Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe
Leopold IV | |
---|---|
Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld Princess Anna of Ysenburg and Büdingen | |
Issue | Armin, Prince of Lippe |
House | House of Lippe |
Father | Ernest, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld |
Mother | Countess Karoline of Wartensleben |
Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe (Leopold Julius Bernhard Adalbert Otto Karl Gustav; 30 May 1871 – 30 December 1949) was the final sovereign of the Principality of Lippe in northwestern Germany from 1905 until his abdication in 1918. Prior to succeeding to the throne, he had been governing the state since 1904 as regent. He was the first and only ruler of Lippe of the Lippe-Biesterfeld branch.
Early life
He was born as Count Leopold of Lippe-Biesterfeld in
After obtaining the
Ruler of Lippe
Since 1895, the Principality of Lippe had been ruled by a regent due to the incapacity of Prince Alexander. Leopold's father had acted as regent since 1897, and following his death on 26 September 1904, Leopold assumed the regency. This was not recognized by the German Emperor Wilhelm II, who initially refused to legally recognize Leopold as regent as there was an issue over whether Leopold and his siblings were of legitimate rank, and as such eligible for the succession. As a result, the Diet of Lippe appointed a high commission to consider the matter.[1]
The regency issue was still ongoing when Prince Alexander died on 13 January 1905. Leopold was confirmed as Prince of Lippe and Alexander's successor on 25 October 1905, following a court ruling.[2]
On 3 June 1911, while out motoring, Leopold and his brother Prince Julius were attacked by a gang of Italian laborers who hurled a shower of missiles at the princes. Though Leopold escaped unhurt, his brother received a head wound.[3]
During
Just three days after upgrading the titles of members of the Lippe-Weissenfeld line, and following the
Post abdication
After the rise of Nazism in Germany all three of his sons by his first wife became members of the party. His eldest son the Hereditary Prince Ernst is reported to have been the first German prince to join the party when he signed up in May 1928.[4]
In addition to being pro Nazis both Hereditary Prince Ernst and Prince Chlodwig had contracted unequal marriages. So in 1947 when Leopold wrote his will,
Marriages and children
Leopold was married to Princess Bertha of
- Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Lippe (1902–1987) married first (1924) Charlotte Ricken (1900–1974). After divorcing in 1934 he married secondly (1937) Herta-Elise Weiland (1911–1970)
- Prince Leopold Bernhard of Lippe (1904–1965)
- Princess Karoline of Lippe (1905–2001) married (1932) Count Hans von Kanitz (1893–1968)
- Prince Chlodwig of Lippe (1909–2000) married (1940) Veronika Holl (1915–2007)
- Princess Sieglinde of Lippe (1915–2008) married (1942) Friedrich Carl Heldman (1904–1977)
He was married secondly to Princess Anna of Ysenburg and Büdingen (1886–1980) on 26 April 1922 at Büdingen. From this marriage he had one son.
- Armin, Prince of Lippe (1924–2015) married Traute Becker in 1953. Their only son is:
- Stephan, Prince of Lippe, born 1959, married Countess Maria of Solms-Laubach in 1994
Ancestry
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References
- New York Times. 1904-10-06. p. 9.
- ^ a b Almanach de Gotha (179th ed.). Justus Perthes. 1942. p. 76.
- New York Times. 1911-06-04. p. 4.
- ISBN 0-19-516133-5.
- ^ Beéche, Arturo E. (October 2006). "A Headless House? The Dynastic Dispute of the House of Lippe". European Royal History Journal (LIII): 14, 15.