I would like to tell a short story and hope I am not misusing this forum in any way.
In 2004 I was sitting in a 'Tavern' in Darmstadt with a friend. At the same table was a gentleman, older than myself, who was listening interestedly to our (english) conversation. After a while he joined in our discourse and the obvious "Where do you come from?" "What you doing here?" etc questions were asked and answered. He explained he was a Professor at Oxford, where he lived, but was of german descendants. (He spoke with a german accent). He said he was in Darmstadt to research in the 'Staatsarchiv' but didn't go into details. However, as I was also interested in Hessen_Darmstadt history we talked about this for a while. My friend was obviously bored so the conversation moved on to other topics. At the end of the evening I agreed to meet the gentleman a few days later alone as my friend had returned to England.
Our meeting started with the usual small talk and eventually moved on to his reason for being in Darmstadt. He told me of his background. Born in Mannheim before WWII and brought up in a family without grandparents where it appeared that the were also no other relatives. There were other tidbits about his family which seemed strange but, for brevity, I shall leave them out. He then started to talk about the history of the last Grand Duke, Ernst-Ludwig, and the GD's marriage to Viktoria-Melita. The tragic loss of their daughter and, importantly for him, the still-born son of 1900.
To cut to the quick; he was fairly convinced that the '1900 Son' was not still-born, but was smuggled from the palace in Darmstadt to foster parents in Mannheim, the baby being replaced by a "truly" still-born child of a palace servant. This baby, who had been smuggled to Mannheim, was my conversation counter partner's father!
This was quite a revelation for me and, to be honest, I found it hard not to burst out laughing! My acquaintance then started to tell me stories, far too long to recount here, of his own revelation and his search "for the truth". It involved numerous handicaps which seemed (to him) to be thrown in his way. Stories of surveillance by members of the British Royal Family. Encounters with Prince Phillips personal guard on the motorway (highway) between London and Oxford etc etc etc. It all became a little too much for me and a 'change of topic' and a "gosh! is it really so late? I must be going" got me out onto the street with a brisk walk home to think about what that was all about.
Just a couple of things before I finish this (ahem) short story.
The gentleman called and invited my friend over one evening shortly after these events. My friend lives near Oxford. (This to verify his existence)
The gentleman exchanged addresses with me and I can verify he exists as he said. (Again, to verify the gentleman was truly 'above-board')
On leaving our meeting I asked him if he truly thought he had a claim to the inheritance of Hesse-Darmstadt. His answer was simple.
"Don't you see? My problem is not Hessen-Darmstadt, it is the Romanovs......!"
Sorry that wasn't really short. What do you think? Was the man deluded? Or could his story have some truth in it?
greetings
