JimSmithson Posted 25 February , 2010 Share Posted 25 February , 2010 In working through some cabinet papers I found a fascinating parliamentary discussion (if that can exist) over the removal of various dukedoms etc. from those deemed pro-German. One of them was a direct descendent of George III of the U.K., Prince Ernest Augustus, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale. This title was stripped from the prince in 1917 by the Titles Deprivation Act but his direct heirs can appeal for reinstatement though none have. The present Ernst August of Hannover could do that but thankfully hasn't as he is not a very pleasant man. He would make the behaviour of some of our peers look gentlemanly! Just a little snippet to save up for those times when you want to get rid of an unwanted guest by boring them with trivia!! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 26 February , 2010 Share Posted 26 February , 2010 Was he a descendent for the chap that did for the Scots at Culloden? Can you add a little detail of that Act. Was it a follow up of changes like Battenberg to Mountbatten? Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimSmithson Posted 27 February , 2010 Author Share Posted 27 February , 2010 The line of dukes was broken a number of times and 'butcher' Cumberland also died without an heir. The title was then changed to Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn but he also died without issue. The again as Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale and the deposed Duke in 1917 was the third of these. The first Duke of C & T was fifth son of our George III whilst 'Butcher' was younger son of George II so there was a relation connection though not direct. The trouble started in July 1916 when questions were asked of the Prime Minister over the status of a number of so called 'Enemy Princes' by MP Swift MacNeill. A Bill was promised but still had not appeared in October when questions were again asked or again in December. Finally teh King gave his assent on 8th November 1917. The Act allowed the King to establish a committee of the Privy Council, which was to include at least two members of the Judicial Committee. The committee was empowered to take evidence and report the names of British peers or princes who served in an enemy military force, or rendered assistance to or voluntarily resided in an enemy nation. The report would then be laid before both Houses of Parliament; if neither House passed a motion disapproving of the report within forty days, it was to be submitted to the King, whereupon the persons named therein would lose all British dignities. Thereafter, a successor of a person thus deprived of a peerage is allowed to petition the Crown for restoration thereof; the petition is to be referred to a committee of the Privy Council, which may recommend whether the petitioner be reinstated or not. In fact the Committee did not report until August 1918 and it took until March 1919 for 4 princes to be stripped of their title. These were: Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, Baron Arklow (HRH The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, Earl of Armagh (HRH The Crown Prince of Hanover ) HRH The Duke of Brunswick Viscount Taaffe and Baron Ballymote All 4 of these offices are still vacant, to be claimed by any direct descendent. Louis Battenburg changed name to Mountbatten in July 1917 at a period when the Bill must have been passing through parliament therefore there could have been a direct influence. Certainly at the same time numerous members of the Royal Family changed their titles, my favourite is Louis' wife who changed from being Princess of Hesse and became known as the Marchioness of Milford Haven. Not the same ring somehow! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 27 February , 2010 Share Posted 27 February , 2010 An excellent summary. Many thanks. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 27 February , 2010 Share Posted 27 February , 2010 I seem to remember there was a TV programme about a British minor royal who was compelled to take a vacant German Dukedom a little while ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 27 February , 2010 Share Posted 27 February , 2010 Nice sausages, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimSmithson Posted 27 February , 2010 Author Share Posted 27 February , 2010 Nice sausages, though. Nothing to do with the German connection then! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joerookery Posted 27 February , 2010 Share Posted 27 February , 2010 Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Saxe-Gotha become a combined double state 1826 named Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The small Thüringian state was a member state of the German Confederation until 1866. The Saxe Coburg Gotha military became a contingent of the Prussian Army on 26 June 1867. After the Prussian-Austrian War during which it allied with Prussia, it became a member state of the North German Confederation in 1867. In addition to the two almost equal sized parts there were a number of small enclaves. It became a member state of the German Empire in 1871. Almost the entire population of 266,000 in 1914 was Lutheran. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was a hereditary constitutional monarchy. There were two separate parliaments, one for the Duchy of Coburg and another for the Duchy of Gotha, The Coburg diet consisted of eleven members and the Gotha diet of nineteen. Common issues were decided by a joint session. The franchise was given to all male taxpayers who were at least twenty-five years of age. The united duchy was represented in the Bundesrat by one member and in the Reichstag by two members, one for each duchy. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was quite rich as Ernest I sold the principality of Lichtenberg to Prussia for a large sum of money. Ernst II had no children, and the succession passed to the children of his brother Albert, the English prince consort of Queen Victoria. In 1855 his second son, Prince Alfred was declared heir to the duchy. When he died without sons in July 1900 the succession was renounced by the Duke of Connaught. Therefore, Saxe-Coburg passed to a nephew Charles Edward, Duke of Albany. This guy had a bad spell of luck and made some bad choices. He chose to come from England where he was the Duke of Albany at the age of 15 to become William's vassal. He didn't speak German. Was loyal to the Kaiser and was stripped of his British titles post WW1. After the war he became a staunch Nazi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimSmithson Posted 27 February , 2010 Author Share Posted 27 February , 2010 Thanks Joe. Was that a quote from another thread? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joerookery Posted 28 February , 2010 Share Posted 28 February , 2010 No, actually this is from an old side of my website. http://www.pickelhauben.net/imperialinfo.htm We use these pictures and data along with a bunch of other stuff for the Handbook of Imperial Germany Chapter 2. lots of juicy gossip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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