Keith Mack
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the subject of speculation regarding his health. Sources indicate that Ernest suffered from a venereal disease, specifically syphilis, which caused a rash on his torso and was a source of shame for him. The character Prince Ernest in ITV's Victoria is believed to be based on him, and the show depicts the challenges of treating syphilis in the 19th century. The question of whether Ernest died of syphilis remains a subject of historical interest and speculation.
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Prince Ernst, had syphilis
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Prince Ernst, suffered from syphilis. Ernst was the brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. The brothers were raised as though they were twins, despite being born 14 months apart. In 1836, the brothers visited their cousin Victoria, who had become Queen of the United Kingdom in 1837. While Victoria was taken with Albert, no marriage proposal was forthcoming, and the brothers returned home.
Ernst suffered from venereal disease in his late teens and early 20s, which was partly due to his father's encouragement of a wild and promiscuous lifestyle. Syphilis was extremely difficult to cure in the 19th century, and patients often experienced relapses after believing they had been cured. The disease could also cause infertility, miscarriages, and stillbirths. The stigma associated with the infection and the lengthy, uncertain treatment outcomes took a significant emotional toll on patients.
In the ITV series Victoria, Ernst's struggle with syphilis is portrayed, including the shame he felt due to the rash on his torso. The character of Ernst falls in love with the Queen's Mistress of the Robes, Harriet, and the potential revelation of his condition becomes a significant plot point. In reality, Ernst did not marry Harriet; instead, he married Alexandrine, and the couple visited Victoria and Albert in England. However, the relationship between Victoria and Ernst soured over time due to his openness about his lovers. Despite this, Ernst agreed to take Victoria's second son as his heir to the ducal throne.
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Ernst's father, Ernest, had syphilis
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, consort to Queen Victoria, may have been a bastard child. This is due to the hereditary syphilis disease on his father's side of the family, which he did not inherit. Albert's father, Ernest, was extremely promiscuous and had syphilis. Albert's mother, Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, would not have wanted her children nor herself to be infected with the disease. Thus, it is possible that she took a healthy lover to provide heirs for the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Dukedom.
In the 19th century, syphilis was extremely difficult to cure. Patients would often think that their disease had disappeared or been cured, only to have their bodies betray them with a resurgence of symptoms. The disease could induce miscarriages and stillbirths, and children born to syphilitic mothers could die in infancy or develop serious health complications. The infection was common across all social classes, and doctors took seriously the notion that a diagnosis of syphilis could trigger acute despair and melancholia.
Albert's brother, Prince Ernst, suffered from venereal disease in his late teens and early 20s, which was partly his father's fault for encouraging him to live a wild, promiscuous lifestyle. Ernst's father, Ernest, was extremely promiscuous and had the syphilis disease. As a result, the probability that Albert and his older brother Ernst were illegitimate is very high. Ernst's father, Ernest, likely passed on the syphilis disease to his son.
Ernst's father, Ernest, was the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was born at Ehrenburg Palace in Coburg on 21 June 1818 and was the elder son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and his first wife, Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He became the Duke upon his father's succession in 1826 through an exchange of territories after the death of the duke's uncle, Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
Ernst's father, Ernest, had a close relationship with his younger brother, Prince Albert. They were raised as though they were twins and became even closer after their parents' separation and divorce and their mother's eventual death. However, their relationship also experienced phases of minor arguments as they grew older. After Albert's death in 1861, Ernest published anonymous pamphlets against various members of the British royal family, including his sister-in-law, Queen Victoria.
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Ernst's father encouraged his son's promiscuity
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Prince Ernst, suffered from syphilis, a venereal disease. He was the older brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. Prince Ernst's father, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, encouraged his son's promiscuity, which led to him contracting the disease.
Ernst I himself was extremely promiscuous, and it is speculated that he had syphilis. Due to the difficulty in curing syphilis during that time, patients often experienced relapses after believing they had recovered. The stigma associated with the disease and the lengthy treatments took a significant emotional toll on those affected.
Prince Ernst's father, Ernest I, likely encouraged his son's promiscuity due to his own lifestyle choices. As a result, Prince Ernst led a wild and promiscuous life, which contributed to him developing syphilis. Ernst's condition was a source of shame for him, and he kept it hidden from potential partners. In the case of his relationship with Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland, it is unclear if she was aware of his condition before their marriage.
