Monthly Archives: January 2013

January 31st

31 Thursday Jan 2013

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Events:
1606 – Some of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, including Guy Fawkes are executed. Fawkes would jump off the scaffold when being hung, snapping his neck, to avoid the pain of being drawn and quartered.

Birthdays:

1512 – Henry, King of Portugal would be born in Lisbon to King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon. He was a younger son, and not expected to be King, so he entered the priesthood, rising to the rank of Cardinal. He would serve as regent for his underage nephew, King Sebastian. He would succeed his nephew in 1578, and attempt to renounce his vows and marry. However the Pope would not release him and he would die before producing an heir and marrying. His death would also come on this day in 1560.

1938 – In not so dead and in the news royals, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is born to Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. She became Queen in 1980 after her mother abdicated, and has announced her own abdication, in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander in April.

Deaths:
1788 – Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobite claimant to the crowns England, Scotland, and Ireland, died in Rome at age 67. He was the grandson of James II and VII through his son, also named James. The Stuarts were overthrown during the Glorious Revolution, but would attempt two invasions to be reinstalled as absolute rulers. Neither would be successful.

Have a good day!!

January 30th

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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Events:
1649 – Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded for high treason against the people. Forces loyal to him had lost what was now referred to as the English Civil War. His family, including his wife and two older sons had already fled to France. He wore two shirts, as it was a chilly morning and it was said that he didn’t want to be seen shivering, and his enemies mistake it for fear.

1661- Two years after his death, and one year after the Restoration of the Monarchy in Britain, Oliver Cromwell, one time Lord Protector was exhumed and ceremonially decapitated and given a traitor’s funeral, for his part in the overthrow and execution of Charles I. The former King’s oldest son, also named Charles, was the new King.

1889 – Crown Prince and Archduke of Austria Rudolf, heir to the thrones of Austria and Hungary, is found dead at the royal residence of Meyerling, with his mistress, in an apparent murder-suicide. He was the only son of Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth. This lead to a succession crisis, with the duty of heir falling on Franz Joseph’s nephew, the doomed Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Birthdays:
1894 – The future Boris III of Bulgaria is born. He became Tsar of Bulgaria in 1918, after his father, Ferdinand I was forced to abdicate after the disaster of World War I. When Hitler came to power in the Thirties, Boris was back and forth on his policies, agreeing with some to regain lost territory, but then refusing others at first, like the deportation of Bulgarian Jews. In fact, no Jews from pre-war Bulgaria were deported, to the chagrin of Hitler. Boris would not see the end of the war though, as he would pass away in 1943.

1962 – In recently dead royals, the future King Abdullah II of Jordan is born in Amman. He would become King in 1999 after the death of his father, King Hussein of Jordan. His son, Hashem bin Al Abdullah was also born today, in 2005.

1968 – And in not so dead royals, Felipe, Prince of Asturias and heir apparent to the crown of Spain is born in Madrid. He is now King Felipe VI, and the only son of the former King, Juan Carlos I and Queen Sophia. Juan Carlos abdicated in June of 2014. He was actually a competitor in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, and he and his sisters are the first Spanish royals to participate in public protests, as they did in 2004.

Deaths:
1730 – Tsar Peter II of Russia, grandson of Peter I, dies suddenly of smallpox at the age of 14. He had come to the crown just three years earlier, and with his death, it ended the direct male line Romanov dynasty. He would be succeeded by his cousin, Anna.

1989 – Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cadiz dies at age 52 in a skiing accident, while visiting the United States. He was of the Spanish House of Bourbon but also had a claim to the defunct French crown as a descendant of the French Bourbons. Another claimant of the French throne, from the House of Orleans, actually sued him over the use of the French royal arms. The case was thrown out in favour of Alfonso.

Have a great day!!

January 29th

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Events:
1865 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom signs the papers to institute the Victoria Cross, a military medal for valor during Crimean War. It is now the highest military decoration that can be given. It has been awarded 1,356 times since its inception.

