Social Victorians/People/Mensdorff

Also Known As

• Family name: Mensdorff
• Count Albert Mensdorff
• Count Albert Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies

Friends

• Albert Edward, Prince of Wales

Timeline

1897 July 2, Friday, Count Mensdorff attended the Duchess of Devonshire's Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. (Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein is #180 on the list of people who were present.)

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Count Albert Mensdorff Pouilly Dietrichstein as Henri III, King of France. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Henri III poussant du pied le cadavre du duc de Guise (Assassination of Henri I)

Gold and jewelled chain and cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit (heraldry)

At the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Albert von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein sat at Table 8 and escorted the Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught in to dinner.

John Thomson's portrait of Count Albert Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein as Henri III, King of France in costume is photograph #21 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Count Albert Mensdorff as Henri III King of France."

Henri III is Henri III, King of France and Poland (1551–1589), who is is present in the assassination of the Duc du Guise in Charles Durupt's painting Henri III poussant du pied le cadavre du duc de Guise (upper right), from the first half of the 19th century. Henry White, in the American Embassy in London, was dressed as Henri I, Duke of Guise, who was assassinated by his relative, Henri III, shown in the Durupt painting pushing Henri I's cadaver with his foot.

Count Mensdorff is wearing the orders of the Cross of the St. Esprit (Order of the Holy Spirit), a French order established by Henri III — both around his neck, as a gold and jewelled chain and pendant cross, possibly with a blue moire ribbon — and embroidered on side of his mantilla. One version of the orders of the Cross of the St. Esprit is shown (lower right).

Newspaper Accounts

• "Count Albert Mensdorff looked equally well [as the Earl of Lathom] as Henri III., in his black satin doublet, trunks, and hose, and his black velvet mantle, with its silver-embroidered cross."
• "Count Albert Mensdorff, as Henri III., was all in black satin with jet embroideries."
• "Count Albert Mensdorff (Henri III.), doublet, trunks, and trunk hose of black satin, slashed with little puffs of black silk; mantilla, black velvet; broad silver cross of St. Esprit embroidered on left side of mantilla; toque, black velvet with white aigrette feather in front; blue moiré ribbon and gold jewelled chain and cross of St. Esprit."
• "COUNT MENSDORFF wore a Henry III. costume of black velvet, puffed with silk, with large Maltese cross of red satin outlined with gold on the cloak; large white lace ruff, and small black velvet cap and white feather. He wore the Older of St. Esprit."

Demographics

• Nationality: Austro-Hungarian

Family

• Albert Viktor Julius Joseph Michael Count von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein (5 September 1861 – 15 June 1945)

Notes and Questions

1. Albert Viktor Julius Joseph Michael Count von Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein (5 September 1861 – 15 June 1945) is related to Social Victorians/People/Kinsky (30 July 1845 – ), the mother of Josephine Kinsky and Thérèse Gräfin Kinsky?