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{{Short description|German psychologist (1953–2022)}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = Rüdiger
| title = [[Margrave of Meissen]]
| name = Rüdiger von Sachsen
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
⚫
| alt =
| succession = [[King of Saxony|Head of the Royal House of Saxony (disputed)]]
| reign = 6 October 2012 – present
| birth_name = Rüdiger Ernst Karl Timo Aldi von Sachsen
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|12|23|df=y}}
| reign-type = Tenure
⚫
| birth_place = [[Mülheim an der Ruhr]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[West Germany]]
| predecessor = [[Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1934–2012)|Albert]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|3|29|1953|12|23|df=y}}
| successor = [[Prince Daniel of Saxony|Prince Daniel]]
| death_place = [[Moritzburg, Saxony|Moritzburg]], [[Saxony]], Germany
| suc-type = Heir apparent
⚫
| burial_place =
⚫
| spouse = {{plainlist|
| alma_mater =
⚫
| spouse = {{plainlist|
*{{marriage|Astrid Linke<br>|14 June 1974|1989|end=d}}
*{{marriage|Astrid Linke<br>|14 June 1974|1989|end=d}}
*{{marriage|Diana Dorndorf<br>|January 2004|2005|end=div}}}}
*{{marriage|Diana Dorndorf<br>|January 2004|2008|end=div}}}}
| children = [[Daniel von Sachsen]]<br>Arne von Sachsen<br>Nils von Sachsen
| issue = {{plainlist|
*[[Prince Daniel of Saxony|Prince Daniel]]
| father = Prince Timo of Saxony
⚫
| mother = Margrit Lucas
*Prince Arne
| family =
*Prince Nils}}
| full name = {{plainlist|
| awards =
| website =
*{{lang-de|Rüdiger Karl Ernst Timo Aldi}}
*{{lang-en|Rüdiger Charles Ernest Timo Aldi}}}}
| house = [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]
| father = Prince Timo of Saxony
⚫
| mother = Margrit Lucas
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|12|23|df=y}}
⚫
| birth_place = [[Mülheim an der Ruhr]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[West Germany]] (now [[Germany]])
| death_date =
| death_place =
⚫
| burial_place =
| religion = [[Roman Catholicism]]<ref name=adg/>
}}
}}


'''Prince Rüdiger Charles Ernest Timo Aldi of Saxony, [[Duke of Saxony]], [[Margrave of Meissen]]''' ({{lang-de|Rüdiger Ernst Karl Timo Aldi}}; {{lang-pl|Rydygier książę Saski}}; born 23 December 1953) is a disputed head of the [[House of Wettin|Royal House of Saxony]], and the only [[Patrilineality|agnatic]] (male line or paternal) great-grandson of the last King of Saxony, [[Frederick Augustus III of Saxony|Frederick Augustus III]].
'''Rüdiger von Sachsen''' ({{langx|de|Rüdiger Ernst Karl Timo Aldi}}; {{langx|pl|Rydygier książę Saski}}; 23 December 1953 – 29 March 2022<ref>[https://www.saechsische.de/meissen/ruediger-prinz-von-sachsen-ist-tot-5657945-plus.html Rüdiger Prinz von Sachsen ist tot: Trauer im Hause Wettin] {{in lang|de}}</ref>) was a claimant to the Headship of the [[House of Wettin|Royal House of Saxony]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
⚫
Rüdiger Karl Ernst Timo Aldi was born in [[Mülheim]],<ref name=adg>{{cite book |title=[[Almanach de Gotha]] |edition=186th |year=2003 |publisher=Almanach de Gotha |isbn=0-9532142-4-9 |page=342 |chapter=Saxony }}</ref> the only son of [[Prince Timo of Saxony]] (1923–1983) and his first wife Margrit Lucas (1932–1957), the daughter of Carl Lucas, a butcher, and his wife Hildegard Stube. Rüdiger was grandson of [[Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony]] and greatgrandson of the last Saxon king [[Frederick Augustus III of Saxony]]. <ref name=ghda91>{{cite book |title=Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels |last=von Ehrenkrook |first=Hans Friedrich |year=1991 |publisher=Starke Verlag |location=Frankfurt |page=586 }}</ref> Rüdiger's parents were married in Mülheim on 7 August 1952 in what was reported at the time as a "fairytale wedding" between a prince and a butcher's daughter.<ref name=guter/> However, as Lucas was a commoner the marriage was considered [[morganatic]], hence their children being considered as commoners with no dynastic rights unless elevated by the Head of the Royal House of Saxony.<ref>{{cite book |title=Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels |year=1978 |publisher=Starke Verlag |page=521 }}</ref>


