Member-only story
How tragedy decimated a royal family
The family of the Grand Dukes of Hesse and By Rhine produced notable historical figures. However, their lives were marred with tragedy, particularly through their connection with the House of Romanov.
Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)
Marie of Hesse was born in 1824 as the youngest child of Louis II Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his wife, Wilhelmine of Baden. However, at the time of her birth her parents had been estranged since 1809. Marie and her older brother, Alexander, were certainly the products of their mother’s affair; however, the Grand Duke did not contest his paternity and at least on paper, he was Marie’s father.
Marie was a pretty girl and captured the attention of Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich, who was searching for a wife. Despite concerns regarding Marie’s legitimacy, the Tsar ultimately accepted the marriage. Marie and Alexander initially had a happy marriage, producing. However, Marie suffered from consumption and she experienced blows from the deaths of her elder children. By the time of their silver wedding anniversary, she had grown apart from her husband. In 1865, the Tsar fell deeply in love with a young eighteen year old girl named Catherine Dolgorukova. Marie initially was not concerned, as her husband had…
