#frittie of hesse

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

The Children of Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse and Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland as Babies

Victoria, Elisabeth, Irene, Ernst Louise, Friedrich, Alix, Marie

[duchesssoflennox]

TRAGEDIES OF PRINCE FRIEDRICH'S DEATH 😭💔

In late May 1873, 5-year-old Ernest and 2-year-old Friedrich, The only sons of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, were playing together in their mother's bedroom.

Ernst ran to another room, which was set at right angles to Alice's bedroom and peered through the window at his younger brother.Alice ran to get Ernst away from the window. When she was out of the room, Friedrich climbed onto a chair next to an open window in his mother's bedroom to get a closer look at his brother.

The chair tipped over and Friedrich tumbled through the window, falling 20 feet (6.1 m) to the balustrade below. He survived the fall and may have lived had he not had haemophilia. He died hours later of a brain hemorrhage💔

The tragic death of little Friedrich devastated his entire family... especially his mother and his beloved brother Ernest...

Following Friedrich's death, his distraught mother princess alice often prayed at his grave and marked anniversaries of small events in his life.

Prince Ernest was deeply affected by the death of his younger brother Prince Friedrich of Hesse, he was inconsolable and said to his mother "When I die, you must die too, and all the others. Why can't we all die together? I don't want to die alone, like Frittie." He also blamed himself for his brother's death and felt guilty for the rest of his life. He later wrote in his memoirs, "I have never been able to rid myself of the impression that I was to blame for my brother's death."

Three years after Friedrich's death, on January 22, 1876, Princess Alice noted in a letter to her mother, Queen Victoria: Yesterday morning Ernie came in to me and said, "mama, i had a beautiful dream; shall i tell you? I dreamed that i was dead and was gone up to heaven and there i asked god to let me have Frittie again, and he came to me and took my hand."😭

Of course, this wasn't the last tragedy of Prince Ernest's life, In the near future, he witnessed the heartbreaking death of his mother and little sister due to diphtheria, the death of his beloved daughter Elisabeth due to typhoid fever, and finally the brutal death of his two beloved sisters, Elizabeth and Alix by Russian revolutionaries... 😭😭😭

[loiladadiani]

Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and By Rhine, surrounded by his sisters

Ernest was always given a lot of support by his sisters, probably because of the trauma he underwent when his little brother Frittie died while playing with him and because of the death of his mother, who, as per the sources, caught diphtheria after giving him a kiss to console him for the death of his sister May of the same disease. Later on, he lost his little daughter Elizabeth which must have been devastating for him. But he had the love and support of his sisters, and Nicholas II seems to have also been very fond of him. As we know, there were further losses down the road. His beautiful sisters Grand Duchess Elizabeth (wearing her nun's habit in the photo) and Empress Alexandra, were murdered by the Bolsheviks.

Ernie might have been born into a life of privilege and riches, but the extent of the tragedy he experienced in his life is unimaginable.

In addition to Elizabeth and Alexandra, his sisters Irene (Princess Heinrich) and Victoria appear in the photograph.

And since all Romanov roads lead to Prince Phillip, please note that Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, born Victoria of Hesse, and By Rhine (older sister of Empress Alexandra) was Prince Phillip's maternal grandmother. So he had Hessian blood as well.

[romanov-royalty]

-Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine- was born #onthisday 6 June 1872 at the New Palace in Darmstadt, Hesse. She was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. Through her mother, she was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was given the nickname “Sunny” by her mother, due to her cheerful disposition, a nickname later adopted by her husband. While her relatives called her “Alicky”, to distinguish her from her aunt the Princess of Wales. Her merry childhood was overshadowed by grief. A year after her birth, her haemophiliac brother Friedrich “Frittie” died. In 1878, both her sister Marie “May” and mother died from diphtheria. These traumatic events quickly made Alexandra an overwhelmingly serious, reserved and withdrawn character that she is portrayed today. In 1894, taking the name Alexandra Feodorovna, she married Nicholas II of Russia. Within ten years, their union produced five children. But of her children, none brought greater relief than her youngest and only son Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich. The joy of producing an only heir was quickly tainted with tragedy. He was haemophiliac, and Alexandra gave her every energy for her only boy. “Love for her husband and children was its dominant trait. She was an ideal wife and mother; her worst enemies could not deny her this. She was a very womanly woman, and not always logically reasonable when it was a case of conflict between reason and affection. Her intellect was always subordinate to her heart. . . The Empress has been cruelly maligned and grossly wronged. Her want of political experience, her trust in the innate good of humanity, made her commit many political errors. But in everything she did, she was guided solely by her love for the country of her adoption.” Baroness Sophie Buxhoedeven #empressalexandrafeodorovna #alexandrafeodorovna #alixofhesse #romanovfamily https://www.instagram.com/p/Cejygv2s_fg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[teatimeatwinterpalace]

I have two questions about Louis IV of Hesse I hope you might have answers to... 1. Did he have a close friendship to Fritz of Prussia? Despite politics? 2. Was he really as... well, stupid as many tend to believe about him? Or so called ”handsome, but not very intelligent”.

Hey! First I just want to say that we have few materials in English on Louis, Fritz (& Alice tbh) but here is my two cents.

Concerning Louis and Fritz, I would say they did have a close friendship. They fought on opposite sides during the Austro-Prussian war but that didn't seem to have dampened their friendship. Tbh every relationship has its ups and downs. Fritz didn't approve the marriage between Louis of Battenberg and his niece Victoria. But overall I think they remained close. Louis was in the adjacent room when Fritz had his tracheotomy in January 1888. And when Fritz died, Louis stood by Vicky's side. In one of his letters to his sister-in-law he wrote: 'When I can do anything to propagate Fritz's views I will do so'. After Louis' death in 1892, Vicky wrote to her mother: 'only Louis to whom I could talk, & who understood & who could share many of my feelings & fears'.

& look at these dorks...

Regarding his “lack of intelligence", I think this belief comes from a letter written by Alice in October 1876 :  

'I longed for a real companion, for apart from that life had nothing to offer me in Darmstadt. I could have been quite happy and contented living in a cottage, if I had been able to share my intellectual interests, and intellectual aspirations with a husband whose strong, protective love would have guided me around the rocks... So naturally I am bitterly disappointed with myself when I look back, and see that in spite of great ambitions, goo intentions, and real effort, my hopes have nevertheless been completely shipwrecked...' ouch, however she continues saying: 'I love you too so very much, my darling husband, that is why it is so sad to feel that our life is nevertheless so incomplete - and sometimes so difficult.'

Scholars then assumed that the clever Alice was trapped in an unfulfilled marriage with a dim husband (Jerrold M. Packard is particularly hard on Louis). I think it is reductive.

Let's add some context: the Franco-Prussian deeply marked Alice, she had gone through a spiritual crisis. In 1873, their youngest son, Frittie, died when he fell from an open window in Alice's bedroom. I can't even fathom the guilt and anguish that Alice must have felt. They both responded differently to grief, Alice wrote to Louis: 'The wound... is not yet healed... I sometimes need to talk about it... But I don't do it with you - I know it hurts you.'

I see a woman with great depths who had gone through many trials and who had been married for fourteen years. Fourteen years... Marriage brings its fair share of challenges. When she wrote this letter, she clearly felt discontent and melancholic. She yearned for a sort of intimate intellectual companionship that perhaps Louis was unable to give her. However, it would be wrong to say that because of this, Louis was as dry as dust. And the fact that she was even able to share these thoughts and feelings with Louis says a lot about him.

+++ the last quote of Vicky above, shows that she held him in high esteem. Coming from Vicky, it means a lot. She was clever as hell and she despised medriocrity. She wrote this after his death so there is a kind of pathos in her words. But Louis was very much aware of what was happening in Berlin with Bismarck and his clique!

