October 6, 1907
The Marquise de Fontenoy reports that Prince Maximilian of Saxony "has applied for and received leave of absence from the great Catholic University of Fribourg in Switzerland, where he holds the professorship of canon law and of divinity." The Prince plans a long journey to Asia, "which is to extend over a period of a couple of years," in order to undertake missionary work. The prince has already done work working with the poor in London's slums.
There is an attempt to link the Prince's trip with his brother, King Friedrich August's decision to convert to the Lutheran faith in order to remarry. The king cannot "contract another matrimonial alliance without deserting the church of Rome," as the Vatican has declined to annul his marriage to the former Archduchess Luisa of Austria, who is now known as the Countess of Montignoso.
Prince Max, "having done all in his power" to prevent the king's decision to join the Lutheran church, has decided that he does not wish to be in Europe when "it takes place, lest he should be called upon as a priest to raise his voice in public condemnation of the king."
It is true that "efforts have been made in many influential quarters to persuade" the king to remarry, "even at the cost of his conversion to that Lutheran church to which the vast majority of his subjects belong."
A chance for reconciliation with his former wife is now impossible as she was recently married in a civil ceremony to her Italian companion, Sgr. Toselli. The civil ceremony is a legal wedding, but, according to the Roman Catholic church, Luise is still Friedrich August's wife.
The king does not need an heir, as he has four sons by his former wife. But remarriage would end the king's "domestic sorrow to which he has been subjected."
4 comments:
Hello! I am currently working on the hero of your blog Prince Max of Saxony. Could you tell me where exactly did you take the information? In which work of Marguerite Cunliffe-Owen (La Marquise de Fontenoy) did you rave about it ???
If you have the information I would ask you to send my mail (ruslan.stetsyk@gmail.com) or write here in the blog.
it was in the Marquise's column in the Washington Post on October 7, 1907
Unfortunately I can not find the newspaper. Could you send me a copy of the newspaper? Or could you give me other references to the newspaper? (maybe on the internet)
The Washington Post is accessible through the ProQuest database, which many libraries around the world have a subscription. Some libraries may still have microfilm as well. Please visit your local public library and ask how to them to acquire it through Interlibrary loan...
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