Siegfried Koffi zu Mecklenburg: The Until Now Unknown Member of the Mecklenburg-Schwerins

Siegfried zu Mecklenburg.

Born in 1914 at Lomé, Togo, Siegfried Koffi zu Mecklenburg was the son of Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1873-1969) and Ayikutu Honsoussi. Siegfried was commonly known in Togo as Herzog Koffi; this way of identification did not betray who exactly his father was, even though it did give a hint that Koffi's father was a German duke. Siegfried zu Mecklenburg's paternal grandparents were Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1823-1883) and his third wife Princess Marie von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1850-1922). Siegfried could count among his aunts and uncles Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1851-1897), Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (1854-1920; wife of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich), Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Oldenburg (1869-1955; wife of Grand Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg), and Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands (1876-1934; husband of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands).

Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Siegfried's father Adolf Friedrich served as Governor of Togoland (in German West Africa) between 19 June 1912 and 31 August 1914. In December 1913, the Marquise de Fontenoy (Marguerite Cunliffe-Owen, who was not always a reliable correspondent) wrote: "Duke Adolf of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, who enjoys the distinction of being the only consul-general who is a prince of the blood, has just produced in English a very remarkable book of African exploration, entitled 'From the Congo to the Nile.' The duke is an uncle of the present sovereign of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and of the German crown princess, and is a brother of the Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia, of the Prince Consort of the Netherlands, and of the late Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He has already achieved much distinction as an African explorer, has ideas of his own on the subject of the development of Germany's African colonies, and with the object of putting them into practice, induced Emperor William a year ago to appoint him to the governorship of Togoland, and at the same time to the office of German consul-general for the French colony of Dahomey, and for the British dependencies of the Gold Coast, Nigeria, and other British possessions on the west coast of Africa. He holds these consul-generalships in order to enable him to deal directly with the authorities of these French and English dependencies, instead of having to refer the matters at issue to Berlin... Duke Adolf Friedrich is probably the most popular prince of his house, devoted to sport of every kind, has broken his collar-bone in steeplechases, his arms and legs in motoring accidents, is the finest four-in-hand whip in Germany, and has made a record long-distance ride on horseback, from Constantinople to Berlin. He is secretly and morganatically married to a woman of bourgeois birth, of great refinement, and irreproachable antecedents, who has born him a couple of children." It is likely that his son Siegfried was born during his tenure as governor, as Adolf Friedrich did not have to leave his post until British and French troops took Togo from Germany in late 1914. Adolf Friedrich was invited to the independence celebrations of Togo in 1960, as recounted in this news report: "The dean of the guests is 86-year-old Duke Adolf von Mecklenburg, who was Governor of the German Colony of Togo when it surrendered to British and French troops in 1914." Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin married twice. In 1917, the duke wed Princess Viktoria Reuß (1889-1918). Adolf Friedrich and Viktoria had one child, Duchess Woizlawa-Feodora (1918-2019). Woizlawa-Feodora married Prince Heinrich I Reuß (1910-1982). Adolf Friedrich married for a second time in 1924 to Princess Elisabeth zu Stolberg-Rossla (1885-1969). Elisabeth was the second wife and eventual widow of the duke's elder brother Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1857-1920).

Frieda zu Mecklenburg.

Siegfried Koffi zu Mecklenburg married Angela Imelda Dèdè Ekue (b.1933). The couple had one daughter: Frieda Fafavi Sika Akuavi zu Mecklenburg (b.Lomé, Togo 5 January 1955). His daughter Frieda went on to marry Paul Agbobli, with whom she had four children. Frieda zu Mecklenburg studied at the Collége Protestant Lomé in the early 1970s. In the 1980s, she attended the Institut Universitaire de Technologie de Bordeaux. Frieda zu Mecklenburg is an honorary member of the Société Allemande-Togolaise (SAT). At the age of forty-five, Siegfried zu Mecklenburg died in 1959 at Douala, Cameroon.

Princess Woizlawa-Feodora Reuß and her niece Frieda zu Mecklenburg.

Eventually, Frieda zu Mecklenburg and her family moved to France. Duchess Woizlawa-Feodora of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Princess Reuß, Siegfried's younger half-sister, established a relationship with her niece Frieda. Among the guests at Woizlawa-Feodora's funeral were Frieda and one of her children. 

