suicide among royals
Charlene Rauch
involved in the royalty business, if there are instances of suicide among
them? I am not aware of any, at least of any overt suicides--I'm assuming
there may be some 'hidden' suicides in deaths attributed to drug use or
alcohol abuse. Any ideas?
Charlene
JAGUTMAKER
I don't think inbreeding has anything to do with it, but I will attempt to
answer your question.
Some of the suicides in various royal families:
(1) The son of Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha shot himself. As a
result of this tragedy, the SCG title later passed to Charles Eduard of Albany
(2) Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria-Hungary was involved in a murder-suicide
plot
(3) One of Queen Mary's Mecklenburg Strelitz cousins shot herself when she
wasn't allowed to marry the man she loved
I'm sure there are dozens more instances.
JAGutmaker
Loreen
Well, the Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal murder suicide was just last June.
>^..^<
MOMA SHARP
suicide in London last year.
C.E. Metz-Longinette-Gahring
Bless you, Charlene, for giving me something else aside from Harry's
adventures in Substance-land (and whether or not Charles is being
too PC/lax/unsupportive/self-centered/ad nauseum, in response) to
read and think about.
Yes, there have been several Royal suicides; I presume you mean
"European Royals," as the Imperial Japanese historically viewed
suicide as an appropriate response to shame and/or dishonour, and
the Imperial Romans did likewise.
Here's a sampling of Royalty who have committed suicide (or have
been suspected to have committed suicide.) It is by no means a
comprehensive list. Many, as you will see, had problems with
alcohol and/or drugs.
Prince Joachim of Prussia (1890 - 1920)
The youngest of the six sons of Kaiser Wilhelm II (Willy)
of Prussia and his Kaiserin, the former Princess Auguste
Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein (Dona) Joachim was
considered whiny, weak and a "Mama's boy" by his older,
bigger brothers. He was said to have had a "depressive
nature" and felt the loss of the Hohenzollern status keenly.
Overwhelmed by an unhappy marriage (to Princess Marie
Auguste of Anhalt) alcoholism and large gambling debts,
he committed shot himself in the head. He was twenty-nine.
Prince Franz Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein (1962 - 1991)
The youngest son of Prince Franz Joseph II of Liechtenstein
and Georgina of Wilczek. A medical doctor, one of the
semi-official versions of this Prince's death was he was
"performing a medical experiment on himself." Also, it
was announced the death was "accidental." At any rate,
there were also rumours he had shot himself. According
to one account I read, both of his parents had recently
died and he may have fallen into a depression over that,
since the Liechtensteiners were known to be very close.
There were even some who allegedly suspected the
Prince had been gay, and had killed himself either because
of that or because he had contracted HIV. The late Prince
had an uncle and a female cousin who were also rumoured
to have committed suicide. He was discovered dead in
his bed and the Palace (at Vaduz) refused comment beyond
releasing details of the funeral arrangements, ending with
"and that is the end of the matter."
The Bourbons had a rash of suicides, often by gun. Steven Lavallee
once punned "Bourbon and guns don't mix."
Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1846 - 1871)
The "official" story was that this Prince "accidentally" shot
himself because he suffered an epileptic seizure while he
was cleaning a gun. Uh huh.
Prince Luigi of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1838 - 1886)
The oldest brother of the above. There was an attempt
at a cover-up, but that the Prince had hung himself was
revealed. Hard to "accidentally" hang one's self, unless
it's in an act of auto-erotic asphyxiation, which is another
story entirely and doesn't seem to apply in this case.
He was married to the famous Elisabeth ("Sisi") of Austria's
younger sister, Mathilde ("Spätz.") Rumour had it that
Luigi was so obsessed with Spätz that he hung himself,
overwhelmed by his jealousy and obsession. Like her sisters,
Spätz's beauty attracted a lot of attention and admirers, though
it does not appear that Spätz was as determinedly unfaithful
(and unhappy) as her sisters Sisi and Maria Sophia, the
former who encouraged admiration (if never indulged in an
actual physical affair) and the latter who bore a extramarital
child. Spätz was considered an outrageous beauty; she was
the one believed most to resemble Sisi. In fact, she resembled
Sisi so much so that after Sisi's murder, it was considered that
Sisi's widower, Franz Josef of Austria, would marry the
widowed Spätz. (He never remarried.) After Luigi's suicide,
Spätz's beauty began to inspire horror: it had driven a husband
to madness and suicide.
