Washington sentinel., 1899-08-05
E>m : -. SENTINEL
NIOrganatio Marriages
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considered themselves Of a differ
ent race-indeed, almost demi-
gods--it was thought quite impos-
slble that they could intermarrY
with commoners, and for such
members OF reigning families as
were courageous enough TO break
the ridiculous law that hacked
them, and married men or women
belonging to the lower classes, a
new form of marriage was specially
invented, viz: "morganatic" mar
Tiage, which is in existence even
to this day. In ch cases neither
the child nor vile can bear the
title or acquire the rank oi the
father or the husband, although
the marriage is legitimate.
Whether marriages ot the class
which we here specially consider,
were or are happy or not, it is not
our task to investigate; but we may
say that, as far as is known, the
same rule prevails as in common
marriages-some are happy, very
happy, while others are traught
with misery and wretchedness
q
The ancient house of Austria,
the Hapsburgs, has been especially
remarkable for the number Of NOR
ganatic marriages amongst its
members. Considering the line
age Cthe Hapsburgs claim descent
from julius C9sarl and the strict
ness Of the etiquette prevailing at
the Austrian Courts and remember
ing the eXclusiveness and the loiti-
ness ofthe position OF the Imperial
House, IL seems at first surprising
to see scions Of this highly auto
cratic and proud family allying
themselves to subjects in the hum
bier walks Of life. Early in the
century (IS2O Europe was startled
by the announcement of the mar
riage Of Archduke John, after
wards for time the nominal head
of the then still existing German
Confederation (Bund), with Anna
Plochl, the daughter oi a peasant
posting master oil a small Syrian
village. The story OF the meeting
and courtship is well worth repeat
ing. The Archduke was coming
frop' Italy, on his way to Vienna,
where his immediate presence was
commanded, and when at Aussee
(it was before the time Of railways)
there was no position at hand to
take him on his way; the post
masters daughter donned the
dress of a position, and drove the
Archducal carriage to the next
station. The youthful Prince dis
covered the sex Of his driver, sd-
mired her pluck, tell in love with
her, and made her his wife. She
was created Baroness Brandhof,
and by the present Emperor in
1850 Countess oil Meran. Her
descendants still flourish in Aus
tria as Counts Of Meran.
At Budapest it is we'll known
hat Count Louis Batthyany, who
was shot by the Austrian troops
in the market place OF that city for
his completely in the insurrection
OF Io4o, could have. effected his
escape the night before his execu-
cution, had he consented to fly with
the Archduchess Maria, who was
in love with him. One OF the most
remarkable marriages Of this CEN
tury TO which one Of the daughters
OF the Austrian Emperor was
forced to consen-, and which has
always been considered a most
humiliating alliance for the ancient
house Of iapsburg, was the mar
riage OF the Archduchess Marie
to Napoleon l. The ex-Empress
entered afterward into a matrino-
nial alliance with Count Neuperg,
and the Austrian Princes Monte
nuovo Of today are the descendants
Of that marriage. Napoleon's son,
the Duke OF Reichstadt (Kiug Of
ROme), who was naturally consid-
cred a most inconYenient person
age, ruined his health by dissipa-
tion, into which, as many believe
10 this day, he was intentionally
led BY those who had the care Of
him. In more modern times we
can record two mOrganatic mar
riages IN this imperial house.
Archduke Henry married an act
ress, and IN consequence was COM
PEELED TO resign MS rank in the
army and was banished from the
court; however, many years alter
wards, through the intervention OF
the late Empress Elizabeth, Fran
els Joseph forRave his cousin.
whose wife received the title OF
Baroness Weideck.
But the saddest episode is that
known as the mystery OF Johann
Orlh, one Of the most remarkable
romances in the dYnastic history
OF Europe IN this century. The
Archduke John Salvador OF Tus-
cany, a nephew OF the Emperor
Francis Joseph, had fallen in love
with an actress and singer, Lud-
milla Hubel, whom he married in
spite of all family opposition, re-
nouncing at the same time all his
rights, privileges and rank, and
assuming the name Of Orth, after
one of his castles. The romantic
marriage was celebrated secretly,
but in perfectly legal manner, by
the Registrar of Islington,a and was
witnessed by the Consul General |
Of Austria in London. Johann
Orth next bought, in 1891, a fine
ship in Liverpool, which he re-
named Santa Margarita; and so
anxious was he to guard against
the vessel being recognized, that