Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine

[johneunson]

no wonder he was complex. what a traumatic childhood. the first marriage should never have taken place. his second marriage seemed happy but did one of his sons die young? was this haemophilia? this was a respectful post, so dignified. thank you.

[lostsplendour]

@johneunson Thank you. His eldest died at the age of 31 in a plane crash with his wife, his two sons and his mother in 1937. His sons weren't haemophiliac.

[johneunson]

@lostsplendour you know i think you have told me that before. this was a very interesting post. a life story screaming to be told.

[lostsplendour]

@johneunson Probably. I have also made videos about his sons, daughter, two wifes and his daughter in law ( check the Hesse-Darmstadt playlist).

[xjuliaxdf]

@johneunson His daughter died of thyphoid when she was young.



[FinnMove]

He wasn´t talked about very much during the time of Nicholas II. Though he was a brother of Alix, The music was probably Queen and Who Wants to Live Forever.

Did you have something in your mind in this music choice, especially the title of this song ?

[lostsplendour]

@FinnMove Yes I have something in my mind, you should check the lyrics of the song (the performer is Sarah Brightman) and this quote from Ernie: "When I die, you must die too, and all the others. Why can't we all die together? I don't want to die alone, like Frittie." His life was shrouded with death of the persons he cared the most.

[lababoc]

a VERY complex man indeed ... a lot of grey zones in that life. I wish we had a good biography. Thanks lostsplendour

[lostsplendour]

@lababoc Me too. 

[granddukedavell]

This is a nice tribute. His life was so sad. He always believed that he was to blame for the death of his mother. After hugging him, she contracted diphtheria and later died.

[lostsplendour]

@granddukedavell And also the two were very close. He was apparently always able to read his mother's thoughts without asking a question, who knew if she was unhappy or anxious, and without being told guessed, when, as was so often the case, she felt tired and ill. "I fancy," Princess Alice told Queen Victoria, "that seldom a mother and child have understood each other, and loved each other as we two do."

[1toscany]

The Duke of Hesse was a very interesting and complex man. Very well done!