Princess Marie of Battenberg

Princess Marie Caroline of Battenberg (German: Prinzessin Marie Karoline von Battenberg; 15 February 1852 – 20 June 1923) was a Princess of Battenberg and, by marriage, the Princess of Erbach-Schönberg. She worked as a writer and translator.

Marie was the eldest child and only daughter of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine (1823–1888), founder of the House of Battenberg and his morganatic wife, the Countess Julia Hauke (1825–1895), daughter of the Polish Count John Maurice Hauke. As a result of a morganatic marriage, Marie and her siblings were excluded from the succession of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, and bore the title Princes of Battenberg. Conceived six months before her parents married, Marie always told people that her birthday was the 15th ofJuly instead of the 15th of February. She was born 15 February in Strasbourg and not 15 July in Geneva.

Marie's brother, Alexander since 1879 was Prince of Bulgaria. Her memoir of a visit to him, My Trip to Bulgaria, was published in 1884.

Marie translated The Gate of Paradise and An Easter Dream of Edith Jacob, and A Trip to Siberia by Kate Marsden. She also published her memoirs, which places her relationship with her mentally-unstable son Maximilian in an essential role.

The Princess married on 19 April 1871 in Darmstadt, Count Gustav Ernst of Erbach-Schönberg (1840–1908), who was elevated to the rank of Prince (German: Fürst) in 1903.

They had four children:

• Alexander, Prince of Erbach-Schönberg (12 September 1872 – 18 October 1944); married Princess Elisabeth of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1900. With issue.
• Count Maximilian of Erbach-Schönberg (17 March 1878 – 25 March 1892)
• Prince Victor of Erbach-Schönberg (26 September 1880 – 27 April 1967); married Countess Elisabeth Széchényi de Sarvar et Felsö-Vidék in 1909.
• Princess Marie Elisabeth of Erbach-Schönberg (7 July 1883–12 Mar 1966); married Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Stolberg-Wernigerode (grandson of (Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode) in 1910. With issue

• 15 July 1852 – 26 December 1858: Her Illustrious Highness Countess Marie of Battenberg
• 26 December 1858 –19 April 1871: Her Serene Highness Princess Marie of Battenberg
• 19 April 1871 –18 August 1903: Her Serene Highness Princess Marie, Countess Gustav of Erbach-Schönberg
• 18 August 1903– 20 June 1923: Her Serene Highness The Princess of Erbach-Schönberg