Alexander, Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn

Alexander
Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Born	22 November 1943 Salzburg, Austria
Spouse	Countess Gabriela of Schönborn-Wiesentheid
Full name German: Alexander Konrad Friedrich Heinrich
House	Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Father	Ludwig, 6th Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Mother	Baroness Marianne of Mayr-Melnhof
Religion	Roman Catholic

Alexander Konrad Friedrich Heinrich Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn,^[1] (born 22 November 1943 in Salzburg, Austria]), a German businessman, MBA HBS '68, is member of the house of Sayn-Wittgenstein and as 7th Prince (German: Fürst) zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn head of the Princely House Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.

Biography

A descendant of James II of England and his illegitimate son James Fitzjames, 1st Duke of Berwick, through his father's grandmother Marie Auguste Yvonne de Blacas d'Aulps,^[2] he was born in Salzburg as the first son of Ludwig, 6th Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and his wife Baroness Marianne von Mayr-Melnhof.^[3] Following Prince Ludwig's death in 1962, Alexander succeeded as head of the princely house.

Prince Alexander is vice president of Europa Nostra ^[4] and president of Europa Nostra Germany. From 1986 to 2013 he served as president of the German Castles Association, which elected him on 28 April 2013 honorary president as well as president of the "Stiftung der Deutschen Burgenvereinigung" (Foundation of the German Castles Association).

Marriage and children

Alexander married Countess Gabriela of Schönborn-Wiesentheid 1969 at Schloss Weißenstein, Pommersfelden. They have seven children.^[5]

• Heinrich, Hereditary Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1971); married in 2003 Donna Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta (born 1975).^[6] With issue;
• Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1973); married first in 1994 Hereditary Prince Carl Eugen zu Oettingen-Wallerstein (divorced 2002) and married second Count Stefano Hunyady in 2006. With issue from both marriages;
• Prince Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1976); married (civil only) in 1999 Corinna Larsen (born 1965). With issue and divorced in 2004;
• Princess Filippa zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (1980–2001); married in June 2001 Count Vittorio Mazzetti d'Albertis (born 1965). She was killed in an automobile accident in England three months later, without issue.^[7]
• Prince Ludwig (Louis) zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1982);^[8] married in 2011 Countess Philippa Spannocchi (born 1982). With issue;
• Princess Sofia zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1986);
• Prince Peter zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (born 1992);

The old and the new castle at Sayn

Titles and styles

• 1943 - 1958 His Serene Highness Prince Alexander zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
• 1958 - 1962 His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
• 1962–present His Serene Highness The Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn

References

1. In 1919 royalty and nobility lost their privileges in Germany, hereditary titles were to be legally borne thereafter only as part of the surname, according to Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution.
2. http://www.genealogics.org/pedigree.php?personID=I00062264&tree=LEO&parentset=0&display=standard&generations=8
3. "Mamarazza The photographs of Princess "Manni" Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn".
4. "Europa Nostra".
5. Website of the house Sayn-Wittgenstein: Familie aktuell. 2011-07-18.
6. "Civil Marriage of Hereditary Prince Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Donna Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta".
7. Filippa's Angel
8. "Engagement of Prince Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn".