germany

Read part five here. After receiving his father’s decision, Wilhelm wrote to his sister, “My dearest, precious Charlotte! Oh! Why can’t I be with you in this terrible moment? Why can’t I rush to you right now, to weep my heart out against your sensitive heart, which understands me so completely! It’s all over! – [read more]

Read part four here. Now that their engagement was official, Wilhelm was happy. Years later, he wrote, “We considered ourselves completely as a married couple, because with her my life became a life I had never known before!” On 13 February 1825, Wilhelm had to travel on to Russia. However, when he went to say [read more]

Read part three here. King Frederick William III found himself in an impossible situation. He wrote to his sister Charlotte, “I still don’t know how all this is going to end.” Meanwhile, the Crown Prince wanted to marry Princess Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, but in their situation, there was a religious difference. After many years [read more]

Read part two here. Behind the scenes, Wilhelm’s father kept seeking advice about a possible match between his son and Elisa. Nevertheless, members of the court hoped that Wilhelm would simply find another woman, and the problem would go away on its own. Privy Councillor von Raumer said, “May this marriage never take place!” Wilhelm [read more]

Read part one here. Wilhelm’s father also realised his interest in Elisa, and they discussed the matter in August 1820. Wilhelm wrote to his sister, “Just as I was about to speak to Schilden about this on the afternoon of the 6th on Peacock Island, he confronted me, saying he wanted to speak to me [read more]

Princess Elisa Radziwiłł was born on 28 October 1803 as the fourth of eight children of Prince Antoni Henryk Radziwiłł and Princess Louise of Prussia, a niece of Frederick the Great. Elisa’s siblings were: Wilhelm (born 1797 – died 1870), Ferdinand (born 1798 – died 1827), Louise (born 1799 – died 1808), Bogusław (born 1809 [read more]