Monthly Archives: May 2013

May 30th

30 Thursday May 2013

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Events:
1536 – Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, who had been a lady-in-waiting to his previous wife, Anne Boleyn. Anne had been executed less than two weeks prior.

1842 – John Francis shot a pistol at Queen Victoria while she was riding in a carriage through London. The previous day he aimed the gun at her while she was taking the same ride, but he escaped. Francis was captured by police men in street clothes, convicted of High Treason, and given a life sentence.

Birthdays:
1653 – Claudia Felicitas of Austria is born in Italy as an Archduchess of Austria. In 1673, she married Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. They would have two children, who would not live past their first year. Sadly Claudia would die herself in Vienna in 1676.

1845 – The future Amadeo I of Spain is born in Savoy, Italy. He was a son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, and was put forth on the throne of Spain after the deposition of Isabella II. He took over in 1870, and would only rule for three years, and was forced to abdicate. He was wildly unpopular in Spain and after his abdication, he went back to his homeland and lived in Turin until his death in 1890.

Deaths:
1252 – In Seville, Spain, Ferdinand III of Castile died at age 52. He had troubles claiming the throne at first, due to his parents marriage being dissolved, but not only was he able to claim Castile in 1217, but he also became King of Leon in 1230, uniting the two Spanish Kingdoms. He also continued and amped up the Reconquista of Spain from the Moors.

1574 – Charles IX of France died in Paris at age 23 of tuberculosis. He was the second son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici. He became king in 1560 after the death of his older brother, Francis II. His mother served as his regent until 1563. He had also been king during the tragic and bloody French Wars of Religion and the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV of France, spent part of Charles’ last day with him, in which Charles’ expressed his love for Henry and implored him to take care of his wife and child.

Have a great day!

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May 29th

29 Wednesday May 2013

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Events:
1328 – Philip VI of France is crowned king at Reims. He was the eldest male line grandson of Philip III and put forth as king after the death of Charles IV, due to France’s observance of Salic Law, which forbade the throne to pass to a female, or through a female line. There were claimants more closely related to the late Charles IV, such as Edward III of England (Charles’ nephew through his sister, Isabella) however, they were through a female line. Edward supported Philip at first, but after some disputes, Edward claimed the throne in 1337 and began the Hundred Years War. Philip was the first Valois King of France.

1660 – The English Restoration officially takes place, bringing Charles II back from Europe as King. Today was also his birthday.

Birthdays:
1627 – Anne Marie Louise d’Orleans is born today in Paris. She was the daughter of Gaston, Duke of Orleans, and thus a niece of Louis XIII. Her mother died five days after her birth, leaving Anne Marie as Duchess of Montpensier, as well as other territories and a vast fortune. She would spend time back and forth from court, depending her father’s acceptance and later her own. She would attempt to marry a courtier of lower rank, but the marriage was disallowed by King Louis XIV, to the point of her fiancée being arrested and imprisoned. They would never marry. Her fortune and estates would be left to her cousin, Phillippe at her death.

1630 – The future Charles II is born in London. The son of the ill-fated Charles I, the younger Charles was sent abroad at age 16 when the English Civil War went further south for his father. He was living on Continental Europe in 1649 when his father was beheaded. However in 1660, after the fall of the Protectorate, Charles was restored to the throne and was determined to “never go on his travels again.” He married Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, whom he had no children with, despite his numerous illegitimate children. Charles died in 1685, leaving the throne to his brother, James.

1773 – Princess Sophie of Gloucester is born in England. She is a great granddaughter of George II and niece to George III. She never married or had children, and lived out her days in the English countryside.

Deaths:
1259 – Christian I of Denmark died of sudden causes. The rumor was that he was poisoned by communion wine from a Bishop he had mistreated. He was key is using the Danehof, or medieval parliament to help consolidate power. He had also spent a good part of his seven year reign fighting the Norwegians and Swedes.

1379 – Henry II of Castile and Leon died at age 45 after thirteen years on the throne. He was an illegitimate son of Alfonso XI of Castile, and the first King from the House of Trastamara. He would join into the Hundred Years War against England and Portugal. He is famous for his fighting with John of Gaunt, who was married to Constance of Castile, who was a rival claimant to the throne.

