Monthly Archives: November 2012

November 30th

30 Friday Nov 2012

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Birthdays:
1340 – John, Duke of Berry was born as the third son to John II of France and his Queen Bonne. He would act as regent for his young nephew Charles VI of France when he came to the crown as a young boy. He is also known for making great contributions to the arts at the time by amassing a large collection.

1427 – The future King Casimir IV of Poland is born in Krakiow. He came to be king after the death of his brother, Wladyslaw III and would be King from 1447 until 1492.

1719 – Augusta of Saxe-Gotha was born in Germany to the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Gotha. She would go on to marry Frederick, Prince of Wales, and heir to George II of the United Kingdom. She is one of only three Princesses of Wales to never be Queen, as her husband died before becoming King. She is however, the mother to George III.

Deaths:
1016 – Edmund Ironside, King of England, died shortly after a fighting with the invading Danish armies of Cnut the Great. He had resisted earlier attempts by the Danes to invade, but this time they came to an agreement, splitting the island. Edmund took Wessex, while Cnut took the rest of the island, and took Wessex after Edmund’s death.

1705 – Catherine of Braganza, Queen consort to the already deceased Charles II of England, died at age 67 after returning to her home in Lisbon. She left England during the reign of her niece and her husband William and Mary, due to religous differences.

1718 – Charles XII of Sweden dies prematurely at age 36 in Norway while laying seige to the fortress of Fredriksten. He was killed by a projectile through the head. Apart from this, he is known as a fierce and highly capable military commander and politician. He was childless and was succeeded by his sister.

2011 – Leka, the last Crown Prince of Albania died after being allowed to return from exile. His family had to escape just two days after his birth when the Italians invaded Albania. He lived most of his life from birth in 1939 until his final return in 2004, in exile throughout Europe and South Africa.

Have an amazing day!!

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November 29th

29 Thursday Nov 2012

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Events:
800 – Charlemagne arrived in Rome to mediate a council between Pope Leo III and several men who accused the pope of perjury and adultery. The actual council would being two days later.

Birthdays:
1338 – Lionel, Duke of Clarence and Baron of Connaught was born to Edward III of England and Phillippa of Hainault while they were in Antwerp. He served most of his time in Ireland, but the young Geoffrey Chaucer spent time as a page in Lionel’s household. His descendants would claim the throne later as the House of York.

1690 – The minor German Prince, Christian August of Anhalt-Zerbst is born. Christian is most well know by his oldest daughter, who was born Sophie Auguste Frederika, but is known to history as Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.

1835 – Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi is born. She would first be an imperial concubine, and gave birth to a future Emperor becoming his regent later, then was also able to install her nephew as Emperor after her son’s death. She is still a controversial figure in China’s Imperial history.

Deaths:
1314 – Phillip IV of France, or Phillip the Fair died at age 46 after a hunting accident. Earlier in the year, Phillip proceeded with the suppression of the Knights Templar, including the seizure of their goods, and the buring of their leader, Jacques DeMolay. DeMolay professed his innocence and cursed both the Pope and Phillip to die before the year was out. They both died before the end of 1314.

1378 – Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor died in Prague at age 62. He was popular for his patronage and gifts to the artisitc communities. He is still regarded as Father of the Country in the Czech Republic.

1780 – Maria Theresa of Austria died of a short illness in Vienna in her early sixties. She had been the Queen Regnant of Austria and all the Hapsburg realms, and then Holy Roman Empress upon marriage to Francis I. She was a formidable woman who continued to rule as co-sovereign with her sons. Among her children, she numbers two Holy Roman Emperors, a Queen of Naples and Sicily, and one ill-fated French Queen named Marie Antionette.

Have a great day!!

November 28th

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

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No major events today.

Birthdays:
1489 – Princess Margaret Tudor is born to King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. She was also the older sister to Henry VIII of England and married King James IV of Scotland, thus becoming the mother of James V and grandmother to Mary, Queen of Scots.

1700 – Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach is born in modern day Germany. She married the Crown Prince of Denmark and Norway and became Queen in 1730 when her husband became Frederick V. She would also live into the reign of her grandson.

1857 – The future Alfonso XII of Spain is born in Madrid. He did not become King until 1857 when the monarchy was restored in Spain after a coup ended the First Spanish Republic.

Deaths:
1170 – Owain Gwynedd, the first Prince of Wales died at age 70. His reign was marred with disputes with the church and wars with Henry II of England. And his death caused a civil war among his many sons who wanted to succeed him.

1290 – Queen consort of England, Eleanor of Castile, died in her late forties. She had been married to Edward I of England for over 30 years and had several children with him, including the future Edward II of England.