⚫
Rüdiger had a difficult childhood. His father Prince Timo, who became addicted to morphine after sustaining serious injuries during a spring 1945 bombing raid on [[Dresden]],<ref name= wuw/> had a number of failed jobs. When Rüdiger was aged just 18 months old, he was taken by his penniless mother to her father's home in Mülheim. The marriage proved difficult and Rüdiger's mother was in process of divorcing Prince Timo when she found out she was pregnant,<ref>{{cite news |title=Margrit |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-31970478.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=8 June 1955 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> later giving birth to a daughter, Iris von Sachsen, on 21 September 1955.<ref name=ghda91/>
⚫
Prince Rüdiger Karl Ernst Timo Aldi was born in [[Mülheim]],<ref name=adg>{{cite book |title=[[Almanach de Gotha]] |edition=186th |year=2003 |publisher=Almanach de Gotha |isbn=0-9532142-4-9 |page=342 |chapter=Saxony }}</ref> the only son of [[Prince Timo of Saxony]] (1923–1983) and his first wife Margrit Lucas (1932–1957), the daughter of Carl Lucas, a butcher, and his wife Hildegard Stube.<ref name=ghda91>{{cite book |title=Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels |last=von Ehrenkrook |first=Hans Friedrich |year=1991 |publisher=Starke Verlag |location=Frankfurt |page=586 }}</ref> Prince Rüdiger's parents were married in Muelheim on 7 August 1952 in what was reported at the time as a "fairytale wedding" between a prince and a butcher's daughter.<ref name=guter/> However, as Lucas was a commoner the marriage was considered [[morganatic]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels |year=1978 |publisher=Starke Verlag |page=521 }}</ref>

⚫
Prince Rüdiger had a difficult childhood. His father Prince Timo, who became addicted to morphine after sustaining serious injuries during an autumn 1945 bombing raid on [[Dresden]],<ref name= wuw/> had a number of failed jobs. When Rüdiger was aged just 18 months old he was taken by his penniless mother to her father's home in Muelheim. The marriage proved difficult and Rüdiger's mother was in process of divorcing Prince Timo when she found out she was pregnant,<ref>{{cite news |title=Margrit |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-31970478.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=8 June 1955 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> later giving birth to a daughter, [[Princess Iris of Saxony]], on 21 September 1955.<ref name=ghda91/>


Having failed to pay child support for his wife and two children, shortly before her death in 1957 the family of Rüdiger's mother had Prince Timo placed under legal guardianship by the courts, meaning that following the death of their mother the children were placed in the care of their maternal grandparents,<ref name=guter>{{cite news |title=Guter Oberförster |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-46050219.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=15 April 1968 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> Rüdiger and his sister's paternal family, grandfather [[Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony|Prince Ernst Heinrich]] the youngest son of King Frederick Augustus III, and uncles [[Prince Dedo of Saxony]] (1922–2009) and [[Prince Gero of Saxony]] (1925–2003) had emigrated to the [[Republic of Ireland]] following the loss of their vast properties in Saxony which became part of communist [[East Germany]].<ref name=guter/>
Having failed to pay child support for his wife and two children, shortly before her death in 1957 the family of Rüdiger's mother had Prince Timo placed under legal guardianship by the courts, meaning that following the death of their mother the children were placed in the care of their maternal grandparents,<ref name=guter>{{cite news |title=Guter Oberförster |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-46050219.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=15 April 1968 |accessdate=29 July 2012}}</ref> Rüdiger and his sister's paternal family, grandfather [[Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony|Prince Ernst Heinrich]] the youngest son of King Friedrich August III and uncles [[Prince Dedo of Saxony]] (1922–2009) and [[Prince Gero of Saxony]] (1925–2003) had emigrated to the [[Republic of Ireland]] following the loss of their vast properties in Saxony which became part of communist [[East Germany]].<ref name=guter/>


The widowed Prince Timo's difficulties continued as after residing for a time in homeless shelters and dwellings to escape his creditors, the guardianship court had him admitted into a mental hospital in 1958. He was then treated by psychiatrists for the next seven years until 15 December 1965 when the ruling placing him under legal guardianship was lifted.<ref name=guter/>
The widowed Prince Timo's difficulties continued as after residing for a time in homeless shelters and dwellings to escape his creditors, the guardianship court had him admitted into a mental hospital in 1958. He was then treated by psychiatrists for the next seven years until 15 December 1965 when the ruling placing him under legal guardianship was lifted.<ref name=guter/>
Line 45: Line 36:
==Career==
==Career==


