Gertrude Falkenstein

Princess Gertrude of Hanau and Hořowitz (née Falkenstein; 18 May 1803 – 9 July 1882), was a German aristocrat. She was the morganatic spouse of Frederick William, Elector of Hesse. Biography Gertrude Falkenstein was the daughter of an apothecary from Bonn. She was the divorced (ca. 1830/31) wife of Prussian Oberleutnant Karl Michael Lehmann (16 June 1787, Bischofswerder – 1882) and had two sons by him, who were given the name "von Scholley" in 1837 and were created Barons (Freiherren) in 1846. Elector William II made her Countess of Schaumburg (with the style of Illustrious Highness), upon her Catholic conversion to the Reformed faith and her marriage on 26 June 1831 with Frederick William, and her then-husband (last Prince-Elector from 1847 to 1866) made her Princess (Fürstin) of Hanau and to Hořowitz in 1853 (with the style of Serene Highness in 1862). Gertrud and Frederick William had nine children, some born before marriage, who were also made count/esse/s (Grafen) of Schaumburg with the style of Illustrious Highness, then prince/sse/s (Prinzen) of Hanau in 1853 and granted the style of Serene Highness in 1862: Augusta Marie Gertrude (1829–1887), married 1849 Ferdinand Maximilian III Prince (Fürst) zu Isenburg-Büdingen-Wächtersbach (1824–1903). They were the grandparents of Princess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Alexandrine (1830–1871), married 1851 Prince Felix zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen (1818–1900) Friedrich Wilhelm (1832–1889), married twice morganatically 1856 Auguste Birnbaum (1837–1862; no children) and 1875 Bertha Ludowika Gloede (daughter of Dr.