Ernst-Johann Biron, Prince of Courland

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Prince Ernst-Johann
Prince of Courland
Born (1940-08-06) 6 August 1940 (age 84)
Berlin, Germany
Spouse Countess Elisabeth Victoria Raimonda zu Ysenburg-Büdingen
Issue Princess Anja of Courland
Princess Christiana of Courland
Full name
German: Ernst-Johann Karl Oskar Eitel-Friedrich Peter Burchard Biron
House House of Biron
Father Karl Biron, Prince of Courland
Mother Princess Herzeleide of Prussia

Ernst-Johann Karl Oskar Eitel-Friedrich Peter Burchard Biron, Prince of Courland (born 6 August 1940), is the senior male-line descendant of Ernst Johann von Biron and as such heir to the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.

He was born in Berlin the eldest son of Karl Biron, Prince of Courland (1907-1982) and Princess Herzeleide of Prussia (1918-1989), the daughter of Prince Oskar of Prussia, a son of Emperor William II) and Duchess Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein.

Prince Ernst-Johann succeeded his father as head of the Biron family following his death on 28 February 1982. He is also a Knight of Justice (and, since 2008, an honorary commander in the Commandery of Silesia) of the Johanniterorden ("Johannine Order"), to which he was admitted in 1940 and whose current grand master is his cousin Prince Oskar of Prussia (Prince Ernst-Johann's uncles and grandfather had headed the Order throughout most of the twentieth century).[1] He is in line to the British throne through his descent from Queen Victoria's daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal.

Private life

Prince Ernst-Johann was married to Countess Elisabeth Victoria Raimonda zu Ysenburg-Büdingen in Philippseich (born 1941) in Munich in a civil ceremony on 14 August 1967, and in a religious one the next day.

The couple have two adopted daughters:

  • Anja Prinzessin Biron von Curland (born 25 January 1975).
  • Christiana Prinzessin Biron von Curland (born 23 May 1977).

Ancestry

References

  1. Verzeichnis der Mitglieder der Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens St. Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem; Berlin: October, 2011; page 500.
Ernst-Johann Biron, Prince of Courland
Born: August 6 1940
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Karl Biron, Prince of Courland
— TITULAR —
Duke of Courland
1982-
Reason for succession failure:
Duchy incorporated into Russian Empire in 1795
Incumbent
Heir:
Prince Michael Biron of Courland
British royalty
Preceded by Line of succession to the British Throne
descended from Victoria, Princess Royal, daughter of Queen Victoria
Succeeded by
Prince Michael Biron of Courland