New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-27
RADZIWILL ROMANCE.
Why Prince 4lerander's German
and Russian Kinsfok Ignore Him.

Prudencia Milmo sister of Mrs. Eugene Kelly, of
New-YOrk, is a member. The relationship between
Prince Albert who is a frequent visitor to this
country, and Prince Alexander Is very remote
Indeed although il exists, it is not acknowledge
for the Russian and German Radziwills, of whom
Prince Albert is one decline recognize the
Austrian branch of the family being members
Of their house bona fide Princes of Radzi-
will.
This is owing to the romance in connection with
the origin of the Austrian Radziwills who are in
debted for their and for their title of prince
to the favor of the Austrian crown rather than 10
inheritance The founder of the Austrian branch
of the Radziwills the colossally rich Prince
Dominic. Born subject of the Car. he IN
February 1907 married the Countess Isabella Van
delin-M nisZech. and after long wedding tour
abroad took up his residence with his bride at
Neswiez. his magnificent country seat in the Rus
sian province of Mnsk. Great festivities were or
ganized in honor of their return home, and among
the guests We're Count and Countess Joseph Star
zenska. the latter a cousin of the newly married
Princess Isabella Radzwill One morning TO the
CONSERVATION of the members of the house party 1t
discovered that the host that is to say, Prince
Dominic RadziwilI, had disappeared with Countess
Starzenska, and when next heard OF they were In
Tyrol Divorce suits instituted by the deserted
princess and by the similarly abandoned Count
Starzenska. But before the cases could be brought
into court, the Countess Starzenska gave BIRTH in
1908. at Gratz In Austria, to son, who was In
reality the offspring of Prince Dominic Radzwlll
but. who. according to law, was Count star
zenska, since the chld's mothers union with Count
Joseph Starzenska had not at the time been dis
solved. 1t not until year later that Prince
Dominic RadZiwil and the countess were able 10
legalize their relations by marriage, and SIX
years later the prince died. at Metz, leaving all
his unentaed property to his son, who grew up in
Austria and In France under the name of prince
Alexander Radzwill' His widowed mother APP
pealed in vain TO the Russian government ana 10
the Gar, well TO the Prussian crown, 10
grant decree legitimatizlng him. which, Of course
Won I'M i'm 10 oll fhn
father in Germany and Russia. The Austrian gov
eminent, however, showed Itself more accommo-
dating. and. thanks to the influence of the great
Prince Metternich, who was all powerful at the
time Emperor Francis granted him letters of le-
elimination. recognizing him as the legitimate issue
of Prince Dominic Radziwill.
Much to the disgust of the Court of Vienna Prince
Alexander made a mesaIliance, marrying Rosne
Hill, the pretty daughter of the boniface or the
well known "Zum Rothen Hahn" tavern at Vienna.
and died In 1859 insane in the great lunac asylum
at Dobling Vienna, leaving two sons, Louis
and Sergius. In 1882 Emperor Francis Joseph con-
frmed the title of prince afresh to Louis and to
sergus RadziwiI, and caused them to be enrolled
Princes Radziwi among the territorial nobi
ity Of Austrian Poland. and entitled as such TO
seats IN the Provincial Diet of Gaica. Prince AL
exander Radziwill. who is now heir. is the only
OF Prince Louis, and has himself wife whom
he married about ten years ago. the union hav-
ing remained childless. His fathers younger
brother, Prince Sergius has likewise no children,
that there is very great likelihood or TINS AUS
TRAN branch Of the Radziwll family becoming ere
long extinct
The name Of Radzwil comes of "Radzi," which
signifies Council" and will" which is understood
TO be abbreviation of wilma" the Radziwlls
having been in the thirteenth and fourteenth cent
uries Palatines of the city OF wilma. II a
Radzwill who printed the first Polish Bible; an
other the most famous violnist OF his day and
another a cardinal while the ducaI title borne
by tee Prussian and Russian branches OF the house
was rrpd nv Truu Cpa oP tha
queens OF Poland a Radziwil and II the late
Emperor William had had his way his consort
would have been the Princess Elise Radzwill In
stead OF Princess Augusta OF Saxe-Wemar. who
died German Empress.
| It is not generally known that the late Emperor
Williams father favored the match. instead of OPP
posing 1t. has been asserted. Indeed King Fred
erick William III depended the that several
| princess OF the House OF Hohenzoern had
ried into the Radzwil family to overcome the OBJ
! stacles arising from the circumstance that the
Radziwills though among the most ancient and IL
! lustrious of the houses OF the European nobility.
and possessed of duca well OF princey rank,
do form part of the mediatized families of Eu-
rope which alone among the high aristocracy have
the right OF intermarrylng with the regning dynas-
ties footing of equality. but mobiles.
and like Prince Bismarck Prince Coonna. Prince
Battenberg and Prince Munster, included IN
Part III of the Almanach de Gotha
King Frederick William ILL., however. felt that
he had right to decide the matter himself this,
Prussian monarchy of far absoutst
character than to-day and that the sovereign
| then untramelled by any such thing a popular
constitution. Accordingly he summoned that
Gil known the Kronrath. which is com
posed OF the adult princes OF the blood and the
great dignitaries OF the land to and deter
mine the matter The Kronrath Is summoned by
the sovereign only in moments when momentous
decisions. usually of dynastic character have to
be taken by the sovereign. There some Prus
sian reigns where il has not been summoned once.
while other Prussan monarchs have contented
themselves with calling it together twice three
times at the most during their Of the throne
The Kronrath decided that the marriage be-
tween the then Prince William of Prussia and
Prince Elise Radziwill could take place with
out gravely mparing the prestige OF the Hohen-
zollern dynasty and giving rise to all sorts of
questions in after times concerning the legitimacy
OF descent. IN Difference the verdict OF the
council King Frederick William III decided against
| his sons marriage TO Princess RadzIwill, and
shortly afterward William contracted loveless
union with Princess Augusta OF Saxe-Weimar.
Princess Elise married. but died about five
years afterward, being taken suddenly ill at a
dinner party where she had met her former fance.
William remained devoted to her memory, and
treated her brother and the latters son. Anthony.
with the most marked favor. which he, indeed. ex-
tended throughout his reign all her countrymen.
the Poles much to the disgust and annoyance or
his Chancellor. the late Prince Bismarck.
Volumes could be written about this great house
OF Radziwill, which for four centuries has been
closely identified with the history OF Germany.
Poland Austria and Russia. and it may be recalled
that Wraxall writing from Warsaw in 177S de-
scribes the Prince Radzwill OF his day as enter
ing the Polish capital in his state coach drawn by
six huge white bears caught in his Lithuanian
forest and harnessed and broken for the purpose.