1891 – Liliʻuokalani is proclaimed to be Queen of Hawaii. She was the island’s first Queen regnant but would also be its last. She was succeeding her brother, Kalākaua. Two years later, she would be overthrown in favour of annexation to the United States.

Birthdays:
1584 – Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange is born in Delft as the youngest son to William the Silent. His father died when he was only 6 months old, so his brother, Maurice was his trainer in the arts of arms and goverment. He would succeed his brother as ruler and Stadtholder in 1625 and prove to be as successful a general as his brother, and more successful as a politician.

1749 – The future King Christian VII of Denmark and Norway is born to Frederick V and Louise of Great Britian. He was a grandson of George II of Great Britain and married his cousin, Caroline of Wales. In his teens, his mental illness became apparent, and both Caroline and his doctor, Johann Struensee acted as de facto regents, until Christian’s mother, Juliana stepped in. Struensee was executed and Caroline divorced and exiled. Christian’s regents were then his mother, and later his brother, until his death and the succession of his son.

Deaths:
1676 – Alexis I of Russia dies in Moscow at age 46. His rule was eventful, with Russia expanding to over 2 billion acres in his 20 year reign. Three of his sons would go on to be Tsar, with the youngest being Peter I, or Peter the Great.

1696 – Alexis’ other son, Peter’s older brother, and one time Co-Tsar, Ivan V of Russia also died today in Moscow. He was only 29. He was said to have numerous mental and physical handicaps. His role as Tsar was largely ceremonial, most of the power lied with his regents, and later his brother, Peter.

1820 – King George III of the United Kingdom died at 81. Known to history as “Mad King George” he had been living away from the cities and rule fell with his son, the future George IV, as Prince Regent. He had been quite popular with the people for his down to earth nature and his interest in agriculture earned him the nickname “Farmer George.” He was also King during the American Revolution and has earned the legacy as a tyrant for his role in that time era.

1901 – King Milan I of Serbia died in Vienna at age 46. He had sudden abdicated in 1889 with little reason given, in favour of his son, Alexander I. He had left the country after his abdication, but returned to offer guidance and military advice to his young son. However he would be exiled again in 1900, after his opposition to Alexander’s bethrothal to a commoner named Draga Masin.

1906 – Christian IX of Denmark died at age 87 in Copenhagen. He was known as the “Father in Law” of Europe for the dynastic marriages he made for his daughters, with one eventually becoming Queen of England, and another Empress of Russia, and his second son, George, becoming the Greek King of the Hellenes. Most current monarchs of Europe descend from him, including Queen Elizabeth II, Albert II of Belgium, Harald V of Norway, Margrethe II of Denmark, and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri.

Have an awesome day!!!

January 28th

28 Monday Jan 2013

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Events:
1393 – The Bal des Ardents masquerade ball takes place in Paris. Charles VI was in attendance with several members of the nobility. However the evening would end in tragedy when one of the dancer’s costume caught fire and spread, killing four people in total.

1521 – The Diet of Worms convenes in Germany, with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor presiding over the council. Martin Luther was summoned, and the point of the meeting was to have him either reaffirm or publicly renounce his Ninety-Five theses.

1724 – Peter the Great of Russia founds the Russian Academy of Sciences, which would operate under that name until the 1917 Revolution.

Birthdays:
1312 – Queen Joan II of Navarre is born. She was the daughter of Louis X and I of France and Navarre. She became Queen of Navarre because unlike France, they didn’t observe Salic law, barring women from the crown. She was given Navarre and other lands in France, in exchange for renouncing her claim to the throne. However, her descendants would eventually accede to the throne.

1457 – The future Henry VII of England is born in Wales, to a thirteen year old Lady Margaret Beaufort Countess of Richmond, and three months after the death of his father, the Earl of Richmond, Edmund Tudor. His claim to the throne was weak, and through his mother’s line, which was barred from the succession. However, after the War of the Roses, he was a leading Lancastrian candidate, leading to his exile in France for many years. He was able to claim the throne after his defeat of Richard III during the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

Deaths:
814 – Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor died at age 71 in modern day Germany. He had consolidated most of the European continent under the Empire, and is the first of what is considered to be the Holy Roman Emperors. Both French and German monarchies would claim descendancy from him, and he is one of the best known rulers in all of Europe.

