Background
Born Prince Leopold Franz Julius of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duke in Saxony, he was the third son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Maria Antonia Kohárailway
Born Prince Leopold Franz Julius of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duke in Saxony, he was the third son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Maria Antonia Kohárailway
Leopold was a younger son and was unlikely to inherit titles or land, so he entered the Army in the service of the Austrian Empire. At one point Leopold was considered as a potential husband for Isabel II of Spain. This did not, however, prove to be realistic, given the resistance of France and other European powers.
Spain had been the scene of Great Power rivalry throughout the period since 1815 and all the Great Powers were seeking to exert their influence by supporting different candidates.
The Saxe-Coburg family was perceived to be too closely linked with British interests. The Coburg influence extended widely.
Later, Leopold met Constanze Geiger, a common woman. The same day, Constanze was created Freifrau von Ruttenstein in her own right.