Tag Archives: Plantagenets

August 31st

02 Sunday Feb 2014

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Events:
1314 – King Haakon V Magnusson of Norway moves the capitol of the country from Bergen to Oslo, where the capitol remains today.

Birthdays:
1880 – The future Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands is born at The Hague. She was the only child of King William III and Queen Emma, and became Queen in her own right in 1890, with her mother as regent. She came to majority in 1898, and married Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1901. She would give birth to one surviving daughter, Juliana, but suffer several miscarriages. In 1948, she abdicated in favor of her daughter, Juliana, after a reign of 58 years, making Wilhelmina the longest serving Dutch monarch.

Deaths:
1158 – Sancho III of Castile died after just one year of rule. He was the eldest surviving son of King Alfonso VII of Leon and Castile and Berengaria of Barcelona. His death was sudden, while he was in his early 20’s but left a young son as his successor, Alfonso VIII of Castile.

1422 – King Henry V of England died suddenly of possibly dysentery. He was only 35 years old, and was on military campaigns in France. He is known for his military battles during the Hundred Years War, namely the Battle of Agincourt. Henry had been king since the death of his father, Henry IV, in 1413. The heir to the throne was Henry’s only child with Catherine of Valois, a nine-month-old baby boy, now Henry VI of England.

1997 – Tragedy struck in Paris, when Diana, Princess of Wales, was involved in a car crash while traveling with her companion, Dodi Fayed. Diana, Dodi, and the driver were all killed. She was 36 years old, and the former wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she divorced the previous year. She was survived by two sons, Princes William and Harry. After her divorce, she had continued her charity work, and was widely mourned by the people.

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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 25th

21 Thursday Nov 2013

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No major events.

Birthdays:
1530 – Ivan Vasilyevich is born in Russia to Grand Prince of Moscow Vasili III and Elena Glinskya. When Ivan was just 3 years old, he succeeded his father as Grand Prince of Moscow, after Vasili’s sudden death. In 1547, he was crowned as Tsar of all the Russia’s as Ivan IV. Throughout his reign, he was able to successfully navigate political changes in his nation, however, his economic policies were disastrous for Russia. It would be his harsh nature and quick temper that helped give him the nickname “Ivan the Terrible”. At one point in 1581, his temper got the best of him, and he hit his son, also named Ivan, over the head with a staff, killing the young man. This left his younger son, Feodor, as his heir. Ivan had also been married eight times, and through his children with his first wife, Anastasia Romanovna, the Romanov family would come to rule Russia.

1707 – Louis I of Spain is born in Madrid as the son of King Phillip V and Maria Luisa of Savoy. In 1722, Louis was forced to marry the French Princess Louise Elisabeth d’Orleans. The marriage was unhappy, there would be no children, and Louise was said to be so unhappy, she would refuse to see her husband. His father abdicated in 1724, but Louis’ reign would be short lived, as he died of smallpox just 7 months later. Phillip, his father, returned to the throne.

1786 – The future Ludwig I of Bavaria is born to Maximillian I Joseph and Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. He succeeded his father in 1825 and ruled until his abdication in 1848. In 1810, he married Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and the following celebration was the first Oktoberfest. His policies got more and more repressive as time went on, until revolution struck and forced him to abdicate. His remaining years were spent on cultural projects and buildings, during the reign of his son, Maximilian II.

1845 – Ludwig II of Bavaria is born in Munich. He was the eldest son of Maximilian II of Bavaria and Marie of Prussia. He became King at age 18, after his father died suddenly in 1864. His youth and dashing good looks made him very popular. Ludwig was a great patron of the arts, including composer Richard Wagner. He also began construction on palaces throughout Bavaria, including the famed Neuschwanstein Castle, which he paid for out of his own pocket. However in 1886, he was deposed by his ministers, who had him declared insane by doctors who never examined him. The day after he was moved, he was found dead in waist deep water, with no water in his lungs. He was 40 years old at his death, childless, and succeeded by his actually insane brother, Otto, with their uncle as regent.