[graceofromanovs]

6th June 1872

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Emperor Nicholas II, was born on this day at the New Palace in Darmstadt, Hesse. She was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. Through her mother, she was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

She was given the nickname “Sunny” by her mother, due to her cheerful disposition, a nickname later adopted by her husband. While her relatives called her “Alicky”, to distinguish her from her aunt the Princess of Wales. Her merry childhood was overshadowed by grief. A year after her birth, her haemophiliac brother Friedrich “Frittie” died. In 1878, both her sister Marie “May” and mother died from diphtheria. These traumatic events quickly made Alexandra an overwhelmingly serious, reserved and withdrawn character that she is portrayed today.

In 1894, taking the name Alexandra Feodorovna, she married Nicholas II of Russia. Within ten years, their union produced five children. But of her children, none brought greater relief than her youngest and only son Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich. The joy of producing an only heir was quickly tainted with tragedy. He was haemophiliac, and Alexandra gave her every energy for her only boy. “Love for her husband and children was its dominant trait. She was an ideal wife and mother; her worst enemies could not deny her this. She was a very womanly woman, and not always logically reasonable when it was a case of conflict between reason and affection. Her intellect was always subordinate to her heart. . . The Empress has been cruelly maligned and grossly wronged. Her want of political experience, her trust in the innate good of humanity, made her commit many political errors. But in everything she did, she was guided solely by her love for the country of her adoption.” Baroness Sophie Buxhoedeven

Alexandra would be the last Empress consort Russia ever saw.

[mashkaromanova]

Alice of Hesse with her children, July 1873. The family is in mourning for their ‘Frittie,’ who died at age 2.

[Left to right: Irene, Elisabeth (‘Ella’), Ernest (‘Ernie’), Alix (‘Sunny’), Alice, Victoria]

“It was just four weeks yesterday since our darling died, and we went to the Mausoleum. I felt the whole weight of my sorrow, and the terrible shock doubly again. But the precious child does not — that is a comfort. He is happy and at rest, whilst we grieve and mourn. Ernie always prays for Frittie, and talks to me of him when we walk together.”

- Alice to Queen Victoria, 27th June 1873

“There are days which seem harder than others, and when I feel very heartsick, prayer and quiet and solitude do me good.”

- 9th July

“I feel lower and sadder than ever, and miss him so much, so continually. There is such a gap between Ernie and Sunny, and the two boys were such a pretty pair, and were become such companions. Having so many girls, I was so proud of our two boys! The pleasure did not last long, but he is mine more than ever now. He seems near me always, and I carry his precious image in my heart everywhere. That can never fade or die!”

- 26th July

[peremadeleine]

“Remember when Maria had her tonsils removed?” Tatiana asked. “She almost died. She hemorrhaged so badly the doctor panicked and ran out of the room.”

“What does that have to do with anything, Nurse Romanova?”

“Think of how easily Aleksei bleeds and bruises. Great-Uncle Leopold was the same way. Mama’s brother Frittie died of it when he was a little boy. Two of Auntie Irene’s boys had it, and Heinrich was dead before Aleksei was born. Hemophilia spreads through our family from mothers to daughters, from Queen Victoria all the way to Mama....”

Everything in me goes still. “And probably to us?”

“Yes. Sons bleed, but daughters carry the disease. Any one of us might have it, Mashka most of all, Christ be with her. You know what it does to Mama, having just one son with hemophilia. Now think of our poor Mashka with her twenty children. See, Nastya? Who she marries is beside the point. Even if God is merciful enough to give her healthy babies, it does not change the fact that giving birth to any one of them could kill her if she hemorrhages like that again.”

Sarah Miller, The Lost Crown

The dangerous disorder hemophilia B was passed from Queen Victoria to so many of her descendants that it was sometimes called the “English disease.” Her son Leopold died in his early 30s, and several of her daughters were unwitting carriers with tragic consequences. Friedrich of Hesse, a son of her daughter Alice, died before his third birthday. Two of Alice’s own daughters, Irene and Alix--who went on to be the Tsarina of Russia--both had afflicted sons as well. It is therefore highly likely that at least one of Alix’s four daughters, like their mother, was also a carrier of the hemophilia gene. Though none of the sisters lived long enough to have children, genetic testing of their remains indicated that either Maria or Anastasia, was indeed a carrier. If the remains are Maria’s, it seems especially tragic, because the sweet young grand duchess dreamed of marrying a handsome soldier and of having many children with him.

