Family and Early Life
Alexander was born on 1 August 1893 (20 July in the Julian calendar), the second son of Crown Prince Constantine of Greece (1868–1923) and his wife Princess Sophia of Prussia (1870–1932). His father was the eldest son and heir-apparent of King George I of Greece (1845–1913) and his wife Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia (1851–1926); his mother was the daughter of Emperor Frederick III of Germany (1831–1888) and his wife Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom (1840–1901).
Alexander therefore had the genealogical peculiarity of being a great-grandson of both King Christian IX of Denmark, nicknamed the grandfather of Europe, and of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, nicknamed the grandmother of Europe. He was also the nephew of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and a cousin of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia and King George V of the United Kingdom.
Read more about this topic: Alexander Of Greece
Famous quotes containing the words family, early and/or life:
“The value of a family is that it cushions and protects while the individual is learning ways of coping. And a supportive social system provides the same kind of cushioning for the family as a whole.”
—Michael W. Yogman, and T. Berry Brazelton (20th century)
“Very early in our childrens lives we will be forced to realize that the perfect untroubled life wed like for them is just a fantasy. In daily living, tears and fights and doing things we dont want to do are all part of our human ways of developing into adults.”
—Fred Rogers (20th century)
“Peasants are a rude lot, and hard: life has hardened their hearts, but they are thick and awkward only in appearance; you have to know them. No one is more sensitive to what gives man the right to call himself a man: good-heartedness, bravery and virile brotherhood.”
—Jacques Roumain (19071945)