Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein

Carolyne ( Caroline ) Elisabeth, Princess of Sayn -Wittgenstein- Berleburg -Ludwigsburg, born of Iwanowska ( born February 7, 1819 in Monasterzyska in Kiev, † March 10, 1887 in Rome, Campo Santo Teutonico ± ) was the life partner of Franz Liszt.

Life

Origin

Carolyne Iwanowska was the daughter of Peter of Ivanovsky and Pauline née Podowska born into a wealthy old Polish noble family. During her childhood, the parents separated. Carolyne, who grew up firmly in the Catholic faith, was an imaginative and headstrong child who took a lot of reading and early fixed positions; twelve governesses tried successively in vain to their upbringing.

On her father's wish she married in 1836 Prince Nikolaus zu Sayn -Wittgenstein- Berleburg -Ludwigsburg ( 1812-1864 ), son of standing in the Russian service Field Marshal Ludwig Adolf Peter of Sayn -Wittgenstein ( 1769-1843 ), who as adjutant of the Russian Imperial Governor in Kiev served. A year later he came to her a pleading in his resignation, and they moved to rural Woronice in southern Ukraine, where Carolyne goods possessed from her dowry. Here she devoted herself almost exclusively to their intellectual and spiritual interests, studied literature and philosophy, but also took care to ensure the management of their estates.

The marriage between her and Prince, afterwards Prince Wittgenstein was not happy; both for emotional reasons as well because Carolyne highly developed intellect and their musical proclivities, her husband responded little. In addition, rural retreats could not permanently satisfy their social claim.

At the Liszt page

1847 Princess Carolyne learned to know at a charity concert in Kiev Franz Liszt. By addressing their social and material support for his project to stage the Divine Comedy as musical theater, appealed to Liszt, whose music inspired them immediately, they both came closer to each other. After Liszt had been twice on Good Woronice to visit, left Carolyne, who had previously procured by the sale of land a million rubles, in April 1848 with her little daughter fled Russia and met soon afterwards at the country residence of Prince Felix Lichnowsky again with Liszt together they now glowing loved.

Liszt, Marie d' Agoult its relationship to just lagged, returned her feelings, and both moved to Grand Duke of Weimar, where Liszt had just been appointed Kapellmeister. For thirteen years they lived retired in the Weimar Altenburg - a time in which Carolyne Liszt in every respect was assisted and supported. Historians argue about the scope of their influence; among other things, it was speculated that Liszt's biography of Chopin came in truth from the princess. It is clear that they inspired Liszt to numerous compositions and also his way of life gave a new direction. Liszt, formerly mired for years on tour, in numerous love affairs and more magician -like virtuoso as a prolific composer, was transformed under its influence for conscientious workers with clear mental and emotional goals. Daily matinees Sundays with fellow artists were also initiated by Carolyne: Here they made ​​music together with Richard Wagner and Hector Berlioz, the had a special friendship with Carolyne; among other things, he dedicated his opera Les Troyens the princess.

However, although sponsored by the art-loving and Europe influential Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna - widow, had Liszt and Carolyne because of their " wild marriage", which was also unethical, socially in a difficult position; so both pushed for a speedy marriage. One refused to divorce Prince Nicholas, remained in Russia, due to financial concerns for the time being his consent; but in 1855 it came to an amicable agreement with the consequence that the two were divorced by both Protestant and after the Russian- Orthodox law. Prince Nikolaus already married 1857 new, while the common, grew up in the mother daughter Marie in 1859 in Weimar, the Prince Konstantin of Hohenlohe, afterwards first Lord High Steward in the Austrian imperial court in Vienna, married.

But to finally be able to marry, needed Liszt and Carolyne, both devout Catholics, additionally the cancellation of their first marriage by the Pope. So Carolyne went in May 1860 were Rome, where she also reached the cancellation on September 24th of the same year. Immediately she was planning the next step and organized the wedding with Liszt, which was scheduled for its 50th birthday on 22 October 1861 in the church of San Carlo al Corso. But at the last moment - Liszt had arrived only in autumn 1861 from Weimar to Rome - erwirkten envious relatives of the princess with Pope Pius IX. a revision of his decision; the marriage project had failed.

This failure had a rapidly also affect the relationship between the two. While Carolyne began to deal more and more with spiritual questions, matured in Liszt approach the decision in 1865 that caused him to receive the minor orders. Although his ordination included no vow of chastity, the two had grown apart. Carolyne spent the rest of her life with theological studies and spiritual exercises in their home in the Via Babuino in Rome, where most of her posthumous writings emerged. There she died in 1887, after she had stood with Liszt until his death in 1886 corresponded contact.

Works

Carolyne zu Sayn -Wittgenstein was also active as a writer, had their works, although privately printed, not published. When her main work is considered:

• Des Causes de la intérieures faiblesse extérieure de l' Église, 24 vols

The book was put on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum after the announcement.

Only a book they intended for publication:

• La vie chretienne au milieu du monde et de notre siecle. Questions and Answers pratiques recueillis et publies par Henri Lasserre, Paris 1895 (French ).

Family

Carolyne Iwanowska married in 1836 Prince Nikolaus zu Sayn -Wittgenstein- Berleburg -Ludwigsburg. The marriage was divorced in 1855. They had one daughter:

• Marie Antoinette Pauline Princess of Sayn -Wittgenstein- Berleburg -Ludwigsburg (1837-1920) ∞ ( 1859) Constantine to Hohenlohe

Swell

• Francesco Barberio, Liszt e la Principessa de Sayn -Wittgenstein, Rome: Unione Editrice 1912.
• Hector Berlioz, Lettres à la princesse, Paris: L' Herne 2001 ( correspondence with Princess Sayn -Wittgenstein, French ). Letters from Hector Berlioz to Princess Caroline Sayn- ​​Wittgenstein ( ed. by La Mara ), Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1903.
• Ideals of friendship and romantic love. Letters to the Princess Carolyne Sayn -Wittgenstein and wife Estelle Fornier ( ed. by La Mara; = Literary Works, Vol 5), ad Frz. v. Gertrude Savić, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1903.