Tag Archives: Not So Dead Royalty

July 20th

28 Sunday Jul 2013

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Events:
1304 – Edward I of England finally takes Stirling Castle as part of the Scottish War of Independence.

Birthdays:
1890 – George II of Greece is born in Athens. He lived in exile from 1917, until his father’s re-installation as king in 1920. He succeeded to the throne in 1922. However in 1924, he was asked to leave Greece while the people voted either for or against the monarchy. While he was in Romania, he was formally deposed. He 1934, he was brought back as king and ruled until his death in 1947.

1973 – In not so dead royalty, the Norwegian Crown Prince, Haakon is born in Oslo. He is the heir apparent to his father, King Harald V.

Deaths:
1454 – John III of Castile died at age 49. He had been king since 1406, when he was just a year old. He was the son of Henry III of Castile and the English Catherine of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt. He was unfortunately a weak and ineffective ruler and was almost completely under the influence of court favourites. He was succeeded first by his son as Henry IV, then later his daughter, Isabella I.

1524 – Claude, Queen consort of France and Duchess of Brittany died at age 24 of an unverified cause. She was the eldest daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne, Duchess of Brittany. Due to Salic Law, she was unable to inherit the French throne, but she was able to inherit Brittany. Her father then married her to the next male in line, the future Francis I. They were married in 1514, and in 1515 became King and Queen of France. In the next ten years, she would birth seven children, including the future Henry II.

1927 – Ferdinand I Romania died at age 61. German by birth, he had succeeded his uncle, Carol I. He married Princess Marie of Edinburgh, also known as the fierce Marie of Romania. He sided his nation with the Allies in World War I, and its said the German Kaiser Wilhelm II felt Ferdinand betrayed his German roots. He was rewarded after the war, as Romania’s territory was expanded. His grandson, Michael I would succeed him.

1951 – Wilhelm, the last Crown Prince of Germany, died at age 69. He became Crown Prince of the German Empire in 1882. when his father ascended after the death of his grandfather and great-grandfather in the same year. He lived in exile for a short time with his father, but returned to Germany, and was a supporter of the Nazi party. hoping that Hitler would restore the Monarchy. After the death of some of his friend and when it became apparent that Hitler would not share power, the younger Wilhelm left the public eye for his country estates. His descendants live today.

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July 17th

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Events:
1429 – The coronation of Charles VII of France takes place at the cathedral in Reims. Charles’ coronation was delayed because of the Hundred Years War. The French victories were made possible by the military leadership of Joan of Arc.

1917 – King George V of the United Kingdom issued a royal proclamation changing his family’s name from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, to the House of Windsor. This was due to the large anti-German sentiment through Britain at the time during World War I. He also renounced any German titles for himself and several members of his family. His first cousin, German Kaiser Wilhelm II famously said that he wanted to Shakespeare’s play, “The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha”, after hearing the news of the name change.

Birthdays:
1945 – In not so dead royalty, the last heir apparent of Yugoslavia, Alexander is born in London. His father, Peter II was living in exile during World War II. When he was just a few months old, his father was overthrown, and his family deprived of citizenship. He grew up in Britain, and finally in 2000 he was able to return to Yugoslavia, and given citizenship again in 2001. He still resides in Serbia, and promised to stay out of politics, focusing on humanitarian efforts.

1947 – Camilla Shand is born in London to Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt. She is known today as Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Charles is her second husband, and she has teo children from her previous marriage.

Deaths:
1762 – Peter III of Russia was found dead, approximately a week after he was overthrown in favor of his wife, now Catherine II of Russia. She would rule in her own right until her death in 1796. German by birth, Catherine had fully assimilated herself into Russian culture and is one of the most famous monarchs, both male or female in European history. She is referred to as Catherine the Great.

1918 – The family of the deposed Tsar Nicholas II was shot and killed near Yekaterinburg, Russia. Nicholas and his immediate family, including his wife, Alexandra, son Alexei, and daughters, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia were assassinated by agents of the new Bolshevik government which had overthrown the monarchy the previous year. The family had been arrested and living in captivity since then. Their remains would not be found until much later in the 20th century, then positively identified through DNA in the late 90’s.

