| H.H.
PRINCESS EDWARD of SAXE-WEIMAR-EISENACH
(1827-1904) |
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Introduction
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Lady Augusta Catherine Gordon Lennox was born at Goodwood on January 14th, 1827, the daughter of the 5th Duke of Richmond and his wife, Lady Caroline Paget. She married in London on November 27th, 1851, His Highness Prince Wilhelm August Eduard (Edward) of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
Prince Edward had been born at Bushey Park on October 11th, 1823, the son of Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar by his wife, Princess Ida of Saxe-Meiningen. Princess Ida was the sister of Queen Adelaide, the Consort of King William IV. Having no children of their own, William and Adelaide brought up Edward as their own and he was, therefore, effectively regarded as a first-cousin to Queen Victoria. By coincidence, Elizabeth Brodie, Duchess of Gordon was a close friend of Queen Adelaide. Although Augusta was the daughter of a Duke who was one of the richest landowners in Britain, the marriage was not regarded as being of equal status by Prince Edward's German family. The Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar (Edward's uncle) strictly observed the rules of marriage and the concept of ebenbürtigkeit (equality of birth) which stated that members of reigning families could only marry amongst themselves. Consequently, the marriage was morganatic and the Grand Duke conferred the title of Countess von Dornburg on Augusta the day before the marriage. Queen Victoria regarded this as absurd and decreed that, in Britain, Augusta should be styled Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar.
Prince Edward rose to the rank of Field Marshal in the British Army and was Colonel of the 1st Life Guards. He served as the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland for a time for which he was made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. Prince and Princess Edward were regular visitors to Gordon Castle and are affectionately mentioned in The Gordon Book. Prince Edward died in London on November 16th, 1902. Princess Edward died on April 3rd, 1904. They had no children. |
