Julia, Princess of Battenberg
Julia, Princess of Battenberg, previously Countess of Battenberg and Countess Julia von Hauke, (born Julia Therese Salomea Hauke; 24 November [O.S. 12 November] 1825 – 19 September 1895) was the wife of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine, the third son of Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse.
Julia | |
---|---|
Princess of Battenberg | |
Julia Hauke by Woldemar Hau | |
Born | Julia Therese Salomea Hauke 24 November 1825 Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire |
Died | 19 September 1895 69) Schloss Heiligenberg, Jugenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt | (aged
Spouse |
Prince Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt
(m. 1851) |
Issue |
|
House | Battenberg |
Father | John Maurice Hauke |
Mother | Sophie LaFontaine |
The daughter of a Polish general of German descent, Julia was not of princely origin. She became a lady-in-waiting to Marie of Hesse, wife of the future Russian Emperor Alexander II and a sister of Alexander, whom Julia married after meeting him in the course of her duties. Although the marriage of social unequals like Julia and Alexander was deemed morganatic, the Duke of Hesse made her a Princess of Battenberg. Julia was the mother of Alexander, Prince of Bulgaria, and she is an ancestor of current members of the British and Spanish royal families.