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

Happy 153rd Birthday to Prince Friedrich “Frittie” of Hesse and By Rhine, October 7th 1870 ✨🖤

Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse and By Rhine was born on October 7th 1870 in Darmstadt, Hesse. He was the 5th child and 2nd son of Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse and Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland. He was the brother of Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elisabeth Feodorovna.

He was a very lively baby and loved playing with his siblings, especially his brother Ernst Louis who he was especially close with. When he was around 1 year old he was diagnosed with Hemophilia because of a fall. Hemophilia is a genetic blood disorder that doesn’t allow the blood to clot which means that any bump or bruise could cause a fatal hemorrhage.

When he was almost 3 years old in 1873 he was playing with his brother Ernie and his mother Alice in her bedroom. Ernie ran into the adjoining room and looked out of the window to wave to Frittie, and Alice went to fetch him to bring him back into the room. Unsupervised Frittie looked out of the open window to try to find his brother which resulted in him falling 20 feet. The fall turned out to be fatal and he died of a brain hemorrhage. He would have survived the fall if not for his Hemophilia.

Fly high Frittie ✨🕊️❤️‍🩹

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

EXTREMELY rare photo of Prince Friedrich “Frittie” of Hesse and By Rhine, 1870-71

Frittie died at the age of 2 years old from a cerebral hemorrhage which was a result of a 20 foot fall out of a window. He would’ve survived this fall if not for a disease called Hemophilia which causes the blood to not clot which causes excessive bleeding. He inherited this disease from his mother, Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland, who was a carrier of the gene.

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

which was a result of a 20 foot fall out of a window

whaaat?? was that the nanny's fault?

Okay so this ask is referring to my post about Prince Friedrich “Frittie” of Hesse and By Rhine’s death by falling 20 feet out of a window and having a cerebral hemorrhage because of that fall. The story is that when Prince Ernst Louis of Hesse (later Grand Duke), his younger brother Frittie, and their mother Princess Alice of Hesse (née United Kingdom) were playing in their mother’s room and Ernie ran into another room and looked out of the window to Frittie. The rooms were at an angle where both people could see each other when looking out of the windows. Alice went into the room that Ernie was in to bring him back into the bedroom to keep playing. Frittie wanted to join Ernie so he climbed onto a chair but it tipped over sending him falling from the 20 foot high window

Frittie’s death was so tragic and shocking and broke many of his family members hearts. His mother was so distraught that she often prayed at his grave.

On coming home, found a telegram from Fräulein Bauer saying: “Pce Fritz has fallen out of the window, no wounds, but he is unconscious, & the Princess is in the greatest anxiety.” Dreadfully shocked & alarmed. Telegraphed at once to dear Alice & Fräulein Bauer, asking to hear again, & when we were at luncheon I telegraphed to Fanny Baillie for details, as to how the accident happened. Alas! before this was sent off I got a telegram from Pss Charles of Hesse saying “Poor Fritz just expired.” That was after 1. Too, too dreadful, my poor darling Alice! This was such a pretty sweet boy on whom poor dear Alice doted. His health had often caused his parents great anxiety.

— Queen Victoria’s diary entry on May 29th 1873

“When I die, you must die too, and all the others. Why can’t we all die together? I don’t want to die alone, like Frittie”

— A five-year old Prince Ernst Louis of Hesse (later Grand Duke), 1873

“It was just four weeks yesterday since our darling died, and we went to the Mausoleum. I felt the whole weight of my sorrow, and the terrible shock doubly again. But the precious child does not — that is a comfort. He is happy and at rest, whilst we grieve and mourn. Ernie always prays for Frittie, and talks to me of him when we walk together.”

