Tag Archives: Italian monarchy/aristocracy

August 27th

04 Saturday Jan 2014

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Events:
1172 – Henry, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, is crowned as co-King of England. It was the tradition in France at the time, so there would be no interruption in the succession. However, the young Henry would not survive his father, dying during a rebellion against the elder Henry, actually.

Birthdays:
1487 – Anna of Brandenburg is born in Germany to the Electoral family. At a young age, she was betrothed and later married to the Duke of Schleswig and Holstein, also the future Frederick I of Denmark. She would never become Queen though, dying in Kiel at age 26. However her son would go on to be Christian III of Denmark.

1669 – Anne Marie d’Orleans is born in France to Phillippe, Duke of Orleans, and his wife Princess Henriette of England. Phillippe was the younger brother of French King Louis XIV, and Henriette was the daughter of Charles I of England and Scotland. In 1684, she was married to the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus I, who was the future King of Sardinia. They would have 6 children, the first coming just before Anne’s 16th birthday, and which nearly killed her. Her eldest daughter would go to be Dauphine of France, and give birth to Louis XV, another daughter would become Queen consort of Spain, and her son Charles, would become King of Sardinia. She was 59 when she died in 1728.
Its interesting to note, as well, that through her relations to the Stuarts of Britain, she inherited the Jacobite claim to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the death of Cardinal Henry Stuart.

1887 – George, Crown Prince of Serbia is born as the eldest son of King Peter I and Zorka of Montenegro. He would never succeed though, as he kicked a servant to death in 1909, and renounced his right to throne afterwards. His brother would later become King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and George would serve in the military during the Balkan and First World Wars. Later he was locked in an asylum by his brother, and not freed until World War II. He lived into old age, in the city of Belgrade.

Deaths:
1968 – Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark died in London. Born in 1906, her father was Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, younger son of George I of Greece, and her mother was Russian Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna. When she was 11 years old, her family was exiled, and she would live across Europe as a girl. In 1934, she married into the British Royal family, by her nuptials to Prince George, Duke of Kent. They actually had two ceremonies; one at Westminster Abbey, according to Anglican rites, the other according to Greek Orthodox tradition. The latter was conducted privately. They would have three children, before the Duke was killed in 1942. She remained an active member of the British royal family until her death.

August 26th

21 Saturday Dec 2013

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Events:

1346 – The Battle of Crecy takes place as part of the Hundred Years War between France and England. The battle was a major one in the early times of the war, and an important victory for England, who heavily used their famous longbows.

Birthdays:

1469 – Ferdinand II of Naples is born in Italy to king Alfonso II of Naples and Ippolita Maria Sforza. He became king in 1495, when his father abdicated. The French army soon invaded, and Ferdinand would be overthrown. He would be restored the following year, but die shortly after reclaiming his throne.

1819 – Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is born in Germany to the Ducal family. In 1840, he married his young first cousin, Queen Victoria of Great Britain. They would have nine children, and he would be a major influence on Victoria, who was completely devoted and dependent on him. Given the title Prince Consort, he undertook many public causes and was a devoted father to his children. His early death at age 42 plunged Victoria in mourning, from which she would never fully emerge from.

1826 – Princess Alexandra of Bavaria is born as a younger daughter of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Theresa of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Alexandra never had children, or married. Instead she devoted her life to religious and literary pursuits. She would publish several books of poetry and produce plays. Her life was overshadowed by eccentricities and possible mental illness, however.

1944 – In not-so-dead royalty, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is born in England as the son of Prince Henry and Princess Alice. He was the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary, and is a first cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. He undertakes many royal duties and patronages.

Deaths:

1850 – French King Louis Phillippe I died in British exile. He was a member of the Orleans branch of the French royal family, and was declared king in 1830, after the overthrow of Charles X. Initially popular, his policies eventually led to his downfall and forced abdication in 1848.

