The main task of the ruling family members was to beget descendants. But where the babies come from, there was no talk. Lack of knowledge often led to undesirable and even tragic consequences ...
Young men had more freedom when it comes to sexual initiation. Before getting married, they could "have fun" with servants, maids or manors. This is how Catherine II's grandchildren - the future Alexander I and his younger brother Konstanty - went through their initiation.
In turn, Albert Edward, son of Queen Victoria and future King Edward VII, had his first experience in military service. Then his fellow officers smuggled actress Nellie Cliffden into the barracks with whom the prince spent several intoxicating nights. Also Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, the future brother-in-law of Nicholas II, was helped by fellow sailors from the military ship on which he was sailing. During the stop in Japan, they took young Romanov to the brothel.
Unconsumed marriage
Less fortunate were the French prince and heir to the throne, Louis August, who took the throne as Louis XVI and was executed as a result of the French Revolution. His relationship with Maria Antonina, daughter of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, was a political marriage, because both countries wanted to repair bilateral relations in this way. When the engagement negotiations began, the young man was 13 and his future wife was 11.
Before the wedding, which took place three years later, the future spouses never saw each other. Moreover, the ceremony itself was held per procura - this means that instead of the groom, a representative of the French court stood in front of the altar. The young wife then left for Paris, where a ceremonial banquet was held, after which the young couple was escorted to the bedroom.
The relationship between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI was not consumed until 7 years after the wedding.
But the marriage was not consummated, because the boy had only enough strength to just lie down next to his wife and fall asleep. In the morning, Ludwik wrote down "Nothing" in his diary. The word repeated itself overnight. All the courtiers knew about the unconsumed relationship, and Marie Antoinette was blamed for this state of affairs.
After a few months, Ludwik expressed his desire to go to one of the suburban palaces, assuring his young wife that they would experience "true intimacy" there, and that he himself knew what the marriage obligations were. But even solitary confinement did not lead to the goal, and Empress Maria Teresa lamented: "If a girl as beautiful as Marie Antoinette cannot arouse lust in her husband, then the matter is hopeless." Six years after her marriage, the young wife was still a virgin, so her brother, Leopold II, Emperor of Austria, set out to discuss this problem of state importance.
The union was consumed 7 years after its conclusion. And a year later, the desired child was born to the spouses.
About bees and butterflies
The victim of sexual ignorance was the Romanian princess Maria (Missy), wife of Ferdinand, heir to the throne. This young lady had an impeccable pedigree. On her mother's side - Maria Aleksandrowna - she was the granddaughter of Alexander II. Her father, Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, is Queen Victoria's son.
The beautiful blonde Missy was a good match in the European matrimonial market. The marriage proposal was made by George, heir to the British throne, and one of the great dukes of the Romanov family. But her imperious mother made a girl with the heir to the Romanian throne, even though he was in love with another.
Although Queen Victoria protested against the premature marriage of her 17-year-old granddaughter, Maria Alexandrovna ignored her mother-in-law's lamentations, believing that girls should be married as early as possible , before they developed their own worldview . Missy was brought up blissfully ignorant of what marriage was like, so - as she admitted in her memoirs years later - she experienced a real shock on her wedding night. It does not occur to Ferdinand that young Missy needs time, patience and tenderness to get used to her husband. The prince simply enforced his marriage rights, ignoring Maria's terror and tears.
Maria Koburg was brutally abused by her husband
After a few months, the princess began to feel weak and tired, she was nauseated in the morning, and some smells gave her a headache. She complained to her lady of the court about these symptoms, who said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is pregnant! " Maria's surprise was boundless as she had no idea where the children came from, which in turn stunned the lady of the court.
Punishment without crime
Though Maria Romanian's fate was unenviable, over time the woman met a man whom she had come to love and whom she had made her lover. There is a real tragedy in the case of Princess Maria Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1878-1948).
The girl was born in a German state in the north of the German Empire. Through her grandmother Augusta, Queen Victoria's cousin, she was related to the British royal family. Usually, princesses brought up in small German courts did not receive thorough education, the most important thing for them was to learn to bow and embroider. Knowledge of the world around was not welcome.
One day, Maria's parents - Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Adolf Frederick and his wife Elizabeth - noticed that the condition of their 19-year-old daughter had become dangerously rounded. It turned out that the girl was pregnant! But Maria was in her family home all the time, so where did she get pregnant ?!
Maria Mecklenburg-Strelitz was raped by a servant and became pregnant with whom she had no idea for a long time
An investigation commissioned by the princess's father discovered that a servant named Hecht was married to the child's father. His duties included turning off the lights in Maria's room every night, after which the man raped the terrified princess lying in the sheets. The girl was so confused that she did not dare to complain to her loved ones.
After discovering the truth, Hecht was released. Maria's parents found her guilty and even wanted to renounce their daughter. It was only after Queen Victoria's intervention that the girl was allowed to stay in her family home. The princess gave birth to an illegitimate child to her grandmother Augusta.
Bibliography:
- Gelardi J. Born to Rule:Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria. London, 2005
- Gelardi J. In Triumph`s Wake. London, 2009
- Pope-Hennesy J., Queen Mary. 1867-1953. London, 1959