Marie of Hessen-Darmstadt (1874–1878)

Princess Marie in 1878

Princess Marie Viktoria Feodore Leopoldine of Hesse and the Rhine (* May 24, 1874 in the New Palace in Darmstadt ; † November 16, 1878 there ) was the youngest daughter of Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ludwig IV , the Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine . Her mother was the second daughter of the British Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha .

She died of diphtheria when she was only four years old and was buried with her mother, who died of the same disease just weeks later. In 1910, the remains of Princess Marie and Grand Duchess Alice were moved to the newly completed New Mausoleum of the Grand Ducal Family in the Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt.

Life

She had six older siblings, Viktoria , Elisabeth , Irene , Ernst , Friedrich (who died in a lintel a year before she was born) and Alix .

When she was still a baby, her mother noticed in a letter that Marie looked very much like her dead brother Friedrich and had light skin, light brown hair and deep blue eyes. As she got older she smiled frequently and reminded Alice strongly of Marie's oldest sister Victoria. Marie and her sister Alix, who was two years older, hardly looked alike and were quite a contrast to one another. Marie was called " May " by her family .

Marie (right) and her sister Alix

Despite the differences between the two sisters, Alix was her constant companion. The two girls were even dressed alike. When the family enjoyed a trip to the seaside in the summer of 1877, the two youngest girls gave their mother so much joy that Alice sent photos to her mother Victoria and wrote that “the two little girls are so sweet, so sweet, happy and nice are that she doesn't even know which one is best ”.

Family tragedy

In 1878, the grand ducal family suffered a great misfortune. When Marie's sister Victoria later described the scene, she said that on the evening of November 5th, when the family had gathered, she got a stiff neck. Victoria reported the symptoms to her mother, who thought it might be mumps . Victoria still felt well enough to read Alice in Wonderland . While her mother was talking to her friend Katie Macbean nearby, Marie jumped up and asked her mother if she could have more cake. Her siblings asked Miss Macbean to play the piano for them so they could dance. They danced for half an hour and went to bed in high spirits.

The next morning Viktoria was diagnosed with diphtheria, and six days later also six-year-old Alix. Princess Alice had a steam inhaler brought into her room to prevent the seriously ill Alix from suffocating. Hours later, Princess Marie ran into her mother's room, crawled into bed and kissed her. In the afternoon, Marie also developed symptoms of the disease and a high fever. White spots and a white membrane covered the back of her throat. The next day her sister Irene also fell ill and on November 14th her brother Ernst and her father also fell ill. Elisabeth was the only child who did not get infected, as she was sent to her paternal grandmother . Alice and the doctors cared for the family around the clock. On the morning of November 16, 1878, Marie suffocated from the membrane in her throat. The deeply sad Alice held her daughter's body and kissed Marie's face and hands. She watched as Marie's coffin on wheels was brought to the family mausoleum.

Alice hid Marie's death for weeks from her other sick children, who had asked about her and wanted to bring toys to their little sister. At the beginning of December, the other children were finally told that Marie had died. Ten-year-old Ernst didn't believe the news at first and then burst into tears. His mother hugged and kissed him, despite the risk of infection. On December 7th, Alice developed diphtheria herself. She died on the morning of December 14th. The other children survived the disease.

Alice was buried next to Marie. A statue of Joseph Boehm showing Marie in her mother's arms was placed next to the grave.

Web links

Commons : Marie von Hessen-Darmstadt (1874–1878)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ All About Royal Families - Princess Marie of Hesse (English)
2. ↑ Unofficial Royalty (English)
3. ↑ Unofficial Royalty (English)