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July 14th

20 Saturday Jul 2013

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Events:
1789 – The angry citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille fortress. This is regarded as the start of the French Revolution. France was in a major economic crisis and the kings dismissal of his finance minister, who had been sympathetic to the lower classes, was the final straw that put the National Assembly on the move. The people of Paris were encouraged to take up arms and fight. Before they took the Bastille, the actually stormed the Hotel des Invalides which was housing muskets. There were actually few prisoners left in the Bastille, as the economic crisis had made it almost impossible to operate financially. However it was a symbol of royal tyranny. King Louis XVI did not retaliate and most nobles began fleeing the country.

Birthdays:
1932 – Princess Margarita of Baden is born in Germany to the Margrave of Baden and Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark. She left Germany in 1948 and lived in London, where she met and eventually married an exiled Yugoslavian Prince, Tomislav. They would have two children, but later divorce. She lived out her days in England, and died there in 2013.

1977 – In not so dead royalty, Swedish Crown Princess Victoria is born in King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. She is her father’s heir and will be the first Queen regnant of Sweden since 1720.

Deaths:
1223 – Phillip II of France died at age 57. Also known as Phillip the God-Given, he would continue construction on the Notre-Dame be Paris, and would construct the Louvre as a fortress. He spent much of his reign at war with the Plantagenets of England. He is cited as one of the more successful French monarchs because of his popularity and reorganization of the government.

1704 – Sophia Alekseyevna died in a Russian convent at age 46. She was a daughter of Tsar Alexis I, and a sister to Feodor III, and a sister/regent to Ivan IV and Peter I. She was actually Peter’s half sister. In 1682, at Feodor’s death, she was propelled forward in politics to be regent for the mentally incapacitated Ivan and the 10-year old Peter. Sophia was a tough ruler, and did not hesitate to use harsh and violent tactics to reach her goals. Her power waned as Peter grew older, and when he was 17, she was overthrown and forced to enter a convent. There was a plot to free and reinstate her, however it failed, and the conspirators were hung within view of her windows as a deterrent any future involvement in plotting on her part.

July 4th

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Events:
1187 – The Battle of Hattin takes place between the Christian forces of Jerusalem and the Muslim forces loyal to Saladin. It was a decisive victory for the Muslims and would be one of the events leading to the Third Crusade.

1534 – Christian III of Norway and Denmark is elected as King. He was a fervent Protestant and his election helped spread the Reformation in Continental Europe.

1569 – The Union of Lubin is signed by Sigismund II Augustus, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. The treaty merged the two countries into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

1914 – The funeral of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie took place. They were shot six days prior in Sarajevo and the even would help spark World War I.

Birthdays:
1799 – The future Oscar I of Sweden is born in Paris, France. In 1810 his father, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected to succeed Charles XIII. He succeeded his father in 1844, and ruled until 1859. Before his accession, he married Josephine of Leuchtenberg, daughter of Eugene de Beauharnais, and granddaughter of Josephine de Beauharnais. He was very liberal in his youth, but settled down after his accession. But under him, Norway was given more equality, and early freedom of the press laws and gender equality laws.

1937 – In not so dead royalty, Queen Sonja of Norway is born in Oslo. In 1968, she married Crown Prince Harald of Norway, and in 1991, they became King and Queen of Norway. Her son, Haakon, is the current Crown Prince and future ruler of Norway.

1942 – Prince Michael of Kent is born in England to Prince George and Princess Marina. He is a grandson of King George V, and thus a first cousin to Queen Elizabeth. Through his mother, he is also a first cousin to Prince Phillip. He undertakes royal duties on his cousin’s behalf although he lost is place in the line of succession in 1978, when he married a Roman Catholic.

Deaths:
2011 – Otto von Habsburg died in Germany at age 98. He was the last Crown Prince of Austria, as the son of Charles I of Austria and Zita of Bourbon-Parma. He fled Europe during World War II but returned to the continent after the war, never living in Austria again. He was a member of the European Parliament and a strong supporter of the European Union. His father never abdicated, and by his family and supporters he was still considered to be Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

July 2nd

08 Monday Jul 2013

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Events:
1871 – Rome was declared the capital of a newly unified Italy, with Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia as its King. He is referred to as “Padre Della Patria” or “Father of the Homeland”.

1959 – The future King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians are married in Brussels. They are the current King and Queen of Belgium.