1962 – Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands died after abdicating in favour of her daughter in 1948. She had been popular throughout World War II as a rallying point for the Dutch and was actually the first Queen to address the US Congress in 1942.

Have a great day!

November 27th

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

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Events:
176 – Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius gives his son, Commodus, the title of Imperator and control of the Roman Legions as Supreme Commander. The following year, Marcus would make Commodus his Co-Emperor.

1295 – Elected representatives from Northern England are sent to Westminster for an audience with King Edward I in what’s come to be known as The Model Parliament. There were still no divisions between Lords and Commons, but it was instrumental in becoming more than just a body to agree on the King’s tax increases.

1807 – The Portuguese royal family boarded boats that were bound for Brazil. The Napoleonic army was marching through the Iberian peninsula, bent on partitioning Portugal. Queen Maria, the first Queen regnant of Portugal would die in Brazilian exile in 1816.

Birthdays:
1635 – Francoise d’Aubigne, Marquise de Maintenon was born in Western France. She would eventually come to the court of Louis XIV of France, first as a lady in waiting, then staying as a Mistress of the King, eventually becoming is morganatic wife. She is known to be a positive influence on the King, and gave her patronage to schools for common girls.

1833 – Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge is born in Germany. She is the granddaughter of George III, through his youngest son, Prince Adolphus. She would become Duchess of Teck through marriage and her daughter, Victoria Mary would eventually marry the future George V of Great Britain and be known as Queen Mary. The current Queen Elizabeth II is her great-granddaughter.

Deaths:
511 – Clovis I, King of the Franks, dies while in his mid-forties. Clovis had successfully united the tribes of Gaul under his leadership and was also the first Christian King of Gaul, which we know as France today. He founded what we know as the Merovingian dynasty which ruled for another 200 years.

1198 – Constance, Queen of Sicily and Holy Roman Empress died at age 44. She was Holy Roman Empress as the wife of Henry VI, but was declared Queen of Sicily in her own right, by being the only legitmate child of Roger II of Sicily. Her son by Henry, Frederick II would start life as King of Sicily, being a young child when his father died, but would eventually also become Holy Roman Emperor.

1252 – Blanche of Castile died in France at age 64. She was the daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England. Blanche was a grandchild of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. In 1200, she married the future Louis VIII of France. Her eldest son became King Louis IX after his father’s death in 1226, and Eleanor would serve as his regent. Eleanor was an effective ruler, quelling rebellions and organizing treaties. She stepped down as regent when Louis came of age, but continued to act as his adviser. When Louis left on a Crusade, Eleanor would serve as his regent again, but she died while he was away. Her other children also a King of Sicily, and a Catholic Saint.

Have a great day!

November 26th

26 Monday Nov 2012

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1476 – With the support of the Hungarians, Vlad III of Wallachia, or Vlad the Impaler as he was known posthumously, reconquered his homeland from the Ottomans and would rule for the third time.

Birthdays:
1436 – A daughter is born to King Edward of Portugal and his Queen Eleanor. She was christened as Catherine. At one time bethrothed to Charles IV of Navarre, but he would die before the marriage took place. Catherine then lived out her days in a convent, becoming a writer of note.

1847 – Princess Dagmar of Denmark is born in Copenhagen as the daughter of Christian IX and Queen Louise. History knows her better as Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia. Her name was changed upon her marriage to the future Alexander III and conversion to Russian Orthodoxy. She was the mother to the future Nicholas II of Russia and aunt of George V of the United Kingdom.

1869 – Maud of Wales, future Queen of Norway as wife of Haakon VII, is born to Edward and Alexandra, future King and Queen of Great Britain. Also she was the younger sister of George V and mother to Olav V of Norway. She was popular with the people for her charity work and her reputation for being a fashion trendsetter.

1992- In not-so-dead royals we have Louis Ducruet, son of Princess Stephanie of Monaco and her husband, Daniel Ducruet. He holds no official title, but as a grandson of Prince Rainier III and nephew of Prince Albert II, he is still 8th in line of succession.

Deaths:

1504 – Isabella I of Castile, half of Spain’s power couple, Ferdinand and Isabella, died at age 53. Her husband survived her and acted as co-ruler and regent for their daughter, Juana. Her legacy includes greatly expanding the exploration of the New World through financing Christopher Columbus, but also the forced conversions of Spanish Muslims and Jews and the beginning of the Spanish Inquistion. Among her children she numbers 2 Queens of Portugal, a Queen of Spain, and a Queen of England.

Have a great day!

November 25th

25 Sunday Nov 2012

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Events:
1120 – The White Ship, a boat traveling between France and England carrying the only legitimate son of King Henry I, William Adelin, sinks in the channel killing everyone on board, except a butcher and one nobleman who told the story of what happened. The event led to a period in England known as The Anarchy, in which Henry’s daughter and nephew fought for the succession.

