Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe
Encyclopedia
Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe
(German
: Alexander Prinz von Sachsen-Gessaphe) (born 12 February 1954 in Munich
), is the adopted heir of Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen
, and a businessman with Lebanese
, Mexican
and German
roots.
He stands in a rivalry to become pretender to the Saxon throne
. He belongs to the Roman Catholic Church
, his paternal forefathers having been Maronite
Catholic Lebanese
.
He was born Alexander de Afif as eldest son of Roberto de Afif, Dr.Jur (mentioned as catholic nobleman of Gessaphe, Lebanon
) and Princess Anna of Saxony
. Alexander grew up in Mexico and in Germany. He studied business management. Alexander lived 30 years with his family in Mexico City, and he has an import-export company there. Since 1989 he has resided in Saxony, Germany.
He married Princess Gisela of Bavaria
(b. 10 September 1964), firstly secularly at Mexico City 3 April 1987 and then religiously at Andechs 29 August 1987. Their children are:
His marriage with Gisela enhanced his dynastical potential in the eyes of monarchist circles and of his maternal uncle, the childless Margrave. Because Alexander's first cousin, the young Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1969–87), was killed in 1987 in a skiing accident, the Margrave was left without a clearly eligible heir.
In May 1997 the Margrave of Meissen decided to make Alexander de Afif his heir. In the spring of 1997 it was announced that the surviving male dynasts of the royal House (presumably Princes Albert
, Dedo, and Gero {1925 - 2003}) had met and consented to the designation of Alexander as dynastic heir in the event that none of them leave sons by dynastically valid marriages. Thus was created the family of Saxe-Gessaphe
, a cognatic offshoot of the House of Wettin. The Margrave adopted Alexander on 1 June 1999. Alexander, his sons and brothers are also known as Princes of Saxe-Gessaphe.
Since February 2003 Alexander has worked in attracting investors worldwide to Saxony
. In Summer 2004 he received German citizenship. Since then, he has also been an advisor of Georg Milbradt
, Minister-President of Free State of Saxony.
Saxe-Gessaphe
Saxe-Gessaphe is the name of a family descended in the female line from former kings of Saxony, a member of which has been recognized by the pretender to that throne as eventual heir to the deposed dynasty's rights...
(German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Alexander Prinz von Sachsen-Gessaphe) (born 12 February 1954 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
), is the adopted heir of Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen
Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen
Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen is the head of the Royal House of Saxony.Born in Schloss Prüfening, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany as son of Hereditary Prince Frederick Christian of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen and Princess Elisabeth Helene of Thurn and Taxis.He and Princess Anastasia of Anhalt ...
, and a businessman with Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
roots.
He stands in a rivalry to become pretender to the Saxon throne
Line of succession to the Saxon throne
-Royal House of Saxony:The Kingdom of Saxony was abolished in 1918 when King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony abdicated. The current head of the royal house is Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen; he is dynastically married but has no children. The succession law until the abolition of the monarchy...
. He belongs to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, his paternal forefathers having been Maronite
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
Catholic Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
He was born Alexander de Afif as eldest son of Roberto de Afif, Dr.Jur (mentioned as catholic nobleman of Gessaphe, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
) and Princess Anna of Saxony
Princess Anna of Saxony (b. 1929)
Princess Maria Anna Josepha of Saxony, Duchess of Saxony is a Princess of Saxony and member of the House of Wettin by birth and a Princess of Gessaphe and member of the House of Afif-Gessaphe by marriage...
. Alexander grew up in Mexico and in Germany. He studied business management. Alexander lived 30 years with his family in Mexico City, and he has an import-export company there. Since 1989 he has resided in Saxony, Germany.
He married Princess Gisela of Bavaria
Princess Gisela of Bavaria
Princess Gisela Maria Karolina Adelgunde of Bavaria is a Princess of Bavaria and member of the House of Wittelsbach by birth and a Princess of Saxe-Gessaphe and member of the House of Saxe-Gessaphe by marriage...
(b. 10 September 1964), firstly secularly at Mexico City 3 April 1987 and then religiously at Andechs 29 August 1987. Their children are:
- Prince Georg Philipp of Saxe-GessaphePrince Georg Philipp of Saxe-GessaphePrince Georg Philipp of Saxe-Gessaphe, , is the eldest son and heir of Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe and Princess Gisela of Bavaria.He stands to become pretender to the Saxon throne after his...
(b. Mexico City 24 May 1988) - Prince Mauricio Gabriel Robert of Saxe-Gessaphe (b. Mexico City 14 Sep 1989)
- Prince Paul Clemens of Saxe-Gessaphe (b. Mexico City 23 Mar 1993)
- Princess Maria Teresita Anna Louise Caroline Lucardis of Saxe-Gessaphe (born Dresden 7 July 1999)
His marriage with Gisela enhanced his dynastical potential in the eyes of monarchist circles and of his maternal uncle, the childless Margrave. Because Alexander's first cousin, the young Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1969–87), was killed in 1987 in a skiing accident, the Margrave was left without a clearly eligible heir.
In May 1997 the Margrave of Meissen decided to make Alexander de Afif his heir. In the spring of 1997 it was announced that the surviving male dynasts of the royal House (presumably Princes Albert
Prince Albert of Saxony
Prince Albert Joseph Maria Franz-Xaver of Saxony, Duke of Saxony is the fourth child and youngest son of Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen and his wife Princess Elisabeth Helene of Thurn and Taxis and a younger brother of Maria...
, Dedo, and Gero {1925 - 2003}) had met and consented to the designation of Alexander as dynastic heir in the event that none of them leave sons by dynastically valid marriages. Thus was created the family of Saxe-Gessaphe
Saxe-Gessaphe
Saxe-Gessaphe is the name of a family descended in the female line from former kings of Saxony, a member of which has been recognized by the pretender to that throne as eventual heir to the deposed dynasty's rights...
, a cognatic offshoot of the House of Wettin. The Margrave adopted Alexander on 1 June 1999. Alexander, his sons and brothers are also known as Princes of Saxe-Gessaphe.
Since February 2003 Alexander has worked in attracting investors worldwide to Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. In Summer 2004 he received German citizenship. Since then, he has also been an advisor of Georg Milbradt
Georg Milbradt
Georg Milbradt is a German politician . He was the Minister-president of the Free State of Saxony from 2002 to 2008.-Life:...
, Minister-President of Free State of Saxony.