Princess Marie Amelie of Baden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marie Amelie of Baden |
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| Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon | |||||
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| Born | 11 October 1817 Karlsruhe, Baden |
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| Died | 17 October 1888 (aged 71) Baden-Baden, Baden |
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| Spouse | William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton | ||||
| Issue | William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton Charles Douglas-Hamilton, 7th Earl of Selkirk Mary Victoria, Princess Festetics von Tolna, prev. Hereditary Princess of Monaco |
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| House | Zähringen | ||||
| Father | Charles, Grand Duke of Baden | ||||
| Mother | Stéphanie de Beauharnais | ||||
Princess Marie Amelie of Baden (born October 11, 1817 – died October 17, 1888) was a German princess. She was the youngest daughter of Charles, Grand Duke of Baden, and Stéphanie de Beauharnais. In 1843, she married a Scottish nobleman, William Hamilton. They became the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton in 1852. Their daughter, Mary, married Albert I, Prince of Monaco. Mary was the mother of Louis II.
Princess Marie Amelie was a cousin and friend of Napoleon III of France. She was also a friend of his wife, Empress Eugénie. Marie Amelie often joined the couple at important events. She also hosted them when they visited her outside France.
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Early Life and Family
Princess Marie Amelie was born in Karlsruhe, Germany. She was the youngest daughter of Charles, Grand Duke of Baden. Her mother was Stéphanie de Beauharnais, who was the adopted daughter of Napoleon I of France.
Marie Amelie's sisters married into important European royal families.
- Her older sister, Princess Louise, married Gustav, Prince of Vasa from Sweden. Louise was the mother of Queen Carola of Saxony.
- Her other sister, Princess Josephine, married Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern. Josephine was the mother of Carol I of Romania and Queen Stephanie of Portugal.
Marriage and New Home
On February 23, 1843, Princess Marie Amelie married William Hamilton. He was a Scottish nobleman and the only son of the 10th Duke of Hamilton.
The couple had three children:
- William (born 1845), who later became the 12th Duke of Hamilton.
- Charles (born 1847), who became the 7th Earl of Selkirk.
- Lady Mary Victoria (born 1850), who later married Albert I, Prince of Monaco.
After her wedding, Marie Amelie moved to Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. The castle was built in a Bavarian style, honoring her German background. She later moved to Hamilton Palace in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her husband became the Duke of Hamilton in 1852 after his father passed away. The Duke often lived in Baden-Baden, Germany, and Paris, France, after their marriage.
Life as Duchess of Hamilton
The Duchess was a cousin and close friend of Napoleon III of France. She and her husband joined Napoleon during his official entry into Paris in 1852. She was also present when he visited her in Baden, a popular summer resort, in 1860.
Marie Amelie also accompanied the Emperor at a celebration in 1855. This event honored King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia. She was also there for the baptism of Napoléon, Prince Imperial in 1856.
Napoleon's wife, Empress Eugénie, was also a friend of Marie Amelie. The Empress often stayed with Marie when she visited Baden and Scotland. In 1860, Empress Eugénie was tired and wanted to leave France. Princess Marie offered her a stay at her husband's home in Scotland.
In 1853, the Glasgow Free Press reported that the Duchess had become a Roman Catholic.
Princess Marie supported her local community. She gave £20 to help start a Catholic school in Hamilton. This school opened on January 17, 1853. The money helped buy school supplies and pay the teacher. She also gave £20 every year to help keep the school running. She donated items for St Mary's Church and gave money for new altars. The Duchess often attended services at St Mary's.
In 1863, her husband, the Duke, became ill while in Paris. He passed away suddenly three days later, on July 15, 1863. He was 52 years old. After his death, she was known as Marie Amelie, Princess of Baden, Dowager Duchess of Hamilton.
Princess Marie lived in the Villa Stephanie in Baden-Baden. Her daughter visited her there every year. She was also a friend of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. Marie also visited members of the British Royal Family, including the Duchess of Kent and Queen Victoria. She passed away in Baden-Baden at the age of 71.
In 1869, her only daughter, Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton, married Prince Albert. This marriage was not happy, and Mary left Monaco after having a son, Louis II. Their marriage ended in 1880. Mary later married Prince Tasziló Festetics from Hungary. She then lived mostly in Hungary. Through Mary, Marie Amelie is the great-great-grandmother of the current prince of Monaco, Albert II.
Issue
The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton had two sons and one daughter:
- William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton (March 12, 1845 – May 16, 1895). He married Lady Mary Montagu in 1873 and had children.
- Charles Douglas-Hamilton, 7th Earl of Selkirk (May 18, 1847 – May 2, 1886).
- Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton (December 11, 1850 – May 14, 1922). She married Albert I, Prince of Monaco in 1869 but they divorced in 1880. They had one child. She remarried Tassilo, Prince Festetics de Tolna in 1880 and had children with him.
Images for kids
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Princess Marie with one of her children