After working as a psychologist<ref name=adg/> in 2003, Prince Rüdiger left his home in [[Westerwald]] in order to move to [[Moritzburg, Saxony|Moritzburg]], Saxony where he founded with his eldest son [[Prince Daniel of Saxony]] the ''Wettinische Forstverwaltung'' (Wettin Forest service).<ref>{{cite news |title=Was lesen und essen Sie gern, Herr Daniel von Sachsen? |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/base.asp?ausgabe=313&etag=13.05.2006 |publisher=Sächsische Zeitung |date=13 May 2006 |accessdate=19 July 2009 |language=German }}</ref> The forest, which is owned as well as run by the [[Saxon Royal Family]], is approximately 1200 [[hectares]] in size.<ref>{{cite web|title=Der Betrieb |url=http://www.wettinische-forstverwaltung.de/2.html |publisher=Wettinische Forstverwaltung |language=German |accessdate=20 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716103429/http://wettinische-forstverwaltung.de/2.html |archivedate=July 16, 2006 }}</ref>
After working as a psychologist<ref name=adg/> in 2003, Rüdiger left his home in [[Westerwald]] in order to move to [[Moritzburg, Saxony|Moritzburg]], Saxony where he founded the ''Wettinische Forstverwaltung'' (Wettin Forest Management) with his eldest son [[Daniel von Sachsen]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Was lesen und essen Sie gern, Herr Daniel von Sachsen? |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/base.asp?ausgabe=313&etag=13.05.2006 |publisher=Sächsische Zeitung |date=13 May 2006 |accessdate=19 July 2009 |language=German }}</ref> The forest was acquired after Rüdiger filed restitution claims for [[Moritzburg Castle]], which had belonged to his grandfather until being expropriated in 1945. A restituion claim however was only applicable for the inventory, which has great historical value. Through a settlement with the Free State of Saxony, he was able to buy back part of the expropriated forest. The forest, which is now owned and run by the three sons of Prince Rüdiger, is approximately 1200 [[hectares]] in size.<ref>{{cite web|title=Der Betrieb |url=http://www.wettinische-forstverwaltung.de/2.html |publisher=Wettinische Forstverwaltung |language=German |accessdate=20 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716103429/http://wettinische-forstverwaltung.de/2.html |archivedate=July 16, 2006 }}</ref>


==Saxon succession==
==Saxon succession==
⚫
The headship of the [[House of Wettin|Royal House of Saxony]] is an area of dispute in the [[Saxon Royal Family]]. The dispute stems from the fact that the last undisputed head of the house [[Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen]], and the other princes of his generation either had no children or, in the case of Prince Timo, had children who were not recognised as being members of the Royal House of Saxony. The first designated dynastic heir of Prince Maria Emanuel was his nephew [[Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary]], son of his youngest sister Princess Mathilde of Saxony.<ref name=pg>{{cite book |title = Le Petit Gotha|year = 2003|language= French|isbn= 2-9507974-0-7 |pages= 127–129 |author = Chantal de Badts de Cugnac ; Guy Coutant de Saisseval | publisher=Le Petit Gotha }}</ref>


⚫
After the early death of Prince Johannes, the heirless Maria Emanuel then began to look at his eldest nephew [[Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe|Prince Alexander Afif]], the eldest son of Princess Anna of Saxony and her husband Roberto Afif, despite the Afif-Saxony marriage being against the traditional laws of the House of Saxony in the same way as the marriage of Rüdiger's parents was.<ref name=pg/><ref>{{cite book |title=Les Maisons Impériales et Royales d'Europe |year=1966 |publisher=Éditions du Palais-Royal |pages=524–526 }}</ref> In 1997 the Margrave of Meissen proposed his nephew Alexander Afif as heir and drew up a document that was signed by the other male and female members of the Royal House (including previously morganatic spouses of princes who were now treated as dynasts being attributed the style of Royal Highness; Rüdiger, his sons, and sister were not involved) setting out that Alexander Afif would succeed on his death. The document was signed by Anastasia, Margravine of Meissen; Prince Dedo (for himself, his brother Prince Gero and for their stepmother Princess Virginia); [[Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1934–2012)|Prince Albert]] and his wife Princess Elmira; the Princesses Maria Josepha, Anna, and Mathilde; and Princess Erina the third wife and widow of Prince Timo.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dieses geheime Papier regelt die Wettiner-Nachfolge |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/chemnitz/markgraf/dieses-geheime-papier-regelt-die-wettiner-nachfolge-25351102.bild.html |publisher=[[Bild]] |language=German |date=27 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2021|certain=Yes}} Two years later on 1 July 1999 the Margrave adopted his nephew [[Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe|Alexander Afif]] giving him the family name ''Prinz von Sachsen Herzog zu Sachsen''.<ref name=pg/>
⚫
The headship of the [[House of Wettin|Royal House of Saxony]] is an area of dispute in the [[Saxon Royal Family]]. The dispute stems from the fact that the last undisputed head of the house [[Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen]], and the other princes of his generation either had no children, or, in the case of Prince Timo, had children who were not recognised as being members of the Royal House of Saxony. The first adopted dynastic heir of Maria Emanuel was his nephew [[Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]], son of his youngest sister [[Princess Mathilde of Saxony]]{{dn|date=October 2021}}.<ref name=pg>{{cite book |title = Le Petit Gotha|year = 2003|language= French|isbn= 2-9507974-0-7 |pages= 127–129 |author = Chantal de Badts de Cugnac ; Guy Coutant de Saisseval }}</ref>