The Duke of Sutherland's death created an opportunity for Prince Ernst to pursue a relationship with Harriet. However, it is worth noting that Harriet and the Duke of Sutherland had a famously happy marriage in real life, deviating from the narrative portrayed in ITV's "Victoria."
Prince Ernst's father, Ernest I, may have encouraged his son's promiscuity to secure heirs for the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Dukedom. It was speculated that Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Ernst I's wife and Prince Ernst's mother, took a healthy lover to avoid infecting herself and her children with syphilis. This theory stems from the high probability that Prince Ernst and Prince Albert were illegitimate due to their father's promiscuity and disease.
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Ernst's wife, Harriet, was unaware of his condition
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Prince Ernst, suffered from syphilis. Ernst was the brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. Ernst's syphilis was a closely guarded secret, and his wife, Harriet, was initially unaware of his condition.
Harriet, whose full name was Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, was the Duchess of Sutherland and a great friend of Queen Victoria. She and Ernst had a will-they-won't-they relationship, which was depicted in the ITV series Victoria. In the show, Ernst's condition is discovered when a coppery rash appears on his shoulders, and it is implied that Harriet remains unaware of his diagnosis. In reality, however, it is unclear if Harriet ever learned of her husband's illness, as the show deviates from the true story for dramatic effect.
Syphilis was a highly stigmatised disease in the 19th century, with infected individuals facing social disgrace. The treatment of the disease was also challenging, with patients often relapsing after initially responding well to treatment. Doctors in the 19th century believed that a diagnosis of syphilis could trigger acute despair and melancholia, and patients were often consumed by paranoia that their secret would be discovered. This stigma extended to the spouses of infected individuals, who were often kept in the dark about their own infections. Wives of infected men were typically protected by the medical and legal establishment, with doctors going to great lengths to conceal the true cause of their illness.
Ernst's father, Ernest I, was also known to have suffered from syphilis, leading to speculation that Prince Albert and Ernst were illegitimate children. It is theorised that their mother, Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, took a healthy lover to provide heirs for the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Dukedom, as she would not have wanted her children to be infected with the disease.
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Ernst's sister-in-law disliked him
Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. It is speculated that Ernst suffered from syphilis, a venereal disease, as evidenced by a coppery rash across his torso. While there is no confirmation that Ernst died of syphilis, the disease was notoriously difficult to cure in the 19th century, often requiring lengthy treatments and resulting in uncertain outcomes.
Now, let's focus on the topic of "Ernst's sister-in-law disliked him":
Queen Victoria, as Ernst's sister-in-law, had a complex relationship with him. Initially, she found him lively and sociable, sharing similar interests such as a love for gossip. However, over time, their relationship soured due to several reasons:
Firstly, Queen Victoria disapproved of Ernst's openness about his lovers. Ernst was known for his promiscuity, and his willingness to discuss his affairs caused embarrassment to the royal family. Victoria found his behaviour humiliating, especially since his wife, Alexandrine, seemed to tolerate it.
Secondly, Queen Victoria was displeased with Ernst's decision to write his memoirs. She feared that the contents of these memoirs might include sensitive information about her late husband, Prince Albert. This concern led to further tension between them.
Additionally, Ernst's actions often angered Queen Victoria. She wrote to her daughter, Vicky, expressing her frustration with Ernst's "odd ways" and his "uncontrollable tongue." Victoria felt that Ernst's behaviour reflected poorly on the royal family and caused them harm.
Despite these issues, Queen Victoria still had a certain level of affection for Ernst due to his connection with her beloved husband, Prince Albert. She valued their family bond, which might have prevented her from completely severing ties with him.
In conclusion, Ernst's sister-in-law, Queen Victoria, had a strained relationship with him due to his scandalous behaviour, his memoirs, and his tendency to cause familial embarrassment. However, their shared family history and Victoria's love for her late husband likely softened the extent of her dislike.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert had a brother, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Yes, it is believed that Ernest suffered from venereal disease, including syphilis, in his late teens and early 20s.
Queen Victoria disapproved of her brother-in-law's openness about his lovers and his decision to write his memoirs, fearing that their contents might reflect poorly on her deceased husband, Albert.
Yes, Ernest married Alexandrine, but the marriage was childless.
Although Ernest's marriage to Alexandrine was childless, he fathered numerous children through various affairs.
