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Prince Louis of Battenberg

Graz, 24 May 1854 – London, 11 Sep 1921

13 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born24 May 1854, Graznot verified1 source
  • MarriedPrincess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhinenot verified1 source
  • Titlemember of the House of Lordsor Second Sea Lord, 1911–1912 · First Sea Lord, 1912–1914 · Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomnot verified1 source
  • TitleMember of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomor Second Sea Lord, 1911–1912 · First Sea Lord, 1912–1914 · member of the House of Lordsnot verified1 source
  • TitleSecond Sea Lord, 1911–1912or First Sea Lord, 1912–1914 · member of the House of Lords · Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomnot verified1 source
  • TitleFirst Sea Lord, 1912–1914or Second Sea Lord, 1911–1912 · member of the House of Lords · Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdomnot verified1 source
  • Died11 Sep 1921, Londonnot verified1 source
  • FatherPrince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhinenot verified1 source
  • MotherJulia, Princess of Battenbergnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 24 May 1854

    Born in Graz

  2. 1885–1900

    4 children are born

  3. 1911–1912

    Second Sea Lord

  4. 1912–1914

    First Sea Lord

  5. 11 Sep 1921

    Dies in London, aged 67

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 4

During his lifetime

He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Graz.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1850s · Prince is born in Graz

In the news1858

New silver florin introduced in 1858

In 1858, a new silver florin became the official currency in Austria, replacing the previous Convention currency.

What people wore

The versatile Gugl shawl and headgear

In winter, women wore a large, triangular wool shawl called a Gugl, which was crossed over the chest and tied at the back because they did not have coats. They also wore this shawl over their heads to protect their face, or inserted cardboard into a colored headscarf to create a sunshade during summer.

Daily life

Restricted Nature of Public Schooling

Primary education was mandatory for children aged 6 to 12, but country schools were typically restricted to two grades and focused heavily on religious instruction, memorization, and obedience. The curriculum was intentionally designed to reinforce social class rather than provide a path to secondary education.

In the news1854

First mountain railway opens in 1854

In 1854, the first mountain railway in the world was opened, connecting Vienna to the Semmering pass.

Music

Evolution of dance and instrumentation

Dances like the polka, waltz, mazurka, and schottische were increasingly integrated into the repertoire alongside traditional dances, with brass ensembles often replacing older string groups in many performance settings. Although these styles evolved, traditional folk dances remained deeply anchored in daily life and festivals.

In Europe1845–1852

The Great Famine in Ireland

Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.

Getting around

Trains replaced slower horse-drawn coaches

Taking the train from Vienna to Graz significantly improved mobility, taking nine hours by rail compared to twenty-nine hours by stagecoach.