Prince Nikolaus, Duke of Paley
 Prince Nikolaus, age twelve, at the navel academy. | ||
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His Royal Highness Prince Nikolaus, Duke of Paley (Nikolaus Carl Johann Eitel Joachim Ludwig Georg), styled HRH The Duke of Paley , born 25 April, 1895, is the second suriviving son of King Philipp II and his wife, Lady Elisabeth Bauer. He was born at Schloss Ottosbrun, his parents' primary residence.
Contents
Biography
His Highness Prince Nikolaus of Altec was born at Schloss Ottosbrun, his parents' primary residence, on April 25, 1895. He was the second living son of his father, then Duke of Altec. A sister, Sophie, had died three years before his birth, and two other siblings, both older, Gabriella and Adalbert, had died shortly after birth. His only surviving sibling was his older brother, Prince Rupprecht. As the great-nephew of the reigning monarch, Prince Nikolaus was styled His Highness at birth. He was christened in the royal chapel of St. Rudolf's Cathedral on May 17, 1895.
Rupprecht and Nikolaus were joined by another younger brother, Theodor in 1898. The three brothers were close, and both Rupprecht and Nikolaus were devastated when Theodor died in 1902 of meningitis. In 1905, King Adalbert elevated Nikolaus and Rupprecht to the status of Royal Highness.
Nikolaus was educated Royal Military Academy of Alessandri, beginning in the fall term of 1903, soon after his eighth birthday. He graduated in 1907 as first in his class of 371 pupils, and went on to study at the Royal Naval College, again graduating first, in a class of 215 students in 1913. As first in his class, Nikolaus was nominated to become Honorary Commander of the Kriegsmarine, which he achieved in 1927.
In 1910, his great-uncle, Adalbert VIII died, and his father acended the throne as King Philipp II. Rupprecht and Nikolaus reverted to Princes of Alessandri. Four days before his marriage, Nikolaus was given the ducal title of 'Duke of Paley.'
Marriage & Family
Prince Nikolaus married Countess Catherine Hausenbeck von Arheny on February 15, 1920 in the Royal Chapel of St. Rudolf's Cathedral. As with his elder brother, the newlyweds spent their first three months of marriage in a wing of the Neues Palais before moving to Schloss Ehrenburg, where the family currently resides.
The Duke and Duchess have four children.
- HH Princess Marie Elise Catherine Alexandra Margarete of Paley, born November 16, 1920
- HH Princess Marie Christine Friederike Viktoria Luise of Paley, born August 2, 1922
- HH Princess Marie Alexandra Gabriella Elisabeth Sophie of Paley, born September 22, 1925
- HRH Prince Carl Eugen Alexander Paul Arthur Nikolaus of Paley, born August 9, 1927
Officially, the children are known by their first two names, as the Princesses Marie Elise, Marie Christine, and Marie Alexandra, and the Prince Carl Eugen, but in the family, the girls go by the latter of their first names, while Prince Carl Eugen goes by Carl.
Prince Nikolaus is currently fourth in line to the throne, following his brother and nephews. Because his son, Carl Eugen holds a place in the line of succession, he has the rank of Royal Highness while Elise, Christine and Alexandra, as females with no claim to the crown, are only Highnesses.
Titles
- His Highness The Prince Nikolaus (25 April, 1895 - 17 May, 1895)
- His Highness Prince Nikolaus of Altec (17 May, 1895 - 19 May, 1905)
- His Royal Highness Prince Nikolaus of Altec (19 May, 1905 - 7 October, 1910)
- His Royal Highness The Prince Nikolaus (7 October, 1910 - 11 November, 1920)
- His Royal Highness The Duke of Paley (11 November, 1920 - present)
| Styles of Prince Nikolaus, Duke of Paley | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
See also
| Preceded by: Franz Hubert Griezmach |
Honorary Commander of the Kriegsmarine 1927– |
Followed by: current incumbent |
| Preceded by: Prince Georg of Iksander |
Line of succession to the Alessandrian Throne 1905– |
Followed by: Prince Carl Eugen of Paley |
