The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-28
History of On

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The exact origin OF the family OF the House OF
Guelph Is somewhat obscure. Some persons have
indeed, asserted that Queen Victoria descends d.
rectiy from the deifed hero Wooden. whom the Scan
dinavians adored as god. The true founder of the
| House OF Hanover was AEON dEste Marquis OF
Tuscany an Italian adventurer, who, at the COM
mencement OF the eleventh century. took service
under the Emperor Conrad, In the hope OF &C
quiring fortune in Germany by conquest or mar.
riage. His matrimonial speculation proved the
most profitable. He espoused Cunegunda, OF
GUELPH wealthy heiress, and discarded the name
DESC Tor tn at OF MS wife. HeDcef0rth he was
called Guelph. Their son. Robert the Robust. con-
tracted still more fortunate alliance IN marry.
ing the widow Of Tostic, Earl OF Kent brother OF
Edward the Contessor. The newly wedded pair
found great favor with the Emperor, Henry the
Fourth, who despoied Ohio OF Saxony OF his
Bavarian possessions In order to enrich them. The
great grandson OF Robert rebeing against the
Emperor Barbar0ssa his estates were confiscated.
third time, however, the race OF AEON
retrieved the fortunes OF the family by lucky
marriage, the bride being daughter OF Henry the
Second, King Of England. who prevailed upon the
German Cesar to bestOw The countships OF Bruins
wick and Luenburg upon his son-in-law. Ohio the
Fourteenth raised them 10 the rank OF duchfes in
the thirteenth century, and William OF Guelph took
the title OF Duke or the ducal representatives Of
the house some were distinguished for their cour.
age and military talents others for their less noble
qualtes as Henry, surnamed the "Dog," for his
snarlng temper; Magnus the 'insOlenr;' Ernest
the "cruel." Ohio the Fourteenth was the first Of
long line Of petty princes who departed from the
matrimonial policy OF his family by ma rriage Of
inclination with Matilda de Campan, a simple gen.
tlewoman of Brunswick and his own subject.
The great-grandfaher OF George the First, King Of
England. had seven sons all dukes and entitled to
oha nf nnAg CVNliff inrptI
family coronet by permanent division or their
fathers states the brothers on his death entered
into most extraordinary compact. One only OF
the number was to contract legal marriage Lots
were cast; chance favored George, the sixth son,
who espOused Anne EleanOra, q Princess OF Hesse
Darmstadt. Their eldest son, Ernest Augustus who
Tor many years bore no higher title than Prince
Bishop OF Osnaberg, married Sophia daughter Of
the unfortunate Queen OF Bohemia, and grand
daughter OF James the First; which alliance
first opened to the House OF Hanover a pros
pecr or the crown OF Great Britain. The
bride was sister to Rupert, so we'll known
in English history for his devotion to Charles
the First, to say nothing of his discoveries
Ernest Augustus was dlssipated prince, but
crafty and ambitious. On succeeding to the title Of
the Duke Of Hanover he dropped the title OF Bishop
OF Osnaberg Following the example OF his father
he prevailed upon MS brother. Duke William OF
Zee, devote himself to lie Of celibacy In CON
slderatl0n Of a sum OF money advanced to him III
moment OF distress. At Brussels the Prince con.
dOlbreuse, who lied with her father from France on
the revocation OF the edict Of Nantes by LOUIS the
OF the issue OF the Duke of ZelIe and Eleonora
d06r t daugni1er, sophia Dorotaea alone sur
into his family Philip Won Konngsmark, the SON Of
an old friend who came to De educated In Germany.
The boy was Just thirteen when he arrived from
Sweden, and Sophia D0rothea was several years
younger. Philip remained at the Court of zelle
a 10 hnn TODD
with that e ms M
S whose Wife sonsOied herself for Ser nus.
bands inadeltIes By platon,o , friendship
heir OF TINS accommodating pair possessed one soil
tary virtue. He was courageous, but rdicuousy
mind Following the example of his right reverend
anu prince!y parent ne too had an adopted sister,
Kendall. The military services OF George Louis in.
duced the Emperor to confer the electoral dignity
acknowledge MN. disputed the validity Of mis- vote
in the Diet giving HIM no higher title than Duke Of
Hanover, which he had just previously succeeded.
Money became necessary TO puy or their opposition.
wealthy bride for their and. with the exception
Of the bar sinister could ind no one SO eligible as
the ' entreaties of his wife and the tears Of
her cousin, Augustus OF Wo1enbutteI. the only man
she really loved. to af1ance her to pronigate
VI
!uctant bride. Soon after the ill.omened marriage
the indifference OF George Louis degenerated into
never iorgave her daugnter-nlaw the blot upon her
birth; the Elector her seadfast refusal TO associate
his his, son IN became so nfuriated rom similar cause
that he attempted to murder ner by stranguatiOn,
and was only defeated IN ms design BY the cries OF
which was severely commented upon in Germany,
SOPHIA D0rothea was permitted to visit her father
1t Zelle. Valnly she tmplored MS protection.
Duke William, blinded by the ambitious hope OF
seeing his descendants upon the throne OF England
pretended not to believe ner. She even refused to
return Hanover till the threat OF eternal sepa-
ration from her children-a son, afterward George
Frederick the Great, and second King Of Prussia.
Shortly after the departure OF SOPHIA Dorothea Tor
Zee Philip Won Koningsmark had arrived IN Han.
over where his ready wit, elegant manners and un.
doubted talents soon made him Iavorite, and he
was appointed Colonel OF the Guard. Nothing could
be more natural IMAM that the intimacy with the
companion Of his bOyhOOd should be renewed
his information, and he expressed himself ireey on
the subject There Is little DOUBT out he c0unseled
the as 81
1t the signal for his assassination and the ruin
OF the ycm ne % me tG dsa
Madame Platen ON her deathbed confessed to have
forged was placed IN ms nana requesting an inter-
was nothing unusual In such an invitation-the
manners OF the age fully sanctioned II; the meet.
presence OF MILE Won Knesebeck, the lady OF honor,
VINO alterward published memoir warmly defend.
HcE uS1lSSst WIN hutui ohy ucAieu having SOut
the letter. On his return through the Knights Hall
KOningsmark was murdered by party Of the Elec-
tOral Guard, under the order OF Madame Plaen,
VINO not only witnessed the deed OF blood but
stamped with her nighheeed shoes upon the
face OF the DIVING man and crushed out his eyes.
In her solitary old age. when driven In disgrace
from court, the wretched woman became bind.
Her punishment Is recorded In a popular German
ballad, "Tne Countess and the Bisnop." overcome
with horror at the c0wardly assassination OF her
early friend, Sophia DOrothea refused to live
with her husband, resolution which wounded the
inordinate vanity OF George Louis 70 the quick.
Highness, who struck by the indeicacy OF the
selection, demanded II he imagined ne was ques.
in the Court Church she publicly made solemn pro-
CESSATION of her fidelity to her worthless husband,
and asked Count Platen II his wife could do the
same. AT first divorce was contemplated. The
Duke william OF Zelle strongly opposed. He cared
little for the happiness Of his iuSed child but the
prospect or seeing his grandson upon the English
throne was too tempting to be resisted He
threatened an appear 10 the Diet OF the Empire.