All About Royal Families

On October 31st. 1587, the Leiden University Library became operational in the vault of the current Academy building @ Rapenburg. Leiden University Library - 1610 - Source picture: Wikipedia The Leiden University Library in The Netherlands is a significant place in the development of European Culture! The Leiden University Library has a huge collection. Some facts: - 1,000,000 e-books; - 60,000 Oriental and Western manuscripts; - 500,000 letters; - 70,000 maps; - 12,000 drawings; - 120,000 photographs etc... Trivia: Do you know that the first book to the Leiden University Library was offered by William I, Prince of Orange? William I, Prince of Orange - Source picture: Wikipedia So, the first book was an important Royal Connection!

On October 29th. 1922, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Benito Mussolini as Prime Minister of Italy. Coat of Arms of King Victor Emmanuel III - Source picture: Wikipedia King Victor Emmanuel III - Source: Wikipedia Mussolini - Source picture: Wikipedia In 1922 Mussolini became the youngest Prime Minister in Italian History.

Every year on January 21st. thousands of Dominicans come together to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Altagracia. In Higüey, a city in the east of the Dominican Republic there is a very modern basilica to honor her. Basilica of our Lady of Altagracia Higüey Dominican Republic Some history and Royal connection Juan de Esquivel conquered the isle Hispaniola for the Spanish Crown. He was a founder of the city Higüey. The first Marian sanctuary in America (Higüey) was emblazoned with a Royal Shield of the Spanish King. Inside view of the modern basilica - Own picture In December 1970, the basilica recieved a visit from Pope Paul VI. In 1992, Pope John Paul II visited the basilica. The doors were very special as you can see on the pictures (taken in 2011). The basilica was a bit too modern for me, although I liked its Royal connection. It is a very important building on the Dominic

On October 28th. 306, Maxentius was proclaimed as Roman Emperor. He reigned till his death on October 28th. 312! He became 34 years old. Source picture: Wikipedia Maxentius was the son of the former Emperor Maximian and  son-in-law of Emperor Galerius. His father-in-law hated him. He could fix that Maxentius became only a senator but not a Ceasar. Trivia: Did you know that the later titels of  Tsar and Emperor were derived from the name Ceasar? The reign of Maxentius ended by his death in 312. Coins of Maxentius - Source: Wikipedia In December 2006, Italian archeologists found several wooden boxes near the Palatine Hill in Rome. The things inside were identified as the imperial Regalia possibly belonging to Maxentius. 

On October 27th. 1858 Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York. From 1901 till 1909 he was President of the United States of America. Source picture: Wikipedia In 1906, he won the Nobel Peace Prize (awarded in Oslo (capital of Norway)). Award of the Nobel Peace Prize  Theodore Roosevelt was married twice: 1/ Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt ; Source picture: Wikipedia 2/ Edith Roosevelt (during his Presidency) . First Lady - Edith Roosevelt - Source: Wikipedia Theodore Roosevelt died in 1919.

On October 27th. 1275, the name 'Amsterdam' was used for the first time on a certificate. Own pictures of Amsterdam  Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands. Amsterdam is well known with tourists for its canals. Trivia: The first name of New York (United States of America) was .... New Amsterdam.

On October 26th. 1775, George III of the United Kingdom  (remember my Today in History of Yesterday?) went to the Parliament to declare that the American Colonies are in Revolution. He wanted a military response to quell the revolution. George III - Painting - Source Picture: Wikipedia Battle of Bunker Hill - Source picture - Wikipedia The American Revolution War ended in 1783.

With this 'Today in History' I go abroad (outside Europe). On October 26th. 1491, Zhengde Emperor of China was born. He reigned from 1505 till 1521. Source picture: Wikipedia He was married Empress Xiao Jing Yi at the age of 14! On that age he accepted the throne of China... He died on April 20th. 1521 at the age of 30.

George III was married to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Their wedding took place on September 8th. 1761. Queen Charlotte - Source picture: Wikipedia George III met his bride on their Wedding Day. It became a happy marriage. He never took a mistress. They had 15 children. A few of them died in childhood. The most famous children of them were: King George IV Source picture: Wikipedia King William IV Source picture: Wikipedia Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn He was the father of Queen Victoria. Source picture: Wikipedia George III bought Buckingham House later it was renamed to Buckingham Palace. The King and his family spent their holidays in Weymouth, Dorset (England), which became popular among tourists.

On October 25th. 1760, George III became King of the United Kingdom. He was a member of the House of Hanover, although he didn't like this. He proclaimed in the parliament: Born and educated in this country, I Glory in the name of Britain. He chose English as first language. During his reign there were a lot of wars. Source picture: Wikipedia George also bought Buckingham House, now known as Buckingham Palace as his family estate.

On October 24th. 1887, Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg was born at Balmoral Castle in the United Kingdom. Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Prince Henry of Battenberg and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. She was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. See on my blog the page:  Descendants of Queen Victoria http://allaboutroyalfamilies.blogspot.com/p/descendants-of-queen-victoria.html Princess Victoria of Battenberg married King Alfonso XIII of Spain. She is the grandmother of King Juan Carlos of Spain. She also is the godmother of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Queen Fabiola of Belgium.

