Prince Konstantin of Bavaria
Encyclopedia
Prince Konstantin of Bavaria (15 August 1920 – 30 July 1969) was a member of the Bavaria
n Royal House of Wittelsbach
, journalist, author and a German politician.
, Bavaria
. He was the eldest son of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria
and his wife Countess Auguste von Seefried auf Buttenheim.
In 1939, as most young German men of his age, the Prince was drafted to the military. However, his career in the German Army was short lived. In 1941, Prince Konstantin was relieved from all combat duties as a result of the so called Prinzenerlass
and a year later started studying law at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
in Freiburg im Breisgau. After his graduation in 1944, he worked at the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe
, but was arrested, as most of his relatives, after the failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remained imprisoned for the rest of World War II
.
and later on for the popular German magazine Bunte. In addition, in 1958 he published a biography of Pope Pius XII entitled Der Papst and three years later a historical reference book Ohne Macht und Herrlichkeit. He also became a member of the Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern
, one of the biggest political parties in Bavaria and was elected to the Bavarian state parliament in 1962 and in 1965 to the Bundestag
.
and Princess Margarete Karola of Saxony
. The wedding in Sigmaringen
has been described as "the biggest society event during the war" (i.e. World War II
). According to a contemporary, "a score of photographers and newsreel cameramen" were present at the procession from the castle.
The couple had two sons, but the marriage ended in divorce on 14 July 1948 and was annulled on 24 March 1950.
On 14 August 1953 Prince Konstantin married again, Countess Helene (Hella) von Khevenhüller-Metsch, the daughter of Count Franz von Khevenhüller-Metsch and Princess Anna von Fürstenberg. The civil ceremony took place at Sankt Georgen am Längsee
in Carinthia
and the religious wedding followed a day later at Hohenosterwitz. The couple had a daughter together.
, Baden-Württemberg
and is buried at the Andechs Abbey cemetery in Bavaria.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n Royal House of Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria.Members of the family served as Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria , Counts Palatine of the Rhine , Margraves of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland , Elector-Archbishops of Cologne , Dukes of...
, journalist, author and a German politician.
Early life
Konstantin was born in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. He was the eldest son of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria
Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1886-1970)
Prince Adalbert of Bavaria was a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach, historian, author and a German Ambassador to Spain.-Early life:Adalbert was born in at the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Bavaria...
and his wife Countess Auguste von Seefried auf Buttenheim.
In 1939, as most young German men of his age, the Prince was drafted to the military. However, his career in the German Army was short lived. In 1941, Prince Konstantin was relieved from all combat duties as a result of the so called Prinzenerlass
Prinzenerlass
Prinzenerlass was the name of a decree issued in 1940 by Adolf Hitler that prohibited all members of Germany's formerly reigning royal houses from joining or participating in any military operations in the Wehrmacht....
and a year later started studying law at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in Freiburg im Breisgau. After his graduation in 1944, he worked at the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
, but was arrested, as most of his relatives, after the failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remained imprisoned for the rest of 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...
.
Post WWII
After the war Prince Konstantin began working as a journalist at the Neu Revue magazine,Süddeutsche ZeitungSüddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
and later on for the popular German magazine Bunte. In addition, in 1958 he published a biography of Pope Pius XII entitled Der Papst and three years later a historical reference book Ohne Macht und Herrlichkeit. He also became a member of the Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
, one of the biggest political parties in Bavaria and was elected to the Bavarian state parliament in 1962 and in 1965 to the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
.
Marriage
On 26 August 1942 Prince Konstantin married Princess Maria Adelgunde of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, the daughter of Prince Friedrich von Hohenzollern-SigmaringenFriedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern
Frederick, Prince of Hohenzollern He was the eldest son of William, Prince of Hohenzollern and Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies...
and Princess Margarete Karola of Saxony
Princess Margarete Karola of Saxony
Princess Margarete Karola Wilhelmine Viktoria Adelheid Albertine Petrusa Bertram Paula of Saxony, Duchess of Saxony was the fifth...
. The wedding in Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen is a town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the upper Danube, it is the capital of the Sigmaringen district....
has been described as "the biggest society event during the war" (i.e. 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...
). According to a contemporary, "a score of photographers and newsreel cameramen" were present at the procession from the castle.
The couple had two sons, but the marriage ended in divorce on 14 July 1948 and was annulled on 24 March 1950.
- Prince Leopold of BavariaPrince Leopold of Bavaria (b. 1943)Prince Leopold of Bavaria is a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach and a former champion race car driver.-Early life & racing career:...
(b. 1943) - Prince Adalbert of BavariaPrince Adalbert of Bavaria (b. 1944)Prince Adalbert of Bavaria is a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach.-Early life:Adalbert was born in Krauchenwies in Baden-Württemberg and is the second son of Prince Konstantin of Bavaria and his first wife Princess Maria Adelgunde of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.-Marriage:On 9 May...
(b. 1944)
On 14 August 1953 Prince Konstantin married again, Countess Helene (Hella) von Khevenhüller-Metsch, the daughter of Count Franz von Khevenhüller-Metsch and Princess Anna von Fürstenberg. The civil ceremony took place at Sankt Georgen am Längsee
Sankt Georgen am Längsee
Sankt Georgen am Längsee is a town in the district of Sankt Veit an der Glan in Carinthia in Austria.-References:...
in Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
and the religious wedding followed a day later at Hohenosterwitz. The couple had a daughter together.
- Princess Ysabel of Bavaria (b. 1954)
Death
Prince Konstantin of Bavaria lost his life on 30 July 1969 in a plane crash near HechingenHechingen
Hechingen is a town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated about south of the state capital of Stuttgart and north of Lake Constance and the Swiss border.- City districts :...
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
and is buried at the Andechs Abbey cemetery in Bavaria.
Ancestry
Published works
- Nach der Sintflut. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - Bergisch Gladbach : Lübbe, 1988
- Nach der Sintflut. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - München : Süddeutscher Verlag, 1986
- Papst Pius XII. [der Zwölfte], Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - Stein am Rhein : Christiana-Verlag, 1980, 38. - 42. Tsd.
- Des Königs schönste Damen. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - München : Süddeutscher Verlag, 1980
- Prinz und Demokrat. Konstantin von Bayern. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - München : Langen/Müller, 1970
- Die Zukunft sichern. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - Stuttgart-Degerloch : Seewald, 1969
- Ohne Macht und Herrlichkeit. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - München : List, 1961
- Der Papst. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - [Gütersloh] : Bertelsmann Lesering, 1959
- Der Papst. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - München : Kindler, 1958, 27. - 29. Tsd.
- Der Papst. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern - Frankfurt/M. : Ullstein Taschenbücher-Verl., 1958