1177 – The Battle of Montisgard takes place between the armies of Saladin and Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. Even thought the Christians were heavily outnumbered, they were able to defeat and cause heavy losses to the Saracens.

1487 – Elizabeth of York is crowned Queen consort of England as the wife of Henry VII. She was the daughter of the late Edward IV, niece of Richard III, sister to the ill-fated Princes in the Tower, and mother to Henry VIII.

1795 – Stanislaw August Poniatowski abdicated the crown of Poland and became the last independant King of Poland. He had become king 1764 with the support of Catherine the Great of Russia. He is still a controversial figure in Polish history as he supported and implemented progressive reforms, but was unable to stop the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Birthdays:
1454 – Catherine Cornaro is born to Italian knight of the Holy Roman Empire Marco Cornaro and Fiorenza Crispo. She would go on to marry James II of Cyprus and thus become Queen consort. She was also the mother of the future James III of Cyprus.

1609 – Henrietta Maria is born in France as a daughter to Henry IV and Marie de Medici. She married Charles I of England, despite her being Catholic, and because the coronation rites were changed to the Anglican faith, she was never crowned Queen. She would survive Charles’ execution in France, and see her son, Charles II restored to the crown of England. Her other son, James, would also later become King.

1638 – Henrietta’s daughter in law, Catherine of Braganza is born in Portugal as a daughter of John IV. Again, she was unpopular because of her Catholic faith. She married Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1662, and would survive him, although they would not have any legitimate children. She is actually credited with bringing the custom of tea drinking to England from Portugal.

1868 – Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine is born to Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and Louis IV of Hesse. Ernest was therefore a grandchild of Queen Victoria and the older brother of the future Empress Alexandra of Russia.

1876 – Ernest’s wife, Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born in Malta. She was also a grandchild of Queen Victoria, through her son Prince Alfred, and therefore was her husband’s first cousin. The would divorce in 1901 and she would remarry a Russia Grand Duke, Cyril Vladimirovich.

Deaths:
1034 – Malcolm II of Scotland died of unconfirmed causes after his thirty year reign. He had successfully fought and defended Scotland against Viking raiders and expanded Scottish territory.

1885 – Spanish King Alphonso XII died at age 27 of dysentery and was also suffering from tuberculosis. He reigned for only 9 years, but oversaw the return of Spain to a monarchy from the First Spainish Republic. His mother was Queen Isabella II of Spain and was succeeded by his son, Alphonso XIII.

1957 – Prince George of Greece and Denmark died at age 88 in France, where he mostly lived after the exile of his family. He once famously saved his cousin, the future Nicholas II of Russia from an attempted assassination in 1891, while they were traveling in Russia.

Have a great day!!

November 24th

24 Saturday Nov 2012

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Events:
1542 – The Battle of Solway Moss took place between England and Scotland. The groundwork for the fighting was laid when Henry VIII of England split from Rome and advised his nephew James V of Scotland to do the same. James refused and also refused to meet with Henry face to face. Henry was insulted and sent troops on raids which culminated in this Battle which was a victory for the English.

Birthdays:
1273 – The ninth child and first son is born to Edward I of England and Queen Eleanor of Castile. He is named Alphonso, after his maternal uncle, Alphonso X of Castile. He would be heir to the English crown until his early death at age ten.

1655 – The future Charles XI of Sweden is born. He would become King at age 5 and was actually dyslexic. Despite his disability and that he was considered poorly educated, he turned out to be an effective military leader and administrator. He is commemorated on the 500 kronor bill in Sweden today.

1724 – Maria Amalia of Saxony is born in Dresden. She would later marry Charles III of Spain and thus become Queen consort of Spain, Naples and Sicily. She gave birth to thirteen children in which you can count a King of Spain, a King of Sicily and Naples, and a Holy Roman Empress.

1745 – Maria Amalia’s daughter, Maria Luisa was also born today. She was born while her parents ruled Naples and Sicily, before they came to rule Spain. Maria Luisa later married Leopold II of Austria and became Empress consort of the Holy Roman Empire. Her son Francis, would become the last Holy Roman Emperor.

Deaths:
1741 – Ulrika Eleonora, Queen regnant of Sweden died at age 53 in Stockholm. She became Queen after the death of her brother, Charles XII in 1718. She married a Hessian Prince whom she abdicated in favor of in 1720. She then lived out her life as Queen consort of Sweden.

1960 – Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia died at age 78 living in exile in Canada. She was the younger sister of Nicholas II of Russia and escaped Russia during the Revolution, moving from Crimea, to Denmark, ending up in Canada. She is regarded as the last actual Grand Duchess of Russia.

