September 10, 1901
The Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, 44, is said to be in "critical condition," according to the Marquise de Fontenoy. The Marquise writes a daily column for the Chicago Daily Tribune and other newspapers.
The Marquise writes that there is no hope for Friedrich, who is the only son of the Grand Duke of Baden, and even "the prolongation of life, must be abandoned."
The Hereditary Grand Duke is in the final stages of consumption. He has already relinquished his military command and "is to withdraw from every form of public life." He has "completely wasted away and presents a pitiable spectacle." Friederich is married to Princess Hilda of Nassau, and they have no children.
This may be a blessing because his "offspring would have probably inherited the constitutional tendency to consumption." His sister, Queen Victoria of Sweden, is said to also suffer from the disease.
The Grand Duchy expects to hear the news of the Hereditary Grand Duke's death in the near future.
On his death, Prince Maximilian of Baden will become the heir to the throne. The Marquise describes him as "dissipated and a bald-headed roue," who was jilted by Grand Duchess Helen of Russia shortly before their marriage. It was said that Helen "objected to his conduct and principles."
Prince Maximilian spent some time in an asylum before he married Princess Marie Louise of Cumberland, the elder daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. The Duke is also the de jure King of Hanover.
Who is this Marquise and why does he seem to have had so much to say about the royals in those days. And was prince Max of Baden really as bad as the Marquise has stated in a number of these articles. Certainly he seems to me to have been a good statesman.
ReplyDeleteThe Marquise de Fontenoy was the nom de plume for Countess Marguerite de Godart, a descendant of Louis XVI and Henri of Navarre, according to the NYTimes article about her funeral at St. Patrick's in 1927. She was the widow of the noted correspondent, Fredrick Cunliffe-Owen, CBE.
ReplyDeleteCunliffe-Owen also used the nom de plume. His mother was a German baroness.
Marguerite was 66 years old when she died, only a year after her husband. She was born Marguerite Godart, Countess of Planty and Sourdis (NYTimes obit) She was said to be a confidante of Empress Elisabeth. She also wrote a book about Mayerling, where she claimed that Rudolf wanted to divorce Stephanie because he was in love with Maria Vetsera. He asked his father for permission, but was told by his father that Maria Vetsera was his half sister. He went to Mayerling, told Maria the story. She took poison and he killed himself.
Marguerite's father was Jules de Godart and her mother was a Princess Galitzine.