Frieda zu Mecklenburg.

Frieda zu Mecklenburg is a second cousin once-removed of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, and Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands. Frieda zu Mecklenburg is also a second cousin twice removed of Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, the grandson of Frieda's second cousin Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, who married Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia, the aunt of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna.

Note: The author of this post wishes to acknowledge Bearn Bilker, Paul Theroff (see here for his website), and Hein Bruins (see here for his website) for their research on this topic.

The 90th Birthday of Princess Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria, Dowager Fürstin von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg

Fürstin Marie Gabrielle and Fürst Georg von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg, 2008.
Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse.

Today, Dowager Fürstin Marie Gabrielle von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg celebrates her ninetieth birthday!

Countess Maria Draskovich von Trakostjan and Duke Albrecht of Bavaria.

Born on 30 May 1931 at Munich, Princess Marie Gabrielle Antonia José of Bavaria was a twin daughter of Duke Albrecht of Bavaria (1905-1996) and his first wife Countess Marita Draskovich von Trakostjan (1904-1969), who wed in 1930. Marie Gabrielle had three siblings: her twin sister Princess Marie Charlotte (1931-2018; married Fürst Paul von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny), her brother Duke Franz (b.1933), and her youngest brother Duke Max (b.1937; married Countess Elizabeth Douglas). 

The Bavarian twins: Princess Marie Charlotte and Princess Marie Gabrielle.

In 1957, Princess Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria married Fürst Georg von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (1928-2015). The couple had six children: Countess Maria Walburga (b.1958; married Baron Carl von Lerchenfeld), Countess Maria Gabriele (b.1959; married Count Bernard de Monseignat), Countess Maria Monika (b.1961; married Count Christoph Schenk von Stauffenberg), Fürst Erich (b.1962; married Duchess Mathilde of Württemberg), Countess Maria Adelheid (b.1964; married Count Max Emanuel von Rechberg und Rothenlöwen zu Hohenrechberg), and Countess Maria Elisabeth (b.1966; married Prince Engelbert von Croÿ).

Georg and Marie Gabrielle at the wedding of their daughter Maria Gabriele, 2004.
Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse.

Princess Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria was widowed in 2015 when her husband Georg died at the age of eighty-seven. 

Princess Marie Gabrielle, Fürst Georg, Duchess Mathilde, and Hereditary Count Erich, 1997.
Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse.

Many happy returns of the day to Princess Marie Gabrielle!

A Baby on the Way for the Murats!

Prince Joachim and Princess Yasmine at Les Invalides, 5 May.
Photograph (c) Frederic de Natal.

This week, Prince Joachim Murat (b.1973) and Princess Yasmine (b.1982; née Briki) announced that they are expecting their first child. The couple civilly married in Paris on 5 March; their child is due to be born at the end of the summer. A religious wedding is planned for 2022. 

The Death of the Duchessa di Serracapriola (1939-2021)

Nicoletta, Duchess di Serracapriola, 2014.

On Friday, 21 May, Donna Nicoletta Maresca Baldasano Montanari Bianchini, Duchessa di Serracapriola, died at eighty-two years-old.

Born at Bologna on 28 March 1939, Nicoletta was the daughter of Marchese Riccardo Baldasano Montanari Bianchini (b.1914) and Lydia Maccaferri (1915-1993), who married in 1938.

Nicoletta and Antonino, Rome, 1989.
Photograph (c) Marcellino Radogna.

On 24 February 1966, Nicoletta dei Marchesi Baldasano Montanari Bianchini married Neapolitan noble Marchese Don Antonino Maresca Donnorso Correale Revertera (Naples 3 November 1924-Bologna 24 October 2007), 11th Duca di Salandra, 6th Duca di Serracapriola, 8th Conte di Tricarico, and 5th Conte di Tronco. Nicoletta's father-in-law was Marchese Don Giovanni Maresca Donnorso Correale Revertera (1893-1971), an Italian soldier, politician, entrepreneur, and athlete. Antonino and Nicoletta did not have children, and, upon Antonino's death in 2007, the family titles passed to his first cousin Nicola.

Prince Ferdinando of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and Nicolleta, Duchessa di Sarracapriola, Rome, 1995.
Photograph (c) Marcellino Radogna.

