Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine

Princess Anna
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Tenure	4 July 1864 – 16 April 1865
Born	25 May 1843 Bessungen, Grand Duchy of Hesse
Died	16 April 1865 (aged 21) Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Spouse	Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Issue	Duchess Anna
Full name Maria Anna Wilhelmine Elisabeth Mathilde
House	Hesse-Darmstadt
Father	Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine
Mother	Princess Elizabeth of Prussia

Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine (German: Prinzessin Anna von Hessen und bei Rhein; 25 May 1843 – 16 April 1865) was the consort and second wife of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Early life

Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine, third child and only daughter of Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine, and his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Prussia, was born at Bessungen, Grand Duchy of Hesse.^[1] Her paternal grandfather was Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine. Her mother was a granddaughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia.

Her eldest brother, Ludwig, married in 1862 to Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria.

Marriage

As a young girl, Anna was considered as a possible bride for the future Edward VII (known as 'Bertie' to his family).^[2] While his mother, Victoria, was in favor of Anna, Bertie's elder sister was opposed to the match, as she believed Anna had a "disturbing twitch".^[2] As time went by however, Victoria grew increasingly impatient, and tried to ignore her daughter's hints that Anna was not suitable, declaring, "I am much pleased with the account of Princess Anna, (minus the twitching)".^[3] In the end, Alexandra of Denmark was chosen instead.

On 4 July 1864 in Darmstadt, Anna married Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin son of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.^[1] (Friedrich Franz's first wife, Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz, had died in 1862.) Together they had one daughter:

• HH Duchess Anna Elisabeth Auguste Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (7 April 1865 – 8 February 1882)^[4]

Death

Anna died of puerperal fever a week later after giving birth to her only daughter. She was buried at the Schwerin Cathedral. Her husband remarried to Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and fathered by her Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, consort of Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 25 May 1843 – 4 July 1864: Her Grand Ducal Highness Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine
• 4 July 1864 – 16 April 1865: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine

16. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt               8. Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine                       17. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken               4. Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine                             18. Landgrave George William of Hesse-Darmstadt               9. Landgravine Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt                       19. Countess Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Falkenburg-Dagsburg               2. Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine                                   20. Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden               10. Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden                       21. Landgravine Caroline Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt               5. Princess Wilhelmine of Baden                             22. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (= 16)               11. Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt                       23. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken (= 17)               1. Princess Anne of Hesse and by Rhine                                         24. Prince Augustus William of Prussia               12. Frederick William II of Prussia                       25. Duchess Louise Amalie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel               6. Prince William of Prussia                             26. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (= 16)               13. Landgravine Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt                       27. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken (= 17)               3. Princess Elizabeth of Prussia                                   28. Frederick IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg               14. Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg                       29. Countess Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels               7. Landgravine Marie Anna of Hesse-Homburg                             30. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (= 16)               15. Landgravine Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt                       31. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken (= 17)

References

1. C. Arnold McNaughton, The Book of Kings, volume 1, page 416
2. Pakula, p. 143.
3. Pakula, p. 144.
4. C. Arnold McNaughton, The Book of Kings, volume 1, page 417.

Sources

• Pakula, Hannah (1995). An Uncommon Woman: The Empress Frederick, Daughter of Queen Victoria, Wife of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Mother of Kaiser Wilhelm. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-684-84216-5.
• Genealogics - Leo van de Pas Princess Anna von Hessen und bei Rhein
• thePeerage.com Anne Prinzessin von Hessen und bei Rhein