Hermine Reuss

Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz (17 December 1887 Greiz, Germany - 7 August 1947 Brandenburg, Germany) was the second wife of William II, German Emperor (1859 - 1941), and as such was the German Empress and Queen of Prussia.

Early life

Princess Hermine was the daughter of Heinrich XXII, Prince Reuss of Greiz (28 March 1846 - 19 April 1902), and Princess Ida Mathilde Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe (28 July 1852 - 28 September 1891) the daughter of Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe. Her father was the ruler of the Reuss Elder Line principality, in what is present day Thuringia, Germany. Henry XXII was an implacable enemy of Prince Bismarck. Princess Hermine's brother later became Henry XXIV, Prince Reuss of Greiz.

First Marriage

Hermine was married, on 7 January 1907 in Greiz to Prince Johann George Ludwig Ferdinand August of Schönaich-Carolath (11 September 1873 - 7 April 1920). [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p10107.htm#i101066 The peerage] ]

They were the parents to five children:

* Prince Hans Georg Heinrich Ludwig Friedrich Hermann Ferdinand (3 November 1907 - 9 August 1943, married Sibylle, Baroness of Zedlitz and Leipe), Killed in Action in Russia during WWII
* Prince Georg Wilhelm (16 March 1909 - 1 November 1927, died unmarried)
* Princess Hermine Caroline Wanda Ida Luise Feodora Viktoria Auguste (born 9 May 1910, married Hugo Herbert Hartung)
* Prince Ferdinand Johann Georg Hermann Heinrich Ludwig Wilhelm Friedrich August (5 April 1913 - 17 October 1973, married Rose Rauch and Margret, Baroness of Seckendorff)
* Princess Henriette Hermine Wanda Ida Luise (25 November 1918 - 16 March 1972, married Karl Franz Josef, Prince of Prussia)

Marriage to Emperor William

In January 1922, a son of Princess Hermine sent birthday wishes to the German Emperor William, who then invited the boy and his mother to Doorn. William found Hermine very attractive, and greatly enjoyed her company. The two had much in common, both being recently widowed. Hermine just over a year and a half before, and William just 9 months prior.

By early 1922, William was determined to marry Hermine. Despite grumblings from William's monarchist supporters and the objections of his children, 63 year old William and 34 year old Hermine married on 9 November 1922 in Doorn. By all accounts it was a happy marriage. Hermine's first husband had also been older than her, by 14 years.

In 1927 Hermine wrote "An Empress in Exile: My Days in Doorn," an account of her life up to that time. Hermine remained a constant companion to the aging emperor until his death in 1941. They had no children.

Later life

Hermine's daughter, Henriette, married William's grandson, Prince Joachim's son, Prince Franz Josef, (Emperor William's stepdaughter and grandson respectively) in 1940.

Hermine returned to Germany after her husband's death, though she lived for only 6 more years, dying at the age of 59. She was buried in the Antique Temple in Potsdam.

Titles from birth to death

*"Her Serene Highness" Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz (1887-1907)
*"Her Serene Highness" Princess Johann of Schönaich-Carolath (1907-1922)
*"Her Imperial & Royal Majesty" the German Empress, Queen of Prussia (1922-1941)
*"Her Imperial & Royal Majesty" the Dowager German Empress, Dowager Queen of Prussia (1941-1947)

References

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