Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt

Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt (7 September 1857 – 20 July 1933) was the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1904 to 1914 as the spouse of Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Elisabeth of Anhalt
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Tenure	30 May 1904 – 11 June 1914
Born	(1857-09-07)7 September 1857 Wörlitz, Anhalt-Dessau
Died	20 July 1933(1933-07-20) (aged 75) Neustrelitz, Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Nazi Germany
Burial	25 July 1933 Mirow, Mecklenburg
Spouse	Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ​ ​ (m. 1877; died 1914)​
Issue	Marie, Princess Julius Ernst of Lippe Jutta, Crown Princess of Montenegro Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duke Karl Borwin
Names Elisabeth Marie Friederike Amelie Agnes
House	Ascania
Father	Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt
Mother	Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg

Family and early life

She was born Princess Elisabeth Marie Frederica Amelia Agnes in Wörlitz, the third child of Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt, and Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg. Her nickname in the family was "Elly".

Marriage

Elisabeth's husband Adolphus Frederick

On 17 April 1877 Elisabeth became the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz when she married the then Hereditary Grand Duke, Adolf Friedrich, in Dessau.

Elisabeth and Adolf Friedrich had four children:

• Victoria Marie Auguste Luise Antoinette Karoline Leopoldine (8 May 1878 – 14 October 1948); married on 22 June 1899 to Count George Jametel (1859–1944). Divorced on 31 December 1908. Married secondly on 11 August 1914 to Prince Julius Ernst of Lippe (1873–1952).
• Augusta Charlotte Jutta Alexandra Georgina Adophine (24 January 1880 – 17 February 1946); married on 27 July 1899 to Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro.
• Adolf Friedrich Georg Ernst Albert Eduard (17 June 1882 – 23 February 1918); became the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1914.
• Karl Borwin Christian Alexander Arthur^[1] (10 October 1888 – 24 August 1908); killed in a duel with his brother-in-law Count George Jametel, defending his sister's honor.^[2]

Later life

Following the death of her father-in-law on the 30 May 1904, she became The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following her husband's ascension to the throne. After her husband's death in 1914, she was titled Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, since her mother-in-law was still alive. Only after her death in 1916 that Elisabeth officially became The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

After the death of her eldest son, Grand Duke Adolf Frederick, in 1918 she inherited the 'hunting castle' of Prilvitz. She died in Neustrelitz on 20 July 1933. After her death, the castle of Prilvitz was inherited by her surviving children, which were her two adult daughters. Only Marie, eldest of these, has descendants who are members of the House of Lippe.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt

8. Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau 4. Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt 9. Princess Amalie of Hesse-Homburg 2. Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt 10. Prince Louis Charles of Prussia 5. Princess Frederica of Prussia 11. Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1. Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt 12. Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 6. Prince Eduard of Saxe-Altenburg 13. Duchess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 3. Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg 14. Karl, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 7. Princess Amalie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 15. Marie Antoinette Murat