The 1997 agreement proved to be controversial and in the summer of 2002 three of the signatories (Princes Albert, Dedo and Gero, who did not personally sign the document)<ref>{{cite news |last=Eggert |first=Hans |title=Von der schwierigen Suche der Wettiner nach einem Kronprinzen |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=2339245 |publisher=[[Sächsische Zeitung]] |language=German |date=15 December 2009 |accessdate=13 October 2012 }}</ref> retracted their support for the agreement.<ref name= wuw>{{cite news |title=Würdelos und widerlich |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-25990782.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel|Spiegel]] |language=German |date=21 December 2002 |accessdate=29 July 2012 }}</ref> The following year Prince Albert wrote that it is through Prince Rüdiger and his sons that the direct line of the [[Albert III, Duke of Saxony|Albertine]] branch of the [[House of Wettin]] will continue, and thus avoid becoming extinct.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geschichte des Hauses Wettin von seinen Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart |url=http://www.prinz-albert-von-sachsen.de/inhalt/historie/hist_haus_wettin.htm |publisher=[[Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1934–2012)|Prince Albert of Saxony]] |language=German |date=5 March 2003 |accessdate=15 May 2009 }}</ref> Rüdiger himself never accepted the 1997 agreement and when asked for his opinion on who the eventual successor to Maria Emanuel should be he replied that it should be himself.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ulf |last=Mallek |title=Geschichte Prinzliche Flucht |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=867948 |publisher=Sächsische Zeitung |language=German |date=4 June 2005 |accessdate=15 May 2009 }}</ref>
⚫
After the early death of Prince Johannes, the heirless Maria Emanuel then began to look at his eldest nephew [[Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe|Alexander Afif]], the eldest son of [[Princess Anna of Saxony]]{{dn|date=October 2021}} and her husband Roberto Afif, despite the Afif-Saxony marriage being against the traditional laws of the House of Saxony in the same way as the marriage of Rüdiger's parents was.<ref name=pg/><ref>{{cite book |title=Les Maisons Impériales et Royales d'Europe |year=1966 |publisher=Éditions du Palais-Royal |pages=524–526 }}</ref> In 1997 the Margrave of Meissen proposed his nephew Alexander Afif as heir and drew up a document that was signed by the other male and female members of the Royal House (including previously morganatic spouses of princes who were now treated as dynasts being attributed the style of Royal Highness; Rüdiger, his sons, and sister were not involved) setting out that Alexander Afif would succeed on his death. The document was signed by Anastasia, Margravine of Meissen; Prince Dedo (for himself, his brother Prince Gero and for their stepmother Princess Virginia); [[Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1934–2012)|Prince Albert]] and his wife Princess Elmira; the Princesses Maria Josepha, Anna, and Mathilde; and Princess Erina the third wife and widow of Prince Timo.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dieses geheime Papier regelt die Wettiner-Nachfolge |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/chemnitz/markgraf/dieses-geheime-papier-regelt-die-wettiner-nachfolge-25351102.bild.html |publisher=[[Bild]] |language=German |date=27 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2021|certain=Yes}} Two years later on 1 July 1999 the Margrave adopted his nephew [[Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe|Alexander Afif]] giving him the family name ''Prinz von Sachsen Herzog zu Sachsen''.<ref name=pg/>


