Cameron Miranda
Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the subject of a plotline in ITV's Victoria, in which he suffers from syphilis. In reality, Ernest did suffer from venereal disease in his late teens and early 20s, and his father, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, also had syphilis. Queen Victoria disapproved of her brother-in-law, finding him embarrassingly open about his lovers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Queen Victoria's brother-in-law with suspected syphilis | Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Relationship to Queen Victoria | Husband's brother |
| Cause of syphilis | Promiscuous lifestyle |
| Symptoms | Syphilitic rash |
| Treatment | Unclear, but he was responding well initially |
| Marriage | Married Alexandrine; no children |
| Truth | Queen Victoria was aware of his condition |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Ernst's 'condition'
Prince Ernst's condition is a reference to his struggle with syphilis, a venereal disease that affected him in his late teens and early 20s. This condition caused him great shame, as it was often stigmatised and associated with moral dilemmas and social ruin. The disease was challenging to cure, and relapses were common, leading to uncertainty and emotional distress for patients like Prince Ernst.
Prince Ernst's condition is depicted in the ITV series "Victoria", where his character experiences a resurgence of symptoms, including a coppery rash across his shoulders, after initially responding well to treatment. This storyline highlights the historical challenges of treating syphilis and the impact of the disease on individuals' lives and relationships.
Syphilis was a significant concern during the Victorian era, and its spread was influenced by the sexism of the time. Doctors often prioritised the interests of male patients, concealing diagnoses from their wives to protect their husbands' reputations. This resulted in a lack of transparency and further spread of the disease.
Prince Ernst's condition also had implications for his romantic relationships. In the ITV series, his character falls in love with Harriet, the Duchess of Sutherland, and faces a difficult decision due to his condition. He must choose between postponing their marriage, potentially ruining their happiness, or marrying her and risking infecting her and any future children.
The historical Prince Ernst, or Ernest, was the brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. While there is no definitive proof, it is speculated that Prince Ernst may have struggled with syphilis due to his father's promiscuity and the hereditary nature of the disease in his family. However, it is important to note that the accuracy of historical theories and depictions in popular culture may vary.
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The Duke of Sutherland's death
Prince Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was Queen Victoria's brother-in-law. He was the older brother of her husband, Prince Albert. In the late 1800s, Ernst suffered from venereal disease, likely syphilis, which caused a rash on his torso. At the time, syphilis was incurable and carried a strong social stigma. Despite his illness, Ernst fathered numerous children through various affairs.
In the ITV series "Victoria", Ernst's illness is a central plot point. In the show, Ernst falls in love with the Queen's Mistress of the Robes, Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland. However, he hides his condition from her, creating a moral dilemma as he risks infecting her and any potential children.
In real life, Harriet Sutherland was a great friend of Queen Victoria. Contrary to the events depicted in "Victoria", Harriet had a famously happy marriage with the Duke of Sutherland, and they had 11 children.
While the series takes creative liberties with history, it highlights the challenges faced by those with syphilis in the 19th century. The treatment was lengthy and uncertain, and patients often relapsed after initially responding well. The diagnosis carried a heavy emotional toll, and doctors believed it could lead to acute despair and melancholia.
Regarding the Duke of Sutherland's death, there is no specific information available from the search results. However, it appears that the Duke of Sutherland in question is not Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, as that title belongs to Prince Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
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Ernst's father's promiscuity
Ernst's father, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was known for his promiscuity and extramarital affairs. He barely paused to marry his sister's daughter, Duchess Marie, who became the boys' stepmother and their first cousin. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took his sons, including Ernst, to "sample the pleasures" of Paris and Berlin, which horrified Albert but appealed to his older brother. This promiscuous lifestyle led to Ernst contracting a venereal disease in his late teens and early twenties.
The Duke's promiscuity had consequences for his family. Due to his father's syphilis, it is probable that Albert and his older brother, Ernst, were illegitimate. Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, their mother, would not have wanted her children to be infected with the disease, so she may have taken a healthy lover to provide heirs for the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Dukedom. One theory suggests that Albert's biological father may have been Baron Von Mayern, a Jewish court chamberlain with whom Princess Louise had an affair.
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Ernst's marriage to Alexandrine
Ernst, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the brother of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. Ernst was an avid hunter, sportsman, and an enthusiastic patron of everything connected with natural history. He was also a talented musician and composer, with one of his operas, "Diana von Solange" (1858), prompting Franz Liszt to write an orchestral piece the following year.
Ernst's marriage to Princess Alexandrine of Baden was a relief to his family, who had worried that he would never settle down. The marriage united the House of Baden with the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, one of the oldest lines of German aristocracy, descended from the House of Wettin. The couple met in the fall of 1840 when Ernst travelled to the Court at Schwetzingen. Ernst recalled his first impression of Alexandrine as "simple and natural, adorned with what remained most precious in her during her whole life". Over a year later, he proposed, and she accepted.
The marriage took place on 3 May 1842 in Karlsruhe. Alexandrine was 21 years old and the eldest daughter of Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden, and Princess Sophie of Sweden, daughter of the deposed King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden. The marriage was childless, most likely due to a venereal disease Ernst had contracted before marrying. Alexandrine accepted without question that their childlessness was her fault.
Despite the childlessness of the marriage, Alexandrine was devoted to her husband, baffling those on the outside. Queen Victoria and her husband gave Alexandrine a magnificent antique diamond and emerald necklace as a wedding gift. Victoria and Alexandrine formed a deep friendship, and Victoria was eager to see her again. However, Ernst chose not to bring her along on subsequent visits, taking less and less interest in his wife as the chances of producing children faded.
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Ernst's relationship with Harriet
Ernst, the brother of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, did not have an affair with Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland. Ernst and Harriet's relationship was depicted in the television series Victoria, but in reality, Harriet was married to the Duke of Sutherland, and she and her husband had a loving marriage and eleven children.
Ernst was urged by his brother Albert to find a bride, as he had been warned that his continued promiscuity could leave him unable to father children. He did eventually marry, but not to Harriet. In 1842, Ernst married Princess Alexandrine of Baden, the daughter of Leopold I, Grand Duke of Baden, and Princess Sophie of Sweden.
Ernst and Albert were raised like twins and had a close bond. However, Queen Victoria disapproved of Ernst's behaviour, particularly his openness about his lovers, and his sister-in-law's willingness to tolerate it. Despite this, Ernst agreed to take Victoria's second son as his heir to the ducal throne.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, had syphilis. He was the brother of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert.
Queen Victoria's father-in-law, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was known to be extremely promiscuous and had syphilis. However, Prince Albert did not contract syphilis from his mother, Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, indicating that Ernest I may not have been his biological father. It is speculated that Prince Albert's biological father could have been another lover of Princess Louise, such as Baron Von Mayern.
Syphilis was a difficult disease to cure in the 19th century, often requiring lengthy treatments and resulting in uncertain outcomes. The stigma associated with the disease could also take an emotional toll on patients, leading to acute despair and melancholia. In the case of Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest, his syphilitic rash caused him shame and impacted his relationship with Harriet, the Duchess of Sutherland.
The presence of syphilis in the royal family had several implications. Firstly, it raised questions about the legitimacy of Prince Albert and his brother Ernest, as their father, Ernest I, had syphilis, and it was unlikely that Prince Albert did not contract it from his mother. Secondly, the disease may have influenced marriage considerations within the royal family. For example, Queen Victoria's brother-in-law, Ernest, faced a dilemma due to his syphilis diagnosis, as he had to decide whether to postpone his marriage to Harriet or risk infecting her and any potential children.