August 16th

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

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Events:
1513 – The Battle of Guinegate takes place in France between the French and the English forces led by King Henry VIII. The French were caught off-guard, and England would win the day. However, it was joked that when the French sounded the retreat, all the English could see was glare from their spurs, leading to the English calling it, “The Battle of the Spurs.”

1858 – Queen Victoria of Great Britain and American President James Buchanan communicate through the first transatlantic telegraph cable, in its first communication.

1859 – The National Assembly of Tuscany formally deposes the House of Hapsburg-Lorraine from its standing as Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

Birthdays:
1573 – Anne of Austria was born to Charles II, Archduke of Austria and Anne of Bohemia. She was a granddaughter to Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I and a member of the mighty Habsburg family. In 1592, she married Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and Sweden. She didn’t spend much time in Sweden, as she believed them to be heretics, but she agreed to respect their beliefs in exchange for properties. Between 1593 and 1598, she had five children, but only one lived to adult hood as Vladislaus IV Vasa of Poland. Her last pregnancy would claim her life. Anne was only 24 years old. Later, her husband married her sister, Constance.

1682 – Louis de France, Duke of Burgundy is born at Versailles to Louis, the Dauphin. Versailles was the court of his grandfather, Louis XIV. As he grew up, he was known as the Petit Dauphin, and his father the Grand Dauphin, until 1711, when the Grand Dauphin died. When he was twenty, he began to take a role in politics and was a part of his grandfathers council. At age 15, he had married Marie-Adelaide of Savoy, by which he had two children. However, sadly, in 1712, both he and his wife died from the measles, leaving their only son, the future Louis XV, an orphan.

Deaths:
1419 – Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia died in Prague. He had been King of Germany since 1376, and King of Bohemia since 1378. He spent most of his time in Bohemia, and because of his lack of time in Germany, he was deposed as King in 1400, but remained King of Bohemia. He had married twice, but no children.

1445 – Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France died of a fever at approximately age 20. She was the eldest child of James I, and the sister of the future James II. When she was about 11 years old, she was sent to France to marry the Dauphin, the future Louis IX. The marriage was a political alliance, and they would have no children. She was popular at court for her grace and beauty.

1921 – King Peter I of Serbia died at age 77. Born in 1844 he became King of Serbia in 1903, and attempted to make Serbia like other modern constitutional monarchies. He became very popular for his leadership during the Balkan Wars, and despite being somewhat inactive during World War I, he still visited the front lines. During the war, his health began to fail, so his son, Prince Alexander, took on most of his duties. In 1918, the Kingdom of Serbia became the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Even after his death, he remained popular as a hero and father of the Serbian and Yugoslavian nations.

August 13th

24 Saturday Aug 2013

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Events:
1704 – The Battle of Blenheim takes place in Bavaria, Germany, as part of the War of Spanish Succession. The British were fighting on the side of the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch, against French and German forces. Although the French would be ultimately successful, the Alliance would be victorious today.

1792 – French King Louis XVI was arrested and declared an enemy of the State. He was jailed and the following month, France was officially declared a Republic, with Louis being stripped of all titles. He was formally referred to as “Citizen Louis Capet”. The former King was executed the following January.

Birthdays:
1311 – Alfonso XI of Castile is born in modern day Spain as the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and Constance of Portugal. He became king in 1312 after the death of his father, and ruled under regents until 1325. He continued the Reconquista of Granada from the Moors. He would become known for his ruthless and sometimes bloody methods. He ruled until 1350 when he passed away at age 38. Two of his sons would later become Kings and Peter I and Henry II.

1752 – Another daughter is born in Austria to Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa. She is named Maria Carolina. As a child, she was said to be close to her younger sister, Maria Antonia, the ill-fated Marie Antoinette of France. In 1768, she married Ferdinand IV of Naples, and despite the marriage being a duty to both parties, she bore eighteen children, with seven becoming adults. Like her mother, she was active politically and instituted many policies. In early 1799, she and her husband would be overthrown in Naples, only to be restored again that year, ruling until 1806, when they would be deposed again. She died in 1814, in her native Austria. Among her children, she numbers a King of the Two Sicilies, a Holy Roman Empress, a Queen of France, a Queen of Sardinia, and a Princess of Spain.