1271 – Isabella of Aragon, Queen consort of France died at age 24 after a fall from a horse while accompanying her husband, Phillip III of France on the Eighth Crusade. She had been married to Phillip since 1262, and had given him four sons already. However she was pregnant when she fell, and would miscarry the baby before he death.

1547 – A 55 year old Henry VIII of England dies of probable complications from his severe obesity. He was 6’2 but weighed well over 300 pounds, and had a 54 inch waist. He is best known for bringing England charging into the Reformation, with it in full swing in England by his death, and also for his six wives. All three of his living children would succeed to the throne, the first being his youngest, Edward VI, son of wife 3, Jane Seymour. His daughter, Mary I by Catherine of Aragon, would be next after Edward’s premature death, followed by the the penultimate Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I, daughter of wife number 2, Anne Boleyn.

Have an awesome day!!

January 27th

27 Sunday Jan 2013

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Events:
1608 – The trial for the Gunpowder Plot conspirators begins. All involved, including Guy Fawkes, would be executed before the end of the month.

Birthdays:
1708 – Anna Petrovna, Grand Duchess of Russia is born to Emperor Peter I and Empress Catherine I of Russia. She would be married to the German Duke Charles Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp in 1724. She would sadly die early at age 20, just days after giving birth to the future Peter III of Russia , who would marry the future Catherine the Great of Russia.

1805 – Twin girls are born in Munich to Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Catherine of Baden. They would be christened Maria Anna and Sophie. Maria would go on to be Queen consort of Saxony as the wife of Frederick Augustus II. Sophie would marry the Austrian Archduke Franz Karl. She would be known for her ambition and tenacity, being called the “only man at court”. Her sons would go on to Emperors Franz Joseph I of Austria, and Maximilian I of Mexico.

1859 – Wilhelm II, German Emperor is born in Berlin to Crown Prince Frederick and Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom. He was both a grandson of to Kaiser Wilhelm I and Queen Victoria. His birth was traumatic and he would suffer with Erb’s Palsy, which would stunt the growth of his left arm, which he tried to hide for the majority of his life. He was also famously the cousin of George V of the United Kingdom and Nicholas II. He was also the last Emperor of Germany as the monarchy was abolished at the end of World War I.

No major deaths.

Have a great day!!

January 26th

26 Saturday Jan 2013

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Events:
1340 – Edward III of England is declared King of France by those in England and France who support his claim as a grandson of Phillip IV through Phillip’s daughter and Edward’s mother, Isabella of France. This is one of the events leading to the Hundred Years War.

1736 – Stanislaus I. of Poland abdicated, for the second time, only three years into his second reign, during the War of the Polish Succession. He reigned during the Great Northern War from 1704 to 1709 as well, eventually exiling himself after the defeat of his Swedish supporters. After his second abdication he would be granted the provinces of Lorraine and Bar until his death, upon which they returned into French possession.

Birthdays:
1495 – Future Emperor Go-Nara, second son of Emperor Go-Kashiwabara and Fujiwara Fujiko, is born. Upon his father’s death, he would start his reign at the age of 31 and it would last for 31 years as well. However, the formal installation as emperor was not until 10 years into his rule. His court was in so much financial trouble that he actually resorted to selling his own calligraphy.

1763 – Charles XIV John of Sweden is born in France. He started out in the French Army becoming a general under Napoleon I. In 1810, he would be elected to Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway, as the heir of the dying King Charles XIII. He would then end up as an ally of Napoleon’s armies.

No major deaths.

Have a great day!!

January 25th

26 Saturday Jan 2013

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Events:
1533 – Traditionally believed to be the date of the secret marriage between Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII of England. It is also believed that Anne was already pregnant with the future Elizabeth I. Later that year, in May, the Archbishop of Canterbury would declare this marriage valid, and Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled.

