Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen of Hanover

Queen Marie of Hanover
Portrait by Joseph Stieler

In the middle of the 19th century, the German kingdom of Hanover was ruled by King Ernest Augustus, a British prince by birth, who was also the Duke of Cumberland. Long before Ernest Augustus became king, he had married the rather controversial and scandalous Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Although their marriage can be said that it was out of love, their relationship with his family was quite sour. Frederica was disliked by most members of the British royal family and when Ernest Augustus became King of Hanover, he and Frederica wasted no time in setting up their court in Hanover. Frederica had only four years as queen and she died after an illness. She failed to endear herself with the people and as a result she did not become a popular queen.

Fortunately, her successor, the daughter-in-law she never met, was immensely popular with the people of Hanover.

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, First German Empress

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach,
Queen of Prussia and Empress of Germany

Empress Augusta, consort of Emperor William I and the first empress of Germany, was born a Princess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach on September 30, 1811. She was the youngest daughter of Grand Duke Carl Frederick of Saxe-Weimar and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Catherine the Great.

Princess Augusta spent her formative years in the literary court of Weimar. She received a well-rounded education that was carefully supervised by her mother. Maria Pavlovna was a highly-cultivated woman who presided over the cultural development of Weimar, while Augusta's father was a simple and timid man who nevertheless enjoyed the works of Goethe. Maria Pavlovna instilled in her daughter the strict observance of etiquette and courtly manners, and above all else, the importance of performing one's duties. Thus, while Augusta grew up in the romantic atmosphere of the Weimar court, where Goethe and other well-known writers and musicians throughout Germany frequented the grand ducal palaces, she also turned into an intelligent and well-read woman who possessed a firm and independent character.

A Mother's Advice to Her Daughter

Portrait of Princess Charlotte of Prussia as a Grand Duchess of Russia.

 Below is an excerpt from a letter of Queen Louise of Prussia to her eldest daughter, Princess Charlotte. Queen Louise never saw her daughter eventually become Empress of Russia as consort of Nicholas I as the Queen died when Charlotte was only 12 years old.

"Dear Charlotte, listen to these cheerful cries and the bells ringing with reverence... Those who want to deserve this, must respond with love to the love of their people; must have a heart capable of sharing their sufferings and joys; and the most important thing - one must be with the people... Remember this, my daughter, and if you ever get to wear a crown, remember this solemn hour."

Queen Louise of Prussia

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From a letter of Queen Louise to her daughter - Princess Charlotte, future Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas I of Russia

New Year 2020

Happy New Year everyone! I apologized for the lack of updates for a very long time. So many events have happened in the past years - I got married, switched jobs, moved to a new place... But that does not mean that I will not be continuing this blog anymore. I love history and I love writing, and this blog is a labor of love, so it will still continue as it is. There will be articles that I will still be posting so you can check my blog from time to time. In the mean time, I wish everyone a happy and blessed new year ahead!

- Gem

January 24, 1779 - Birth of the Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna

"Today, on your birthday, my dear Eliza, I write this letter in response to yours, passed by Amelia [Elizabeth's sister]. May Heaven grant you happiness and bliss in this world! This is my most heartfelt and ardent desire! But for this, you should adhere to the principle that you have defined for yourself in the form of a motto: patience and perseverance! Remind yourself that it was Providence that determined your place; leaving it voluntarily would be a sign for the disgruntled."

-Extract from a letter written by the Margravine of Baden to her daughter the Empress Elizabeth on the latter's birthday on January 24, 1811.