Princess Elisa Radziwiłł – The considerations of rank and birth (Part five)

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!”¹

On 13 February 1825, Wilhelm had to travel on to Russia. However, when he went to say goodbye to Elisa, he was in such a rush that he hit his head on a low door and suffered a concussion. His departure had to be postponed, and he later wrote in his diary, “Head and elbow bandaged. 9 a.m. Breakfast. Cared for all evening by Elisa, my aunt, and Wanda. What a beautiful hour I experienced, so unexpectedly, with dear Elisa! Indescribably happy in those hours!!! My friend Thekla reported that the Princess had explained to her father that the misfortune was all the more regrettable since I and all of us were headed for such great happiness.”² Wilhelm enjoyed an extra day with Elisa but left the following day against medical advice. Instead of going to Russia, he returned to Berlin, where he endured medical treatments with leeches.³ He wrote to his sister Charlotte, “These intimate conversations with a being whom one had loved silently but deeply and with all one’s soul for so long, from whom one had been painfully and sorrowfully separated for five years, during which time one only got to know each other through letters, only to suddenly see oneself so reunited and at the end of one’s journey, where trust and confidence grew with every hour, and one got to know each other anew.”⁴

Elisa was undergoing a similar fate in Poznań. She had overexerted herself and fell ill with a fever and tonsillitis. She felt better when she learned that Wilhelm had recovered and they exchanged letters.⁵ As Elisa lay ill, rumours began to spread that a marriage between her and Wilhelm was now imminent.⁶ On his 28th birthday, Wilhelm wrote to Elisa, “Yes! My dearest Elisa, let us eternally recognise what God has done for us! He has reunited us after a long, meaningful separation. He will lead us united through the rest of our lives if we remain faithful to Him. Forever yours, W.”⁷

Wilhelm had hoped that his father would use his birthday to announce his engagement to Elisa. However, the King had been alarmed by the rumours, and he was still awaiting expert opinions on whether the adoption by August would be enough to ensure equal rank.⁸ When this finally came, it was not good. Time again passed without a solution.

In October 1825, Wilhelm wrote to Elisa, “Since we experienced the beautiful days of February, words can no longer express what our hearts feel… remember the beautiful hours that united us, and the feelings that ablaze us in those few moments, then you will know and understand what I have to say to you – Forever your faithful friend Wilhelm.”⁹ The following month, Wilhelm and his younger brother, Charles, were sent to Weimar to meet Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and her younger sister, Augusta. Charles married Marie in May 1827, but her family was reluctant because they did not approve of Elisa. Wilhelm now realised that his brother’s fate was linked to his own.¹⁰

After Emperor Alexander I of Russia died on 1 December 1825, Wilhelm was chosen to go to St Petersburg.¹¹ He left in early January shortly after receiving a letter from Elisa. She wrote, “I cannot see the departing year with its sweet memories come to an end without sending you a greeting of love and a word of thanks…”¹² On his way to St Petersburg, Wilhelm travelled via Poznań, arriving there on 8 January. He later wrote, “Halfway up the stairs, Auntie and Elisa!!! Oh God, what a moment of joyful reunion!”¹³ He added, “And then stayed alone with Elisa until 3 o’clock. Ah! What blissful moments! Past, love, fidelity, future. Blessed moments! Memories of earlier beautiful years and the beginning of our love – 1818 to 19 and 19 to 20.”¹⁴ He could only stay for 12 hours before travelling on to St. Petersburg.

The following day, Elisa wrote, “Good God, I don’t know where to begin, which impression to share with you first. The main thing is this: Yesterday my Wilhelm was here; yesterday I experienced the sweetest hours with him and through him. At midnight he departed again, in truly terrible cold. After 12, we accompanied him to the carriage. It was a stormy night and 15 degrees Celsius. In front of the door, he said goodbye once more and then got in with General Thile.”¹⁵ He would stay in St Petersburg for almost four months, and he would not be allowed to visit her on the return journey.¹⁶

In June 1826, experts gathered once more to decide on the adoption. Wilhelm’s elder brother had not had children with his wife, and so it seemed likely that Wilhelm and his descendants would one day ascend to the throne, making his marriage even more important. King Frederick William was fed up with all the trouble, and decided to forbid the marriage definitively. An official letter was drawn up; copies were sent to Elisa’s mother and to Wilhelm. On 26 June, Wilhelm wrote in his diary, “I couldn’t believe it and had to compose myself to read it!! – with what effort. I was annihilated. I thought I was going to lose my mind! Oh God! So it had to come to this!! He willed it! His will be done on earth. He will sustain me. He blesses – Elisa! for eternity. Amen.”¹⁷

His father had written, “With a heavy heart, dear Wilhelm, I finally have taken up my pen to answer your letter of February 12th of this year, in which you requested that the agnatic consensus for the adoption of Princess Elisa Radziwiłł be limited with full legal effect to the major members of our House. I had deemed it necessary to subject that request to a thorough examination beforehand and to submit it to several of the highest state officials for review. Enclosed you will find the individual votes… and you will be assured that the matter was discussed impartially and with calm deliberation.

“Then, after this, the result was not favorable to your wishes, then, after careful consideration, I agree with the opinion expressed by the overwhelming majority out of my own conviction and sense of duty, and thus finally, I must tell you without reservation, however difficult it may be for me, the matter must hereby be considered completely exhausted and concluded, then I hope you will find yourself all the more resigned to your fate, as I believe I have proven to you in every way that I would gladly have found a suitable way out that would have allowed the fulfillment of your wishes, provided that the interests of our house could be preserved unharmed.

“The most I can reproach myself for is that, out of love for you, I repeatedly delayed the final decision… And that, because it concerned a matter worthy of you—with that, Elisa was dismissed.

“I wholeheartedly share your pain, but I also place my firm trust in you that you will fight against it and, through steadfastness and resignation, respecting the power of circumstances, lessen the sorrow I myself feel on this occasion. I will inform Princess Louise of my decision myself and enclose a copy of this letter. May God strengthen and comfort you! F. W.”¹⁸

Part six coming soon.

1. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.147
2. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.148
3. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.149
4. Prinz Wilhelm von Preußen an Charlotte: Briefe 1817-1860 p.105
5. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.149
6. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.149
7. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.151
8. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.152
9. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.159
10. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.162
11. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.164
12. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.165
13. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.165
14. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.166
15. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.167
16. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.169
17. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.172
18. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.172-174