Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-28
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Death of the Grand Duke Of Baden.

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Intelligence has been received of the death OF
the Grand Duke of Baden, which took place on
Saturday night On Friday symptoms of ap-
preaching death betrayed themselves, and orders
were Immediately given to close the theatres, and
consign all the troops to barracks
The event recorded in the preceding lines can
not surprise or startle the public. The Grand
Duke, Charles Leopold Frederick, was born IN
l79O-he was, therefore, 62 years OF age at his
death. To Englishmen he has been only known
as the ruler of small and unirnportant German
prncipality, noted chiefly for its revolutions, and
especially as having been the theatre of the last
sanguinary struggle between the democratic par
tv and the now absolute power of Prussia.
Archduke characterized BY any extraordinary
personal qualities, and his life therefore presents
hardly single feature not common to the ma
iority of German sovere gns-at one moment
humbly bowling to the popular will when it was
in the ascendant promising liberal institutions
and laws breaking these promises, and tramp
ling the people under foot, when restored to the
full exercise of absolute power. 1t would be a
useless and thankless task to refer to them. The
demise of this sovereign, however, raises most
important question with respect to the succession.
The Grand Duke leaves several sons; the eldest
of these is an idiot, and to whom the duca throne
cannot therefore be confded but the family have
resolved that the succession shall take place in
due order, only the government of the duchy
shall be confded to the second son, Prince Fred
erick. IT is hoped by this means to avoid Civ
ing to the other claimants to the throne the op-
portanity of again disputing the rights of the
present family which would be offered by an If
regular succession. These claimants are, how
ever, already in the field, in the person of the
reigning family of Bavaria, whose claims to a
portion of the duchy are founded apparently in
perfect Justice. They have been urged on more
than one occasion, and indeed, were put forth no
later than last year by King Macmillan II. of
Bavaria.
How, Notwithstanding the existence Of appa-
rently direct and legitimate male heirs to the du-
cal throne, the Bavaran sovereign, as the head
of the House of Wittolsback, can put forward
any claims at all, is a curious and most interest
ing question. In the year 1906 the Emperor
Napoleon compelled the then Grand Duke of
Baden, Duke Charles Frederick, to marry his
son, Duke Charles, to Stephanie Tascher de la
Pagene, niece Of the Empress Josephine. The
fruits of that marriage were two SONS and three
daughters. All of the latter are now living
one is married to the Marquis of Douglas. The
first son died very suddenly, and when the Sc
cond son disappeared, or died very suddenly, no
records of either are to be found. Duke Lud-
wig, the younger brother of Duke Charles, was
exiled from court for very considerable period
by his father, the then reigning Grand Duke.
A fate seemed to attend the male children brought
into the world by Stephanie. Suspicious of foul
play were very general at the time and were d.
rected solely against Duke Ludwig, who was
known to be ambitious of succeeding his father,
and who hated the Duchess and her children.
Duke Charles died, and on the death Of his faith
er Duke Ludwig assembled the ducal throne.
Duke Ludwig remained unmarried, leading a
life of the widest and most criminal character.