bavarikon4UDescription
At the end of the eighteenth century for the house of Saxe-Coburg that ruled over a small Thuringian duchy started a period of Europe-wide dynastic careers. By means of marriages into the families of the Russian Tsar and into the ruling dynasty of Great Britain, princesses Juliane (1781-1860) and Victoire (1786-1861) laid the foundation for a remarkable ascent. In the case of Albert, born in 1819 as the second son of the duke ruling in Coburg, the family decided in favour of his cousin Victoria. In 1837, she succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Albert’s and Victoria’s uncle Leopold von Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, king of Belgium (r. 1831-1865) and the driving force behind the Coburg marriage policy, had planned the connection well in advance. Despite the diversity of the characters, it was based on deep affection. In London, the respective authorities signed and sealed the wedding contract. Albert became the political advisor of the queen and acquired high recognition. The couple together managed to stabilise the British monarchy that had previously lost some of its renown. Albert died in 1861 at the age of 42 years. Victoria’s reign (1837-1901) became known as the Victorian Age in history.