Princess Marie Alexandrine of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Princess Marie Alexandrine of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Marie Alexandrine Anne Sophie Auguste Helene; 20 January 1849 – 6 May 1922) was the eldest daughter and second child of Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife Princess Sophie of the Netherlands.

Through her mother, Marie was second-in-line to the Dutch throne after her nephew William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from 1900 to the birth of Princess Juliana in 1909. As her nephew was expected to abdicate his right to the throne in favor of retaining his title, Marie was expected to directly inherit the Dutch Crown upon the possible death of her still childless cousin Wilhelmina. The birth of Juliana subsequently changed the succession.

Biography

The young princess studied painting and made a portrait of the popular teacher August Allebé in 1886, which indicates that she probably attended a few of his open studio lessons for ladies in Amsterdam, but also indicated that she had not given up painting after her marriage.

During her time as the German ambassador's wife in Constantinople during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) , she arranged for the provision of German Sisters of Mercy to care for the wounded at military hospitals established as part of the newfound Red Crescent organisation.

Marriage and issue As a young girl, Marie and her cousin Princess Pauline were considered as possible brides for Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII of the United Kingdom). Nothing came of this however, as his mother Queen Victoria believed Marie's teeth to be "almost black"; The prince later married Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

On 6 February 1876 in Weimar, Marie married Prince Heinrich VII Reuss of Köstritz. They had the following children:

Son (1877) Prince Heinrich XXXII Reuss of Köstritz (1878–1935); married Princess Marie Adelheid of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1895–1993) Prince Heinrich XXXIII Reuss of Köstritz (1879–1942); married firstly Princess Victoria Margaret of Prussia (1890–1923) and secondly Allene Tew (1876–1955) Princess Johanna Reuss of Köstritz (1882–1883) Princess Sophie Renate Reuss of Köstritz (1884–1968); married Prince Heinrich XXXIV Reuss (1887–1956) Prince Heinrich XXXV Reuss of Köstritz (1887–1936); married Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (1888–1947, daughter of Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg) and secondly Princess Marie Adelheid of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1895–1993)

Dutch succession The death of William III of the Netherlands meant his daughter Wilhelmina became Queen at the age of ten. Wilhelmina married Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1901, but the marriage remained childless for almost a decade. Thus between 1890 and 1909 the heirs to the Dutch throne were first, Marie's mother Princess Sophie of the Netherlands and with her death in 1897 her grandson William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. The succession issue became particularly important after Queen Wilhelmina suffered from an attack of typhoid in the early 1900s. By the time of these events Princess Marie was an elderly widow with ill-health, and thus there was speculation that she herself would also give up her claim to the Dutch throne in favor of her eldest son, who was in his mid-twenties.

In 1907, there were fears that Wilhelmina was going to abdicate in favor of her Saxe-Weimar cousins, as a clause in a recent legislative bill submitted to the Dutch parliament called for the exclusion from the succession of children born after the abdication of a sovereign. Such fears were misplaced however, as Wilhelmina later elaborated that she had no wish of abdicating, and that the legislation was directed at the widowed and childless Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, who, though well known to be considering giving up his claim to the throne, was considering marrying again; there would have been considerable confusion as a result were he to give up the succession claim in favor of his aunt Marie, only to later pass his claim onto any children he might have.

Queen Wilhelmina suffered multiple miscarriages during her marriage, increasing speculation of the succession. The birth of Princess Juliana in 1909 put everyone's fears to rest, as the Dutch succession was now secured for another generation.

Princess Marie died on 6 May 1922 in Trebschen.