1814 – Josephine de Beauharnais died of pneumonia at age 50. Josephine was the first wife of Napoleon I and was Empress of France. The marriage was dissolved after the no children were produced. Josephine agreed to the divorce, “for the interest of France.” Though Napoleon remarried, he insisted that Josephine still be called Empress, and that his new wife was “just a womb”. She lived out her days at Chateau de Malmaison, where she kept a world renowned garden. Her name would be one of Napoleon’s last words.

1873 – Two year old Prince Friedrich of Hesse and by Rhine died after a fall. The boy was the son of Louis IV, Hessian Grand Duke, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, daughter of Queen Victoria, and a haemophiliac. Frittie, as he was called was the brother of doomed Russian Empress Alexandra, who was also a carrier for the haemophilia gene.

Have a great day!

May 28th

28 Tuesday May 2013

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Events:
1503 – A papal bull is issued by Alexander VI married James IV of Scotland and Princess Margaret Tudor. Margaret was the daughter of Henry VII of England. The marriage also brings a peace treaty which lasts for about ten years.

1533 – The marriage of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII is declared as valid by the Archbishop of Canterbury just days after Henry’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon was declared invalid.

Birthdays:
1660 – The future George I of Great Britain is born on Osnabruck, Germany. He was a great-grandson of King James I through Elizabeth of Bohemia. He became Elector of Hanover in 1698, and then in 1714, after the death of Queen Anne, became King of Great Britain. He was put forth as Anne’s successor because of the 1701 Act of Settlement that prohibited Catholics from inheriting the throne. He retained his throne in Hanover as well, and died in 1727 while making a trip there.

Deaths:
1357 – Afonso IV of Portugal died in Lisbon at age 66. He had been king since 1325, when his father Denis died. He is partly known for court intrigues surrounding his son Peter, and his lover Ines, and his wars with Castile. However, he was also influential in setting up the Portuguese Navy.

1940 – Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse died in Kassel, Germany. He had married Margaret, this younger sister of Wilhelm II of Germany. In 1918 he was elected King of Finland, but renounced the throne just three months later, due to the political upheavals spreading through Europe.

1972 – Edward, Duke of Windsor died in Paris at age 77. For a brief period in 1936, he was known as His Majesty, Edward VIII of Great Britain and Emperor of India. The son of George V, became king at his death, but intended to marry an American, Wallis Simpson, who was divorced twice over. He would abdicate before the year was out, with his brother becoming George VI.

Have a good night!

May 27th

27 Monday May 2013

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Events:
1153 – Malcolm IV was crowned at Scone. He was about 12 years old and was succeeding his grandfather, David I. Malcolm sadly, died early at age 24. He has a mixed legacy, of having the qualities of being a great king, but others saying he neglected his duties as king.

1199 – John of England is crowned as King of England after the death of his brother, Richard I. However, he was not universally accepted as his brothers successor throughout the Angevin Empire. Some lands put forward Arthur of Brittany, son of John’s elder brother, Geoffrey. John and Arthur would fight for years over the inheritance, until Arthur was captured and probably killed by John’s orders, or by some accounts, John’s own hands.

1703 – Peter the Great of Russia laid bricks that founded the city of St. Petersburg. It was founded to be a port city, and has since been a major hub for Russia, even acting as its capital.

1883 – Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna were crowned and anointed as Emperor and Empress of Russia in Moscow. Alexander became Tsar after the death of his father, Alexander II, who’s policies he would undo. Later Alexander would be succeeded by his elder son, Nicholas II.

Birthdays:
1626 – William II, Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the Netherlands was born today in The Hague. In 1641, he married the British Princess Royal, Mary, daughter of Charles I. He was only in his offices for three years before his early death from smallpox at age 24. His son was born just a week after his death, also named William, who would go on to be Stadtholder and King of England, as William III.

1756 – The future Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria was born today. He was at first Elector of Bavaria, but assumed the title of King in 1806 after the Treaty of Pressburg. At first he was an ally of Napoleon, but later switches sides against him. He would later have multiple territorial disputes with Austria, but found time at home to give Bavaria a liberal constitution for the time. He would be succeeded by the eldest of his 13 children, Ludwig. His daughters would also marry into royal families, one becoming Queen of Saxony, another Queen of Prussia, and another, Empress of Austria.

No major deaths.

Have a good one!

May 26th

26 Sunday May 2013

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Events:
1135 – Alfonso VII of Castile and Leon is crowned in Leon as “Emperor of all Spain”. His mother, Urraca of Castile was the first person to use the title.