1858 – Victoria, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom and daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is married to Prince Frederick of Prussia. They would later become German Emperor and Empress, and the parents of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Their wedding was the first time Mendelsshon’s Wedding March was played and it has been traditional ever since.

Birthdays:
1477 – Anne of Brittany, Duchess of Brittany, Countess of Nantes, Montfort and Richmont, and Viscountess of Limoges is born in Nantes. She would hold all of these titles in her own rights, not by marriage, thus making her the richest, and one of the most influential women in Europe. She would later be Queen consort of two French kings, Charles VIII and Louis XII. Her daughter, Claude, would be Queen consort to Francis I of France, and thus merge Brittany with the rest of France.

Deaths:
1494 – Ferdinand I of Naples dies at age 70. He had been the illegitmate son of Alfonso V of Aragon, and came to the crown of Naples through the death of his father. His son would succeed him, but be overthrown shortly thereafter during the Italian Wars.

Have a great day!!

January 24th

24 Thursday Jan 2013

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Events:
1679 – King Charles II of England and Scotland dissolves the session of Parliament known as the “Cavalier Parliament”. It was in session for 18 years of Charles’ 25 year reign, and is the longest sitting session of Parliament.

1742 – Charles VII becomes Holy Roman Emperor after his father in law, Joseph I, dies. Charles would be a major player in the War of Austrian Succession and would only be Emperor until 1745. He was the first non-Hapsburg Emperor in three hundred years, and the only non-Hapsburg until the end of the Empire in 1806.

Birthdays:
76 – Publius Aleius Hadrianus is born in Italic. History knows him better as one of the Five Good Roman Emperors, Hadrian. He would become Emperor in 117m and rule until 138. One of his more famous accomplishments is the building of Hadrian’s wall, in Northern Britain, marking the end of Roman terrirtory. The wall still stands today.

1712 – The future Frederick II of Prussia is born in Berlin. Know also as “Frederick the Great” at one time he was at odds with his father, Frederick William I, and even spent time in prison. As king he is known for his military brilliance, and his patronage of the arts and the Enlightenment, as well as religous tolerance.

1746 – Gustav III of Sweden is born in Stockholm. Becoming King in 1771 as the son of Adolph Frederick of Sweden, he rule ended what is referred to as the Age of Liberty in Sweden. He had powers that we taken away from the monarchy restored, and while he was liberal in his religous and economic policies, he also killed most independent media. He would be killed at age 46 in an attempted coup.

1779 – Princess Louise of Baden is born in Germany to the Hereditary royal family of Baden. Married off at age 14 to the future Alexander I of Russia, her name was changed upon her conversion to Eastern Orthodox to Elizabeth Alexievna. Her marriage to Alexander was rocky, but they produced two children, daughters, but neither lived past childhood. She would die just days after her husband at age 47.

2012 – In not so dead royalty, a daughter is born to Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark, named Athena. She is currently tenth in line to the Danish crown.

Deaths:
41 – The first Roman Emperor to be assassinated, Caligula was killed by officers of the Praetorian Guard, at age 28. The killing was carried out, most likely due to his erratic behavior and despotic nature. It is said that he engaged in incest with his sisters and also prostituted them out, and making his horse a priest, with the promise to make the animal a Consul of Rome. Stories abound of Caligula’s insanity and cruelty. He was succeeded by his uncle, Claudius.

1002 – Otto III, the 21 year old Holy Roman Emperor dies suddenly and childless, while fighting rebellions in Italy. This caused a succession crisis and various claims to the crowns of the Empire came up, as the Italians were resentful of German rule. He was the last of the Ottonian dynasty.

1336- Alfonso IV of Aragon died in Barcelona at about age 34. He was a second son, but became heir when his brother renounced his claim to become a monk. He was known as Alfonso the Kind, and was succeeded by his son, Peter IV.

