The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-03
Miscellany.
Morganatic Marriages.

Everybody has heard the term "morganat-
ic marriages" and many people suppose that
marriages of this kind are a species OF concu-
binage, in which the kings and princes OF Et-
rope are fond OF INDUCING. This is not the
case, however. A morganatic marriage is
Just as binding upon the parties as any other
marriage. The term is derived from the
German Morgengabe, which means dowry
1t signifies a matrimonial contract in which
one OF the parties is greatly superior in rank
to the other Ifi be the bride who is of in
i ferior rank, she agrees that she and her chill
dren shall be entitled neither to the rank nor
the estate of her husband, and that the dow
q ny which is settled upon her at the time oftne
marriage shall be accepted in lieC of all other
privileges. IT the man be the inferior he
gives his assent to similar conditions. In Che
bridal ceremony the party of superior rank
gives the left hand, instead of the right, to the
other-whence these marriages are somtimes
styled "left handed"
One of the most famous marriages of this
class was that of Frederick William the Third
OF Prussia, to the Countess Augusta, of Har-
rach, upon whom Der husband conferred the
rank OF Princess of Leignitz-a marriage con-
suTmated in 1924 long after the death of the
Kings most legitimate spouse, the beautiful
Queen Louisa. The Princess of Leignitz is
still livlng-a widow since 1S40 Another
morganatic marriage was that of the late King
after being divorced from two princesses, mar
ried morgana ically plain dressmal1er by the
name of Rasmussen, with whom he lived hap
PLY till his death. He first encountered her
under very singular circumstances. 1t is the
custom at Copenhagen, when a large fire oc-
ours, for one of the princes to attend it, and
and to take command of the detachment of
troops which is always called out to keep or
der while the firemen endeavor to extinguish
the confagration.
Frederic, then Crown Prince, was once per-
forming this duty, when his eye caught sight
of dressed wax figure in the window OF
dressmaker's shop in the second story Of the
burning building. In the hurry and excite
ment OF the moment he mistook this law
-1lgure for living person endeavoring to es-
cape from the window. Leapng from his
horse, he plunged into the building and as
cended the staircase. On his way through
the rooms, he discovered the owner of the
dressmaking establishment, who was bewil-
dcred in the smoke, ard whom he conducted
to place OF safety. This was the woman
whom he subsequently married, bestowing
upon her the title of the Countess Banner,
ard settling upon her a large dowry. She
still survives him. ssdnsatta-
Among the existing members of princely
: houses who have contracted this kind of mar
rage may be mentioned Prince Leopold of
Saxony, Prince Charles of Bavaria, and Prince
Alexander of Wurtemburg. 1t is a son of
the last named-ofspring of his morgantic
marriage--who. under the name of Prince
? Teck, lately married Queen Victoria's cousin,
the Princess Mary of Cambridge. A singular
instance Of a morganatic union is that of
Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, who, is mar
riej in this manner to a daughter ofthe proud
Duke of Richmond, while another English
policeman, the Duke Of Hamilton, welded, on
terms OF perfect equality, princeis OF the
grand-ducal house of Baden, whose rank is
certainly as high as that of Prince Edward.
The only modern case, with which we are
familiar, OF a morganatic marriage in which
4 the bride was the person of superior rank is
that OF the Princess Elizabeth, of Italy, sister,
ir-law OF Victor Emmanuel, who was married
with the lett hand in l846--a year after the
I death of her husband, Primes Ferdinand-to
the Marquis Rapallo. Victor Emmanuel him
self is said to have been more than once on the
point of contracting mnrganatic union with
some of his favorites, but has been prevented
by the advice OF his ministers, who somehow
or other deem it better Tor the interests OF the
State that he should live a more reprehensi-
BE manner. w