Elouise von Märchenlied

Elouise von Märchenlied (14 February 1820 - 14 March 1884) was a German feminist and leader of the General German Women's Association (Allgemeine Deutsche Frauenverein; ADFV). She is known for her role in the women's rights movement and the movement to extend better education to girls. From 1845 to 1857, she tutored Crown Prince Friedrich on mathematics, literature and economics. Private correspondence revealed that Elouise von Märchenlied was involved in several lesbian relationships.

Childhood
Born on a family estate in the forests of Sigmaringen on February 14th, 1822, she is the eldest daughter of Markgraf Ludwig von Märchenlied, after serving in the Napoleonic wars Ludwig invested himself in the business world. Growing up Elouise split her time between the family estates in Sigmaringen and Kölle(cologne), Elouise and her siblings were well educated sue to her father's employment of a army of tutors, this would later lead to dismay after she began to acquire some radical views, particularly inspired by the works of Mary Wollstonecraft. Elouise excelled in literature and philosophy and was outraged about the fact that due to her sex she could not enroll into university. Instead she took to writing, both as a poet, and novelist, but also on political and philosophical treatises.

Professional life
In her early adulthood, Elouise von Märchenlied mostly worked as a writer and as a poët. In 1840, von Märchenlied publisched Biester, a Gothic horror about a girl Anna who is forced into a marriage arrangement with a Hungarian noble, despite him seeming nice at first there is always something off, especially with the stories of wolf attacks in the local village. The story details a lonely and isolated life for Anna mixed with haunting encounters with a beast lurking the manor grounds. The story comes to head with a confrontation where Anna comes to face the beast killing it with a sword from a suit of armor, revealing the beast to be her husband. The story ends with Anna being tried for murder.

Elouise also wrote several poems, including poetry inspired by the Royal family and translations of Sappho's poems. She also wrote a review for Alexander Hartmann's "Fall of the Republic" criticizing it for idolizing the corruption of the Republican era, overlooking Augustus as the bringer of the Pax Romana, and celebrating the very murders who assassinated the popular Julius, who was loved by his people especially the lower classes.

In 1845, she was tasked by King Wilhelm I to tutor Crown Prince Friedrich on mathematics, literature and economics. That same year, she almost lost this position due to her insane husband-to-be, Angelo von Bültzingslöwen, but continued to tutor Friedrich until he was of age in 1857. In 1855, Elouise von Märchenlied also founded the von Märchenlied Academy for Excepptional Young Ladies, establishing herself as one of the frontrunners in the field of education for girls. That same year, she was also invited to speak in the Reichstag on a bill by Ruprecht Birnbaum that would allow women to teach at all girls gymnasiums, being the first women to do so.

In 1855 she founded the Allgemeine Deutsche Frauenverein and occassionally led protest marchs outside the Reichstag during sessions. When Beatrix von Hammerstein joined the ADFV in 1870, she began a power struggle against Elouise and tried to drive a wedge between the old guard and newer members. In 1875, Elouise condemned the actions of Beatrix and officially ended von Hammerstein's membership of the ADFV after a protest led by von Hammerstein led to the death of a police officer (see Beatrix Scandal). That same year, Elouise von Märchenlied also participated in the sit-in organized by Leopold von Hofmeinster that led to the Berlin Riots of '75.

A lesser known fact about Elouise von Märchenlied is her business activities as an investor and as a capitalist. In 1847 she built her first factory, a winery, in the Palatinate. Her wine quickly became widely known in upper circles of society. In 1855, she expanded her capitalist ventures by expanding the winery with a glass factory. In 1870, she constructed a bottling factory, which quickly grew into her most profitable venture. When she died in 1884, her adopted niece was left with a business empire which she could later use to found Volksphantasie with Karl Jürgen von Krieger.

Personal life
In her personal life, Elouise was involved in several lesbian relationships, most notably with Adelaide von Furstatte and Alexandra von Hoth (ca. 1860). She was also briefly engaged to Angelo von Bültzingslöwen from 1843 to 1845 to cover up their mutual homosexuality. This engagement ended in 1845 after Angelo had revealed his Saxony Plot to her. Elouise informed the King of this and was almost institutionalized as a result. However, when Angelo was apprehended, he confessed to the plot and was institutionalized himself. The entire affair almost cost Elouise's position as the Crown Prince's tutor. In 1870, Elouise adopted her niece, Elinor von Märchenlied, after her parents died in a boat explosion. In 1884, Elouise von Märchenlied passed away at the age of 64.

Political beliefs
In regards to her beliefs, Elousie believed, more than anything she desired total universal suffrage (inspired by her reading about the Corsican Republic), furthermore inspired by the French Revolution she desired to see a united German nation under Prussian rule, this includes all Germans including the Austrians. First and foremost her goal was to appeal to Prussian state to advance women's rights.