| The Last Saxon King |
Many of the Wettin rulers had tell-tale names: Konrad the Great, Otto the Rich, Albrecht the Proud,
Albrecht the Degenerate, Dietrich the Hard Pressed, Heinrich the Illustrious, Johann the Steadfast,
Albert the Resolute, George the Bearded, Heinrich the Pious, Johann Friedrich the Magnanious,
Anton the Kind and a bunch of Friedrichs: Friedrich the Just, Friedrich the Bitten, Friedrich the
Serious, Friedrich the Belligerant, Friedrich the Gentle, Friedrich the Wise, Friedrich the Strong and
Friedrich the Strict. All of those adjectives had to end somewhere, and so they did, with the last
Wettin, Friedrich lll (Friedrich August III Johann Ludwig Karl Gustav Gregor Philipp) of Saxony.
Albrecht the Degenerate, Dietrich the Hard Pressed, Heinrich the Illustrious, Johann the Steadfast,
Albert the Resolute, George the Bearded, Heinrich the Pious, Johann Friedrich the Magnanious,
Anton the Kind and a bunch of Friedrichs: Friedrich the Just, Friedrich the Bitten, Friedrich the
Serious, Friedrich the Belligerant, Friedrich the Gentle, Friedrich the Wise, Friedrich the Strong and
Friedrich the Strict. All of those adjectives had to end somewhere, and so they did, with the last
Wettin, Friedrich lll (Friedrich August III Johann Ludwig Karl Gustav Gregor Philipp) of Saxony.
Friedrich (the Last), 1865 to 1932, was the oldest son of King Georg I of
Saxony and his wife Infanta Maria Ana of Portugal. His father had educated his
children systematically with fear and tight discipline. In 1891, Friedrich married
lively, young Luise of Toscana, daughter of Ferdinando IV, Grand Duke of
Tuscany. The old King was not be fond of his son's new wife.
Saxony and his wife Infanta Maria Ana of Portugal. His father had educated his
children systematically with fear and tight discipline. In 1891, Friedrich married
lively, young Luise of Toscana, daughter of Ferdinando IV, Grand Duke of
Tuscany. The old King was not be fond of his son's new wife.
Castle Sybillenort was nearly completely destroyed by the Red Army before Breslau was given to Poland after
World War Two. The family funds of the Haus Wettin were greatly diminished as well. Dresden was in ruins along
with the other Saxon cities and then sent under communist slavery. However, the Saxon royal family still lives
and remains significantly honored. When the Berlin wall fell in 1989, the royal family led the parade in Dresden
celebrating liberation from the communist regime.
World War Two. The family funds of the Haus Wettin were greatly diminished as well. Dresden was in ruins along
with the other Saxon cities and then sent under communist slavery. However, the Saxon royal family still lives
and remains significantly honored. When the Berlin wall fell in 1989, the royal family led the parade in Dresden
celebrating liberation from the communist regime.
In the beginning of World War One, Friedrich supported participation but soon questioned it. Once
he asked a soldier how long he had been fighting in the war. The soldier answered: "From the very
beginning, your majesty." He replied: "So you have enough of it, too." He abdicated on November
13, 1918 after the defeat of Germany in World War One, in which his sons bravely served in the
military. He had forbidden his soldiers the use of firearms against revolutionaries during the
November Revolution. He was the only German royal that only renounced his own rights for the
throne, but not his family's rights.
he asked a soldier how long he had been fighting in the war. The soldier answered: "From the very
beginning, your majesty." He replied: "So you have enough of it, too." He abdicated on November
13, 1918 after the defeat of Germany in World War One, in which his sons bravely served in the
military. He had forbidden his soldiers the use of firearms against revolutionaries during the
November Revolution. He was the only German royal that only renounced his own rights for the
throne, but not his family's rights.
When Luise first met her future husband, he was a handsome, 21 year old
Crown Prince wearing his light blue Hussar uniform with kind eyes and a
pleasant disposition. Luise bore three sons and three daughters in quick
succession, but already found herself with very little personal freedom. Women
of the high aristocracy at the time were beginning to release themselves from
patriarchal rule, as was society in general, but Luise was surrounded by
expectations she found difficulty meeting and an overbearing father-in-law.
Crown Prince wearing his light blue Hussar uniform with kind eyes and a
pleasant disposition. Luise bore three sons and three daughters in quick
succession, but already found herself with very little personal freedom. Women
of the high aristocracy at the time were beginning to release themselves from
patriarchal rule, as was society in general, but Luise was surrounded by
expectations she found difficulty meeting and an overbearing father-in-law.
If Luise wore a bathing suit to go swimming with her sons and a crowd
gathered, or if she rode a bicycle or took a ride on the streetcar, she would get
"room detention" with a guard outside of her room courtesy of her father-in-
law. Her little Princes were not "normal" children, she was reminded, they
belonged to the state, and her role with them was limited. Soon, her frustrations
mounted. Some claimed that she was simply suffering from depression and
instability which accounted for her alleged loose morals and insubordinate
behavior. In any case, Luise's drama would entertained the press for many
years. Happier times, left
gathered, or if she rode a bicycle or took a ride on the streetcar, she would get
"room detention" with a guard outside of her room courtesy of her father-in-
law. Her little Princes were not "normal" children, she was reminded, they
belonged to the state, and her role with them was limited. Soon, her frustrations
mounted. Some claimed that she was simply suffering from depression and
instability which accounted for her alleged loose morals and insubordinate
behavior. In any case, Luise's drama would entertained the press for many
years. Happier times, left
Shortly before Christmas of 1902, and following an affair with her childrens'
Belgium tutor André Girons, Kronprinzessin Luise of Saxony abandoned her
children and husband and fled into Switzerland with her lover, not only freeing
herself from the serious obligations of royalty, but from the monotony and
boredom of daily life. She was pregnant with her youngest daughter. After the
separation, however, freedom did not come easily. Although King Georg
allowed the separation in 1903, the high regional court in Leipzig ruled that
Anna Pia Monica, Luise's youngest daughter, legitimatized by her husband
although thought to be born of her liaison with Girons, was still a duchess of
Saxony and therefore had to be sent back to Dresden. The secret service sent
educators to get the child. Luise tried to visit her children in December, 1904,
but it was in vain since the police had the building surrounded.