1792 – Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen is born in Germany. In 1818, she married Prince William, Duke of Clarence in a double ceremony, alongside William’s brother Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld. The younger sons of George III were trying to secure the succession after Princess Charlotte, daughter of the future George IV died. She would become pregnant several times, but she would either miscarry, or the baby would die early. In 1830, after the death of George IV, Adelaide became Queen consort. She was well loved by the people for her kindness and generosity, and got along well with her niece and future Queen, Victoria. William died in 1837, and she would not follow until 1849, well into the reign of Victoria.

Deaths:
1382 – Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Castile died giving birth to her third child, a daughter named for her, that died young as well. Eleanor was the daughter of Peter IV of Aragon and Eleanor of Sicily. In 1375, she married John I of Castile. They also had two sons, Henry who became king of Castile, and Ferdinand, who became King of Aragon. She was only 24 at her death.

Have an awesome day!

August 9th

20 Tuesday Aug 2013

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Events:
1588 – Queen Elizabeth I of England gave a rousing speech to troops assembled at Tilbury, ready to defend against a possible invasion of the Spanish Armada. However, the Spanish ships would never make it to English shores.

1902 – King Edward VII of Great Britain was crowned at Westminster Abbey in England, alongside his wife, Queen Alexandra. He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria, who had died the previous year. Initially, the ceremony was to take place on June 26th, but on the 24th, the King developed appendicitis and had to undergo surgery.

Births:
1669 – Tsarina Eudoxia Lopukhina is born in Moscow. She was married to Peter I of Russia in 1689, and would have three children by him, with only one surviving. In 1698, they would be divorced, and she was banished to a convent. She remained in exile, and became the focus of Peter’s opposition until his death, and her later return to Moscow, under the reign of her grandson, Peter II.

1696 – Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Lichtenstein is born in Prague to Prince Phillip Erasmus and Countess Christina Theresa. He was an active military man, and actually ruled the small nation three times. His reigns spanned from 1712-1718, 1732-1745, and finally 1748-1772. In 1718, he married Princess Anna Maria Antoine and they had five children, none surviving infancy.

1722 – Prince Augustus William of Prussia is born in Berlin to Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. He was married to Louise of Brunswick, with whom he had four children, including the future Frederick William II. He died suddenly at age 35, of a tumor.

1783 – Russian Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna is born in St. Petersburg. She was a daughter of Paul I, and a granddaughter of Catherine the Great. Her brothers would go on to be Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. When she was about 13, her grandmother negotiated a marriage contract for her with the young Swedish King Gustav IV. He even visited Russia, and they both claimed to have fell in love, however when he noticed the contract stated she would not have to convert to Lutheranism, he refused to sign and went back to Sweden, leaving Alexandra heart broken. She would later marry Austrian Archduke Joseph, brother of Emperor Franz II, but the Austrian court was not kind to her. Sadly, she died in 1801, when at age 17, she gave birth to a baby girl, who also died.

1847 – Maria Vittoria dal Pozza is born in Paris and was Italian noblewoman and Countess in her own right. In 1863, she married Prince Amadeo of Italy, a younger son of Victor Emmanuel II. In 1870, Amadeo was elected to take over the throne of Spain, but was only able to rule for 3 years, before his abdication in 1873. They had three children, all boys, the youngest born the same year as his father’s abdication. Three years later, at age 29, Maria died of tuberculosis.

Deaths:
1250 – Eric IV of Denmark was executed by the Duke of Jutland in response to atrocities Eric had committed when they had been fighting years before. He was in his early 30’s, and had ruled on his own since 1241, but had also been Duke of Schleswig since 1216. Eric’s reign was also marred with civil wars with his brothers. He left no male heirs, but two of his daughters would be Queen consorts of Sweden and Norway.

Have a great day!

