Gottfried, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Encyclopedia
Gottfried, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the only son of Ernst II, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. He was the titular Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
from 1950 until his death.
, Kingdom of Württemberg
, the first child of Ernst II, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1863–1950), (son of Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Leopoldine of Baden) and his wife, Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1878–1942), (daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia). Through his mother he was descendant of Queen Victoria
and Tsar Nicholas I
.
After the fall of the Imperial German monarchy in 1918, Gottfried continued to serve as a leader of the European aristocracy. He served in the German army in World War II
, becoming severely injured at the Russian front. He was dismissed from the army after the abortive attempt on Adolf Hitler
's life in 20 July 1944.
custody trial in 1934, testimony of a scandalous nature was provided about the Prince and Mrs. Vanderbilt's relationship during their engagement. The Prince became a witness for Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in the trial, in an attempt to clear both of their names.
On 3 December 1930, Gottfried announced his engagement with Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark (1905–1981), eldest daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
and his wife, Princess Alice of Battenberg
. They were married on 20 April 1931 in Langenburg
. Both Princess Margarita and Prince Gottfried had common ancestors in Queen Victoria and Nicholas I of Russia
. In descent from Queen Victoria, Prince Gottfried was a second cousin of Princess Margarita's mother. In descent from Nicholas I, they were third cousins.
They had six children:
Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Hohenlohe-Langenburg was a German county of northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located around Langenburg. Hohenlohe-Neuenstein was partitioned into it, Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen and Hohenlohe-Kirchberg in 1701...
from 1950 until his death.
Early life
Gottfried was born at LangenburgLangenburg
Langenburg is a town in the district of Schwäbisch Hall, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on a hill above the river Jagst, 18 km northeast of Schwäbisch Hall...
, Kingdom of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
, the first child of Ernst II, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1863–1950), (son of Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Leopoldine of Baden) and his wife, Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1878–1942), (daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia). Through his mother he was descendant of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and Tsar Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
.
After the fall of the Imperial German monarchy in 1918, Gottfried continued to serve as a leader of the European aristocracy. He served in the German army in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, becoming severely injured at the Russian front. He was dismissed from the army after the abortive attempt on Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's life in 20 July 1944.
Marriage and issue
Gottfried had a brief engagement to the widow Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in 1927–28. During the Gloria VanderbiltGloria Vanderbilt
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt is an American artist, author, actress, heiress, and socialite most noted as an early developer of designer blue jeans...
custody trial in 1934, testimony of a scandalous nature was provided about the Prince and Mrs. Vanderbilt's relationship during their engagement. The Prince became a witness for Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in the trial, in an attempt to clear both of their names.
On 3 December 1930, Gottfried announced his engagement with Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark (1905–1981), eldest daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, was the seventh child and fourth son of King George I of Greece and Olga Constantinovna of Russia. He was a grandson of Christian IX of Denmark.He began military training at an early age, and was...
and his wife, Princess Alice of Battenberg
Princess Alice of Battenberg
Princess Alice of Battenberg, later Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark was the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and mother-in-law of Elizabeth II....
. They were married on 20 April 1931 in Langenburg
Langenburg
Langenburg is a town in the district of Schwäbisch Hall, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on a hill above the river Jagst, 18 km northeast of Schwäbisch Hall...
. Both Princess Margarita and Prince Gottfried had common ancestors in Queen Victoria and Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
. In descent from Queen Victoria, Prince Gottfried was a second cousin of Princess Margarita's mother. In descent from Nicholas I, they were third cousins.
They had six children:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A stillborn daughter | 3 December 1933 | 3 December 1933 | |
| Prince Kraft Alexander Ernst Ludwig Georg Emich, 9th Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg Kraft, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg Kraft, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the eldest son of Gottfried, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. He was the titular Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg from 1960 until his death.-Early life:... |
25 June 1935 | 16 March 2004 | Titled His Serene Highness |
| Princess Beatrix Alice Marie Melita Margarete of Hohenlohe-Langenburg | 10 June 1936 | 15 November 1997 | Titled Her Serene Highness |
| Prince Georg Andreas Heinrich of Hohenlohe-Langenburg | 24 November 1938 | Titled His Serene Highness | |
| Prince Rupprecht Sigismund Philipp Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg | 7 April 1944 | 8 April 1978 | Titled His Serene Highness |
| Prince Albrecht Wolfgang Christoph of Hohenlohe-Langenburg | 7 April 1944 | 23 April 1992 | Titled His Serene Highness |
Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
At the death of his father in 1950, Gottfried inherit the title of Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.Titles and styles
- 24 March 1897 – 11 December 1950: His Serene Highness Prince Gottfried of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- 11 December 1950 – 11 May 1960: His Serene Highness The Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Ancestry
Sources
- thePeerage.com — Gottfried Hermann Alfred Paul Maximilian Viktor VIII Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- Genealogics — Leo van de Pas — Gottfried, 8.Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- Queen Victoria's Descendants, New York, 1987, Eilers, Marlene A., Reference: 197