Background
Alexander von Hanstein came from the Thüringer noble family of Hanstein Castle and was the son of Baron Friedrich von Hanstein and his wife Anna Maria.
Alexander von Hanstein came from the Thüringer noble family of Hanstein Castle and was the son of Baron Friedrich von Hanstein and his wife Anna Maria.
In 1824, Alexander was equerry (Stallmeister) for Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. The duke"s marriage was rocky. She was assigned a residence in the Principality of Lichtenberg, now in Saarland, and Alexander followed her there.
On the death of Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg on 11 February 1825, Louise became sole heiress of the house of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
In the subsequent discussions over the inheritance, a separation agreement was hammered out and the Saxon duchies were re-organised. Ernest separated from Louise on 31 March 1826, and in the same year exchanged Saalfeld for Gotha.
Now free, Louise planned to marry von Hanstein, and in preparation for such a marriage Alexander was created count of Pölzig and Beiersdorf on 19 July 1826 by Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. After Louise"s early death from cancer in 1831, Alexander went into the Prussian service and commanded the regiment of the corps Cürrassier in Potsdam.
As count and countess of Pölzig they lived at Schloss Pölzig and had three children:
Maximilan Anton (18 February 1834 – between 1865 and 1871)
Clara Henriette Marie (3 April 1835 – 25 April 1879)
Thekla Marie Agnes (29 November 1841 – 4 April 1903)
Their sixth child, Hans, was born on 30 April 1869 in Berlin.
Clara and Ames separated in July 1869, and Clara returned to Pölzig. She lived as a "the young countess" in the Schloss and died 10 years later in Beiersdorf. Hans Poelzig grew up in Berlin and became a world-famous architect and set designer.
Alexander"s grandchildren, the Ames family in England, inherited the Schloss on his death in 1884.