Why was the Viennese Waltz King also considered a “womanizer”? How often was he married and who were his wives? How many children did these marriages produce? Johann Strauss Sohn, the Viennese waltz king, was constantly in love, because the world of women lay at his feet. The ladies were enchanted by his melodies, his looks and his charm.
The first marriage to Henriette
His first wife was Henriette Treffz-Chalupetzky, whom he met at the home of the banker Moritz Ritter von Todesco. Henriette was the banker’s mistress, which is why she was also called “Baroness Todesco”. Before her marriage to Johann Strauss, she already had seven illegitimate children; she had no more with Johann. She was seven years older than Johann and was already 44 years old when they married on August 27, 1862 in St. Stephen’s Church in Vienna . The couple lived at Praterstrasse 54, where the Danube Waltz was composed and where there is now a museum worth seeing. Jetty, as Henriette was known for short, was a motherly wife and perfect manager who relieved her husband of his everyday worries. The marriage ended after 16 years when Jetty succumbed to a stroke on April 8, 1878, leaving Johann a widower. Her great achievement was to have led her husband from waltz king to operetta composer .
4 years of marriage with “Lili”
His grief did not last too long, as Johann was married a second time just 50 days later. The lucky lady was 25 years younger and her name was Ernestine Henriette Angelica Dittrich, known as “Lili”. The two had known each other for some time without his first wife knowing about the “relationship”. Lili contacted Johann to get an engagement at the Theater an der Wien, but they ended up getting married instead. This took place on May 28, 1878 in the Karlskirche in Vienna . The couple moved into the newly built palace at Igelgasse 4, now Johann-Strauß-Gasse in the 4th district. The marriage was not considered a happy one from the outset, as there was little understanding and constant quarrelling. This time the wife, Lili, was to have a relationship on the side. After four years together, a line was drawn on December 9, 1882 and the marriage was divorced by mutual consent.
Adele Deutsch, his wife until her death
The third wife – Adele Deutsch, widowed Strauß – already bore Johann’s surname, although she was not even married to him. Her deceased husband was the banker’s son Anton Strauß, a coincidental coincidence. Johann wanted to marry Adele, but could no longer do so under Catholic law as he was already divorced. The problem was solved by Johann becoming a citizen of Saxony and converting to the Protestant faith . On August 15, 1887 , the two married in the ducal court church in Coburg. Johann was 62 and his bride half his age, i.e. 31 years young. Adele managed her husband excellently as executor of his estate until after his death in 1899. She left behind the “Lex Johann Strauss”, an extension of the copyrights to his music to 32 years. Despite three marriages, Johann left no children.
Time Travel Tip: The Strauss apartment at Praterstraße 54 can be visited and is well worth a visit. It is part of the Vienna Museums and admission is even free every 1st Sunday of the month.
Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johann_Strauss_II_by_August_Eisenmenger_1888.jpg?uselang=de
