The former Grand Duke of Baden, Friedrich II, died today (August 9, 1928). He was 71-years-old. Friedrich succeeded to Baden's throne, one of the most progressive of the German states, in 1907. He was "probably the most liberal and popular ruler during the monarchic period of his day."
Grand Duke Friedrich was the son of Friedrich I and Princess Louise of Prussia. In 1885, he married Princess Hilda of Nassau. The marriage was childless. He is survived by his sister, Queen Victoria of Sweden.
The new Grand Duke is Friedrich's first cousin, Prince Maximilian, who is married to Princess Marie Louise of Hanover.
You know I often read about how popular the german monarchs were. I have read similar things about the Grand Duke of Oldenburg and the Kings of Wurttemberg and Bavaria. Yet this popularity still didn't save their thrones. I admit I have trouble understanding why.
ReplyDeleteJason
None of this kingdoms or duchies were indepdent. They were a part of the German Empire - and the empire collapsed in November 1918. A ruler may have been personally popular, but that did not mean that the Grand duchy of Baden would have been able to sustain itself as a sovereign nations.
ReplyDeleteThe republic was proclaimed in Germany because someone stood at a window and shouted "Long live the German republic!" (9th Nov. 1918, and the man was Philipp Scheidemann) There was no referendum on the question which form of state the Germans would prefer. The constitution was not put forward to the people. The Weimar republic was never popular and it was called: "A republic without republicans". Germans were looking for a "Ersatzkaiser", a Kaiser not baring the title. First they elected Hindenburg, then they got Hitler.
ReplyDeleteIn 1918 the Germans were told, they would not achieve a fair peace treaty should they keep the Kaiser. Despite he was forced to go into exile, the Germans did not a fair peace treaty, but they got the Versailles Treaty. In 1919 Germans who tried to re-establish the Monarchy were threatened by the Allies that would mean permanent occupation of German territory.
You see, the popularity of German Monarchs was a given fact, but that did not help to save the thrones.