— Princess Alice to Queen Victoria, 27th June 1873

(Photo: Alice and her children mourning Frittie, 1873) Alice was a very hands on mother and she wanted to bring up her children in a loving environment and very much wanted to be an active mother in her children’s lives. To answer your question, the Nanny was probably tending to another child at this time (probably Princess Alix who was only 1 year old).

I hope this very thought out answer helps and as always, thank you for asking!

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

~Alice with her children 💗~

Princess Alice of Hesse and By Rhine (neé England) with her 6 children: Victoria, Elisabeth, Irene, Ernst Louis, Alix, and Marie

“Victoria & Ella are taller than their mother, & quite young ladies! Alicky is a glorious child, handsomer than ever a great darling, with brilliant colouring, splendid eyes, & a sweet smile. Ernie is just the same, dear good boy. Little May is also very pretty & a great darling. Alice came to my room & remained talking with me. At 4 they all left.“

- Queen Victoria’s Diary, July 16th 1878

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

Miniatures of 4 of Queen Victoria’s Grandchildren by Joseph Hartmann

1st photo: Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and By Rhine- painted in 1870

2nd photo: Prince Friedrich “Frittie” of Hesse and By Rhine- painted in 1872

3rd photo: Princess Viktoria “Moretta” of Prussia- painted in 1872

4th photo: Prince Waldemar of Prussia- painted in 1873

*images from The Royal Collection Trust*

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

Do you have any favorite royal quotes?

Yes! Here they are!

“I kiss you, my good, fat Mashka. Your Shvybz.” - Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

“The little Shvybzik just made a 'governor’ on Mama’s carpet, and Anastasia is now training him.” - Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna

“Tomorrow my little sister May would have been 20, think only, quite grown up. Sweet little Child she was.” - Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna

“Olga is hitting Marie, and Marie is screeching, like a foolish Dragoon, such a big fool.” - Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna

“At 10 o'cl. Ernie arrived with his daughter, who is also staying upstairs. The fuss from the children was terrible!” - Tsar Nicholas II

“Ortipo was sweet. He got on Mama’s sleeping berth and made an amazing green ‘Governor’ on it.” - Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna

“Ernie always prays for Frittie, and talks to me of him when we walk together.” - Princess Alice of Hesse

“One day, Petrov asked Olga Nikolaevna to name a white object for him. ‘My blouse,’ replied the Grand Duchess. ‘And a black object?" 'My slate pencil.’ And a green one?' My sister Tatiana.' That really was the tint of her complexion.”

“One month later, on Christmas morning, Olga awoke early and asked whether God had taken Elisabeth's body the previous night. When her nanny, Mrs. Eagar, replied, "Oh no, dear, not yet." She was greatly disappointed, and said, "I thought He would have sent for her to keep Christmas with Him.” - Margaretta Eagar

“Baby, darling, cough on me.” - Maria Nikolaevna

“I was photographed as Princess Charlotte because Grandmother thinks I look like her.” - Princess Victoria of Hesse

"...I am in Tatiana's room. Tatiana and Olga are here... I am sitting and digging in my nose with my left hand. Olga wanted to slap me but I ran away from her swinish hand.” - Anastasia Nikolaevna

Thank you for asking!

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

What is your favorite royal nickname?

Ooh this is a good one!

I have a few (a lot) because some royals can think of the funniest ones!

⭐️ My personal favorite is: Ena (Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen of Spain)

Here are some other ones that i like

⭐️ Adini (Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia)

⭐️ Mashka (Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia)

⭐️ Bebe (Princess Irina Yusupova)

⭐️ Charly (Princess Charlotte of Prussia)

⭐️ Vicky (Victoria Princess Royal)

⭐️ Lilibet (Queen Elizabeth II)

⭐️ Dolla (Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark)

⭐️ Frittie (Prince Friedrich of Hesse)

⭐️ Nastya (Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia)

……and now for the funny ones…….

💀 Bembo (Prince Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia)

💀 Ducky (Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh)

💀 Greek Nicky (Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark)

💀 Shvybzik (Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia)

I hope this answers your question! It was SO FUN to answer!!! Thank you!