The 1997 agreement proved to be controversial and in the summer of 2002 three of the signatories (Princes Albert, Dedo and Gero, who did not personally sign the document)<ref>{{cite news |last=Eggert |first=Hans |title=Von der schwierigen Suche der Wettiner nach einem Kronprinzen |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=2339245 |publisher=[[Sächsische Zeitung]] |language=German |date=15 December 2009 |accessdate=13 October 2012 }}</ref> retracted their support for the agreement.<ref name= wuw>{{cite news |title=Würdelos und widerlich |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-25990782.html |publisher=[[Der Spiegel|Spiegel]] |language=German |date=21 December 2002 |accessdate=29 July 2012 }}</ref> The following year Prince Albert wrote that it is through Prince Rüdiger and his sons that the direct line of the [[Albert III, Duke of Saxony|Albertine]] branch of the [[House of Wettin]] will continue, and thus avoid becoming extinct.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geschichte des Hauses Wettin von seinen Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart |url=http://www.prinz-albert-von-sachsen.de/inhalt/historie/hist_haus_wettin.htm |publisher=[[Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1934–2012)|Prince Albert of Saxony]] |language=German |date=5 March 2003 |accessdate=15 May 2009 }}</ref> Prince Rüdiger himself has never accepted the 1997 agreement and when asked for his opinion on who the eventual successor to Maria Emanuel should be he replied that it should be himself.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ulf |last=Mallek |title=Geschichte Prinzliche Flucht |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=867948 |publisher=Sächsische Zeitung |language=German |date=4 June 2005 |accessdate=15 May 2009 }}</ref>
Following the death of Maria Emanuel in July 2012, Rüdiger recognised Prince Albert (who died three months later) as the new [[Margrave of Meissen]] and head of the [[Royal House of Saxony]]. The former Alexander Afif citing the 1997 agreement also assumed those positions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wettiner spalten sich in zwei Lager |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/chemnitz/markgraf/wettiner-spalten-sich-in-zwei-lager-25332248.bild.html |publisher=[[Bild]] |language=German |date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2021|certain=Yes}} According to the family website prior to his death Albert determined Rüdiger to be his successor and instituted {{clarify|text=a clear succession plan|date=February 2017}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Der Hauschef |url=http://www.haus-wettin.de/familie/familie_haus_chef.html |publisher=Haus-Wettin.de |language=German |accessdate=7 June 2013 }}</ref> On this basis following Albert's death in October 2012 Rüdiger claimed the headship of the house.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stefan |last=Locke |title=Sächsischer Hochadel Und wer wird nun Wettiner-Chef? |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/saechsischer-hochadel-und-wer-wird-nun-wettiner-chef-11922440.html |publisher=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |language=German |date=12 October 2012 |accessdate=12 October 2012 }}</ref>

Following the death of Maria Emanuel in July 2012, Prince Rüdiger recognised Prince Albert (who died three months later) as the new [[Margrave of Meissen]] and head of the [[Royal House of Saxony]]. The former Alexander Afif citing the 1997 agreement has also assumed those positions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wettiner spalten sich in zwei Lager |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/chemnitz/markgraf/wettiner-spalten-sich-in-zwei-lager-25332248.bild.html |publisher=[[Bild]] |language=German |date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2021|certain=Yes}} According to the family website prior to his death Albert determined Rüdiger to be his successor and instituted {{clarify|text=a clear succession plan|date=February 2017}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Der Hauschef |url=http://www.haus-wettin.de/familie/familie_haus_chef.html |publisher=Haus-Wettin.de |language=German |accessdate=7 June 2013 }}</ref> On this basis following Albert's death in October 2012 Prince Rüdiger assumed the headship of the house.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stefan |last=Locke |title=Sächsischer Hochadel Und wer wird nun Wettiner-Chef? |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/saechsischer-hochadel-und-wer-wird-nun-wettiner-chef-11922440.html |publisher=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |language=German |date=12 October 2012 |accessdate=12 October 2012 }}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
⚫
Rüdiger was married twice. His first wife was Astrid Linke (1949–1989), the daughter of Heinz Linke and Elvira Wandke. They were married at [[Willich]] on 14 June 1974 and had three sons.<ref name=adg/>


⚫
*[[Daniel von Sachsen]], (b. 1975); married Sandra Scherer, a scientist (b. 1977)<ref>{{cite news |first=Jurgen |last=Helfricht |title=Traumhochzeit auf Schloss Moritzburg Prinz von Sachsen sagt JA! |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/dresden/deutsche-royals/traumhochzeit-auf-schloss-moritzburg-19149112.bild.html |publisher=[[Bild]] |language=German |date=31 July 2011 |accessdate=13 October 2012 }}</ref> and has one daughter and one son.{{CN|date=April 2021}}
⚫
Prince Rüdiger has been married twice. His first wife was Astrid Linke (1949–1989), the daughter of Heinz Linke and Elvira Wandke. They were married at [[Willich]] on 14 June 1974 and had three sons.<ref name=adg/>