Princess Giovanna of Bourbon-Parma (1916 - 1949)
Suspected suicide by gun. Princess Giovanna was a keen
sportswoman much addicted to the hunt and an excellent
shot. Her death is a "suspected suicide" because why
would a Princess so familiar with firearms be so careless
as to accidentally be able to shoot herself? Her family
continues to deny hers was a suicide, asserting it was an
accident.
Prince (Infante) Alfonso of Borbón (1941 - 1956)
The youngest son of Juan, Count of Barcelona, and María
de las Mercedes, Princess of Bourbon-Sicily, and brother
(and one time heir) of King Juan Carlos of Spain. The
story was put out that this young Prince accidentally shot
himself while cleaning a gun, but it was later revealed that
the future King (Juan Carlos) had evidently shot his
younger brother during horseplay with a loaded gun.
I don't believe suicide was suspected. It was the "last
straw" in the unhappy marriage of his parents, who
separated (though never "officially") but did not divorce.
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (1858 - 1889)
The only son of Franz Josef of Austria and Elisabeth (Sisi)
the former Duchess in Bavaria. The "official version" was
that he shot himself in a murder-suicide pact with his
mistress, Baroness Marie Vetsera, at the Imperial Hunting
Lodge at Mayerling. There were several attempts at
"cover up," including that Marie had shot Rudolf (though
it was easily seen that she had died several hours before)
and that the Crown Prince suffered a fatal heart attack (this
particular version was Sisi's idea.) However, there is some
evidence to suggest he was the victim of a political assassination
staged to appear as a murder-suicide.
Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1874-1899)
The only son of Prince Alfred ("Affie") Duke of Edinburgh
and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (son of Queen Victoria) and Grand
Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (only daughter of Tsar
Alexander II) brother to the famous Queen Marie ("Missy")
of Romania and Grand Duchess Kyril ("Ducky") of Russia.
Allegedly, the young Prince had been physically and emotionally
(possibly even sexually) abused by tutors, and was considered
"easily led" by relatives. A tremendous disappointment to his
parents (especially his exacting mother) Alfred got involved with
several unsuitable women and contracted venereal disease.
He gave his last mistress several pieces of heirloom jewellery
without his parents' knowledge/permission, and, according to
some sources, married her morganatically (and secretly.) His
parents were furious, had the marriage annulled, paid off the
woman and reclaimed the jewels. Depressed and ill, the
Prince shot himself. He did not die, and it was thought best
to remove the Prince from Coburg as to not attract inconvenient
questions during the celebrations of his parents' 25th wedding
anniversary (23 January 1899.) Though the doctors advised
against it, the Prince was removed to Meran to recover, and
it was put out that the Prince was in delicate health and the
climate at Meran was better for his condition. Not surprisingly,
the move proved too much, and the Prince died on 6 February
1899. As with the death of Alfonso of Borbón, it was the
last straw in the long-unhappy and bitterly estranged marriage
of the Duke and Duchess. The Duke blamed his wife for
their son's death. His incipient alcoholism was blamed on this
incident, though the Duke was every bit of a wastrel as had
been his son. Missy and Ducky were always deliberately
vague about their brother's death, though Missy commented
that she had "never seen [her] mother so weep."
Valerie Marie, Duchess of Arenberg (1900 - 1953)
The illegitimate daughter of Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein
(son of Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein;
Princess Christian was born Princess Helena "Lenchen" of
England, the daughter of Queen Victoria) and a mother whose
name was never known but Albert asserted was "of high
birth." Valerie Marie was sent away and raised by a Jewish
family named Schwalb, which later caused problems for
Valerie Marie under the Third Reich. Her paternal aunts
(Princesses Helena Victoria and Marie Louise vouched that
their niece was the son of their brother, that he acknowledged
her 10 days before his death in 1931 and that she had no
Jewish blood.) Valerie Marie's first marriage had ended in
divorce, but she's said to have become "more Royal" than
her relatives, pompous and difficult. I do not know the
particulars of her suicide.
Ernst Leopold Prinz von Sachsen Coburg und Gotha and his third
wife, Sabine, committed suicide together in their car in 1996.
He "pretended" to princely and ducal titles, but since those titles
ceased to exist in Germany after 1919, they became part of his
surname. As I recall, Ernst Leopold and his wife were in enormous
debt, but I cannot be certain about this. I believe both also had
depression, problems with alcohol and/or drugs and prior suicide
attempts in their past.
~ C.
--
--
- CEM-L-G
GOD BLESS AMERICA and ALL those who PROTECT and DEFEND her!
Nathan P. Graf
"attempted" suicide numerous times. More like cries for help from a deranged
and unstable woman........
