Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Princess Marie
Countess of Flanders
Born (1845-11-17)17 November 1845
Sigmaringen, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Died 26 November 1912(1912-11-26) (aged 67)
Brussels, Belgium
Spouse Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders
Issue Prince Baudouin
Henriette, Duchess of Vendôme
Princess Joséphine-Marie
Princess Joséphine-Caroline
Albert I of Belgium
Full name
Marie Luise Alexandra Karoline
House Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Father Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern
Mother Princess Josephine of Baden

Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later Princess Marie of Belgium, Countess of Flanders (Marie Luise Alexandrine Karoline; 17 November 1845 – 26 November 1912) was a Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern, and mother of King Albert I of Belgium.[1]

Family

Marie Luise was a daughter of Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Prime minister of Prussia and Princess Josephine of Baden, and as such a sister of Carol I of Romania and aunt of his successor, Ferdinand of Romania.

Marriage

Marie was considered as a potential wife for the future Edward VII of the United Kingdom.[2] Though she was considered "quite lovely" by his family, her Roman Catholic religion barred her from being a suitable consort for the head of the Anglican church.[2] On 25 April 1867 at St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin, she married Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, second son of King Leopold I of Belgium and Louise-Marie of Orléans.[1]

They had five children:

Princess Marie was an accomplished artist, even occasionally exhibiting her paintings at the Brussels Fair. She had a literary salon, which was the gathering place of many authors as well as a feature of Brussels social life for forty years.[1] She also demonstrated appreciation for music, on one occasion awarding a gold medal to the Zoellner Quartet after it performed for the Belgian royalty.[3]

Death

Marie Luise died in Belgium in 1912 at the age of 67, after suffering from pneumonia for several days.[1] She was buried in the Church of Our Lady of Laeken.

Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Countess of Flanders in middle age, 1880s


Titles, styles, and honours

Titles and styles

  • 17 November 1845 25 April 1867: Her Serene Highness Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
  • 25 April 1867 17 November 1905: Her Royal Highness The Countess of Flanders
  • 17 November 1905 26 November 1912: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Countess of Flanders

Honours

Ancestry

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Countess of Flanders Dead", New York Times, Brussels, Belgium, 27 November 1912
  2. 1 2 Hibbert, p. 41.
  3. Cariaga, Daniel, "Not Taking It with You: A Tale of Two Estates," Los Angeles Times, 22 December 1985; accessed April 2012.
  4. Nieuws Van Den Dag (Het) 02-10-1900
  5. Almanach royal officiel: 1875 p. 18
  6. Almanach royal officiel: 1875 p. 18
  7. Almanach royal officiel: 1875 p. 18
  8. Almanach royal officiel: 1875 p. 18

Sources

  • Hibbert, Christopher (2007). Edward VII: The Last Victorian King. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
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