⚫
*[[Prince Daniel of Saxony]], Duke of Saxony (b. 1975); married Sandra Scherer, a scientist (b. 1977)<ref>{{cite news |first=Jurgen |last=Helfricht |title=Traumhochzeit auf Schloss Moritzburg Prinz von Sachsen sagt JA! |url=http://www.bild.de/regional/dresden/deutsche-royals/traumhochzeit-auf-schloss-moritzburg-19149112.bild.html |publisher=[[Bild]] |language=German |date=31 July 2011 |accessdate=13 October 2012 }}</ref> and has one daughter and one son.{{CN|date=April 2021}}

⚫
*Prince Arne Benjamin of Saxony, Duke of Saxony (b. 1977); married Sarah Schneider (b. 1979) and has two daughters.{{CN|date=April 2021}}

⚫
*Prince Nils Sebastian of Saxony, Duke of Saxony (b. 1978); married Jedida Taborek, a lawyer (b. 1975) and has one son, Prince Moritz (b. 2009)<ref>{{cite news |first=Ronny |last=Klein |title=Wettiner-Spross Moritz macht Königs Glück perfekt |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=2110266 |publisher=Sächsische Zeitung |language=German |date=24 March 2009 |accessdate=16 July 2009 }}</ref> and two daughters.{{CN|date=April 2021}}


⚫
*Arne Benjamin von Sachsen (b. 1977); married Sarah Schneider (b. 1979) and has two daughters.{{CN|date=April 2021}}
After his first wife's death, Prince Rüdiger married for a second time in January 2004 to Diana Dorndorf. The marriage was short-lived, however, as the couple divorced in 2008. During his second marriage, Prince Rüdiger placed a [[Personal advertisement|lonely hearts]] advertisement in the German newspaper ''[[Bild]]'' in the hope of finding a princess to marry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Germany's Most-Eligible Bachelor? |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1601808,00.html |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=31 May 2005 |accessdate=15 May 2009}}</ref>


⚫
*Nils Sebastian von Sachsen (b. 1978); married Jedida Taborek, a lawyer (b. 1975) and has one son, Moritz (b. 2009)<ref>{{cite news |first=Ronny |last=Klein |title=Wettiner-Spross Moritz macht Königs Glück perfekt |url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=2110266 |publisher=Sächsische Zeitung |language=German |date=24 March 2009 |accessdate=16 July 2009 }}</ref> and two daughters.{{CN|date=April 2021}}
==Honours==


In 2005 Prince Rüdiger was appointed an honorary knight of the Order of [[Henry III, Margrave of Meissen|Henry the Illustrious]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilder |url=http://www.ritterorden-heinrich-iii.de/documents/bilder.html |publisher=Ritterorden Heinrich III. der Erlauchte |language=German |accessdate=22 March 2010}}</ref>
After his first wife's death, Rüdiger married for a second time in January 2004 to Diana Dorndorf. The marriage was short-lived, however, as the couple divorced in 2008. During his second marriage, Rüdiger placed a [[Personal advertisement|lonely hearts]] advertisement in the German newspaper ''[[Bild]]'' in the hope of finding a princess to marry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Germany's Most-Eligible Bachelor? |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1601808,00.html |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=31 May 2005 |accessdate=15 May 2009}}</ref>


==Ancestry==
==Ancestry==
Line 120: Line 105:
==External links==
==External links==


*[http://www.haus-wettin.de/ Website of the House of Wettin] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.prinz-albert-von-sachsen.de/ Website of Prince Albert of Saxony] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.prinz-albert-von-sachsen.de/ Website of Prince Albert of Saxony] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-25990782.html Succession in the House of Wettin] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.wettinische-forstverwaltung.de/ Wettinische Forstverwaltung] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://www.wettinische-forstverwaltung.de/ Wettinische Forstverwaltung] {{in lang|de}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Wettin]]|23 December|1953|}}
{{S-pre}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Albert, Margrave of Meissen (1934–2012)|Albert]]}}
{{S-tul|title=[[Rulers of Saxony#Kings of Saxony|King of Saxony]]<br /><small>disputed with [[Alexander, Margrave of Meissen|Alexander]]</small>|years=6 October 2012 - present|reason=[[German Revolution|Kingdom abolished in 1918]]}}
{{S-inc|heir=[[Prince Daniel of Saxony|Daniel]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Princes of Saxony}}


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudiger Of Saxony, Prince}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sachsen, Rudiger von}}

[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:House of Wettin]]
[[Category:Saxon princes]]
[[Category:German psychologists]]
[[Category:German psychologists]]
[[Category:People from Mülheim]]
[[Category:People from Mülheim]]
[[Category:German Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:German Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of Henry the Illustrious]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]

Latest revision as of 21:48, 3 December 2024

Rüdiger von Sachsen
Born
Rüdiger Ernst Karl Timo Aldi von Sachsen

(1953-12-23)23 December 1953
Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Died29 March 2022(2022-03-29) (aged 68)
Moritzburg, Saxony, Germany
Spouses
Astrid Linke
​
​
(m. 1974; died 1989)​
Diana Dorndorf
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2008)​
ChildrenDaniel von Sachsen
Arne von Sachsen
Nils von Sachsen
Parents
  • Prince Timo of Saxony (father)
  • Margrit Lucas (mother)

Rüdiger von Sachsen (German: Rüdiger Ernst Karl Timo Aldi; Polish: Rydygier książę Saski; 23 December 1953 – 29 March 2022[1]) was a claimant to the Headship of the Royal House of Saxony.

