you. Please kiss both & sweet Baby Ella. - By the by is anything being done about the house in Venice? Has Zwilling gone there to see about it? Do let us know.

But I must dress now. Goodbye & God bless you, my own old Ernie dear. Ever yr deeply loving & devoted old Sunny.

[P.S.] Many kisses from us both.”

- Alexandra to Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, 4th/16th November 1896

[illustrationexhilaration]

Day 436: Oscar Dröge

“Paul (Oskar) Oscar Droege, printmaker and painter, was born in Hamburg, Germany on January 10, 1898, to Franzisko and Melita Droege. In 1905, his family relocated to the town of Waren located at the northern end of Lake Muritz. Droege attended public school in Waren and it appears that he was less than an ideal student.

In fall of 1916, Droege reported for military service and was a soldier in the Germany army in World War I, serving in France and Russia. After the war, he studied with Professor Hans Kohlschein at the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony, which was founded in 1899 by Ernest Louis, the Grand Duke of Hesse. Droege also studied at the Düsseldorf Academy but it was Leopold Karl Walter Graft von Kalckreuth, painter and graphic artist, who influenced Droege to turn to color woodcut in the early 1920s. In the late 1920s, Droege befriended the artist Werner Lange and the two traveled via bicycle and paddleboats through Germany, France and Scandinavia searching for subject matter.

On June 20, 1940, Droege was recalled into the military to serve in the German army and, in 1948, after the end of World War II, he was released from Russian captivity. In the 1950s, Droege resumed his traveling, this time throughout Central Germany and later he traveled to Switzerland and Paris. In the 1960s Droege returned to painting with watercolors and, in 1962, he relocated to Hamburg having inherited a mansion there.

Paul Oscar Droege died in Hamburg on October 8, 1983.”

[wgabry]

Principessa Eleonora di Solms-Hohensolms-Lich married Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse in Darmstadt

[theinvinciblearmy]

Ernest Louis Charles Albert William (German: Ernst Ludwig Karl Albrecht Wilhelm; 25 November 1868 – 9 October 1937) was the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, reigning from 1892 until 1918.[1] His nickname was "Ernie".Ernest Louis was the elder son of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his wife Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was named Louis after his father. One of seven siblings, two of who died in childhood, Ernest grew up with his four surviving sisters in Darmstadt. One of his younger sisters, Alexandra, would marry Tsar Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, while another sister, Victoria Mountbatten, would be the mother of Queen Louise of Sweden and grandmother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

[princessvictoriamelita]

A group photograph taken at Coburg at the family gathering for the wedding of Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Prince Ernest Hohenlohe-Langenburg (not in this photograph). It is probably Schloss Ehrenburg. The names of 26 people in the photograph are written underneath.

Seated: Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1853-1920) ; Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen (1860-1919); Leopoldine, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1937-1903).

First row: Prince Heinrich XXVII of Reuss (1858-1928); Empress Augusta Victoria of Germany (1858-1921); Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1832-1913); Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia (1854-1920); Princess Elise Reuss (1864-1929); Princess Mary, Duchess of York (1867-1953); Victoria Melita, Grand Duchess of Hesse (1876-1936); Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1884-1966).

Second row: Princess Feodore of Saxe-Meiningen (1866-1932); Princess Louise of Belgium, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1858-1924); Maria, Princess Ferdinand of Roumania (1875-1938); Prince Maximilian of Baden (1867-1929); Princess Feodore of Leiningen (1866-1932); Prince George, Duke of York (1865-1936); Ernest Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse (1868-1937).

Back row: Count Albert Mensdorff (1861-1945); Emich Prince of Leiningen (1866-19932); Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg;-Gotha (18440-1921) Prince Ferdinand of Roumania (1865-1927); Emperor William II of Germany(1859-1941) ; Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1846-1900); Grand Duke Paul of Russia (1860-1919).

Source: Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021.

[princessvictoriamelita]

Royal group photograph taken at Coburg, 20 April 1896.

A group photograph taken after the wedding of Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Prince Ernest Hohenlohe-Langenburg (not in the photograph), with guests arranged outside the entrance of Schloss Ehrenburg, Coburg.

Left to right: Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse (1868-1937); Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1876-1937), later married to Grand Duke Kyrill; Princess Ferdinand of Roumania (1875-1938); Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1844-1900); Emperor William II of Germany (1859-1941); Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (1854-1920); Maria Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess of Saxe-Coburg (1853-1920); Princess Victoria,Duches of York (1867-1953); Empress Augusta Victoria of Germany (1858-1921); Princess Elise of Reuss (1864-1929); Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1844-1966); Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1858-1924); Princess Charlotte of Prussia, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen,(1860-1919); Prince George, Duke of York (1865-1936); Prince Ferdinand of Roumaria (1865-1927); Prince Heinrich XXVII Reuss (1858-1928); Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1874-99); Prince Maximilian of Baden (1867-1929); Count Alfred Mensdorff (1861-1945); Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1844-1921).

[princessvictoriamelita]

The Wedding Cake at Coburg, 19 April 1894.

The wedding cake, prepared by Messrs. Gunter and Co., of Berkeley Square, by command of the Duke of Coburg, stood about five feet six inches high, and weighed about 150 lb. The design was very beautiful. The sides of the cake were decorated with four satin medallions bearing the monograms of the bride, "V.M.," and bridegroom "E.L." . Each medallion was bordered with acorns and oak leaves in pure white sugar, the border of the cake being also composed of acorns and leaves. The medallions alternated with festoons of choice flowers.

On the top of the cake stood a pedestal of beautiful open sugar-work, bearing a graceful vase, of filigree sugar, in which was a very handsome bouquet composed of white lilac, orange and myrtle blossoms, lilies-of-the-valley, hyacinths and stephanotis, while falling from the bouquet were delicate trails of roses and other flowers, relieved with smilax.

This cake was placed on a small table behind the Queen, at the wedding breakfast in the Ducal Palace, where there was a magnificent display of gold an silver plate, and of floral decorations.

Source: The Illustrated London News, April 1894.

[princessvictoriamelita]

Groyal group during the wedding celebration of Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Hereditary Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, April 1896.

1. George, Duke of York.

2. Mary, Duchess of York.

3. Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania.

6. Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse and by Rhine.

5. Prince Maximilian of Baden.

6. Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse and by Rhine.

7. Grand Duchess Victoria Melita of Hesse and by Rhine.

8. Hereditary Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen.

9. Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen.

10. Hereditary Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

11. Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Most of the photos belong to the Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021.