The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-03


the engagement of Prince Ferdi-
nand Montenuovo, only son and
heir OF the very wealthy prince
of the same name who Is grand master
OF the court of Austria. to Archduch-
ess Marie Alice. the youngest daugh-
ter of Archduke Frederick and Archr
duchess Isabella of Austria. The union
Will be a remarkable one. owing to the
fact that although the bridegroom has
a strain of the imperial blood of Haps-
burg in his veins, he is mere noble.
and does not belong to- any of those
mediatized or formerly petty sover-
eign houses of central Europe which
are enumerated in Part II. of the
Amanach de Gotha. and which re-
tain among other OF their former
privileges. the right of mating with
the members of the now reigning
dynasties of Europe on a footing OF
equality.
tiers. namely, Marie Christine and
Marie Henriette, are already welded
to mediatized princes. the elder to
Prince Emmanuel Salm-Saln, and the
other to Prince Godfrey of Hohenlohe.
"a third daughter is mated to Prince
Elias de Bourbon. son and principal
heir of the last sovereign Duke of
Parma. Another archduchess, namely,
Elizabeth. only child of the Inflated
Crown Prince Rudolf, is welded to
Prince Otto Windischgraetz, who is
also a mediatized prince. But the only
instance that 1 can recall of matri-
monial alliances of Austrian archduch.
esses with members of what are known
as the lower nobility. that is to say.
not mediatized Is that OF Archduchess
Renata, daughter of the sailor Arch
duke Charles Stephen, to Prince jerome
marriage which will furnish prece-
dent for that which Is about to take
place between Archduchess Marie Alice
and Prince Ferdinand Montenuovo.
The latter'S grandfather, that is to
say, the late Prince William Montenn-
ovo. and the first to bear that title,
was the son of Empress Marie Louise
of France and of her Austrian chamber
lain, Count Adam Nelpperg. who under
dou in his celebrated play Madame
Sans Gene" as the lover Of the con-
sort of Napoleon I. The Almanach
dc Gotha gives the date of the birth
of Prince William as being subsequent
the death of Napoleon at st. Helena;
but the various works recently pub
lished about the career of Marie Louise
after her loss Of the French throne,
notably that by Max Billiard, trans
lated into English by Evelyn. Duchess
OF Wellington, Insist that he was born
during the lifetime of Napoleon, or at
any rata before the news OF his death
could possibly have been received in
Europe. This story is confirmed in a
measure by the attitude of the
Neipperg family, who. belonging, to one
of the proudest of the mediatized
houses of Europe, raised objections to
Count Adam Nelpperg's son. by Marie
lustrious name ii illegltimate, even
though the child's mother was AN
archduchess of Austria and a former
Empress Of France.
grandfather. got even with the Neip-
he bestowed upon the child the title
Of Count Montenuovo. the word .Mon-
tenu9vo" being the Italian rendering
Neipperg. besides endowing him with
very extensive and valuable estates in
Austria, in Italy, and especially in
Hungary. Count William NeipperG,
who married Countess Julia Batthyany,
Francis Joseph, to the. rank Of prince,
and his son, Prince Alfred, now the
grand master of the court OF Vienna,
married to Countess Frances Kinsky,
was further promoted to serene
highness.
Prince Alfred Montenuovo in his
younger days presented the most start
Hing resemblance to his grandmother,
Empress Marie Louise, at her best and
was renowned for his good looks,
which in measure he still retains.
Fortunately he has not inherited any
of his grandfathers appearance; Tor
| old Count Adam NeipperE was NOT
| only one-eyed, but also remarkably
ugly Emperor Francis had, indeed,
selected him on account OF his shome-
illness, being aware Of his daughters
lsusccptibility, and hoping that the ma
was altogether too plain looking for
I her to fall In love with him. In this
| he was disappointed.
1T is not generally known that Em-
| press Marie Louise and Count Adam
| Neipperg had two other children, one o
daughter, born on the 1st Of May,
l1Sl7, that is to say, four years before
| the death of Napoleon. When she
grew up she married an italian, Count
San WHALE, and died In 1857. IheTe
| was also another daughter, born IN
January, 1s23, who died III infanry'
Arehducfess Isabella, in thus marry n.a y !
Prince Ferdinand Montenuoyo, secures
AFFIRM ally in her son-in- laws father.
THAT is 10 say III Prince Alfred Mon
tenuoyo, who Is perhaps the most
powerful and influential persona &c at
lthe court OF Vienna and In society,
1 always excepting, OF course. the aged
lEmperor and the heir presumptiYe
i .lrcbduka Franeia FerdinAnldll. NOW