1.) sliting her wrists with an orange peeler
2.) throwing herself down the stairs at Sandringham House in Norlfolk
3.) drug overdose
"C.E. Metz-Longinette-Gahring" <walkuere@hanging_out_in_Walhalla.de> wrote
in message news:OMQUpDToBHA.1712@cpimsnntpa02...
Nathan P. Graf
pills...... she had spit them out before it was too late........
"Nathan P. Graf" <ng...@citlink.net> wrote in message
news:u4k8ddc...@corp.supernews.com...
Loreen
You guys seem to be forgetting someone.... Diana, Princess of Wales
"attempted" suicide numerous times. More like cries for help from a deranged
and unstable woman........
1.) sliting her wrists with an orange peeler
2.) throwing herself down the stairs at Sandringham House in Norlfolk
3.) drug overdose
I take the last one back... she did not actually Swallow all of the
pills...... she had spit them out before it was too late........
=======================
And she told you this, did she?
>^..^<
Nathan P. Graf
panorama interview and in her book by Andrew Morton that later we found out
she was behind it all
"Loreen" <owned...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20020119220450...@mb-ch.aol.com...
CraigB
>Yes, there have been several Royal suicides; I presume you mean
>"European Royals," as the Imperial Japanese historically viewed
>suicide as an appropriate response to shame and/or dishonour, and
>the Imperial Romans did likewise
One addition to Candace's list might be Princess Louise of Denmark, daughter of
King Frederick VIII and Louise of Sweden, also making her the sister of Haakon
VII of Norway and Christian X of Denmark.
Louise (1875 - 1906) was evidently unhappily married to Frederick of
Schaumburg-Lippe (1896) and committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake
at Nachod Castle in Bohemia.
Craig
Houston, TX
Loreen
>Her suicide attempts are common knowledge. Diana herself admitted it in her
>panorama interview and in her book by Andrew Morton that later we found out
>she was behind it all
>
What you clearly don't understand is that suicidal *feelings* and suicidal
*gestures* are not suicide attempts.
>^..^<
Tina Kramer
"Loreen" <owned...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
They're often referred to as "cries for help" or ploys to get attention,
depending on how you feel about the person involved! :-)
By the way, I'm referring to suicidal gestures here, not suicide attempts.
Those should always be taken seriously.
Tina
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 80,000 Newsgroups - 16 Different Servers! =-----
Loreen
>> What you clearly don't understand is that suicidal *feelings* and suicidal
>> *gestures* are not suicide attempts.
>> >^..^<
>
>They're often referred to as "cries for help" or ploys to get attention,
>depending on how you feel about the person involved! :-)
>
>By the way, I'm referring to suicidal gestures here, not suicide attempts.
>Those should always be taken seriously.
>
>Tina
>
Yes indeed.
>^..^<
ALMACKS
> adventures in Substance-land (and whether or not Charles is being
> too PC/lax/unsupportive/self-centered/ad nauseum, in response) to
> read and think about.
>
> Yes, there have been several Royal suicides; I presume you mean
> "European Royals," as the Imperial Japanese historically viewed
> suicide as an appropriate response to shame and/or dishonour, and
> the Imperial Romans did likewise.>>
Your knowledge is amazing, Candace! I love reading your posts and your
articles. I always wind up learning something I had never even thought to
wonder about.
Dana
cwilson
Well, Cleopatra would certainly qualify as someone royal who was
inbred and also committed suicide, but I don't know that there was a
causal connection between the two.
Susan T
walkuere@hanging_out_in_Walhalla.de says...
And also Prince Ludwig Rudolph of Hanover, brother of Prince Ernst
August. He found his wife Isabelle dead of a drug overdose, telephoned
his brother Ernst August and asked him to take care of his infant son,
then drove to the family hunting lodge where he shot himself in the
head.
The death of Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia was ruled a suicide. He was
found dead in his car. Carbon monoxide poisoning, I believe.
--
Susan T
This Just In! - Links to the latest on-line articles about the Royals
http://croneprincess.home.att.net/news.html
Janet
> >
> > I'm wondering, considering the stress and in-breeding of the families
> > involved in the royalty business, if there are instances of suicide among
> > them? I am not aware of any, at least of any overt suicides--I'm assuming
> > there may be some 'hidden' suicides in deaths attributed to drug use or
> > alcohol abuse. Any ideas?
>
> Bless you, Charlene, for giving me something else aside from Harry's
> adventures in Substance-land (and whether or not Charles is being
> too PC/lax/unsupportive/self-centered/ad nauseum, in response) to
> read and think about.