Deaths:
1270 – King Louis IX of France died in Africa while fighting on the Eighth Crusade. He was the son of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile, and became King in 1226. Louis was later canonized by the Catholic church and he is he only French king to be Sainted. Because of his veneration, he is pictured as the quintessential Christian monarch, and many cities, including the American city of Saint Louis, Missouri.

1482 – Margaret of Anjou dies in France at age 52. She would be married to Henry VI of England in 1445. The would have one son, called Edward of Westminster. Margaret also became one of the principal figures in the War of the Roses, when she acted as regent for her husband during his bouts of mental instability. She helped to lead the Lancastrian forces before her husband’s overthrow, and after his restoration in 1470. However, after the defeat of the Lancasters in 1471. She was captured and later ransomed back to France. She was vilified throughout most of history and even referred to as a “She-wolf of France” by Shakespeare in the plays about her husband.

1699 – Christian V of Denmark died in Copenhagen.He was the son of Frederick III and Queen Sophie Amalie and the father of the future Frederick IV. He was quite popular with the common people for allowing them into state service. Christian is considered to be one of the more poorly educated Danish kings, a title which he seemed to be okay with. He lists his primary interests in his memoirs as “hunting, love-making, war and maritime affairs”.

1942 – Prince George, Duke of Kent is killed in battle during World War II. He was the son of King George V and Queen Mary. He was the younger brother to Edward VIII and George VI, and thus the paternal uncle to Queen Elizabeth II. He was given the title Duke of Kent in 1934, and it would pass to his son, Prince Edward, at his death.

August 24th

10 Sunday Nov 2013

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Events:

1200 – King John of England marries his second wife, the teenaged Isabella of Angouleme. The marriage would last until John’s death, and produce several children, including the future Henry III.

1561 – William the Silent, Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the Netherlands marries his second wife, Anna of Saxony. The married would only last nine years, until William died. The marriage was unhappy, but they managed to have five children.

Birthdays:

1113- Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou is born in France. At age 15, he was married to Matilda, former Holy Roman Empress, and daughter of King Henry I of England. She was 11 years his senior, and the marriage was unhappy. Geoffrey fought for his wife’s cause during The Anarchy, a civil war in which she pressed her claim to rule England. He died suddenly at age 38, but his son, Henry, would go on to be King Henry II of England.

1198 – Alexander II of Scotland is born to William I Ermengarde de Beaumont. In 1214, he succeeded his father as King of Scots, after spending time in the English court, even being knighted by King John. He even married John’s daughter, Joan of England. However, he would spend part of his reign at war with his brother in law, Henry III of England. Sadly Joan died early, and they had no children. Alexander remarried in 1239, and with his second wife, Marie de Coucy, they would have the future Alexander III. He died in 1249, at age 50, while in the Hebrides, trying to reclaim them from Norway.

1758 – Duchess Sophia Frederica of Schwerin-Mecklenburg is born in Germany. In 1774, she married Danish Hereditary Prince Frederick. They were not unhappy, and mostly friendly to each other, but carried on affairs. Sophia and Frederick had five children to survive, including the future King Christian VIII. She died in 1794, at the age of 36.

1772 – William I of the Netherlands was born in The Hague. His parents were William V, Prince of Orange, and last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, and Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia. As a young man, he served in the Dutch military against the First French Republic. However, in 1795, they were defeated, and his family was overthrown and forced to flee. Later, he returned to the continent and fought against the French again, during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1815, after the defeat and overthrow of the Bonaparte family, who briefly ruled the Netherlands, he was installed as King of the Netherlands. His rule was eventful, and saw the Belgian revolution and many constitutional changes, and the conservative William abdicated in 1840, three years before his death.

