H.R.H. King Mindaugas II of Lithuania (HSH Duke Wilhelm Karl Florestan Gero Crescentius of Urach) , the birth of a Dynasty

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Wilhelm von Urach was born as HSH Duke Wilhelm Karl Florestan Gero Crescentius of Urach, Count of Württemberg. He was the eldest son of Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander Ferdinand of Württemberg, 1st Duke of Urach and Count of Württemberg (head of a morganatic branch of the Royal House of the then Kingdom of Württemberg), and of his second wife, Princess Florestine of Monaco, occasional acting Regent of Monaco (daughter of Prince Florestan I of Monaco). It is noteworthy that through his marriage to Duchess Amalie of Bavaria (1865–1912), HSH King Wilhelm von Urach is related, also, to the Lithuanian Princess Louise Caroline Radvila of Birzai. If the monarchy resurfaces someday HSH Prince Inigo von Urach, Duke of Urach and Count of Württemberg would have the right to become the  King of Lithuania, as his grandson. On February 16, 1918 Lithuania declared it’s independence from the Russian Empire, and on June 4, 1918 the Council of Lithuania voted to invite HSH Duke Wilhelm von Urach, 2nd ,Count of Württemberg to become the King of Lithuania. Within a few months of his election, it became clear that Germany would lose World War I and on November 2, 1918 the Council of Lithuania reversed its decision, proclaiming the first Republic of Lithuania. As King of Lithuania, Wilhelm von Urach used the name of Mindaugas II and thus created the new Royal dynasty. His election as King of Lithuania can be explained by several factors:

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• he was Roman Catholic (the dominant religion in Lithuania),
• he was not a member of the House of Hohenzollern, the family to which belonged the German Emperor Wilhelm II who wanted Lithuania to be a monarchy in personal union with Prussia  (Lithuania was the predecessor state of Prussia, the precursor state of the German Empire),
• he had had successful military career,
• His ancestry had to be impeccable due to his own Family regulations ​
• Finally, if the central powers had won the war, Lithuania could have expected German protection in the event of future intrusions from the Russian Empire.

Wilhelm never had the chance to visit Lithuania, remaining instead at Liechtenstein Castle; however he started to learn Lithuanian language. He had no time to bring positive social changes and stability to the country, since the Council of Lithuania reversed its decision to inviting him to  continue his duties of a  Lithuanian King.Today, in the Liechtenstein Castle, property of the House of Württemberg (Urach branch), there is a letter of Pope Benedict XV, welcoming Wilhelm's selection as the future King of Lithuania, and some letters between General von Ludendorff and Swiss government stating the election of King Mindaugas II in 1918. Therefore, we can say, that in Lithuanian history there were only two kings: Mindaugas I (who began his reign in 1253) and Mindaugas II (who began his reign 1918). The other monarchs who ruled Lithuania held the title of "Grand Duke of Lithuania", not "King of Lithuania".It is recorded in all the “noble registers” like the Almanach of Gotha, that the of HSH Duke Wilhelm von Urach, 2nd ,Count of Württemberg became  King of Lithuania.  

His grand son, HSH the Duke Inigo von Urach, Count of Württemberg was born in April 12, 1962 (Bavaria, Germany). He is the directed descendant of the last Lithuanian King, Roman Catholic and dedicated father of three children. He is connected to Albanian, Bavarian, British, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monegasque, Portuguese and Russian royal families by birth. The Crown Prince supports a Lithuanian culture center in Germany to promote Lithuanian culture, while he is learning Lithuanian language. He is constantly visiting Lithuania, the country of his grandfather, and meeting Lithuanians from a wide spectrum of life. He also is working hard to promote Lithuania abroad, and he is able to bring closer ties between Lithuanians and the rest of European nations. When talking with His Highness, he shared with us his views about his grandfather, his forefathers, monarchy and the current situation of Lithuania.