August 7th

18 Sunday Aug 2013

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Events:
1514 – Henry VIII signed a peace treaty with France. Part of the treaty was a betrothal of Henry’s 18 year old sister to the 52 year old Louis XII, King of France. Louis had no heir at the time and needed a young bride to try and conceive. Mary would be sent to France in October, and Louis would be dead in January.

1549 – A 5 year old Mary, Queen of Scots would be whisked away by boat to be raised at the French Royal Court, as the future wife of the Dauphin. She had been Queen of Scotland since shortly after her birth, and would be Queen of France as a teenager.

Birthdays:
1751 – Wilhelmina of Prussia is born in Berlin to Prince Augustus William and Princess Louise. In 1767, she was married to Prince William V of Orange, Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic. She was a staunch supporter of her husband during the revolutions of the 1780’s and used her political abilities to negotiate support from her German relatives, and was able to keep him in power until 1795, when they were exiled for a time. They lived in various places in Germany until William’s death in 1806. In 1813 though, her son would be installed as King William I of the Netherlands, the first King of the modern Dutch monarchy. She returned shortly after and lived at her son’s court, even receiving important guests, such as Russian Tsar Alexander I. She died in 1820.

1783 – Princess Amelia, the youngest child of King George III and Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom was born in London. She was well loved by her family, but her father would suffer his first major decline into mental illness when she was just 5. She would also suffer from several afflictions throughout her life as well, including developing tuberculosis at age 15. “Emily” as her father called her, never married, but was in love with Charles Fitzroy, the son of a Baron, to the point of telling one of her brothers that she considered herself married to him. In 1808, she developed measles and other illnesses, which plunged her closer to death, which finally took her in 1810. Her father was crushed by the news, and it is believed this is one of the events that pushed him to his final bout of madness. Her eldest brother, the future George IV, who was also her godfather, asked for a death mask, and was said to be affected by the mention of her name for the rest of his life. Amelia was just 27 at her death.

1862 – Victoria of Baden is born in Germany to Grand Duke Frederick I and Princess Louise of Prussia. In 1881, she married the future King Gustaf V of Sweden, and they would be succeed to the titles of King and Queen in 1907. Despite having three children, the marriage was unhappy, and she lost her initial popularity. She was also thought to be too Pro-German during World War I. After the war, and as she got older, she spent less and less time in Sweden, leaving for months at a time, and only returning for events like birthdays. At the time of her death at age 67, she was living in Rome. Her eldest son later became King Gustaf VI Adolph of Sweden.

Deaths:
1106 – Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor died in Germany at age 55. He had been forced off the Imperial throne the previous year. He had been Emperor since age 6, and was fighting his sons for authority when he died. His elder son, Conrad, had been crowned King of Italy, and his younger son, would go on to be Emperor as Henry V.

1972 – Aspasia Manos, the wife of the deceased Greek King Alexander, died at age 75 in Greece. In 1919, she had married Alexander in secret civil ceremony, because of her status as a commoner. She was never referred to as Queen, only as Madame Manos, until years after her husband’s death, when she was retroactively given the title Princess of Greece and Denmark, and elevated to the title of Her Royal Highness. She and Alexander had one child, a daughter named Alexandra, who when on to be Queen consort of Yugoslavia. She lived in England for a time, and helped raise her grandson.

Have a great day!

August 4th

13 Tuesday Aug 2013

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Events:
1265 – The Battle of Evesham takes place in England as part of the Second Baron’s War. The army of King Henry III, led by his son, the future Edward I, would defeat the rebels. Simon de Montfort, the leader of the rebels would be killed in battle.

Birthdays:
1900 – Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon is born to the future Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. In 1921, Prince Albert, Duke of York proposed marriage to her. She declined, stating she didn’t want to be in the public eye as a royal. He would ask again, and again, Elizabeth refused. Finally in 1923, he asked a third time, and she agreed. She would be the first royal bride to lay her bouquet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in honor of her brother who died in World War I. Ten years later Elizabeth and Bertie became King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who already had two young daughters, the future Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. She remained in the public life and was a popular member of the royal family up through her daughter’s reign. She passed away in 2002, shortly after the death of her daughter Margaret.