1805 – Napoleon I of France is invested with the title “King of Italy” and is crowned in Milan with the Iron Crown of Lombardy, which had been used to crown the Kings of Italy since the 8th or 9th century.

1896 – Nicholas II and Alexandra were crowned as Emperor and Empress of Russia. Nicholas was 28 and Alexandra was not quite 24. Nicholas had been Emperor since his father’s death in late 1894. However the ceremonies were overshadowed by the Tragedy at Khodynka. A festival was held in celebration, but it quickly turned into a riot, where almost 1400 people died, and another 1300 were injured.

Birthdays:
1867 – Princess Victoria Mary of Teck is born in London. Her father, Francis, Duke of Teck was a minor German royal, and her mother, Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge was a grandchild of King George III. In 1891, “May” as she was called, was engaged to Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of the future Edward VII and heir to the throne. However he died before the marriage could take place. As May mourned him alongside his family, she grew closer to his younger brother and the new heir, Prince George. They married in 1893. In 1910, after a tenure as Duchess of York and Princess of Wales, May’s husband became King George V, and she became known as Queen Mary. Two of her sons would become kings however only one crowned, as George VI.

1968 – In not-so-dead royalty, a most happy birthday to His Royal Highness, The Crown Prince of Denmark, Frederik. He is the eldest son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik, and is the current heir to the Danish throne.

Deaths:
946 – Edmund I, King of England is murdered by a thief at a St. Augustine’s Day Mass. He had been king since 939, and was a grandson of Alfred the Great. He had been successful in defending Northumbria from Viking raiders. His brother, Aethelstan would succeed him immediately, and both of his sons, would later become Kings as Eadwig and Edgar.

Have a good day!

May 25th

25 Saturday May 2013

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Events:
1085 – Alfonso IV of Castile and Leon successfully takes the city of Toledo in Spain back from the Moorish people.

1521 – Holy Roman Emperor Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, which declared Martin Luther an outlaw and a heretic. Luther had been promised safe passage home, but the Emperor had planned to arrest and punish him for heresy. However, the German Princes with whom the ideals of the Reformation was taking hold with, helped him by giving him shelter.

1659 – Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell, resigned as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Richard had only been in office since September but was unable to effectively mediate between the Army and Parliament. Richard would live in self-imposed exile on the continent for a while, before returning to England after the Restoration of the Monarchy.

Birthdays:
1846 – Princess Helena is born in London as the fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After the death of her father, and marriage of her sister Louise, Helena acted as a secretary for her mother. In 1866, she married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. His family had been displaced when Germany took the territories from Denmark. It allowed Christian to live in Britain though, so Helena could stay with her mother, which was one of the Queen’s conditions for the marriage. The couple remained in England and Helena devoted herself to promoting nursing and women’s issues, despite her mother’s antagonism to the topic.

Deaths:
1555 – Henry II of Navarre died today at age 56. He had been king of Navarre since 1517 after the death of his exiled mother, Catherine of Navarre. The small country was undergoing disputes with Spain at the time and they would invade in 1525, and Henry was captured in battle. He was able to escape using a disguise. His wife would be the sister of Francis I France, Margaret of Angouleme, and his successor would be their son, John III.

1786 – Peter III of Portugal died today at age 68. He was a son of John V, but became King through his wife and niece, Maria I. They had married in 1760, when he was 42 and she was 25. They had six children that survived childhood. Peter was not involved in day to day politics but was a defender of the nobility to the point of scandal. Maria outlived him, and would be succeeded by their son, John VI.

Have an awesome day!

May 24th

24 Friday May 2013

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Events:
1487 – Lambert Simnel a ten year old pretender to the English throne is crowned in Ireland. It was believed that the boy was Richard, Duke of York, the younger son of Edward IV. Henry VII was newly on the throne, and it was previously believed that Richard and his older brother Edward were dead. The boy was captured and the rebellion in his name was crushed. Henry pardoned him and gave him a job in his kitchens.

1832 – The Convention of London establishes the First Kingdom of Greece. It marked the first independent Greek state since the break up of the Byzantine Empire.

Birthdays:
1819 – The future Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Empress of India is born in London today, and was christened as Alexandrina Victoria. She was the only daughter on Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and she was a granddaughter of King George III. Being the child of a fourth son, she should not have been Queen. But with the only legitimate offspring of her elder uncles dying young, she became Queen at age 18. She went on to reign for 63 years and is the longest serving British monarch and the longest reigning Female monarch in European history. Her nine children with her husband, Prince Albert went on to marry into various European royal houses, giving her the nickname the “Grandmother of Europe.”

