WHAT ARE MORGANATIC MARRIAGES?

Bush Advocate, Volume VII, Issue 647, 9 July 1892, Page 5

WHAT ARE MORGANATIC MARRIAGES?

A short time a;ro Prince Alexander of Battenberp, formerly the reigning Prinoo of Bulgaria, suddenly married an opera singer, Mdlle. Loisiuger. The event was wholly unexpected in Kurope, since it was supposed that Prince Alexander was betrothed to one of the sisters of the Grermnn Emperor. This marriage was interesting for several reasons. Prince Alexander, when reigning aver Bulgaria, (<ave evidence that he was not only au ontriretio ruler, but a eoldicr of ability and valour. He ilefeatod the Servians in an unequal contest, and Hhowcd such a, rlegrree of iodependeuce in governing: hia little state that Kussia, seemed hie removal from his throne. His marriage, moreover, ia what is called a "' morganatic " one. It has long 1 been the custom, especially in Germany, for princes of royal blood to marry pcrr-ons of no rank or title, while, at the Pum« time, they might also marry prinr e«i>es of royal blood, and thus have really two wives. Tho mnrringe with ft person of inferior social position is called "morganatic" — the word is probably a corruption of the Gorman '• morgc-nirabt 1 ," or morning- gift — a gift instead of the dowry to which a wife is entitled. It is good and locta', however, in the eye of German law ; but, on the other hand, the wife of such a marriage haß no right to assume her husband's rank and title, nor have the children of the marriage a right to inherit them. The wife, moreover, has no claim to any dowry beyond the presents her husband m»y give to her on her wedding day. He cannot charge his family estates with any life interest for hor. Unless he specially provides by gift or will for his morganatic family they ransive nothing at his death. If the prince, having already made a morpantttio marriage, afterwards -weds a royal princess, thin marriage is also good ; the princess takes his title, has a right to her dowry, and her children inherit both title and property. One reason why morganatic marriages hare always been frequent in the Toynl families of ICuropo is that tho members of these families, by law or by custom, are greatly restricted in thoir choice of wives of their own rank.