The Hesse-Cassel family

[Dru]

Thank you very much, grandduchessella!  Do you remember any of what it says about "Fritz?" 

[grandduchessella]

It's been a long time since I read the book and I sort of skimmed over that part.    I remember it does give good detail of his courtship and marriage though. It's an out of print book so I don't know how easy it is or isn't to find--sometimes you can get them really cheaply. I had gotten mine through Interlibrary Loan.

[kmerov]

Can anyone provide me with biographical information about Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel (1820-1884)?  I'm researching for a major project, and am having a great deal of difficulty finding anything about his life.  I'm mainly interested in his personality and his marriage to Alexandra Nikolaevna--I know that he was initially a suitor for Olga Nikolaevna, and fell in love with Alexandra instead, but that's about it.  Were there political reasons for his potential match with Olga?  I'd appreciate any help I can get; many thanks in advance!  

Friedrich Wilhelm was heir to the throne of Denmark, but needed backup to secure his heritage. The support of the Russian Emperor, Nicholas I, was seen as vital in this, and Friedrich Wilhelms uncle, King Christian VIII of Denmark arranged for a marriage with one of Nicholas I daughters. Friedrich himself was very reluctant at first, saying he was to young to settle down, but the Russians and the Danes wanted the union, and in Russia he met GDss Alexandra and the rest is known. GDss Alexandra impressed the Danish delegation very much. Because the couples homes in Denmark (Dehn's mansion in the city and Bernstorff Palace outside the city) were still being arranged and later her ilness, the couple was prevented from making the journey to Copenhagen.
Friedrich Wilhelm  had a very bad reputation. He was seen as shallow, bad tempered, and was unpopular in Denmark and among  other royals and family members. Queen Victoria for instance wrote when his second son with Anna of Prussia was born, that the childs blindness was due to his fathers sins!

[kmerov]

Landgrave Friedrich Wilhelm of Hessen-Kassel, heir to two thrones, but ended up with nothing.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...later even his own duchy was annexed. 

[Dru]

Can anyone provide me with biographical information about Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel (1820-1884)?  I'm researching for a major project, and am having a great deal of difficulty finding anything about his life.  I'm mainly interested in his personality and his marriage to Alexandra Nikolaevna--I know that he was initially a suitor for Olga Nikolaevna, and fell in love with Alexandra instead, but that's about it.  Were there political reasons for his potential match with Olga?  I'd appreciate any help I can get; many thanks in advance!  

Friedrich Wilhelm was heir to the throne of Denmark, but needed backup to secure his heritage. The support of the Russian Emperor, Nicholas I, was seen as vital in this, and Friedrich Wilhelms uncle, King Christian VIII of Denmark arranged for a marriage with one of Nicholas I daughters. Friedrich himself was very reluctant at first, saying he was to young to settle down, but the Russians and the Danes wanted the union, and in Russia he met GDss Alexandra and the rest is known. GDss Alexandra impressed the Danish delegation very much. Because the couples homes in Denmark (Dehn's mansion in the city and Bernstorff Palace outside the city) were still being arranged and later her ilness, the couple was prevented from making the journey to Copenhagen.
Friedrich Wilhelm  had a very bad reputation. He was seen as shallow, bad tempered, and was unpopular in Denmark and among  other royals and family members. Queen Victoria for instance wrote when his second son with Anna of Prussia was born, that the childs blindness was due to his fathers sins!

Thank you very, very much for your help, kmerov!

[grandduchessella]

He and his 2nd wife Anna of Prussia (1836-1918) had six children:

Prince Frederick William II of Hesse (1854–1888); never married; died at sea on a voyage from Batavia to Singapore.
Princess Elisabeth Alexandra Charlotte of Hesse (1861–1955); married Hereditary Prince Leopold Friedrich of Anhalt (son of Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt) and had issue.
Prince Alexander Frederick of Hesse (1863–1945); married Baroness Gisela Stockhorner von Starheim and had issue.
Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, King of Finland (1868–1940); married Princess Margaret of Prussia and had issue. [Margaret and her family have a thread in the Hohenzollerns]
Princess Marie-Polyxene of Hesse (1872–1882).
Princess Sybille Marguerite of Hesse (1877–1925); married Baron Friedrich von Vincke (divorced 1923).

Emperor Franz Josef had wanted to marry Anna but she was already engaged to Friedrich. FJ's mother wrote to her sister, the Queen of Prussia, that "the happiness that showed itself to him like a fleeting dream and made an impression on his heart -- alas -- much stronger and deeper than I had first thought." She added "whether there is any hope that this sad marriage, which they are imposing on this charming Anna and which leaves her no prospect of happiness whatsoever, could be prevented..." So instead of becoming the Empress of Austria, she became the unhappy wife of Friedrich Wilhelm. In one biography--either Romanov Autumn or the Grand Duchesses--it is written how the marriage was doomed from the start since FW never got over the death of his first wife.

[Eric_Lowe]

No. I think they were quite happy. The only cloud came from the health of the children. I have been to Schloss Fasenerie and even saw the marriage contract. A big document with seals.

[kmerov]

You are very welcome, Dru. I'm glad I could help.

I have read both that Friedrich and Anna had a happy marriage and that it was an unhappy one aswell, so I am not sure about that yet. Bismarck was one of those who pitied Anna for getting married to Friedrich. I don't know about Friedrich not getting over Alexandras death, but back in Denmark he started a long relationship with a ballet dancer, Augusta Nielsen, and their relationship was a big scandal in society. They did part their ways, but Friedrich keept in touch with her, and even provided her with an income until her death. It's considered a true love romance.

[kmerov]

Friedrich and Annas oldest son, also named Friedrich Wilhelm (1854-1888), head of the house of Hesse-Cassel from his fathers death and until he diseappered at sea.

[grandduchessella]

You can see the resemblance with his brother, Frederick Charles --only FW is a little fuller of face and hair.

[Eric_Lowe]

Any photos of Anna and her children ? don't see too much of it around.

[Dru]

Any photos of Anna and her children ? don't see too much of it around.

The only photo I've ever seen of Anna was the one with Friedrich, posted earlier in this thread.

[kmerov]

Any photos of Anna and her children ? don't see too much of it around.

The only photo I've ever seen of Anna was the one with Friedrich, posted earlier in this thread.

I did post some pictures of Anna alone aswell, which are in this thread, and some in other threads. At the risk of multi posting, here are a few more pictures.

Landgrave Friedrich Wilhelm (1820-1884)


Anna

[kmerov]

Friedrich Wilhelm (1854-1888)


Anna


Friedrich