Have a fabulous day!!

November 23rd

23 Friday Nov 2012

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Events:
1499 – Perkin Warbeck, a Flemish man who claimed to be Richard, Duke of York, and son of Edward IV, was hanged for treason after admitting he was not the lost Yorkist Prince. Richard is believed to have died in 1483 and is known as one of the “Princes in the Tower.”

1890 – The law in the Netherlands is changed to allow the daughter of the dying King, Princess Wilhelmina, to become Queen. She was the only surviving child of King William III and became the longest serving monarch in Dutch history and led her country through both World Wars.

Birthdays:
1221 – Alfonso X of Castile is born in Toledo. He would be called Alfonso the Wise because of his contributions to science and poetry. A crater on the moon, Alphonsus is named for him.

Deaths:
955 – Eadred, King of the English, died in southern England. He succeeded his brother, but his reign was marred with wars in Northern England and with the Vikings. He was not married and succeeded by his nephew.

1407 – Louis, Duke of Orleans and younger brother to French king Charles VI, the Mad, died t age 35. Louis was murdered in Paris on orders of the Duke of Burgundy, John the Fearless. This would cause a rivalry between the ruling house of France and the Burgundian house until the end of the Hundred Years War.

1457 – Ladislaus the Posthumous died as King of Hungary and King of Bohemia at the young age 17. He had been born four months after the death of his father and was beginning to take over his rule when he died suddenly.

1503 – Margaret of York, daughter of Edward IV, sisters to Edward V and Richard, The Princes in the Tower, and Elizabeth of York, Queen consort of Henry VII, died in Flanders. She had been Duchess of Burgundy as the wife of Charles the Bold. She proved to be an effective administrator and politician for her adopted Burgundian home.

1769 – The Greek Prince of Moldavia and Wallachia, Constantine Mavrocordatos, died while in the custody of the troops of Catherine II of Russia. He had been popular with the serfs for his reforms, and was thus unpopular with the nobility.

1890 – King William III of the Netherlands, died at age 73, leaving his ten year old daughter, Wilhelmina as Queen. William had been an indecisive and unpopular king, because of his opposition to the liberal constitution and his dismissal and appointing of new cabinet ministers without Parliamentary approval. He also established Luxembourg as its own independent country.

Have an awesome day!!

November 22nd

22 Thursday Nov 2012

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Events:
1975 – Prince Juan Carlos of Spain is declared ruler of Spain two days after the death of dictator Fransisco Franco. Franco had been working with Juan Carlos and grooming him to take over once he died. The monarchy in Spain had been overthrown 38 years before, but the accession of the new King went smoothly. He remains the constitutional monarch today.

Birthdays:
1515 – Mary of Guise is born to the Duke of Lorraine. She would come to prominence in 1538 when she became the second wife to King James V of Scotland, after being courted by Henry VIII of England. She would give birth to a daughter just days before the death of James, who would be known as Mary, Queen of Scots.

1602 – A daughter named Elisabeth is born to King Henry VI of France and Queen consort Marie de Medici. She would go on to be the Queen consort of Spain as the wife of Phillip IV. She would give Phillip seven children, with only two living into adulthood.

1861 – The last sovereign of Madagascar, Queen Ranavalona III was born. She was Queen from 1883 until 1896 when the French invaded and colonized the island. She would die in exile 1917 in Algiers.

1878 – Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich is born as the third son the future Alexander III of Russia. He was the younger brother of the ill-fated Nicholas II. When Nicholas abdicated, he formally abdicated in favour of Michael. However, Michael was never installed as Tsar and was murdered in 1918 after the Russian Revolution.

Deaths:
1286 – Eric V of Sweden was assassinated by men dressed as monks after the snuck into his chamber as he slept. It was said he recieved 56 stab wounds and the first were from a noble whom Eric had seduced his wife.

1318 – Mikhail of Tver, Grand Prince of Moscow was executed by the Mongols after the death of the Khan’s sister in his custody.

Have a great day!

November 21st

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

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No major events today.

Birthdays:
1840 – The first child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is born in Buckingham Palace. Named Victoria for her mother and given the title Princess Royal, she would later marry German Crown Prince Frederick and became Empress in 1888, but her husband would die only a few months later. Her son would become Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Deaths:
1150 – Garcia Ramirez of Navarre died in Pamplona. He is credited with separating the crown of Navarre from Aragon after many years of union.

1916 – Holy Roman Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria died at age 86 during the middle of World War I. He had already survived his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria, who was stabbed by an assassin, and his son, Crown Prince Rudolf, who committed suicide. The death of his nephew, Archduke Franz Ferdinand helped start the War. He was succeeded by his other nephew, Karl, who was Emperor when the monarchy was dissolved.