1865 – The future Ferdinand I of Romania is born in Sigmarigen, Germany. In 1886, after his father renounced his claim, Ferdinand became heir to his uncle, Carol I of Romania. He was not forced to convert to Eastern Orthodoxy from Catholicism, but was required by Parliament to raise his children in the state religion. He was excommunicated for this, but later re-admitted to the church. In 1893, he married the indomitable Marie of Edinburgh, also known as Marie of Romania. In 1914, he became King, and ruled through the whole of World War I, fighting against the German House of Hohenzollern, who Ferdinand was related to, to great offense of Wilhelm II of Germany. He passed away in 1927, leaving the Romanian throne to his young grandson, Michael I, the last king of Romania.

No major deaths.

August 22nd

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

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Events:
1485 – The Battle of Bosworth Field takes place in England, as one of the last battles of the Wars of the Roses. Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian claimant the throne, landed earlier in the month, and met the forces fighting for King Richard III, who took the crown 2 years earlier. Henry was descended from Edward III, but through an illegitimate line. However the battle would go in favor for the Lancastrians, and Richard was killed in battle. Henry was given the crown Richard wore during battle after the fighting, and crowned in London in October. He would also then marry Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV, and niece to Richard III, uniting the Lancasters and Yorks under the House of Tudor.

1642 – Charles I raised the Royal standard above the town of Nottingham in England. This was essentially his call-to-arms against the Parliamentarians, who had already taken London. His wife and children had already been sent to France. Charles would be defeated in the English Civil War, and the monarchy replaced with the Protectorate. Charles was executed in 1649.

Births:
1854 – The future Milan I of Serbia is born as a member of the noble House of Obrenovic. At age 14, he succeeded his uncle as Sovereign Prince of Serbia with a regency. He became of age in 1872, and showed himself to be a capable and fair ruler. In 1882, he was declared as the first king of Serbia until his sudden abdication in favor of his young son, Alexander, in 1889. Milan renounced his titles and citizenship, but as the political situation with Russia grew tense over the years, he was reinstated as a member of the royal family and returned as an advisor and military leader under his son. He died suddenly in 1901, after he resigned his posts, following his son’s marriage.

Deaths:
1188 – Ferdinand II of Leon dies in Spain at about age 50. His father, Alfonso VII was king of Castile and Leon, so at his death, Ferdinand received rule of Leon, and his brother became Sancho III of Castile. His reign was marred with wars with other Spanish nations and the Muslims of Southern Spain. He would be married three times, with the first ending in annulment, and the second in her death. Only one of his six children would live into adulthood.

1350 – Phillip VI of France died after 22 years of rule. He was of the House of Valois, and a cousin to King Charles IV, who died childless in 1328. France observed Salic law, so Charles’ nephew, Edward III of England could not technically inherit the throne. However, Edward invaded anyway, starting what we know as the Hundred Years War. All in all, his reign was marred with crises. Phillip would be succeeded by his son, John II, or John the Good.

1358 – Isabella of France, passed away in England while in her early 60’s. She was the only surviving daughter of Phillip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre. At about age 12, she was married to the new English King, Edward II. They would have four children, including the future Edward III. The marriage was happy, but Edward’s reign was married by disputes with his barons, and he and Isabella were eventually estranged. In 1326, she led an invasion of England, that ultimately deposed her husband in favor of her son. She acted as unofficial regent for four years, until Edward took rule himself. She lived as an advisor and grandmother until her death.

1485 – Richard III died during the Battle of Bosworth Field. The details are discussed above in Events.

August 19th

15 Tuesday Oct 2013

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Events:
1561 – Mary, Queen of Scots lands back in Scotland after living in France since childhood. She had been widowed earlier in the year by Francis II of France.

1745 – Charles Edward Stuart, or “Bonnie Prince Charlie” raises his standard in Glenfinnan, Scotland. This is considered the start of the second Jacobite Rebellion to restore the Catholic Stuarts to the thrones of Great Britain instead of the Protestant Hanovers.