Early life

[edit]

Rüdiger Karl Ernst Timo Aldi was born in Mülheim,[2] the only son of Prince Timo of Saxony (1923–1983) and his first wife Margrit Lucas (1932–1957), the daughter of Carl Lucas, a butcher, and his wife Hildegard Stube. Rüdiger was grandson of Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony and greatgrandson of the last Saxon king Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. [3] Rüdiger's parents were married in Mülheim on 7 August 1952 in what was reported at the time as a "fairytale wedding" between a prince and a butcher's daughter.[4] However, as Lucas was a commoner the marriage was considered morganatic, hence their children being considered as commoners with no dynastic rights unless elevated by the Head of the Royal House of Saxony.[5]

Rüdiger had a difficult childhood. His father Prince Timo, who became addicted to morphine after sustaining serious injuries during a spring 1945 bombing raid on Dresden,[6] had a number of failed jobs. When Rüdiger was aged just 18 months old, he was taken by his penniless mother to her father's home in Mülheim. The marriage proved difficult and Rüdiger's mother was in process of divorcing Prince Timo when she found out she was pregnant,[7] later giving birth to a daughter, Iris von Sachsen, on 21 September 1955.[3]

Having failed to pay child support for his wife and two children, shortly before her death in 1957 the family of Rüdiger's mother had Prince Timo placed under legal guardianship by the courts, meaning that following the death of their mother the children were placed in the care of their maternal grandparents,[4] Rüdiger and his sister's paternal family, grandfather Prince Ernst Heinrich the youngest son of King Friedrich August III and uncles Prince Dedo of Saxony (1922–2009) and Prince Gero of Saxony (1925–2003) had emigrated to the Republic of Ireland following the loss of their vast properties in Saxony which became part of communist East Germany.[4]

The widowed Prince Timo's difficulties continued as after residing for a time in homeless shelters and dwellings to escape his creditors, the guardianship court had him admitted into a mental hospital in 1958. He was then treated by psychiatrists for the next seven years until 15 December 1965 when the ruling placing him under legal guardianship was lifted.[4]

Career

[edit]

After working as a psychologist[2] in 2003, Rüdiger left his home in Westerwald in order to move to Moritzburg, Saxony where he founded the Wettinische Forstverwaltung (Wettin Forest Management) with his eldest son Daniel von Sachsen.[8] The forest was acquired after Rüdiger filed restitution claims for Moritzburg Castle, which had belonged to his grandfather until being expropriated in 1945. A restituion claim however was only applicable for the inventory, which has great historical value. Through a settlement with the Free State of Saxony, he was able to buy back part of the expropriated forest. The forest, which is now owned and run by the three sons of Prince Rüdiger, is approximately 1200 hectares in size.[9]

Saxon succession

[edit]

The headship of the Royal House of Saxony is an area of dispute in the Saxon Royal Family. The dispute stems from the fact that the last undisputed head of the house Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen, and the other princes of his generation either had no children or, in the case of Prince Timo, had children who were not recognised as being members of the Royal House of Saxony. The first designated dynastic heir of Prince Maria Emanuel was his nephew Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary, son of his youngest sister Princess Mathilde of Saxony.[10]

After the early death of Prince Johannes, the heirless Maria Emanuel then began to look at his eldest nephew Prince Alexander Afif, the eldest son of Princess Anna of Saxony and her husband Roberto Afif, despite the Afif-Saxony marriage being against the traditional laws of the House of Saxony in the same way as the marriage of Rüdiger's parents was.[10][11] In 1997 the Margrave of Meissen proposed his nephew Alexander Afif as heir and drew up a document that was signed by the other male and female members of the Royal House (including previously morganatic spouses of princes who were now treated as dynasts being attributed the style of Royal Highness; Rüdiger, his sons, and sister were not involved) setting out that Alexander Afif would succeed on his death. The document was signed by Anastasia, Margravine of Meissen; Prince Dedo (for himself, his brother Prince Gero and for their stepmother Princess Virginia); Prince Albert and his wife Princess Elmira; the Princesses Maria Josepha, Anna, and Mathilde; and Princess Erina the third wife and widow of Prince Timo.[12][unreliable source] Two years later on 1 July 1999 the Margrave adopted his nephew Alexander Afif giving him the family name Prinz von Sachsen Herzog zu Sachsen.[10]