My Royal Destination post of today is about Saint Petersburg in Russia. That city has an amazing huge history. During the ages, Saint Petersburg recieved many names like: Petrograd and Leningrad. Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter The Great of Russia on May 27th. 1703. Saint Petersburg is listed as Unesco World Heritage Site.  It is the home of the Hermitage , one of the largest Art museums in the world. Under the reign of Anna of Russia, Saint Petersburg became the capital of  the Russian Empire.  More beautiful palaces were built under the reign of Catharine The Great . In 1914, Saint Petersburg received the name: Petrograd. On November 7th. 1917, the Bolsheviks stormed the Winter Palace.  This is often referred to as the 'October Revolution'. In 1924, Petrograd became Leningrad. In 1991, Leningrad was again renamed as Saint Petersburg.  All those changes, the great history and an amazing coll

Peter II of Russia was born on October 23rd. 1715 in Saint Petersburg (Russia). Painting of the Rose Pavilion - Peterhof -  Saint Petersburg - Russia- Source: Wikipedia Peter II was the grandson of Tsar Peter I and his first wife  Eudoxia Lopukhina. His parents were Alexei Petrovich and Charlotte Christine of  Brunswick-Lüneburg. Peter II - Source picture: Wikipedia Peter II died on January 27th. 1730. He was a Russian Tsar  from 1727 till his death. 

On October 22nd. 1383,  King Ferdinand I of Portugal died without a male heir. Source picture: Wikipedia King Ferdinand I of Portugal married Leonor Telles de Menezes. They had one daughter, Beatrice of Portugal, which survived childhood. And a daughter couldn't become a Queen. In 1385, the problem was solved.John I became King of Portugal. John I was the  natural son of Peter I of Portugal (Beatrice's grandfather)

This is my first 'Royal Destinations outside Europe' post. It is about some important history of the United States of America. A city in the United States of America that might be called a ' Royal Destination' is New Orleans. It's history and its ties with European History really fascinates me. New Orleans is located in the state of Louisiana near the Mississippi River. Source painting: Wikipedia New Orleans is named after the French city Orléans located near the Loire River. It is well known for his French Creole Architecture. There are indeed a lot of influences in the streets & culture, even in the Flag of the city. Flag of New Orleans - Source picture: Wikipedia New Orleans also was named for Philippe d'Orléans who  was regent of France during the time the city was founded (1718). Philippe d'Orléans - Source picture: Wikipedia There are not only French influences in the Flag of New Orlea

On October 21st. 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar took place. Battle of Trafalgar Source picture: Wikipedia Vice Admiral Lord Nelson defeated a combined French /Spanish fleet before the coast of Spain. Well, Lord Nelson couldn't enjoy his victory. A musket bullet killed the famous Vice Admiral. Horatio Nelson - Source picture: Wikipedia I do not want to talk about this famous Vice Admiral but about  his ship: the HMS Victory . Restoring the HMS Victory - Source picture: Wikipedia The HMS Victory was launched in 1765. She served during the battles of: - Ushant; - Siege of Gibraltar; - Battle of Cape St. Vincent.  and of course the Battle of Trafalgar.   Source picture: Wikipedia Now the restored HMS Victory is located in Portsmouth (United Kingdom).

Think about a real fairytale. You are wearing a beautiful Evening gown, just like princesses. Ball @ the Viennese Court - Source picture - Wikipedia Think about the balls at the Royal Courts in the past and dream away on the tunes of  fairy like Waltz music ... Ball @ the Russian Imperial Court - Source picture: Wikipedia Men could wear their uniform. The rules for women were more strict. The dresses were made by the finest designers and had the most luxurious fabrics. The history of these Evening dresses started at the European Royal Courts in the 15th. century during the reign of Philip the Good. Philip the Good - Source picture: Wikipedia At the Royal Courts in France, England, Russia and Austria, there were a lot of Balls and Parties.  Being fashionable was then a must.  Masquerade Ball - France - Source Picture - Wikipedia I found a beautiful quote from James Boswell to end this post: 'Here now

On October 21st. 1854, Florence Nightingale and her staff of 38 nurses were send to the Crimean War. The Crimean War is a battle in which Russia lost to an alliance of France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia.   Source picture:  Wikipedia Florence Nightingale also was known as 'The Lady with the lamp' after her habit, making rounds at night. Florence Nightingale - Source picture: Wikipedia Florence Nightingale was born as member of a rich, upper class, British family who lived in Florence (Italy). Later they came back to England. Her father was William Edward Nightingale,born William Edward Shore. Her mother was Frances 'Fanny' Smith. Florence Nightingale around 1854 - Source: Wikipedia Florence Nightingale was sent to the Crimean War. In November 1854, she arrived in Selimiye Barracks now near Istanbul (Turkey). Hospital during the Crimean Wa