Gertrude Falkenstein

Princess Gertrude of Hanau and Hořowitz (née Falkenstein; 18 May 1803 – 9 July 1882), was a German aristocrat. She was the morganatic wife of Frederick William, Elector of Hesse.

Biography Gertrude Falkenstein was the daughter of an apothecary from Bonn. She was the divorced (ca. 1830/31) wife of Prussian Oberleutnant Karl Michael Lehmann (16 June 1787, Bischofswerder – 1882) and had two sons by him, who were given the name "von Hertingshausen" in 1835, and then "von Scholley" in 1837, and were created Barons (Freiherren) von Scholley in 1846. Augusta Marie Gertrude (1829–1887), married 1849 Ferdinand Maximilian III Prince (Fürst) zu Isenburg-Büdingen-Wächtersbach (1824–1903). They were the grandparents of Princess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Alexandrine (1830–1871), married 1851 Prince Felix zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen (1818–1900) Friedrich Wilhelm (1832–1889), married twice morganatically 1856 Auguste Birnbaum (1837–1862; no children) and 1875 Bertha Ludowika Gloede (daughter of Dr. Friedrich Gottlieb Christian Gloede, Pastor of Altenwalde); their two sons were Counts von Schaumburg, but post-1918 they assume with their descendants the title Prince/ss von Hanau. barred her children from inheriting full entitlement and recognition of their princely rights by the brotherly Grand Duchy of Hesse (still-reigning and not annexed like the Electorate of Hesse following the Austro-Prussian War). Most courts refused to grant her the courtesies afforded those of noble birth, a situation which put some stress on her marriage and led to an isolation of the court.

In 1867, Gertrude von Hanau, her husband and their six sons left the former Electorate of Hesse-Cassel and went in exile at Hořowitz Castle, in Bohemia where the princely title of Hanau was recognized by the Austrian imperial authorities since March 1855. The deposed Elector Frederick William died on 6 January 1875 and bequeathed his immense fortune to her, his widow, and to their children.

Gertrude von Hanau died in Prague on 9 July 1882, at the age of 79.