1906 – Marie Jose of Belgium is born to King Albert I and Elisabeth of Bavaria. In 1930, she married Prince Umberto of Italy, becoming the Princess of Piedmont. They would have four children, despite the marriage being unhappy. She would be active in Italian politics, even throughout World War II. In 1946, she became Queen consort when her father in law abdicated, but 35 days later, the monarchy was abolished in Italy. They lived in Portugal for a time, but she and Umberto decided to separate, and Marie would move to Switzerland with her children. She lived there, in Mexico briefly, and returned to Italy after her husbands death. She herself died in Geneva at age 94.

Deaths:
1060 – Henry I of France died at age 52. He had been king on his own since 1031, when his father, Robert II died. He has the mixed legacy of being a strong king, but other Capetian historians believing he was the personification of the weakness of the Capets. He was succeeded by his son, Phillip I, who was seven years old. Henry’s third wife and Phillip’s mother, Anna of Kiev, would serve as regent.

1306 – The 16 year old Wenceslaus II of Bohemia died suddenly. He was the son of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Habsburg. He had been king of Bohemia since 1301, and King of Hungary, Croatia, and Poland since 1305. He had also married in 1305, but had no legitimate heirs.

1578 – Sebastian I of Portugal died in battle against the Moors. He was just 24 years old. He had been king since age 3, when his grandfather John III died. Sebastian’s father had died before his birth, and his mother left while he was still a baby, to serve as regent for her family’s Habsburg lands. His grandmother was his domineering regent, and Sebastian grew up very devout. His death left a succession crisis in Portugal.

Have a great day!

July 29th

08 Thursday Aug 2013

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Events:
1565 – Mary, Queen of Scots married her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. They would have one son together, the future James VI and I of Scotland and England. The marriage would end with Darnley’s death in 1567.

1567 – James VI of Scotland (later also known James I of England) was crowned at Stirling Castle. He was only a year old.

1863 – The Arc de Triomphe is dedicated in Paris in honor of all the soldiers who died in the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

1981 – Charles, Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. It was a beautiful and lavish ceremony. There were over 3000 people in attendance, including the majority of European Royals, and an estimated 750 million people from around the world watched on television.

Birthdays:
1846 – Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil is born in Rio de Janeiro to Emperor Pedro II and Empress Teresa Christina. Her parents would have no surviving sons, so she would be her father’s heir. She would marry a French Count, and was said to be learned, and spoke four languages. Three times she would serve as regent for her father, during his absences abroad. She was well liked by the public, and in 1888, she would sign the Golden Law, which freed all slaves in Brazil. The people gave her the nickname “the Redemptress” for her action. However it was widely unpopular with nobles and wealthy landowners. The following year the monarchy in Brazil would be deposed and Isabel lived out her days on her husbands lands in France.

Deaths:
1030 – Olaf II of Norway died in exile after trying to reclaim his throne. He had been King from 1015 until 1028. He is still a cultural hero in Norway. Olaf is depicted in Norway’s coat of arms, and after his death, he was both given the title of Norway’s Eternal King, and was canonized as a Saint. Also the Norwegian Order of St. Olav is named for him.

1095 – Ladislaus I of Hungary died in his nation after almost twenty years on the throne. He became King after his brother, Geza I. He ruled during a time of civil war with his cousins, but he greatly expanded Hungarian territory and was widely loved but he was a harsh legislator. One hundred years after his death he would be canonized as a Saint of the Catholic Church.

1108 – Philip I of France died at age 56. He had been King since age 7, with his mother, Anna of Kiev serving as his regent. He was much more a successful ruler than his father, and his 48 years on the throne was unprecedented at the time. He would be married twice and he would be succeeded by his son as Louis VI.

