The Glass Piano: Princess Alexandra of Bavaria
The Bavarian royal family had many members who suffered from various psychological issues. In a time when mental health was little understood, these family members were considered eccentric at best and mad at worst. A minor member of the family was Princess Alexandra of Bavaria.
Born Princess Alexandra Amalie in 1826, she was the daughter of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and was the aunt of the ill fated King Ludwig II of Bavaria. She must have been attractive enough, as her portrait was included in her father's famous Gallery of Beauties. Prince Lucien Bonaparte sought her hand in marriage, but her father refused as the prince was divorced and he was concerned for Alexandra's health. She remained unmarried. Instead, she was appointed Abbess of the Royal Chapter for Ladies of St. Anne, which was a religious community specifically for noble women.
In her life, she wrote a number of books in German, as well as translating others' works into German. She translated plays for children and even submitted her stories to a periodical. Despite these accomplishments, Alexandra suffered greatly.
She was obsessed with cleanliness and would only wear white clothing. When she grew older, she developed a delusion that she had swallowed a piano made of glass in childhood. She was seen walking carefully through hallways because she believed that if she bumped into something, it would cause the glass piano to shatter.
This delusion is not altogether unheard of. Indeed, it seems to impact royals, especially those of a higher intelligence. One famous sufferer was King Charles VI of France, who became known for his madness. In 1392, Charles began exhibiting signs that he was suffering from a mental illness. He may have been schizophrenic and he suffered from the delusion that his entire body was made of glass. He would lay still for hours, afraid that any sudden movement would shatter his body. He even wore special clothes made of iron to protect his glass organs.
Some psychologists who have studied this delusion and have noted its prevalence among the aristocracy believe it was in response to the oppression nobles felt. That believing they were made of glass, they were demonstrating that they felt vulnerable and wanted to be left alone. For nobles, this was highly difficult, as they were often attended to in every moment, even their most private moments.
Alexandra died in 1875, the same day as her brother, Prince Adalbert.
Born Princess Alexandra Amalie in 1826, she was the daughter of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and was the aunt of the ill fated King Ludwig II of Bavaria. She must have been attractive enough, as her portrait was included in her father's famous Gallery of Beauties. Prince Lucien Bonaparte sought her hand in marriage, but her father refused as the prince was divorced and he was concerned for Alexandra's health. She remained unmarried. Instead, she was appointed Abbess of the Royal Chapter for Ladies of St. Anne, which was a religious community specifically for noble women.
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| Princess Alexandra of Bavaria |
She was obsessed with cleanliness and would only wear white clothing. When she grew older, she developed a delusion that she had swallowed a piano made of glass in childhood. She was seen walking carefully through hallways because she believed that if she bumped into something, it would cause the glass piano to shatter.
This delusion is not altogether unheard of. Indeed, it seems to impact royals, especially those of a higher intelligence. One famous sufferer was King Charles VI of France, who became known for his madness. In 1392, Charles began exhibiting signs that he was suffering from a mental illness. He may have been schizophrenic and he suffered from the delusion that his entire body was made of glass. He would lay still for hours, afraid that any sudden movement would shatter his body. He even wore special clothes made of iron to protect his glass organs.
Some psychologists who have studied this delusion and have noted its prevalence among the aristocracy believe it was in response to the oppression nobles felt. That believing they were made of glass, they were demonstrating that they felt vulnerable and wanted to be left alone. For nobles, this was highly difficult, as they were often attended to in every moment, even their most private moments.
Alexandra died in 1875, the same day as her brother, Prince Adalbert.
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