1772 – Swedish king Gustav III enacts a new constitution in a coup d’état that takes power from the Riksdag and gives to the King.

Birthdays:
1342 – Catherine of Bohemia is born in Prague to Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and Blanche of Valois. In 1356, she entered into a political marriage to the Duke of Austria, Rudolf IV. He left her a widow after a nine year childless marriage. The following year, she was married to Otto V, Duke of Bavaria, and was later caught in territorial disputes when her father invaded her husbands Brandenburg lands. She died in Austria in 1395.

1596 – Elizabeth Stuart is born in Scotland to King James VI and Anne of Denmark. She stayed in Scotland for a while after her father became King of England as well, and actually during the Gunpowder Plot, it was said that she was to be set up as an alternative Catholic monarch to her fathers and brothers. In 1613, she was married to Frederick V, Count Palatine of the Rhine. Three years later, Frederick was elected to be King of Bohemia, only to be overthrown a few months later, earning Elizabeth the nickname, “The Winter Queen.” In 1621, she ended up in The Hague, where she would be widowed in 1632. Elizabeth continued to try and parent her remaining children as possible. Her youngest daughter, Sophia, would be the mother of the future George I of Great Britain. In 1661, she returned to Britain, living out her days in the court of her nephew, Charles II.

Deaths:
1186 – Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany died at age 27 in Paris. There are two accounts of his death, one saying he was trampled to death in a tournament, the other saying he died after a sudden illness. Geoffrey was the son of Henry II of England, and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He had participated in his brother Henry’s rebellion against their father, and had been close to Phillip II of France. His son and heir, Arthur, would later come into conflict with Geoffrey’s younger brother, John.

1493 – Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III died in Austria at age 77. A son of the Habsburg family, he was born in 1415. He became Archduke of Austria in 1424, King of Germany and the Romans in 1440, and finally Holy Roman Emperor in 1452. He was the first Habsburg Emperor, and the last Emperor to be crowned in Rome. For the last ten years, his son, Maximilian I, ruled jointly with him as co-ruler.

August 17th

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

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Events:
1424 – The Battle of Verneuil takes place in France as part of the Hundred Years War. The English and Burgundians were victorious over the armies of the French and the Scottish. While it was strategically important, the battle was particularly bloody.

Birthdays:
1473 – Another son was born to King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth, christened Richard. When he was a year old, he was created Duke of York, and since it has been tradition for the second son of the monarch to be given the title. Edward IV died in 1483, when Richard was only 9 years old. Both he and his brother were taken to the Tower of London to await the coronation of Richard’s brother as Edward V. However, he would never be crowned, and the boys would never be seen again after that summer. All the children of Edward IV were deemed illegitimate by an act of Parliament, and thus unable to rule. The elder Edward’s brother took the throne as Richard III. Exactly what happened and the parties responsible are still debated by historians.

1629 – The future John III Sobieski of Poland is born. He had been elected King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1674. He was an able ruler, and his 20+ years on the throne offered much needed stability to the people of the Commonwealth. John is also famous for his defeat of the advancing Ottoman army in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. He still one of the most popular and well-loved rulers in Poland.

1786 – Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld is born in Germany. She was a younger daughter of Duke Francis of Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld and Countess Augusta of Ruess-Ebersdorf. She was the elder sister to the future Leopold I of Belgium. In 1803, she married for the first time, to Prince Charles of Leiningen, whom she bore two children by. In 1814, Charles died, leaving her a widow. However, in 1818, she remarried, this time to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who was a son of George III of Great Britain. In 1819, she gave birth to their only child, a daughter named Alexandrina Victoria. Edward died suddenly just a few months later. With her young daughter in direct succession for the throne, Duchess Victoria was very strict in raising her daughter, and clashed with her daughter’s uncle, now King William IV. When her daughter became Queen in 1837, as Victoria, they had a strained relationship, though eventually reconciling. Duchess Victoria died in 1861, at age 74.