The Duchessa di Serracapriola was Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. Her funeral will take place on 25 May at the Chiesa dei Padre Filippini in Bologna. 

Noble Weddings Today in Spain and France

Belén and Carlos.

In Spain, Don Carlos Fitzjames-Stuart y de Solis, Conde de Osorno, married Belén Corsini y Lacalle at the Liria Palace in Madrid. Born on 30 November 1991 at Madrid, Carlos is the second son of Don Carlos Fitzjames-Stuart y Martinez de Irujo, Duque de Huescar, Duque de Alba (b.1949) and Doña Matilda de Solis y Martinez de Campos (b.1963), who married in 1988 and divorced in 1999. Carlos has an older brother, Don Fernando Fitzjames-Stuart y de Solis, Duque de Huescar (b.1990; married Sofia Palazuelo Barroso). Carlos is the grandson of the late Cayetana, Duchess of Alba. Born in 1988, Belén is the daughter of Juan Carlos Corsini Muñoz de Rivera and Mónica de Lacalle Rubio. 

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Délia and Marc.

In France, Prince Marc of Croÿ and Délia de Cossé-Brissac celebrated their religious marriage at Église Saint-Vincent de Brissac in Maine-et-Loire. Prince Marc of Croÿ (b.1992) is the third child of Rudolf, Duke von Croÿ (b.1955), and his late wife Countess Alexandra Miloradovich (1960-2015), who wed in 1987. Délia de Cossé-Brissac (b.1998) is the third child of Charles-André, Duc de Brissac (b.1962) and his wife Countess Larissa Széchényi de Sárvár-Felsövidek (b.1967), who wed in 1993. Prince Marc and Princess Délia of Croÿ were civilly married on 19 December 2020 at Dülmen.

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Princess Délia of Croÿ (née de Cossé-Brissac) and Don Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y de Solis, Conde de Osorno, are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Count Pál Széchényi de Sárvár-Felsövidék (1789-1871) and Countess Emilie Zichy-Ferraris de Zich et Vásonkeö (1803-1866).

The Six Siblings of Queen Paola of Belgium

Surrounded by her six elder children, Donna Luisa Ruffo di Calabria is pictured holding her seventh child and fourth daughter Paola.

The future Queen Paola of Belgium was born as Donna Paola Margherita Maria Antonia Consiglia Ruffo di Calabria on 11 September 1937 as the seventh and last child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria (1884-1946) and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana (1896-1989), who married in 1919. Paola was not yet nine years old when her father Fulco died on 23 August 1946. In 1959, Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria married Prince Albert of Belgium. After the death of her brother-in-law King Baudouin, Paola became Queen of Belgium when her husband Albert succeeded to the throne as King Albert II. Albert abdicated in 2013, after a reign of twenty years. 

Donna Maria Cristina Ruffo di Calabria (1920-2003)

Princess Alix Napoléon, Prince Louis Napoléon, Princess Catherine Napoléon, Nicolò San Martino d'Aglie, Donna Maria Cristina Ruffo di Calabria, Casimiro San Martino d'Agliè, Prangins, 1974. 

Donna Maria Cristina Laura Ruffo di Calabria was born on 25 May 1920 at Rome. She was the first child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. On 10 June 1940 at Rome, Maria Cristina married Casimiro San Martino d'Agliè Marchese di Fontanetto con San Germano (1903-1988). The couple had five children: Antonella (b.1943; married Ippolito Calvi, dei Conti di Bergolo), Emanuella (b.1944; married Conte Ernesto Rossi di Montelera), Giovanna (b.1945; married and divorced Principe Don Alvaro-Jaime de Orléans y Parodi Delfino), Nicolò (b.1948; married and divorced Princess Catherine Napoléon; married Nobile Anna Maria Gazzana Priaroggia), and Filippo (b.1953; married Cristina Flesia). Aged eighty-three, Donna Maria Cristina Laura Ruffo di Calabria died on 11 September 2003 at the Castello di San Martino near Alfieri. 

 

Donna Laura Ruffo di Calabria (1921-1972)

Laura Ruffo di Calabria with her sister Paola and her brother Antonello, Milan, 1941.
Photograph (c) Rue des Archives/Granger.

