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

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.”¹ Meanwhile, the Crown Prince wanted to marry Princess Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, but in their situation, there was a religious difference. After many years of back-and-forth, Elisabeth promised to take lessons and convert in her own time. On 29 November 1823, Crown Prince Frederick William married Princess Elisabeth. Frederick William told his brother, “May God grant you the same happiness!”² The Crown Prince also managed to enrage his father when he informed him that the new Crown Princess was a direct descendant of the Radziwiłł family.³ She was a descendant of Bogusław Radziwiłł whose mother was a Princess of Brandenburg.

Elisa’s father was deeply affected by what he considered a slight to his house. He travelled to Russia to ask Emperor Alexander to intervene on his daughter’s behalf. When he returned to Berlin, he presented Crown Prince Frederick William with 12 documents proving his house’s equal standing.⁴ However, the Ministry of the Household was concerned only with the German imperial status.⁵

In the autumn of 1823, Wilhelm visited Elisa in Poznań while he was travelling to Russia to visit his sister, Charlotte. Charlotte had spoken to him immediately about Elisa. It seemed that the Russian imperial family had little objection to Elisa.⁶ From St Petersburg, Wilhelm congratulated Elisa on her 20th birthday. He also regretted that another year had passed without them being any closer to their dream. He wrote to his aunt, “After all, I could have made a different choice. But among the many I met, I found not a single one of equal worth to the chosen one. And even if I were ever to find a second angelic soul, would she then also give back, a second time, all the power and magic of first love?”⁷

On the first day of 1824, Wilhelm wrote in his diary, “Sorrowful, without hope of domestic happiness, without possessing you, Elisa, without seeing you, the year begins!”⁸ The following month, he wrote a long letter to his father, explaining that a life without Elisa in it would be considered inconceivable. This was followed by a letter from Elisa’s mother, Princess Louise, who wrote, “After two anxious years, I feel compelled to break a silence which I had imposed upon myself out of a sense of duty and faithful, heartfelt devotion to Your Majesty.”⁹

King Frederick William did not respond, as he wanted to wait until his eldest son had an heir.¹⁰ In June, he ordered a commission to look into the matter, although he realised that the Radziwiłłs would be convinced of the outcome anyway. The outcome disappointed Wilhelm as it was just four pages in large print. It contained only opinions, and so Wilhelm would need to await his father’s judgement.¹¹

In the summer of 1824, King Frederick William visited Ruhberg Castle, where Elisa and her family were living. Elisa later wrote that she had done everything she could to please the King. When he left, he kissed her hand, leaving Elisa to wonder what that meant. Back in Berlin, it seemed that the King was on his son’s side again. Elisa had left a good impression on him. Perhaps his own decision to remarry had influenced this as well.¹² On 9 November 1824, King Frederick William married Auguste von Harrach, who was created Princess of Liegnitz. By then, Elisa had celebrated her 21st birthday and another year had passed.

Prince Wittgenstein presumably suggested that Elisa could be adopted into a suitable house, which would grant her the rank required to marry Wilhelm. This led to the rumour that Elisa’s mother was not the daughter of Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia but rather the daughter of Count von Schmettau, a family friend.¹³ However, King Frederick William had to consider the option of adoption.

He presented the petition for adoption to his son-in-law, Grand Duke Nicholas, to present to his father, Emperor Alexander. The Emperor immediately rejected the request. He wrote to King Frederick William explaining that the adoption would be impossible as it would offend his brother, Constantine, whose unequal wife he had refused to adopt. He offered up the idea of admitting the House of Radziwiłł into the German Confederation, but this was opposed. The King then considered asking the Habsburgs but rejected the idea because of the unwelcome political consequences. At the end of December, he proposed creating Elisa’s father Duke of Krakow. This was also rejected. Elisa’s uncle, Prince August of Prussia, also offered to adopt his niece.¹⁴

Princess Louise reluctantly accepted her brother’s offer; they had not gotten along for many years. Wilhelm had remained unaware of the adoption plans, but when he learned that Elisa had consented, he agreed as well. However, Crown Prince Frederick William unexpectedly opposed the adoption. August was a notorious rogue; there had to be other options.¹⁵

While the adoption was pending, Wilhelm was allowed to travel to Poznań to see Elisa on his way to Russia. They had not seen each other for three years. He wrote, ” What an awakening! Prayer! Thanks that I am here near her. At 9:30 to my aunt’s. Elisa!!! The others! – What a feeling! Breakfast together. Spoken with E. Into her room! Album, drawings. Remembrance! Blessed! – She has also matured through the time of trials! In heart, mind, and soul too! – Speechless, when Elisa held my hand in hers! What an expression, what bearing! It is over with God’s help!!! What anxious years those were! I was trembling with fever! Now what happiness to find her like this! Inwardly, outwardly!… Tears of joy brought me back to myself! Prayer! O God, how I praise your inscrutable ways! Amen!”¹⁶ Wilhelm proposed to her, and she said yes.¹⁷

Part five 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.111
2. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.112
3. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.118
4. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.113
5. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.114
6. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.114
7. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.115
8. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.119
9. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.120
10. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.121
11. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.123
12. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.130-131
13. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.137
14. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.139
15. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.141
16. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.143
17. Auf der ganzen Welt nur sie die verbotene Liebe zwischen Prinzessin Elisa Radziwiłł und Wilhelm von Preußen by Dagmar von Gersdorff p.146