Birthdays:
1363 – Maria of Sicily is born as the daughter to Frederick III and Constance of Aragon. She ruled from 1377 on, with her husband Martin, as her co-ruler. She was kidnapped for a time in 1379, while she was fighting for her inheritance. She ruled until 1401, when she died at age 37. Her husband would continue to rule after her death.

1849 – Maria Theresa of Austria-Este is born in Austria. She was the daughter of Archduke Ferdinand and Arduchess Elisabeth. In 1868, she married Ludwig III of Bavaria, who became the last king of Bavaria in 1913, making her its last Queen consort until 1918. She only lived a year after her husbands abdication, and died in 1919. Through her uncle, Francis V, Duke of Modena, she was the Jacobite claimant to the British throne, but she never acknowledged or pressed her claim.

1903 – The future King Olav V of Norway is born in England to Prince Carl of Denmark, (later King Haakon VII) and Princess Maud of the United Kingdom, daughter of Edward VII. He was christened as Alexander Edward Christian Frederik, but upon his father’s accession in 1905, his name was changed to Olav. He married Princess Martha in 1929, and had three children, which include the current King Harald V. As Crown Prince, he was also a Gold Medal Olympian in Sailing. He became king in 1957, and was so popular, he frequently went out without bodyguards and security, stating that he had 4 million bodyguards. He remained in good favor with the people until his death in 1991.

Deaths:
1932 – King Manuel II of Portugal died in British exile. He was the last king of Portugal and was overthrown in 1910. He had only been king since 1908, when his father, Carlos I, died. His reign was very turbulent, but even after his forced exile, he was supportive of the republican government, and even met with leaders during the Great War, while living in Britain. Monarchists tried to reclaim the throne, and he was supportive at first, but none would be successful.

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June 30th

30 Sunday Jun 2013

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Events:
1559 – King Henry II of France was mortally wounded in a jousting tournament. He would not die immediately. Henry hung on for several days, due to the efforts of his royal surgeon, but he would succumb to his injuries and infection on July 10. Henry had asked for his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, but she was denied access to the King by his wife, Catherine de Medici. The new King was his 15 year old son, Francis II.

1688 – William, Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the Netherlands received a letter from seven British nobles asking him to invade Britain and take the throne along side his wife, Princess Mary Stuart. They asserted that the infant son of King James II and VII was an impostor, and the were unhappy with James’ Catholic rule, and the idea of it continuing. William’s wife, Mary, was also James’ daughter, but a Protestant, and William was James’ nephew and third in line for the British crown. William would successfully invade later that year, in what is now called the “Glorious Revolution”.

Birthdays:
1470 – The future Charles VIII of France is born to King Louis IX and Charlotte of Savoy. He succeeded his father in 1483, when just thirteen years old. His elder sister, Anne of France, served as regent along side her husband, Peter, Duke of Bourbon, until Charles took the reigns of government in 1491. He married Anne of Brittany, and they would have four children, none of which survived childhood. He also began the French invasions into Italy, but they would be postponed in 1498, when he suddenly died of a head injury at age 27.

1964 – In not so dead royalty, Alexandra, Countess of Fredericksborg is born in Hong Kong to part British, part Asian, and part Austrian parents. In 1995, she married Danish Prince Joachim of Denmark and had two sons with him. They divorced in 2005, and she remarried in 2007, losing her title of Her Royal Highness and Princess, but retaining her Countess title.

Deaths:
1670 – Princess Henrietta of England, died in France at just age 26. When she was three years old, she fled England with the rest of her family, and was just five when her father was executed. She would live in the court of her cousin, Louis XIV, and marry Phillippe, Louis’ brother, and also her first cousin, in 1660, after her brother’s restoration as King Charles II. She had two daughters with him, who went on to be Queen consorts of Spain and Sardinia, and was a key player in the secret Treaty of Dover, which attempted to reconcile France and England.

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June 26th

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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Events:
1483 – Richard III accepts the crown of England, after testimony is brought forward that Richard’s elder brother, Edward IV’s marriage to his Queen, was invalid. Edward’s two sons, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, were living in the Tower, awaiting the boy’s coronation.

