Alexander, Margrave of Meissen
| Prince Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Margrave of Meissen | |
The Margrave of Meissen
|
|
| Head of the Royal House of Saxony (disputed) | |
| Tenure | 23 July 2012 - present |
| Predecessor | Maria Emanuel |
| Born |
12 February 1954 Munich, Bavaria, Germany |
| Spouse | Princess Gisela of Bavaria (m. 1987) |
| Issue |
Prince Georg Philipp Prince Moritz Gabriel Prince Paul Clemens Princess Maria Teresita |
| House | Saxe-Gessaphe |
| Father | Roberto de Afif, Prince of Gessaphe |
| Mother | Princess Anna of Saxony |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Prince Alexander of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Gessaphe (German: Alexander Prinz von Sachsen-Gessaphe Polish: Aleksander książę Sasko-Gessapski; born Alexander de Afif 12 February 1954), is the adopted son and heir of Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen, and a businessman with Lebanese, Mexican and German roots. Following the death of Maria Emanuel in July 2012 he assumed the headship of the Royal House of Saxony, based on a 1997 agreement that named him heir, but which was repudiated a few years later by a number of signatories. His claim is disputed by his cousin Prince Rüdiger of Saxony.
Born in Munich as Alexander de Afif, he is the eldest son of Roberto de Afif, Dr. Jur (mentioned as Catholic nobleman of Lebanon) and Princess Anna of Saxony. At birth Alexander did not possess rights to the abolished throne of Saxony (which descended by semi-Salic succession) as his parents’ marriage did not meet the equal marriage requirements of the Saxon house law. Alexander legally assumed the surname Prinz von Sachsen-Gessaphe on 25 August 1972.
Alexander grew up mainly in Mexico eventually taking over the running of a logistics company from his father. He married Princess Gisela of Bavaria, firstly civilly at Mexico City 3 April 1987 and then religiously at Andechs Abbey 29 August 1987. They have four children:
His marriage with Gisela enhanced his dynastical potential in the eyes of his maternal uncle, the childless Margrave who was left without a clearly eligible heir when Alexander's first cousin, the young Prince Johannes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1969–87), was killed in 1987 in a climbing accident.
In February 2003 Alexander began to work in attracting worldwide investors to Saxony, he also worked as an advisor to Georg Milbradt, Minister-President of Free State of Saxony, leaving with Milbradt in 2008. In the Summer of 2004 he received German citizenship. In 2009 he left Germany to resume living in North America (Mexico). In July 2012 Alexander gave a controversial interview where he criticised what he saw as ingratitude and a lack of etiquette on the part of the people in the former East Germany (which includes Saxony).
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Wikipedia