Luise and Andre, left
Belgium tutor André Girons, Kronprinzessin Luise of Saxony abandoned her
children and husband and fled into Switzerland with her lover, not only freeing
herself from the serious obligations of royalty, but from the monotony and
boredom of daily life. She was pregnant with her youngest daughter. After the
separation, however, freedom did not come easily. Although King Georg
allowed the separation in 1903, the high regional court in Leipzig ruled that
Anna Pia Monica, Luise's youngest daughter, legitimatized by her husband
although thought to be born of her liaison with Girons, was still a duchess of
Saxony and therefore had to be sent back to Dresden. The secret service sent
educators to get the child. Luise tried to visit her children in December, 1904,
but it was in vain since the police had the building surrounded.
Luise and Andre, left
Friedrich was a loving father and raised his
children alone. He succeeded his father as
monarch in 1904, and Saxony's economy and
cultural life flourished under his reign. He was
very popular and respected. He spoke
endearingly to the people in the Saxon dialect.
He was honest, forthright and down to earth,
as a speech he made during a ceremony for a
new bridge indicates. His only words were:
"Let's walk over it."
children alone. He succeeded his father as
monarch in 1904, and Saxony's economy and
cultural life flourished under his reign. He was
very popular and respected. He spoke
endearingly to the people in the Saxon dialect.
He was honest, forthright and down to earth,
as a speech he made during a ceremony for a
new bridge indicates. His only words were:
"Let's walk over it."
He went to his Castle Sybillenort near Breslau and
lived there happily until his death. Over 200,000
people followed his coffin through Dresden after it
was transferred by the railroad in a special train to
the city where he was buried in the family grave of
the house of Wettin. Thus with his death, ended the
rule of the House of Wettin. Still popular, even now
people leave flowers at his sarcophagus
lived there happily until his death. Over 200,000
people followed his coffin through Dresden after it
was transferred by the railroad in a special train to
the city where he was buried in the family grave of
the house of Wettin. Thus with his death, ended the
rule of the House of Wettin. Still popular, even now
people leave flowers at his sarcophagus
Anna Monica Pia was eventually taken into exile by her mother after becoming the subject of one of
the greatest custody battles of the twentieth century. The other children would be allowed to connect
with their mother only at adult age. Luise herself was popular with the people, and before long,
postcards with her image were circulated all over the world. In September, 1907 Luise caused further
scandal by marrying the composer Enrico Toselli, thirteen years her junior, bearing him a son and
becoming a countess. They divorced in five years, and Toselli gained custody of the son. He later
wrote a book about his marriage and life with Luise. Luise died in March, 1947 in her dwelling in
Brussels, completely impoverished after being cut off from any financial support due to the war and
separated from her children. She could have been last queen of Saxony. Instead she sold flowers
from a cart for food money.
the greatest custody battles of the twentieth century. The other children would be allowed to connect
with their mother only at adult age. Luise herself was popular with the people, and before long,
postcards with her image were circulated all over the world. In September, 1907 Luise caused further
scandal by marrying the composer Enrico Toselli, thirteen years her junior, bearing him a son and
becoming a countess. They divorced in five years, and Toselli gained custody of the son. He later
wrote a book about his marriage and life with Luise. Luise died in March, 1947 in her dwelling in
Brussels, completely impoverished after being cut off from any financial support due to the war and
separated from her children. She could have been last queen of Saxony. Instead she sold flowers
from a cart for food money.
Friedrich August III. and his children
| The Waning Wettins |
The House of Wettin, a royal German dynasty, lasted longer than every other German dynasty and
was in power for 829 years, the longest time any European house ruled a country. For centuries, the
German states known today as Saxony and Thuringia were ruled by the Wettins. Some of the Wettin
line also ruled Poland and formed part of the ruling houses of Great Britain, Portugal, Bulgaria and
Belgium. There is a legend that the family descended from Wittekind, but the oldest recorded
member of the House of Wettin was Thiedericus (died 982). It was around the year 1000 that the
family acquired Wettin Castle on the Saale River in Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt and changed their name
to reflect the name of their territory. Heinrich of Eilenburg was given the title of Margrave by the
emperor in 1089 and he was the first Wettin who would reign as either margrave, duke, elector or
king for the next 829 years.
was in power for 829 years, the longest time any European house ruled a country. For centuries, the
German states known today as Saxony and Thuringia were ruled by the Wettins. Some of the Wettin
line also ruled Poland and formed part of the ruling houses of Great Britain, Portugal, Bulgaria and
Belgium. There is a legend that the family descended from Wittekind, but the oldest recorded
member of the House of Wettin was Thiedericus (died 982). It was around the year 1000 that the
family acquired Wettin Castle on the Saale River in Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt and changed their name
to reflect the name of their territory. Heinrich of Eilenburg was given the title of Margrave by the
emperor in 1089 and he was the first Wettin who would reign as either margrave, duke, elector or
king for the next 829 years.