Birthdays:
1575 – Anne Catherine of Brandenburg is born in Germany to the Margrave of Brandenburg. In 1597, she married Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, making her Queen consort. She didn’t seem to have much political influence, but they had six children, who include Frederick III of Denmark, who introduced the absolute monarchy to the country. Anne died in 1612, at age 36.

1681 – Princess Hedvig Sophia of Sweden is born in Stockholm to Charles XI of Sweden and Ulrika Eleanora. In 1698 she married Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. They had one son, Charles Frederick, who became Duke upon his father’s death in 1702. Hedvig was regent for him, however she was also the heir to the Swedish throne, so she resided there. She was close to her brother, the future Karl XII, who refused to believe the news of her sudden death in 1708, at age 27.

1899 – A third daughter is born to Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra, named Maria Nikolaevna. Maria was said to be very pretty, vivacious, and a flirt even from a young age. She developed crushes on soldiers that she encountered at events and gatherings, and was said to want a large family one day. On the outbreak of World War I, she was too young to become a nurse like her mother and older sisters, but with her younger sister Anastasia, they visited and spent time with wounded soldiers. When the family was arrested after the 1917 Revolution, Maria attempted to befriend the workers and soldiers in the house where they stayed, and was admonished by her mother for being too friendly with them. She was killed in 1918, along with the rest of her family. Like her other sister, there were imposters that came forward as the Grand Duchess, but the remains of the entire Romanov family have been found, as of 2007.

2005 – In not so dead royalty, Princess Alexia of the Netherlands is born in The Hague to now King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. She is currently second in line of succession, behind her elder sister.

Deaths:

1718 – Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia died at age 28. He was the eldest son and heir of Peter the Great of Russia and his first wife, Eudoxia Lopukkhina. There was bad blood between his parents, stemming from their divorce, and Alexei held on to resentment against his father. As a teenager, he began serving in the military, where the father/son relationship soured further. He married Princess Charlotte of Brunswick-Luneburg, with whom he would have two children, which included the future Peter II. The elder Peter then began to demand Alexei’s further involvement in state matters and sent for him to join him at the front lines. Alexei fled to Austria instead, and eventually only agreed to return to Russia if his father gave him a pardon. However, Peter found a reason to renounce the pardon, and Alexei was arrested, sentenced to death and tortured. The sentence was never carried out, as the Prince died from being tortured, just two days later.

1830 – George IV of the United Kingdom died at Windsor Castle at age 67. He had only been King officially since 1820, after succeeding his father, George III. He had also served as Prince Regent from 1811, due to his father’s mental illness. He was notorious for his bad relations with his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, whom he had attempted to divorce, although he was ultimately unsuccessful. He did not allow Caroline to attend his coronation though. They had one daughter, Charlotte, who died in 1817, during childbirth. While he was said to be charming, with good manners, he was also lazy, and prone to gluttony. He was not popular at the end of his reign, due to his lifestyle and lack of leadership during the Wars going on in Europe. He was succeeded by his younger brother, William IV.

1922 – Prince Albert I of Monaco died in Paris. He was 73 years old, and had ruled since 1889, after the death of his father, Charles III. He was almost overthrown in 1910, but he acquiesced and gave Monaco a Constitution. He also laid led his country during World War I. Despite Monaco’s official neutrality, Albert heavily assisted the Allies with supplies, hospitals, and troops.

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June 16th

16 Sunday Jun 2013

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Events:
1487 – Today in 1487 marks the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. The relatively new King, Henry VII was still trying to secure his place on the throne. The Earl of Lincoln, John de la Pole, who had been named by Richard III to be his successor, was putting forth a boy, Lambert Simnel as a pretender to the throne. The battle was bloody, but was a final victory for the Lancastrian forces.

Birthdays:
1332 – A daughter named Isabella is born to Edward III and Philippa of Hainault at Woodstock Palace. She was said to be her father’s favourite, and was overindulged as a child. Edward tried to marry her into a powerful alliance, but remained unmarried until she was 33 years old, when she was permitted to marry the Lord de Coucy, later the Count of Soissons and Earl of Bedford. She lived just into the reign of her nephew, Richard II, but her death date is disputed.

