The second marriage of King William III

King William III of the Netherlands married Princess Sophie of Wurttemberg in 1839.
They had three sons: Prince William, Prince Maurice, and Prince Alexander. The three brothers predeceased their father.
Queen Sophie died in 1877.
William III married Princess Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont in 1879.
Suppose King William III does not marry Emma. Who shall he marry?
 
from what i understand the search was already quite extensive.

but how are you going to find someone with the willpower and endurance of Emma? William was a crazy, a tyrant to the persons around him, abusive etc.
his nickname was king gorilla, and he really deserved every bit of that name.
the fact that she endured all this shows he strength.
 
Thyra of Denmark and a British princess were both considered for him - Victoria withheld permission for the second match (even though she had toyed with the idea of Willem III's eldest son for Princess Alice) - and Thyra having a baby out of wedlock scotched her plans (although I think there was also a very firm no on her part).

From what I can remember though, as far as Willem's second marriage was concerned, the candidates considered seemed to be mostly from your lesser German houses - Waldeck-Pyrmont, Saxe-something-or-other, Schwarzburg-this-or-that. Also, Emma's sister was considered, although again that was likewise a very polite refusal.

Personally, if there's one thing both Netherlander states had in common in the late 19th century, they both had kings that no one wished to associate with by calling them part of the family. Rudolf of Austria only married Stephanie because there was a lack of other Catholic candidates available after a dispensation was refused for him to marry one of his cousins, and the Portuguese infanta he had been courting said no.
 
from what i understand the search was already quite extensive.

but how are you going to find someone with the willpower and endurance of Emma? William was a crazy, a tyrant to the persons around him, abusive etc.
his nickname was king gorilla, and he really deserved every bit of that name.
the fact that she endured all this shows he strength.
Agreed. The Dutch monarchy was in big trouble and Emma (and her daughter) effectively saved it. If we get a less competent or personable wife for Willem III, I am not so sure the Dutch monarchy could survive.
 
From what I can remember though, as far as Willem's second marriage was concerned, the candidates considered seemed to be mostly from your lesser German houses - Waldeck-Pyrmont, Saxe-something-or-other, Schwarzburg-this-or-that. Also, Emma's sister was considered, although again that was likewise a very polite refusal.

Personally, if there's one thing both Netherlander states had in common in the late 19th century, they both had kings that no one wished to associate with by calling them part of the family. Rudolf of Austria only married Stephanie because there was a lack of other Catholic candidates available after a dispensation was refused for him to marry one of his cousins, and the Portuguese infanta he had been courting said no.

No, i read up on it, yesterday, seems that when willem visited W-P he communicated with both sisters at the same time, and also engaged into activities with both of them at the same time. seems he first was initially interested in her sister Pauline, but willem's eye was drawn by the younger and much prettier Emma. and willem had a really bad name, coined the most morally loose person of his era by some newspapers.
And yes, it has to one of the minor houses, that just like waldeck-pyrmont had gone nearly broke.
 
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