1874 – Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine was born today in 1874. She was one of the younger children of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and Hessian Grand Duke Louis IV. Her elder sister Alix was the ill-fated Empress Alexandra of Russia. Sadly little “May” would die from diphtheria at age 4 in a breakout that also killed her mother, whom she shares a tomb with.

1995 – In not so dead royalty, Prince Joseph Wenzel of Lichtenstein is born today in London. He is currently second in the line of succession behind his father and grandfather. He is also a claimant to the Jacobite succession of Britain, through his mother, Bavarian Duchess Sophie.

Deaths:
1153 – King David I of Scotland died today. When he was young, he spent time in exile during the reign of his uncle, Donald III. David was a younger son of Malcolm III. His brother was Alexander I, whom David would succeed. During the Anarchy in England, he was a supporter of Empress Matilda, who’s father he had spent time before becoming King. He instituted several reforms in Scotland, and is even credited with introducing feudalism to the Scots.

Have a good day!

May 23rd

23 Thursday May 2013

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Events:
1533 – Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury declared the marriage of King Henry VIII of England and Catherine of Aragon null and void. Henry had been seeking an annulment for the marriage for several years on grounds that Catherine was his brother’s widow. Henry had already married Anne Boleyn in a secret ceremony after a visit to France. Five days later, Cranmer declared the marriage to Boleyn to be valid.

Birthdays:
1052 – Phillip I of France is born as the eldest son of Henry I and Anna of Kiev. He was crowned as co-ruler with his father at age 7 and became King on his own the following year. He ruled until 1108, when he was 56 years old. His mother served as regent until he was 16 years old, and was the first woman to do so. He was later excommunicated for repudiating his wife and marrying another. He was also a contemporary of William the Conqueror, who he engaged in territorial disputes over Brittany with.

Deaths:
1125 – Holy Roman Emperor Henry V died at age 38 in Germany. He was the son of Henry IV, and had been King of Italy since 1098, King of the Germans since 1099, and Emperor since 1111. He is most famous for two things; the first is signing the Concordat of Worms, which was an agreement between Emperors and the Papacy for rights to various things inside Imperial land holdings. Secondly, he is famous for being the first husband of Matilda of England, daughter to Henry I, mother to Henry II and claimant to the English crown.

Have an awesome day!

May 22nd

22 Wednesday May 2013

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Events:
1200 – King John of England and Phillip II of France sign the Treaty of Le Goulet. The treaty settled their disputed over Normandy and Phillip recognized John as King, after the death of Richard I. It also included a marriage alliance between John’s niece, Blanche and Phillip’s son, Louis. However within two years, the Kings would be at war again. Phillip would take back most of John’s French lands, effectively ending the “Angevin Empire”.

1246 – Henry Raspe, a German Landgrave is elected King of the Germans in opposition to Conrad IV. Conrad had been king since 1237 but had been declared deposed by the Pope.

1455 – The First Battle of St. Albans took place today. It is considered to be one of the first battles of the Wars of the Roses. It was a victory for the Yorks against the Lancastrians and Henry VI. Henry was captured in battle and declared Richard, Duke of York, Constable of England and later he became Protector of the Realm. Richard would later claim the throne, but die before he could take it. His sons would go on to be Edward IV and Richard III.

1629 – King Christian IV of Denmark signed the Treaty of Lubeck which ended Danish involvement in the Thirty Years War. Christian gained some lost territory back, but he was forced to give up other lands in Saxony to Emperor Ferdinand II. The War itself would drag on for another 19 years.

1809 – The Battle of Aspern-Essling ends today. It was fought near Austria between French forces commanded by Napoleon I and Austrian forces under the Archduke Charles, brother to Emperor Francis II. It was a tactical victory for the Austrians who were able to push Napoleon’s lines back.

Birthdays:
1770 – Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom is born in London as a younger daughter of King George III and Queen Charlotte. Like her sisters she lived a sheltered life until 1818, when she married Prince Frederick IV of Hesse-Homburg. She then permanently moved to Germany, where her spouse became Landgrave in 1820. It wasn’t a particularly happy marriage, but they were cordial to each other. The marriage also brought her husband an alliance with Britain, which was advantageous to him later.

