Has she been the only queen in the last 200 years born to a mediatized house? I heard that her husband, Carol I, first traveled to Russia in search of a Romanov grand duchess or princess who might be willing to become his bride. As it was, he had no luck, and therefore had to search elsewhere for a consort.

A princess from a mediatized house was not exactly the most advantageous catch. But Elisabeth was eager and willing (the house of Wied, like Leiningen, Thurn and Taxis, and Croÿ, had some success in contracting dynastic unions with sovereign houses). Plus, she was a Lutheran: her husband had already infuriated the Vatican by promising to raise all prospective children in the Orthodox faith. As such, he could hardly expect a Catholic bride to be willing to make the same sacrifice of a standing in the Church.

Sadly enough, the marriage turned out to be a disaster, personally and dynastically. The couple were totally mismatched, in terms of character and temperament. And it didn't help that they were unable to produce an heir (their only child, a daughter, died at the age of four). Hence, the designation of his nephew Ferdinand as heir ...