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| Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection |
Princess Alexandra Karoline Marie Ida Henriette Juliane was the youngest of eight children of Prince Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Bathildis of Anhalt. She was born at Ratboritz on January 9, 1879. She died unmarried at Linz am Rhein on January 5, 1949.
Her older sisters made advantageous marriages. Charlotte was the wife of King Wilhelm II of Wurttemberg. Bathildis was married to Friedrich Prince of Waldeck und Pyrmont, and Adelheid married Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
In September 1900, the Marquise de Fontenoy reported that the reason for King Alexander of Serbia's "hurried marriage to Queen Draga was due to the discovery that his father, without any knowledge on his part," had completed the arrangements for Alexander's marriage to Princess Alexandra.
The German and Austrian governments had promised a dowry of $1 million in "consideration of the fact that on marrying this German princess King Alexander and his father sign a military convention" that would bring Serbia into the triple alliance."
Marlene,
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and story. I guess Alexandra was lucky the arranged marriage never happened. Do you know what she did the rest of her life? Bea
Alexandra was one of many German princesses who didn't accomplish much in their lives. Who knows if the story was even true. However, had she married Alexander, the Serbian monarchy might have evolved very differently.
ReplyDeletei don't know why she don't have more photography, or information about her life. I think the destiny of Serbia will be different and better that Aleksandar Obrenovic merried this Princess.
ReplyDeleteno one knows for sure if the rumors about a marriage were true or mere supposition.
ReplyDeleteThe information about the arranged marriage of King Alexander I of Serbia and Princess Alexandra Karoline zu Schaumburg-Lippe can be found in the book called:
ReplyDelete""DIE MEMORIEN DES KÖNIGS MILAN". Zehn Kapitel aus dem leben ersten Serbiankönigs. Nach seinen hinterlassenen Papieren erzählt. Zürich, Verlag von Caesar Schmidt, 1902."
""MEMOIRS OF KING MILAN". Ten chapters about the life of first Serbian King. The book is written based on documents found in his legacy. Zürich, Published by Caesar Schmidt, 1902."