>
> Yes, there have been several Royal suicides; I presume you mean
> "European Royals," as the Imperial Japanese historically viewed
> suicide as an appropriate response to shame and/or dishonour, and
> the Imperial Romans did likewise.
>
sources to find out) - I asked on atr once but no-one seemed to know:
-
I think I've read (I don't know where) that the death of Vicky's
daughter 'Moretta' of Prussia was believed by many to be suicide - I
suppose since it came hard of the heels of her bankruptcy and her
abandonment by her violent second husband. Am I correct (either about
the cause of death or about the fact that it was believed by some to
be the cause of death)?
Her whole life story was a sad and interesting one, of course, if you
are tempted to write anything...:-)
Janet
C.E. Metz-Longinette-Gahring
>
> Well, Cleopatra would certainly qualify as someone royal who was
> inbred and also committed suicide, but I don't know that there was a
> causal connection between the two.
While certainly inbred and a suicide, I don't think there was any
connection. Cleopatra (wotta broad ;) had no desire to be
paraded through Rome in chains in a cage (which was entirely
possible) as the Captive Queen.
She cast her lot with Marc Antony and lost at the naval Battle of
Actium. Told Antony was dead, Cleopatra had no desire to
surrender herself to the tender mercies of Octavian (the future
Emperor Augustus) who had no patience with the beguiling Queen,
not the least of which because he felt Cleopatra had wooed
Antony away from Octavian's sister Octavia and given him
Imperial pretensions. Octavian had hoped to prevent Cleopatra's
suicide (for he pretty much figured that would be her answer) but
she out-witted him, having an asp smuggled in in a basket of figs.
Learning of her suicide, the very much alive though deeply in
trouble Antony killed himself.
Cleopatra was one of the original "red hot Mamas" and what she
lacked in physical beauty she made up for in spades with intelligence
and charm. Her affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony made
her the scandal of the Ancient World, not that that particularly
bothered her much.
Her suicide was not the product of mental instability, but a political
maneuver of last resort. She chose the "Masada Answer": that she
would rather die on her feet, by her own hand and as a Queen, than
live on her knees, a captive Roman prisoner, at the mercy of her
keepers.
cwilson
> While certainly inbred and a suicide, I don't think there was any
> connection. Cleopatra (wotta broad ;) had no desire to be
> paraded through Rome in chains in a cage (which was entirely
> possible) as the Captive Queen.
> Her suicide was not the product of mental instability, but a political
> maneuver of last resort. She chose the "Masada Answer": that she
> would rather die on her feet, by her own hand and as a Queen, than
> live on her knees, a captive Roman prisoner, at the mercy of her
> keepers.
That's what I had always thought too. But there are of course some who
believe she was upset that Marc Antony wasn't spending enough time
with Caesarion. And then her Egyptian boyfriend died in a terrible
chariot accident... ;-)
Kenny MacInnes
King Frederick VIII and Louise of Sweden, also making her the sister of Haakon
VII of Norway and Christian X of Denmark.
Louise (1875 - 1906) was evidently unhappily married to Frederick of
Schaumburg-Lippe (1896) and committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake
at Nachod Castle in Bohemia.
Craig
Houston, TX
Poor Louise at least managed to go out in a very Pre-Raphaelite/
turn-of-the-century way. Prince Alfred went out with a bang
(literally) also at the turn of the century...
Alfred Alexander William Ernest of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha
(aka "Young Alfred"), only son of Queen Victoria's second
son Prince Alfred and Tsar Alexander II's only daughter
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia was born in
Buckingham Palace on 15 October 1874. Educated in
Germany, he became a junior officer in Coburg, where his
chief hobbies were drinking and womanising. He then
concluded a morganatic marriage with an Irish commoner.
When his mother found out, she demanded that the marriage
be annulled (even though the girl was already pregnant).
Having already contracted syphilis, young Alfred shot himself
and died a week later at the age of twenty-five in 1899.
But spare a thought for the unhappy who couldn't go out
in a spectacular way and only faded away. Like poor
Sophia Dorothea (1666-1726), wife of King George I,
who accused her of infidelity and imprisoned her for 32 years.
She was married, for dynastic reasons, to her cousin
George Louis in 1682. The union was an unhappy one. Her
mother-in-law, the electress Sophia, hated her, and this feeling
was soon shared by the prince himself. Under these circumstances
Sophia Dorothea made the acquaintance of Count Philipp
Christoph von Königsmark, who assisted her in one or two futile
attempts to escape from Hanover and who was regarded as her
lover. In 1694 the Count was assassinated, and the Princess
was divorced and imprisoned in the castle of Ahlden, remaining
in captivity until her death.