The funeral of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine

December 19, 1888

The funeral of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine took place today in Darmstadt, according to the Chicago Daily Tribune.  His "body was placed in the family mausoleum," and his funeral was attended by his relatives and by Prince Henry of Prussia, Grand Duke Serge and Grand Duke Paul of Russia, Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar, and the Landgrave of Hesse.  Col. Corington represented the United Kingdom at the funeral.

Prince Alexander was the fourth child of Ludwig III, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his first wife, Princess Mathilde of Bavaria.

He was born in Darmstadt on July 15, 1823.  His marriage to Julie von Hauke at Breslau on October 28, 1851, was considered a scandal as the marriage was morganatic.  A week after the marriage, Julie was created Countess of Battenberg.   In December 1858, she was created as Princess of Battenberg with the rank of Serene Highness.  The couple's five children share her rank and title.

Prince Alexander died on December 15 at Darmstadt.   He is survived by his widow, Julie, Princess of Battenberg, and their five children: Princess Marie who is the wife of Gustav, Count of Erbach-Schönberg; Louis, who married Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, his first cousin once removed, Prince Alexander, Prince Henry, who is married to Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice; and Prince Franz Josef.

He also survived by grandchildren: Count Alexander, Count Maximilian, Count Viktor, and Countess Edda zu Erbach-Schönberg, Princess Alice of Battenberg, Prince Alexander, and Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg.

Prince Alexander's first cousin, Ludwig, is the reigning Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine.    Ludwig is the son of the late Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine.

The Lord Chamberlain's office announced on December 18 that the Court would go into mourning until December 29th in honor of His Grand Ducal Highness, who was the father-in-law of Princess Henry (Princess Beatrice.)