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Royal uncle-niece marriages happened several times over the years. These marriages often happened for strategic reasons, such as land or power, but also because of rank and status. There simply weren’t enough others of high enough rank for marriage. The offspring of such marriages often suffered from genetic abnormalities, such as the famous Habsburg jaw. Quite often, these children did not survive to adulthood.
Here are five more of those marriages:
16. Marie of Württemberg & Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
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Marie of Württemberg was born on 17 September 1799 in Coburg as the daughter of Duke Alexander of Württemberg and Antoinette of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. In 1830, her maternal uncle Ernest asked for her hand in marriage. He had been married to Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, with whom he had two sons, including Prince Albert, who would go on to marry Queen Victoria. They were divorced in 1826, and Louise died in 1831. He wanted a mother for his sons, and so Marie married him in 1932. Although she desperately wished for children of her own, they would not have children together. Marie had at least two miscarriages, including one which nearly cost her her life. Marie was widowed in 1844. She kept in contact with Prince Albert as his family grew. Marie died on 24 September 1860.
17. Maria Anna of Austria & Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria
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Maria Anna of Austria was born on 13 January 1610 as the daughter of the future Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Anna of Bavaria. On 15 July 1635, Maria Anna married her maternal uncle, Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria. His first wife, Elisabeth of Lorraine, had died just a few months earlier. Maximilian was 37 years older than his bride. They went on to have two sons together, and the marriage proved to be happy. When Maximilian died on 27 September 1651, Maria Anna became the guardian of her minor son while her brother-in-law acted as regent. Maria Anna died on 25 September 1665.
18. Christiane of Saxe-Hildburghausen & Prince Eugene of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Christiane of Saxe-Hildburghausen was born on 4 December 1761 as the daughter of Ernest Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Ernestine of Saxe-Weimar. This was her father’s third marriage. On 13 March 1778, Christiane married her father’s brother, Prince Eugene of Saxe-Hildburghausen. They did not have any children together. Christiane died in 1790, and Eugene in 1795.
19. Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal & Infante Carlos María Isidro of Spain
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Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal was born on 22 April 1800 as the daughter of the future King John VI of Portugal and Carlota Joaquina of Spain. On 22 September 1816, she married her maternal uncle, Infante Carlos María Isidro of Spain, who was 12 years older than her. They went on to have three sons together. Carlos’s elder brother, King Ferdinand VII of Spain, had two daughters, of whom the eldest, Isabella, was recognised as his heiress with the pragmatic sanction in 1830. Maria Francisca and Carlos refused to recognise her and were exiled from Spain. Maria Francisca died in England on 4 September 1834. He remarried in 1838 to a cousin named Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal. They had no children together. Carlos died on 6 March 1855.
20. Zhang Yan & Emperor Hui
Zhang Yan, who was known formally as Empress Xiaohui, was born at an unknown date as the daughter of Zhang Ao, Prince of Zhao and Princess Yuan of Lu. In 192 BC, she married her maternal uncle, Emperor Hui of Han, and she was created Empress. They had no children together, but Empress Xiaohui adopted several children, who may have been fathered by her husband. She was widowed in September 188 BC, and one of her adopted sons became Emperor Qianshao. She died in 163 BC.
Enjoying the series. Wondering how the women felt about these marriages…