Armin, Prince of Lippe

Armin
Pretender
Born	August 18, 1924 (1924-08-18) Detmold, Germany
Title(s)	Prince of Lippe
Throne(s) claimed	Lippe
Pretend from	30 December 1949
Monarchy abolished	1918
Last monarch	Leopold IV
Connection with	youngest son
Royal House	Lippe
Father	Leopold IV
Mother	Princess Anna of Ysenburg and Büdingen
Spouse	Traute Becker
Children	Hereditary Prince Stephan
Predecessor	Leopold IV

Armin, Prince of Lippe (Armin Leopold Ernst Bruno Heinrich Willa August Fürst zur Lippe) (born 18 August 1924, in Detmold) is the son of Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe and his second wife Princess Anna of Ysenburg and Büdingen.

Head of the House of Lippe

He succeeded his father as head of the house of Lippe following his death on the 30 December 1949. On 22 March 1953, he renounced his position in favour of his older half brother Prince Leopold. This move proved controversial within the house and several princes started legal proceedings. Prince Leopold later in 1958 renounced the headship in favour of his older brother Hereditary Prince Ernst. Later in that year the Hereditary Prince called a family council where it was agreed by the princes in attendance that the oldest prince living in Germany would be head of the house. So the position went to Prince Simon Casimir (1900–1980).

Although agreeing at the time, Prince Ernst August of Lippe, the son of Prince Julius Ernst of Lippe and Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg, later changed his mind believing all princes of house not just those living in Germany should be considered. He ultimately assumed the headship of the house. Ernst August died in 1990 and his son Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Lippe (b. 1947) has continued his claim. Prince Armin, who has said he did not think his decision in 1953 was irrevocable, also claims to be head of the house.

He was a first cousin of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.

Marriage and Child

He married Traute Becker, daughter of Gustav Becker and Charlotte Meyer, on 27 March 1953, in Göttingen, Germany, in a civil marriage followed by a religious ceremony on 29 March 1953, in Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany. They had one child:

• HSH Stephan Leopold Justus Richard, Hereditary Prince of Lippe (b. 24 May 1959)

References

• Beéche, Arturo E. (October 2006). "A Headless House? The Dynastic Dispute of the House of Lippe". European Royal History Journal (LIII): 13–17. 

External links

• Schloss Detmold (German)
• Online Gotha

Armin, Prince of Lippe House of Lippe Born: 18 August 1924
Titles in pretence
Preceded by Prince Leopold IV	— TITULAR — Prince of Lippe 30 December 1949 – present Reason for succession failure: Principality abolished in 1918	Incumbent Heir: Hereditary Prince Stephan