Alexis (Alexis Carl Ernst Louis Ferdinand Eugen Bernhard; 17 November 1845 – 21 January 1919) was a lieutenant general, statesman, and the Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt from 28 September 1890 to 21 January 1919.

Biography

Early life

Alexis was born in Burgsteinfurt, Kingdom of Prussia on 17 November 1845 and was the fourth child and eldest son of Ludwig Wilhelm, Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt (1812–1890) and his wife Landgravine Bertha of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1818–1888). Alexis was a brother of Adelheid, Landgravine Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1840–1880), Juliane, Landgravine Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1842–1878), Marie, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein (1843–1931), Prince Karl of Bentheim and Steinfurt (1848–1854), and Prince Georg of Bentheim and Steinfurt (1851–1939).

Education and military career

Alexis attended high school in Burgsteinfurt and attended university at the University of Bonn, where he was a member of the Corps Borussia Bonn. In 1866, Alexis was a lieutenant in the Hanoverian Guards Hussars Regiment and in 1868, he was transferred to the Hussars Regiment No. 7. In 1873, he advanced to first lieutenant and then to Rittmeister in the Regiment der Gardes du Corps in 1875. In 1884, Alexis advanced to major à la suite in the army. In 1892 Alexis was made lieutenant colonel, then colonel in 1895, and major general in 1899. In 1902, he was awarded the uniform of the Regiment der Garde du Corps Lieutenant General.

Political career

Alexis succeeded his father Ludwig Wilhelm to the headship of the Princely House of Bentheim and Steinfurt. As such, he became a member of the Prussian House of Lords.

Honours

He received the following orders and decorations: • Kingdom of Prussia: • *Knight of the Royal Crown Order, 1st Class • *Iron Cross, 2nd Class • *Knight of Honour of the Johanniter Order, 13 February 1893; Commander • Lippe: Cross of Honour of the House Order of Lippe, 1st Class with Swords • 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Oak Crown • Mecklenburg: Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown, with Crown in Ore • 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion • 🇸🇪 🇳🇴 Sweden-Norway: Commander Grand Cross of the Polar Star, 7 May 1881 • undefined: Honorary Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 10 February 1904 • Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont: Order of Merit, 1st Class • Württemberg: • *Grand Cross of the Friedrich Order, 1884 • *Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown, 1891

Marriage and issue

Alexis married Princess Pauline of Waldeck and Pyrmont, second child and daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his first wife Princess Helena of Nassau, on 7 May 1881 in Arolsen, Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Alexis and Pauline had eight children:

Ancestry