Ernst-Ludwig von Hesse-Darmstadt
Ernst-Ludwig, or Ernst-Louis, was called Ernie within the family.
He had, like his sister, Alexandra , an intensely romantic view
of the world. A handsome man who always dressed well, he was devoted
to beauty, the arts, poetry and music. Ernie was also very shy,
though not as severely as Alexandra. In 1892, at the age of 23,
he became Grand Duke of Hesse and began to patronise German artists,
architects and sculptors. This resulted in the establishment of
the Artist's Colony at Matildenhohe in Darmstadt. The Artists
Colony was like a Art Nouveau Disneyland, intended to inspire
Germans to build artistic, well designed homes and cottages. Exhibitions
of furniture, art and applied arts were held and were quite popular,
having a significant impact on the promotion of Art Nouveau in
Germany and abroad. They did not appeal to everyone, Nicholas
complained in his diary about the 'disgusting' furniture' which
'passes for art' which he saw at Matildenhohe.
During his frequent trips to visit his two sisters in Russia,
Ernie would often stay with his wife in the English Suite in the
Alexander Palace. One of his favorite pastimes was rearranging
the palace furniture in more 'artistic' groupings. A bust of Ernie
was erected in the Maple Room
Ernie married twice. His first marriage was to a first cousin,
Victoria-Melita (Ducky), a striking woman who left him after the
death of their only child, Elizabeth, in 1903. Ducky may have
had a problem with Ernie's bisexuality, which was widely known
and gossiped about. When she left him she had been carrying on
an affair with Grand Duke Kyril of Russia. Ducky divorced Ernie
and married Cyril. Naturally, this inflamed Nicholas and especially
Alexandra; not only because she had scandalised the world by leaving
Ernie, but also because Kyril was a Romanov in line for the throne
and he was required to get the Tsar's permission before marrying.
Nicholas then issued a degree barring Kyril and any children from
the relationship, from the line of succession. For some reason,
which has never been completely explained, Alexandra felt compelled
to receive Ducky at court and Kyril was allowed to return from
exile to Russia. Ernie later married Eleanore in 1905 and they
had several children.
When the First World War broke out Ernie, though he was more
English than German - speaking English in his Hessian palace,
found himself on the German side. This meant he was separated
from three of his four sisters, including Alexandra and Elizabeth
in Russia. In 1918 he was deposed, along with all the other German
Princes. Ernie died in 1937.