1887 – Charles I of Austria was born. He was the grandnephew of Emperor Franz Joseph I, and the nephew of the doomed Franz Ferdinand. In 1911, he married Italian Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, and they would have eight children. After the death of his uncle, Charles was the heir apparent to the Imperial Austrian throne. In 1916, he became Emperor, and would be the last of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After only two years of rule, he refused to further participate in state affairs, but did not formally abdicate. He attempted to regain the crown of Hungary, but to no avail. He died young, at age 34, while in Portuguese exile, in 1922.

Deaths:
1786 – Frederick the Great of Prussia died in Potsdam at age 74. He had been King in Prussia since the death of his father, Fredrick William I, in 1740. In his early years, he had a poor relationship with his father, and was imprisoned for a time. During his reign, he became renowned for his military acumen and was also a great patron of the arts. He married in 1733 to Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern, but the marriage was unhappy and childless.

Have a great day!

August 15th

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

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Events:
1760 – The Battle of Liegnitz took place in Prussia between the forces of King Frederick the Great and the Austrians, being led by Ernst von Laudon. It would be a sound defeat for the Austrians, who lost almost 5000 soldiers in 30 minutes.

Birthdays:
1171 – Alfonso IX of Leon is born to King Ferdinand II of Leon, and Urraca of Portugal. He became King in 1188, and ruled until 1230. He convened the Cortes of Leon, which is said to be the oldest form of Parliament in Europe. He had been excommunicated by the Pope for a time, because of his unsanctioned marriage to Berengaria of Castile. When he died, his son, Ferdinand succeeded him. Ferdinand was already King of Castile, through his mother’s claim, thus uniting the two regions of Spain.

1769 – Napoleone Buonaparte is born on the island of Corsica. Later, while serving in the military in France, he adopted the French spelling of his name, making it Napoleon Bonaparte. He would move up through the ranks in the military, then in 1799, Bonaparte was declared First Consul of France. Five years later, he was given the title ‘Emperor of the French’. Through the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, he captured most of continental Europe, but after a failed invasion of Russia, things collapsed, with his eventual abdication and exile to the island of Elba. Napoleon escaped captivity on Elba, returned to France, and attempted to reclaim his throne, but he was thwarted again, and sent back to exile on the British controlled island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

1950 – Anne, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom was born today in 1950 to the future Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.

Deaths:
1038 – Stephen I of Hungary dies in Hungary. He had been Grand Prince of Hungary from 997 until about 1000, when he became the first king of Hungary. He was also a champion for the early Christian church in the nation, and was later sainted. He would unify Hungary also under his banner, and is still considered a national hero.

1057 – MacBeth, King of Scotland died in battle. He had been King of Alba since 1040, after the death of Duncan I. He was involved in the strife in England, between Godwin, Earl of Essex, and Edward the Confessor. In contrary to the Shakespearean play, he was a good and just ruler.

1369 – Philippa of Hainault died at age 55 in London. She was born in Valenciennes to the Count and Countess of Hainault, Holland, and Zeeland. Her betrothal to the future Edward III of England was at first to gain her father’s support in Isabella, Edward’s mother’s, invasion of England. But Edward and Philippa did love each other and were said to be quite devoted. Edward trusted her enough to leave her as regent during his trips abroad and she would accompany him on some. They would have fourteen children. Philippa was well loved and admired by the people of England for her piety, charity, and compassion.

Have an awesome day!

August 14th

24 Saturday Aug 2013

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Events:
1385 – The Battle of Aljubarrota takes place between the forces of John I of Portugal and John I of Castile. The Portuguese were fighting for independence from Spain, and they one it with a decisive victory.

1415 – Prince Henry of Portugal, known as Henry the Navigator, fought for territory against the Kingdom of Morocco. The bad was a swift, decisive victory for the Portuguese, and they continued their expansion.