Donn Laura Maria Rufina Ruffo di Calabria was born on 31 May 1921 at Rome. She was the second daughter and second child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. On 20 May 1946 at Rome, Laura married Barone Bettino Ricasoli Firidolfi Zanchini Marsuppini Acciauoli Salviati (1922-2009). The couple had four children: Andrea (1948-1982), Luisa (b.1950; married Carlo Lodovico Bicocchi), Maria Teresa (b.1954; married Roberto Giunta), and Giovanni (b.1956; married Eva Holmstrom). Aged fifty-one, Donna Laura Ruffo di Calabria died at Florence on 24 September 1972.

 

Principe Don Fabrizio Ruffo di Calabria (1922-2005)

Fabrizio Ruffo di Calabria and his second wife Luisa Cristina Carbajo, Rome, 1990.

Photograph (c) Marcellino Fernando Radogna.

Don Fabrizio Beniamino Ruffo di Calabria was born on 6 December 1922 at Rome. He was the first son and third child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. On 5 October 1953 at Turin, Fabrizio married Maria Elisabetta Vaciago (b.1933), the daughter of Giovanni Vaciago and Adelaide Seymandi. The couple had five children: Don Fulco (b.1954; married and divorced Melba Vincens Bello; married Luisa Tricarico), Don Augusto (b.1955; married Princess Christiana zu Windisch-Graetz), Donna Imara (b.1958; married and divorced Uberto Gasche; married Marco dei Conti Tonci Ottieri della Ciaja), Don Umberto (b.1960; married Leontina Pallavicino), and Don Alessandro (b.1964; married and divorced Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta; married Marzia Palau). Fabrizio and Maria Elisabetta divorced in 1988. In 1991, Fabrizio remarried Luisa "Liesel" Cristina Carbajo (b.1942). Aged eighty-two, Principe Don Fabrizio Ruffo di Calabria died on 11 October 2005 at Rome. 

 

Don Augusto Ruffo di Calabria (1925-1943)

Don Augusto Ruffo di Calabria was born on 28 August 1925 at Rome. He was the second son and fourth child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. Aged eighteen, Augusto was killed in action during World War II on 2 November 1943 at Mare di Pescara. Augusto died during a naval battle, and his body was never recovered.

Donna Giovannella Ruffo di Calabria (1927-1941)

Donna Giovannella Ruffo di Calabria was born on 16 April 1927 at Rome. She was the third son and fifth child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. Aged fourteen, Giovannella died from food poisoning on 15 May 1941 at Rome. 

 

Don Antonello Ruffo di Calabria (1930-2017)

Antonello Ruffo di Calabria and Rosa Maria Mastrogiovanni Tasca, 1961.

Don Antonello Ruffo di Calabria was born on 31 May 1930 at Rome. He was the third son and sixth child of Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Donna Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. When he turned eighteen, Antonello decided against military service, and, instead, set off to travel the world - he remained a passionate traveler and lover of nature. On 4 January 1961, Antonello married Rosa Maria Mastrogiovanni Tasca (b.1943), the daughter of Giuseppe Mastrogiovanni Tasca, Conte d'Almerita, and Francesca Paola Cammarata de Seta. The couple had four children: Donna Covella (b.1962), Don Lucio (b.1964), Donna Domitilla (b.1965; married Don Giovanni dei Baroni Porcari Li Destri), and Donna Claudia (b.1969; married Marcello Salom). After his divorce from Rosa in 1978, Antonello remarried to Sylviane Sapir. The couple had one child, a daughter: Donna Valentina (b.1994). Aged eighty-seven, Don Antonello Ruffo di Calabria died at Rome on 24 August 2017. He was the last surviving sibling of Queen Paola.

To learn more about Don Antonello, you can read this article from Vanity Fair Spain: ANTONELLO RUFFO DI CALABRIA, ADIÓS AL PRÍNCIPE IRREVERENTE

Lovely Photo of Archduchess Adélaïde of Austria and Son Archduke Josef

Archduchess Adélaïde of Austria has shared a picture of herself with her young son Archduke Josef. 

Archduke Christoph and Archduchess Adélaïde of Austria on their wedding day.

Adélaïde Drapé-Frisch married Archduke Christoph of Austria in December 2012. The couple have three children: Archduchess Katarina (b.2014), Archduchess Sophie (b.2017), and Archduke Josef (b.2020).