© P. STEWART of GLENCAIRN MMIX
BATTENBERG HISTORY
The origins of the Mountbatten family was borne from the Battenbergs - themselves a cadet branch of the Grand Ducal House of Hesse-Darmstandt, later Hesse By the Rhine. The reason for the creation of the Battenberg dynasty was the decision of HGDH Prince Alexander of Hesse & By the Rhine, GCB (1823-1888), the son of HRH Grand Duke Louis II of Hesse & By the Rhine (1777-1848) wished to marry Countess Julia VON Hauke (1825-1895), a Polish commoner, who was lady-in-waiting to his sister - HIM Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna, formerly HGDH Princess Marie of Hesse & By the Rhine (1824-1880).
Prince Alexander’s brother - HRH Grand Duke Louis III of Hesse & By the Rhine, KG (1806-1877) was unhappy at his new sister-in-law’s lowly status and created his sister-in-law (and any children of the union) “Countess of Battenberg” with the qualification of “Illustrious Highness” on 5th November 1851 and subsequently was advanced to the title “Princess of Battenberg” with the qualification of “Serene Highness” on 26th December 1858.
Therefore their children soon were to become Prince and Princesses of Battenberg - but being the product of a morganatic marriage, they were not in the order of succession to the Throne of the Grand Ducal House of Hesse & By the Rhine.
HDGH Prince Alexander of Hesse & By the Rhine
(1823-1888)
Countess Julia VON Hauke -
HSH The Princess of Battenberg
(1825-1895)
Following such strong opposition, Countess Julia VON Hauke and Prince Alexander arranged to leave the Russian Court and eloped. They were married on 28th October 1851 in Breslau, Prussian Silesia (now Wroclaw in Poland). In view of the marriage being unequal in social rank and status, the marriage was considered “morganatic”.
The Arms of the Grand Duchy of Hesse & By The Rhine
As a mere Countess and not of Royal birth, VON Hauke - who met her future husband at the Imperial Court at St. Petersburg, she was therefore deemed unsuitable as a consort to a Royal Prince and there was lots of opposition to the union. The Tsar (HIM Tsar Alexander II, KG (1818-1881)) was against the relationship and refused to give his consent for his ward to marry Prince Alexander - who was a distinguished soldier and served in the Russian Army with great distinction.