The 1997 agreement proved to be controversial and in the summer of 2002 three of the signatories (Princes Albert, Dedo and Gero, who did not personally sign the document)[13] retracted their support for the agreement.[6] The following year Prince Albert wrote that it is through Prince Rüdiger and his sons that the direct line of the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin will continue, and thus avoid becoming extinct.[14] Rüdiger himself never accepted the 1997 agreement and when asked for his opinion on who the eventual successor to Maria Emanuel should be he replied that it should be himself.[15]

Following the death of Maria Emanuel in July 2012, Rüdiger recognised Prince Albert (who died three months later) as the new Margrave of Meissen and head of the Royal House of Saxony. The former Alexander Afif citing the 1997 agreement also assumed those positions.[16][unreliable source] According to the family website prior to his death Albert determined Rüdiger to be his successor and instituted a clear succession plan[clarification needed].[17] On this basis following Albert's death in October 2012 Rüdiger claimed the headship of the house.[18]

Personal life

[edit]

Rüdiger was married twice. His first wife was Astrid Linke (1949–1989), the daughter of Heinz Linke and Elvira Wandke. They were married at Willich on 14 June 1974 and had three sons.[2]

  • Arne Benjamin von Sachsen (b. 1977); married Sarah Schneider (b. 1979) and has two daughters.[citation needed]
  • Nils Sebastian von Sachsen (b. 1978); married Jedida Taborek, a lawyer (b. 1975) and has one son, Moritz (b. 2009)[20] and two daughters.[citation needed]

After his first wife's death, Rüdiger married for a second time in January 2004 to Diana Dorndorf. The marriage was short-lived, however, as the couple divorced in 2008. During his second marriage, Rüdiger placed a lonely hearts advertisement in the German newspaper Bild in the hope of finding a princess to marry.[21]

Ancestry

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rüdiger Prinz von Sachsen ist tot: Trauer im Hause Wettin (in German)
  2. ^ a b c "Saxony". Almanach de Gotha (186th ed.). Almanach de Gotha. 2003. p. 342. ISBN 0-9532142-4-9.
  3. ^ a b von Ehrenkrook, Hans Friedrich (1991). Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels. Frankfurt: Starke Verlag. p. 586.
  4. ^ a b c d "Guter Oberförster". Der Spiegel. 15 April 1968. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  5. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels. Starke Verlag. 1978. p. 521.
  6. ^ a b "Würdelos und widerlich" (in German). Spiegel. 21 December 2002. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Margrit". Der Spiegel. 8 June 1955. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Was lesen und essen Sie gern, Herr Daniel von Sachsen?" (in German). Sächsische Zeitung. 13 May 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Der Betrieb" (in German). Wettinische Forstverwaltung. Archived from the original on July 16, 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  10. ^ a b c Chantal de Badts de Cugnac ; Guy Coutant de Saisseval (2003). Le Petit Gotha (in French). Le Petit Gotha. pp. 127–129. ISBN 2-9507974-0-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Les Maisons Impériales et Royales d'Europe. Éditions du Palais-Royal. 1966. pp. 524–526.
  12. ^ "Dieses geheime Papier regelt die Wettiner-Nachfolge" (in German). Bild. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  13. ^ Eggert, Hans (15 December 2009). "Von der schwierigen Suche der Wettiner nach einem Kronprinzen" (in German). Sächsische Zeitung. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Geschichte des Hauses Wettin von seinen Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart" (in German). Prince Albert of Saxony. 5 March 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  15. ^ Mallek, Ulf (4 June 2005). "Geschichte Prinzliche Flucht" (in German). Sächsische Zeitung. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Wettiner spalten sich in zwei Lager" (in German). Bild. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Der Hauschef" (in German). Haus-Wettin.de. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  18. ^ Locke, Stefan (12 October 2012). "Sächsischer Hochadel Und wer wird nun Wettiner-Chef?" (in German). Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  19. ^ Helfricht, Jurgen (31 July 2011). "Traumhochzeit auf Schloss Moritzburg Prinz von Sachsen sagt JA!" (in German). Bild. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  20. ^ Klein, Ronny (24 March 2009). "Wettiner-Spross Moritz macht Königs Glück perfekt" (in German). Sächsische Zeitung. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  21. ^ "Germany's Most-Eligible Bachelor?". Deutsche Welle. 31 May 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
[edit]
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