1644 – The youngest child of Charles I and Henrietta Maria was born in England, to also be named Henrietta. When she was three years old, she fled England with the rest of her family, and was just five when her father was executed. She would live in the court of her cousin, Louis XIV, and marry Phillippe, Louis’ brother, and also her first cousin, in 1660, after her brother’s restoration as King Charles II. She had two daughters with him, who went on to be Queen consorts of Spain and Sardinia, and was a key player in the secret Treaty of Dover, which attempted to reconcile France and England. She died suddenly at age 26, in France, in 1670.

1937 – In not so dead royalty, Bulgarian Tsar Simeon II is born as the son of Boris III and Tsaritsa Giovanna. In 1943, he became Tsar after the death of his father at age 6. He ruled with his uncle as a regent, but the country was invaded but the Soviets, and in 1946, the monarchy was dissolved and the family was sent into exile. Simeon would live in Spain until the collapse of the Soviet Union, when he returned to Bulgaria, and in 2001, he was elected to the office of Prime Minister until 2005. He never renounced his title, but hasn’t spoke out about his views on possible restoration.

No major deaths.

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June 13th

13 Thursday Jun 2013

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Events:
1381 – A group of rebels marched into London, opposing the minor King Richard II’s government. The rebellion started in Southern England, then moved across the country. Richard was being held for his safety within the Tower of London, but came out to meet with the rebels. The negotiations failed. The Peasant’s Revolt, as its called, then proceeded to ransack the city, and burned Savoy Palace, an opulent residence belonging to Richard’s uncle, John of Gaunt.

1625 – Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and Princess Henrietta Maria of France were married in Canterbury. Henrietta would not ever be crowned as Queen, because she refused to be crowned in an Anglican service, and having a Catholic perform hers was unacceptable to Charles. The marriage was frigid at first, but warmed up after a couple years.

1981 – A teenager, Marcus Sarjeant, fires six blank shots at Queen Elizabeth II during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. He was detained, tried, and spent time in prison.

Birthdays:
1965 – In not so dead royalty, Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca is born in Madrid to the future King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. She is currently seventh in line for the throne and is active in many charitable organizations.

Deaths:
1886 – The deposed King Ludwig II of Bavaria was found dead on the shores of Lake Starnberg in his home country. Three days before, a document was delivered to him declaring him incapable of ruling due to paranoia and mental illness. The document was signed off by four doctors who had never examined him. His cause of death remains a mystery. The official cause of death was suicide by drowning, but the autopsy said he had no water in his lungs. There were later reports of him being shot and strangled. He is most famous for his buildings in Bavaria, which include the famous castle of Neuschwanstein.

1918 – Russian Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich is killed by Bolshevik forces after the Revolution of 1917. He was the younger brother of the overthrown Nicholas II, and when Nicholas formally abdicated, he did so in favour of Michael, instead of his young son, Alexei, the hemophiliac. Michael refused to take the throne until his Tsardom was confirmed by the Duma. Of course he was never confirmed, and was arrested like the rest of his family. He is not generally counted in the line of Tsars.

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June 12th

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

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Events:
1429 – French forces led by Joan of Arc laid siege to the city of Jargeau, and English stronghold. The English took heavy losses and after two days, the Duke of Suffolk surrendered the city and was captured.

1492 – Elizabeth Woodville, Dowager Queen of England, is buried at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, next to her late husband, Edward IV. She married Edward in 1464, and it was her second marriage. She was then thrust into the dynastic struggle Edward’s York family was fighting against the Lancaster family, known as the War of the Roses. Elizabeth had famous children as well. Her daughter, also named Elizabeth, became Queen as the wife of Henry VII after the end of the War. Two of her sons are also known to history, Edward V, and Richard, Duke of York, as the Princes in the Tower. Her other daughters also married in the peerage.

1997 – William Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre is officially reopened by Queen Elizabeth II.

No major birthdays.

Deaths:
918 – Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians and daughter of Alfred the Great, died in Staffordshire, England. She was married off the the Earl of Mercia by her father, and assumed the title Lady of the Mercians after her husbands death in 910. She ruled their lands in her own right for eight years and was said to be a formidable military commander and administrator.

1758 – Prussian Prince Augustus William died at age 35 of a brain tumor. He was the younger brother of Frederick the Great and served in the military under his brother, who was said to be harsh to Augustus for his believed incompetence. His son would go on the succeed Frederick the Great as King Frederick William II.

Have a great day!