Deaths:
1859 – Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies died at age 49 in Naples. He had been wounded by a bayonet three years earlier in an attempted assassination, and that may have contributed to his death. He had been King since 1830 and was the son of Francis I and Maria Isabella of Spain. He went into a brief exile in 1848 after a liberal rebellion, but it was crushed and he was restored to full power the following year. It was not the only rebellion he violently put down during his reign. His son, Francis II would succeed him.

Have a good day!

May 21st

21 Tuesday May 2013

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Events:
996 – Otto III of Germany is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor in Rome. He was 16 years old and had already been King of Germany since he was three years old.

1553 – Lady Jane Grey, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, and grand-niece to Henry VIII of England, is married to Lord Guilford Dudley, son of the Duke of Northumberland. Northumberland was the de facto head of Edward VI’s council, and when the young king laid dying, he put Jane forth as Edward’s successor instead of Edward’s half sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. They would both be taken to the Tower after Edward’s death and would never leave, both being executed in 1554 when they were in their late teens.

1674 – John Sobieski is elected King of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. He would assumed the name John III and rule until 1696.

1939 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were in Ottawa, Canada to dedicate and unveil the National War Memorial. It was initially for World War I, but later rededicated to include World War II and the Korean War. The Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was later added.

Birthdays:
1527 – Phillip II of Spain was born Valladolid. He was the son of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Isabella of Portugal. He would inherit is father’s Spanish lands, but not the Imperial titles or lands. He is famous for a few things, the first being married to Mary I of England from 1554 until her death in 1558, then for being a thorn in the side of Elizabeth I and sending the doomed Spanish Armada to depose her. He did help to expand Spanish territories in the New World, but also left Spain a financial disaster. In 1581, he also became King of Portugal and saw the beginning of the Dutch Revolt that year. He passed away at age 71.

1653 – Eleanor of Austria is born in Germany as the daughter of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1670 she married the King of Poland, Michael Korybut. She was Queen consort of Poland for three years before Michaels death. They had no children, and she later remarried to the Duke of Lorraine and live out her days in Austria.

1864 – Princess Stephanie of Belgium is born. She was the daughter of Leopold II and Marie Henriette of Austria. In 1881, Stephanie was shipped off to Austria to marry the Crown Prince Rudolf, son of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth. She had one child with her husband, the Archduchess Elisabeth Marie. Stephanie did not get along with her mother in law, who used to insult her publicly. She may have begun having affairs, but we know Rudolf definitely did. He was found dead in 1889 with his mistress at Meyerling. She later remarried, and had to move around throughout Hungary as war broke out.

1885 – Sophie of Schonburg-Waldenberg is born in Potsdam, Germany. In 1906 she married Prince William of Wied. After the births of their children, in 1914, William was asked to become the sovereign Prince of Albania. However by the time they arrived, the situation was volatile and they were forced to leave the country six months later. They were technically rulers until 1925 when Albania was declared a republic. Sophie lived the rest of her life in Romania.

Deaths:
987 – Louis V, the last Carolingian king of France died at age 20 from a fall from a horse. He had only been King for a year and unfortunately been unable to completely much during his reign. He would be succeeded by Hugh Capet, who’s descendants would rule France until the French Revolution.

1254 – Conrad IV of Germany, King of Sicily, Jerusalem, and Germany died of malaria in southern Italy. He was the son of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and had ruled since 1228. He had ruled during times of great upheaval in the Empire and had been excommunicated at the time of his death. It would take 20 years for another clear ruler to emerge from Germany.

1471 – Henry VI of England is found dead in his cell in the Tower of London. He had deposed the month before for the second time as King of England. He had become king in 1422 after the early death of his father Henry V. He was deposed by the first time by Edward of York during the War of the Roses. He was restored to the throne in 1470 only to be overthrown and imprisoned. His wife, Margaret of Anjou had tirelessly worked to keep him as King, but it was for naught, partly to do with Henry’s mental instability. Henry was 49 years old and may have been dispatched by the orders of Edward IV.

1481 – In Copenhagen, Christian I of Denmark and Norway died at age 55. He had been King of Denmark since 1448, King of Norway since 1450 which he ruled until his death. Christian had also been King of Sweden from 1457 until 1464. In 1479 he started the University of Copenhagen. His House of Oldenburg would rule Denmark until 1814.

Have a great day!