Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz

Princess Augusta, third child and second daughter of Prince Heinrich LXIII Reuss of Köstritz, and his first wife, Countess Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode, was born at Klipphausen, Kingdom of Saxony.[1]

Reuss zu Köstritz branch belonged to the Junior line of the House of Reuss.

On 3 November 1849 in Ludwigslust, Augusta married Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin son of Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.[1] Together they had six children.[2]

• Frederick Francis III (1851–1897) father of Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark and Cecile, last Crown Princess of Prussia.
• Paul Friedrich (1852–1923) married Princess Marie of Windisch-Grätz.
• Marie (1854–1920) married Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia. Their son Cyril became pretender to the Russian throne after the assassination of his cousin Nicholas II of Russia.
• Nikolaus (1855–1856).
• John Albert (1857–1920) Imperial regent of the Duchy of Brunswick; married firstly to Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach; second marriage to Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla.
• Duke Alexander (1859–1859).

Augusta Memorial at Schwerin.

Augusta's early death raised some questions in the court. It was said that Augusta died of "bronchial problems associated with heart disease".[3] One biographer said she died of a type of fever.[4]

Augusta was buried in the gardens of Schwerin Castle and by 1905, a memorial portrait was built by sculptor Wilhelm Wandschneider.