Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-09-04
Morganatic Marriapes.

marriages of this kind are species of concu-
binage, in which the kings and princes Of
Europe are fond of indulging. This is not the
case, however A mOrganatlc marriage ls Just
as binding upon the parties az any otheF' ana
precludes any other marriage. The tern IS
derived from The German Morgengabe which |
means dowry 1t signifies matrimonial
contract in which one or the parties IS greatly
superior in rank to the other. Ii it he the
bride who is OF inferior rank she agrees that
she aud her children shall be entitled neither to
the rank nor the estate Ct her husband, aud
that the dowry which is settled upon her AT the
time of the marriage shall be accepted IN lieu
Of all otter privileges If the man be the
interior he gives his assent TO similar eoodi.
tons In the bridal ceremony the party OF
superior rank gives the left hand, instead OF
the right TO the other-Whence these mar
riages are sometimes styled lett handed.
One of the most famous marriages OF ms class
was that Of Frederick William the Third, OF
Prussia, to the Countess Augusta Of HaIrach,
upon whom her husband conferred the rank OF
Princess of Legnitz-a marriage consummated
in 1924. long after the death OF the King
more legitimate spouse, the beautiful Queen
Louisa The Princess OF Liegnit2 is still living
"a widow since 1910. Another morganatlc
marriage was that of the late King Of Den
mark, Frederick the Seventh, who, after being
divorced from two prlncesses married morgan,
atcally plain dressmaker BY the name OF
Rasmussen, with whom he lived happily TIL
hi. death. lie first encountered her under
very singular circumstances 1t Is the custom
at Copenhagen, when large lire occurs, Tor
IL, n
command of the detachment of troops which Is
always called out to keep order while the hire
| men andeavor to extinguish the conlagatlon.
| Frederick, then Crown Prince, was once per.
| forming this duty, when his eye caught sight
| of a dresse wax figure in dre5smakers shop
| in the second story OF burning building. In
| the hurry and excitement OF the moment he
| mistook this lay figure for living person en-
deavoring to escape from the window. Leap
| ing from his horse he plunged into the build
| log and assembled the staircase. On his way
through the rooms he discovered the owner OF
! the dress making establishment, who was be-
| Widered in the smoke and whom he conduct
| ed to a place OF safety. This was the woman
whom he subsequently, married, bestoWlng upon
her the title of the Countess Banner, and set
Ting upon her large dowry. She survived
him only year or two.
Among the existing members OF princey
houses who have contracted this kind of mar
riage. may be mentioned Prince Leo
mold Of Sayony, Primo, Charles Of Bavaria, and
Prince Alexander Of Wurtemburg, 1t is a
son Of the last named-an offspring of his NOR
qanatic marriage who, under the name Of
Prince Teck, lately married Queen Victoria 9
cousin, the Princess Mary Of Cambridge i
SINGULAR instance Of Dorganatic union is that
of Prince Edward Of Saxe-W eimar who is
marie in this manner to daughter OF the
proud Duke Of Richmond, while another Eng
lish nobleman the Duke Of Hamilton. welded.
On terms OF perfect equality, princess OF the
grand -ducal house of Baden, whose rank is cer-
| tsinly Us high as that Of Prince Edward. The
only modern case with which we are familiar, OF
a morganatic marriage in which the bride was
the person of superior rank, is that Of Princess
Elizabeth, Of Italy, sister law OF letor En-
manuel, who was married with the left hand in
l956-a year after the death of her husband
Prince Ferdinand-to the Marquis Rapallo,
Victor Emmanuel himself is said to have been
more than once On the point OF contracting
morganatc union with some OF his ia7orltes
but he has been prevented By the advice OF his
| Ministers, who somehow or other deem it bet
ter for the interests of the State that he should
live in more respectable manner.
The rcipnine dynasty of Baden presents An
| isolated Instance of the scion of morganatic
marriage breaking through the tram1nehng
| provisions Of such union and succeeding to
the rank CT his parent in the same way as
the offspring Of an equal union. ln 1881,
| with the death OF the Grand Duke Louis, the
strictly legitimate line of the ancient princes
| Of Baden came to an end King Louis OF Bay
aria was on the point Of taking possession OF the
country as next of kin, when Leopold, the Oft
| al
Ing Grand Duke, Charles Frederick, with i
Madame Geyersbcrg, suddenly proclaimed
himself Grand Duke He waa supported by
the people, who admired his character and
boldness, Bavaria threatened war, and marched
her armies towards the Baden frontier, but the
outbreak Of the French Revolution Of 1890,
which was followed by disturbances in various
parts of Germany, induced King Louis to
pause, aud he finally contented himself with
issuing solpmn protest against what he called
usurDatiou Of the crown The regning fam
" of Baden has since then never been disturb
ed, and its claims have been fully recognized
by the German Powers. Leopold's son Fred
erick is now Oh he throne, and is married 10 a
sister Of the present King Of Prussia. One
! more instance Of nlorganatic nniun IL that OF
the despotc EIcctor Of Hesse, whose domin-
ions Prussia recently annexed, 10 the great
Joy OF ms SUBJECTS In 1901 ne leil ~ n'Fc
with Gertrude Lehman, the pretty wife OF i
non commissioned officer in the Prnsslan army.
little pecuniary arrangement was male with
her husband a. divorce was obtained, and lm
mediaiely alter|ward the Elector Frederic W il
liam took herto wife 1norganatically. He made
her first Countess Of Schamburg, and then
Princess OF Hanau She has borne him six
sons and three daue hters, who have their titles
from their mother. Il was SAID thai he had
| intended to have declared his oldest sou heir
to the throne, Notwithstanding the legal HAD
RANGES 10 the way, but Prussia, By her sum
mary proceeding, has prevented the execution
of any such project.
! WASHINGTON ITEMS f consequence OF the
absence OF the committee appointed by the
members Of the Bar to inquire into the diff