Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Adelheid Emma Wilhelmina Theresia Princess of Waldeck and Pyrmont (* August 2, 1858 in the Royal Palace of Arolsen, † March 20, 1934 in The Hague) was a second wife of William III. Queen of the Netherlands and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
Life
Emma was the daughter of Prince Georg Viktor of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his first wife, Princess Helene of Nassau. 1869 her older sister Sophie had died of pulmonary tuberculosis; this death was hard on the young princess, and later founded the "Emma fund" to combat this disease.
She was born on 7 January 1879 in Arolsen age of twenty, the second wife of 41 years older William III. , King of the Netherlands.
From this marriage was born on August 31, 1880 Wilhelmina. During the last days of the King ( 14 to 23 November 1890) officiated Emma as regent, and after William's death, she took over the regency for her daughter Wilhelmina, until it had become in 1898 eighteen and constitutionally could ascend the throne himself.
Due to their attractive and intelligent demeanor was the Regent Emma, known since 1898 generally " Queen Mother ", much to the strengthening of the constitutional monarchy in. Emma is considered as the designer of the modern monarchy in the Netherlands. The many visits in the country and the well-staged presentation of their daughter Wilhelmina renewed confidence in the House of Orange, which by the willful and capricious appearance of William III. had suffered seriously.
Occasionally there is confusion with her grandmother Emma, who also led to the name Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont during her reign.
Family Tree
George II of Waldeck (1789-1845) ∞ 1823 Emma of Anhalt- Bernburg (1802-1858)
William I of Nassau (1792-1839) ∞ 1829 Pauline of Württemberg (1810-1856)
Georg Viktor of Waldeck -Pyrmont (1831-1893) ∞ 1853 Helene of Nassau (1831-1888)
Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1858-1934) ∞ 1879 William III. , King of the Netherlands (1817-1890)
Queen Wilhelmina (1880-1962) ∞ 1901 Henry of Mecklenburg -Schwerin (1876-1934)
Queen Juliana (1909-2004)