Birthdays:
1479 – Catherine of York was born to King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. She was their sixth daughter, and ninth child overall. The same year, her father tried to contract an advantageous marriage for her, betrothing her to John, Prince of the Asturias, heir of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, but nothing came of it. Later, after her sister Elizabeth became Queen consort with her marriage to Henry VII, Henry attempted to marry her to James III of Scotland, but to no avail. Finally in the 1490’s, she was married to William Courtenay, who later became the Earl of Devon. They would have three children, the eldest Henry, who was a courtier under his cousin, Henry VIII. Widowed at 31, she lived out her days in England, never marrying again, and outlived all her siblings.

1688 – Frederick William I of Prussia was born in Berlin, as the son of Frederick I and Sophia Charlotte of Hanover. He became King in Prussia in 1713, and was an active ruler in most aspects of government. His wife was Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, sister of George II of the United Kingdom. He kept Prussia out of war, except for one minor intervention in the Great Northern War, and left a sound economy. He did however, have a terrible relationship with his eldest son, the future Frederick II. The younger Frederick was even imprisoned, and there were rumors of his execution. Frederick William died in Berlin at age 51.

1727 – Twin girls are born at Versailles to King Louis XV and Queen Marie. They were Louise Elisabeth and Anne Henriette of France.The elder twin, Elisabeth, was married to Prince Phillip of Spain in 1739, to the chagrin of her sister, who was upset at the loss of her sister. Henriette would then pour herself into her music and become an accomplished musician. Elisabeth, despite having three children, was unhappy in Spain, and with her marriage. They were reunited at one point, but were of differing opinions on one of their father’s mistresses. In 1752, Henriette died of smallpox, while Elisabeth was living in Parma as its Duchess. She died in 1759 while visiting France, and the sisters are buried next to one another.

1876 – The future Alexander I of Serbia is born in Belgrade to King Milan I and Natalija Obrenovic. In 1889, his father suddenly abdicated, and Alexander became king under a regency until he was 16. He married in 1900, to a former lady in waiting to his mother, named Draga Masin. The match was wildly unpopular. In 1903, the couple were assassinated in their beds by a group of conspirators who didn’t want the king to name Draga’s brother as his successor. Alexander was only 26.

Deaths:
1040 – Duncan I of Scotland is killed in battle fighting fellow claimant to the throne, MacBeth. Duncan had been king since 1034, and was approximately 39 years old.

1433 – John I of Portugal died in Lisbon at age 75. He was the illegitimate son of Peter I of Portugal, and had become King in 1385, after the death of his half-brother Ferdinand I. In 1385, he married into the powerful English family of Lancaster, when he married Phillippa, daughter of John of Gaunt. He ended up being a successful ruler, and his son, Edward would succeed him.

Have a good one!

August 11th

22 Thursday Aug 2013

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Events:
1332 – The Battle of Dupplin Moor took place in Scotland as part of the Second War of Scottish Independence. It was fought between the English backed forces of Edward Balliol, and those loyal to the young heir of the deceased Robert Bruce, now David II. The Balliols would be successful, and Edward would be crowned at Scone, but later he would be overthrown, chased out of Scotland, and died in England.

1804 – Holy Roman Emperor Francis II formally adopted the title ‘Emperor of Austria’ as Francis I, in response to Napoleonic aggression. The Habsburg-Lorraine family wanted to keep Imperial status, in case the Holy Roman Empire were to be dissolved, which it was, two years later.

Birthdays:
1467 – Mary of York was born at Windsor Castle to King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth Woodville. Not much is known about Mary’s life, other than she died young, at age 14, in London.

1968 – In not so dead royalty, the future Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau is born in the Netherlands. In 2004, she married Dutch Prince Friso, younger son of Queen Beatrix. Because they married without the approval of the Dutch Parliament, Friso and his children with Mabel are excluded from the line of succession. However in 2012, Friso was in a skiing accident, and Mabel was left a widow in 2013.

No major deaths.

Have a great day!