Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode

Prince Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode (30 October 1837, Gedern – 19 November 1896, Schloss Wernigerode) was an Imperial German politician and the first Vice-Chancellor of Germany. He was born into the ancient noble family of Stolberg-Wernigerode which had been quasi-sovereign rulers of their county until the German Mediatisation when they came under the jurisdiction of Prussia. Having been schooled in Duisburg, he read law at the University of Göttingen. Between 1859 and 1861, he served as a cavalry officer in the Prussian army, and he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz in 1863. Having served in both the Reichstag and the Prussian regional legislature, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor under Otto von Bismarck, and was instrumental in the development of the Zweibund with Austria. For most of his life he was known as Graf or Count Otto, but in 1890 he was granted the hereditary title of Prince (Fürst in German.)

Marriage and issue

On 22 August 1863 at Staniszów Castle, he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz. They had the following children:

• Christian Ernest (1864–1940), Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode

married in 1891 Countess Marie of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1864-1942)

• Elizabeth (1866–1928)

married in 1885 Count Constantin of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1843-1905)

• Hermann (1867–1913)

married in 1910 princess Dorothea of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1883-1942)

• William (1870–1932)

married in 1910 Princess Elizabeth of Erbach-Schönberg (1883-1966)

• Henry (1871–1874)
• Marie (1872–1950)

married in 1902 Count William of Solms-Laubach (1861-1936)

• Emma (1875–1956)

married in 1894 Prince Charles of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1866-1920)

References

• Konrad Breitenborn: Graf Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode. Deutscher Standesherr und Politiker der Bismarckzeit. Ausgewählte Dokumente. Jüttners Buchhandlung, Wernigerode 1993, ISBN 3910157017
• Konrad Breitenborn (Hrsg.): Die Lebenserinnerungen des Fürsten Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (1837–1896). Jüttners Buchhandlung, Wernigerode 1996, ISBN 3910157033