1900 – Umberto I of Italy was assassinated. His killer said he wanted to avenge the people who died in the Beva-Beccaris massacre two years before. He also attempted to expand Italy’s colonial presence in Africa and his reign would be one of political and social turmoil.

Have an awesome day!

July 28th

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

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Events:
1540 – Henry VIII of England married his fifth wife, the teenaged Catherine Howard. Catherine was a granddaughter to the Duke of Norfolk, and a first cousin to Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. Later, the marriage would fall apart Catherine executed for misconduct before and after she was Queen; namely, having an affair with another courtier.

Birthdays:
1347 – Margaret of Durazzo is born. In 1369, she married Charles, Duke of Durazzo, her cousin, who became King of Naples in 1382, and King of Hungary in 1385. She would be widowed in 1386, and her son Ladislaus would succeed his father, and later her daughter Joanna would rule Naples as Joanna II. She died in 1412 of the plague.

1860 – Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna is born in Russia. She was the daughter of Grand Duke Michael and his wife, Princess Cecile of Baden, and a granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas I. At age 19, she was married to the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and had three children. Due to his health and her unpopularity in the region, they rarely lived there. Their son would become the new ruler in 1897, and her two daughters went on to be Queen of Denmark, and Crown Princess of Germany. Anastasia lived the majority of her days in France afterwards, and even caused shock when she gave birth to a child by her personal secretary. She died in France in 1922.

Deaths:
1844 – Joseph Bonaparte, elder brother to Napoleon Bonaparte, died in Italy. He served in various posts in the French government during his brother’s rise, and helped with the overall coup d’état. Later, in 1806, his brother then installed him as King of Naples and Sicily, which he would only rule until 1808. That same year, his brother tried to install him as King of Spain, but his three year rule was never secure. Joseph actually stole some of the Spanish crown jewels on his way out, and later sold them in the US, where he primarily lived. He was 76 at his death.

1849 – A 50 year old Charles Albert of Sardinia died in Portugal, just months after being deposed and exiled. He had been overthrown in the revolutions of 1848, and was replaced with his son, Victor Emmanuel II. He had been King of Sardinia since 1831.

Have a great day!

July 27th

06 Tuesday Aug 2013

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Events:
1214 – The Battle of the Bouvines took place between the forces of Phillip II of France and King John of England. The battle took place in the County of Flanders. The forces against the French consisted of English, Angevin French, German, and Flemish men. The battle was a decisive victory in favor of Phillip II to the point that Emperor Otto IV was deposed after and King John would sign the Magna Carta later that year.

1689 – The Battle of Killiecrankie took place in Scotland between Highland forces supporting the deposed King James VII and II, and forces of the newly installed King William III and Mary II. The battle would be a rout in favor of the Jacobites, but their leader was killed, which would lead to future losses in the future.

No major birthdays.

Deaths:
1101 – 27 year old Conrad II of Italy dies in Florence after being deposed as King of Italy and Germany, by his father Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. He had been crowned in Germany in 1087, and in Italy 1091. He had been at odds with his father, since the death of his mother, shortly before his German coronation. Conrad spent the rest of his life warring with the Emperor.

1276 – James I of Aragon died at age 68 in Valencia, Spain. He had been King of Spain since the death of his father, Peter II, in 1213, when James was just five years old. In 1231 he would become King of the island of Majorca, and King of Valencia in 1238. These annexations earned him the nickname “the Conqueror”. He attempted a Crusade in 1269, but was deterred by bad weather. James is also known for his patronage of Catalan writers, and wrote in Catalan himself, being one of the first proponents of the language.

1382 – Queen Joanna of Naples was assassinated in her bed at age 56. It is believed that she was killed on the orders of her niece’s husband, because of her support for the Avignon Papacy. Joanna was an effective ruler for her time, and every proclamation and edict from her rule, was signed and sealed by her, despite how insignificant. She also insisted on free medical treatment for the poor and her nation was said to be ahead of its time in terms of healthcare.

Have an awesome day!