1924 – Marie-Adelaide, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg died at age 24 while in Bavaria of influenza. She had been the ruler of Luxembourg from 1912 to 1919, but was forced to abdicate in favour of her sister, Charlotte because of her perceived Pro-German sympathies. She was the first ruler of the small country to have actually been born there since 1296.

Have an awesome day!!

January 23rd

23 Wednesday Jan 2013

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Events:
1920 – Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands formally refuses to hand over German Emperor Wilhelm II, who was living in exile in her country. He fled to The Netherlands after his forced abdication after World War I, and part of the Treaty of Versailles called for his arrest and prosecution. However he would never be tried with war crimes, and live out his days in exile.

Birthdays:
1688 – Ulrika Eleonora, future Queen of Sweden is born in Stockholm. She would go on to be Queen regnant of Sweden in 1718 after the death of her brother. She would abdicate in 1720 in favour of her husband, who became Frederick I, and therefore served as both Queen regnant and Queen consort of Sweden. With their reigns, Sweden saw the decline of the absolute monarchy and its known as the “Age of Liberty”.

1896 – Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg is born in Berg Castle. She was the second daughter of William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and became ruler after the abdication of her sister, Marie-Adelaide. Under her, Luxembourg became a constitutional monarchy, and she would spend the whole of World War II in Britain. She would abdicate in 1964, in favour of her son, Jean.

1957 – In not so dead royals, Princess Caroline of Monaco and Princess of Hanover by marriage is born to Prince Rainier II and Princess Grace. She is married to Ernst August, Prince of Hanover, titular Prince of the Hanover region of Germany. Her brother, Prince Albert II, is the current reigning sovereign of Monaco.

Deaths:
1516 – Ferdinand II of Aragon, husband to Isabella of Castile died in Spain. He was half of Spain’s original power couple, and through their children, they saw the union of the Spanish countries. He and his wife were also known by the epithets “the Catholic” because of their services to the church. These services included the Reconquest of Granada from the Moors, the beginning of the Inquisition, and forced conversion of Jews. He had served as regent for his daughter, Joanna in Castile after the death of Isabella. Joanna was then named as Queen after his death, but with her son, Charles, as co-ruler due to her mental incapacity.

1820 – Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn is born in England as the fourth son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He would spend time in the Army and be a commander of forces in Canada. However we best know him through his offspring, the future Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. He would die within the first year of his life, and within a week of his father. Prince Edward Island, Canada, is named in his honor.

January 22nd

22 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Events:
1689 – The Convention Parliament assembled in London to decide if James II and VII of England and Scotland abdicated the thrones when he fled to France the previous year. His son in law, William of Orange, landed on England’s shores with an army set to deposed the Catholic monarch in what we now call the Glorious Revolution.

Birthdays:
1797 – Maria Leopoldina of Austria is born in Vienna as the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis II and Queen Maria Theresa. She went on to become Queen consort of Portugal, and Brazil’s first Empress consort when she married Pedro I of Brazil. Maria was highly educated, but Pedro was not, so while their marriage was successful from a child standpoint, Maria was not always happy. Sadly she would die at age 29 after a miscarriage with her eighth child.

1831 – Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein is born in Denmark. He was the second son of a Danish/German Duke. He was never expected to accede to the throne of Denmark to the Duchy, but in 1866, he married a daughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Helena. They primarily lived in Britain, and Christian served in World War I for the British. He and his family had to renounce their German titles in 1917, when King George V changed the family name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, to the English sounding Windsor.

Deaths:
1901 – The indomitable Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Empress of India dies at age 81. She had been Queen for 63 years, the longest of any British monarch, acceding to the throne when she was barely 18. Alexandrina Victoria, as she was born, should in theory, not have been Queen, since her father was the fourth son of George III. But all of her uncles, who include George IV and William IV, and her father all died without legitimate children or before her. She had nine children, whom she all married to various European royal houses, earning her the nickname “The Grandmother of Europe.” She was succeeded by her eldest son, the fun loving Edward VII.

Have an awesome day!!