All About Royal Families

Feodor Ivanovich was born on May 31st. 1557 in Moscow. Feodor I of Russia - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Ivan IV (The Terrible) and Anastasia Romanovna. On May 31st. 1584 he was crowned as Tsar of All Russia.  Feodor was unhealthy and by some reports, intellectually disabled. He was only the nominal ruler. Feodor handed over his duties to his wife's brother and  trusted minister Boris Godunov. Feodor was the last Rurikid Tsar of Russia. After his childless death (January 15th. or 16th. 1598) the  Times of Troubles began in Russia.

Leopoldus Bernhard Adalbert Otto Karl Gustav was born on May 30th. 1871 in Oberkassel (now Germany). Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe -  Source picture: Wikipedia He was the son of Ernest II, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld and  Countess Karoline of Wartensleben. He married 1/ Princess Bertha of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld on August 16th. 1901  in Rotenburg. They had 5 children. 2/ Princess Anna of Ysenburg and Büdingen. They had 1 child. Leopold IV died on December 30th. 1949 in Detmold.  Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe was the brother of Prince Bernhard, who had married Queen Juliana of The Netherlands.

Ferdinand Albrecht II was born on May 29th. 1680. Ferdinand Albrecht II - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Ferdinand Albrecht I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Christine of Hesse-Eschwege. Ferdinand Albrecht II fought on the side of Holy Emperor Leopold I in the war of the Spanish Succession. On October 15th. 1712, Ferdinand Albrecht married Princess Antoinette of  Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. The marriage was very happy and had 13 children.  Ferdinand Albrecht died on September 2nd. 1735 in Schloss Salzdahlum. 

Sophie Friederike Dorothee Wilhelmine, Princess of Bavaria, was born on January 27th. 1805 in Munich. Sophie of Bavaria, Archduchess of Austria -  Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Caroline of Baden. On November 4th. 1824, Sophie of Bavaria married Franz Karl, Archduke of Austria. They had 6 children. She had a huge ambition to bring her son Franz Joseph on the Austrian throne.  Therefore, Sophie, sometimes was called the only man at court.  During the Revolution of 1848 she persuaded her husband to give up his rights to the throne in favour of their son Franz Joseph. When he became emperor, Sophie was the power behind the scenes. Now she mostly was known for her extremely controlling relationship with Franz Joseph's famed wife Sisi. Sophie never came over the shock caused by the death of her son Maximilian I, who was emperor in Mexico. He was executed in  1867.  She died of a brain t

George Frederick Alexander Charles Ernest Augustus was born on May 27th. 1819 in Berlin. George V of Hanover - Source picture: Wikipedia His godparents were inter alia Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia and Wilhelmina of Prussia, Queen Consort of the Netherlands  (first wife of King William I). On  February 18th. 1843, George V married Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. They had 3 children.  On November 18th. 1851, he became King of Hanover. He also was a member of the Peerage of Great)Britain and the Peerage of Ireland. In June 1878, George died in his residence in Paris. He was buried in the chapel at Windsor Castle.

Prince Aloys was born on May 26th. 1796 in Vienna. Prince Aloys II - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein and  Landgravine Josepha of Fürstenberg-Weitra. On August 8th.1813, Aloys married Countess Franziska Kinsky of Wchinitz und Tettau. They had 11 children together(nine daughters and 2 sons). Prince Aloys II died on November 12th. 1858 in Eisgrub - this is the German name of the town Lednice (in Czech Republic). 

Maurice of Hesse-Kassel was born on May 25th. 1572. Maurice Landgrave of Hesse - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were William IV, Landgrave of Hesse and Sabine of Württemberg. Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel married: 1/ Agnes of Solms-Laubach 2/ Countess Juliane of Nassau-Dillenburg. Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel died on March 15th. 1632.

Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine was born on May 24th. 1874 in Darmstadt-Hesse. Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine - Source picture: Wikipedia She was the youngest daughter of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and LouisIV, Grand Duke of Hesse. Her mother was the second daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine shared the same B-Day of her grandmother, Queen Victoria. The sibblings of Marie of Hesse and by Rhine were: Victoria Mountbatten, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia, Princess Irene of Prussia, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Prince Friedrich of Hesse (who died of haemophilia), Alexandra Feodorovna, Last Tsarina of Russia. Mary (who was called May in the family) died of diphteria on November 16th. 1878. May was buried in a thomb. Four weeks later, Princess Alice died too. They were buried together.

The Winter Palace Hotel was located in a beautiful place called Menton (just near the Italian border). The Winter Palace Hotel was built in 1901 in the area of the former Hôtel Rivièra Palace. After the second World War the hotel was transformed into Apartments. Own picture of the 'Winter Palace Hotel' taken in 2013 Menton also was one of the favorite holiday destinations of  Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Gabriël Grupello was born on May 23rd. 1644 in Geraardsbergen (now located in the Province East-Flanders in Belgium). Gabriël Grupello - Source picture: Wikipedia He was the son of Bernardo Rupelli, an Italian cavalry in Spanish Service, and his Flemish wife Cornelia Delinck. His father, who died young, was a member of the higher non-aristocratic class of society.  When Gabriël Grupello was 14 years old, he started a 5-years training  in the Antwerp workshop of the Baroque sculptor Artus Quellinus I. He may have assisted Quellinus on his decorations for the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. After his 5-years training in Antwerp he continued studying in Paris and Versailles. After his training he worked a while in The Hague.  In 1671 he returned to Flanders and 2 years later Gabriël became a master of the Brussels Guild. He enjoyed the patronage of the city as well as that of various European rulers like: King Charles II of Spain, William II, Prince of Orange

Johann Maria Wilhelm was born on May 22nd. 1570 in Weimar (now located in Germany). John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and  Dorothea Susanne of Simmern. On January 7th. 1593, he married Dorothea Maria of Anhalt. They had 12 children. In 1602, John became Duke of Saxe-Weimar. John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar was a member of the House of Wettin. He died on July 18th. 1605.

Eleanor Maria Josefa of Austria was born on May 21st. 1653 in Regensburg (Germany). Eleanor of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor Conzaga. In 1670 Eleanor married, Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki (later known as King Michael I of Poland). Eleanor learned Polish, although she preferred Latin, and accompanied King Michael I on his official duties around Poland. King Michael I died in 1673. Later Eleanor married Charles, Duke of Lorraine on February 6th. 1678. The couple moved to Innsbrück Austria. They had 6 children. Eleanor died on December 17th. 1697 in Vienna (Austria).

My treetuesday picture of this week is taken in 2013 in Nice (France). Nice France On the picture, between the trees the harbour of Nice is hidden. The port of Nice also is known as the Lypia Port 

Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici was born on August 4th. 1463 in Florence (Italy). Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici - Source picture: Wikipedia Lorenzo was born as the son of Pierfrancesco de' Medici and Laudomia Acciaioli. He received the best education of his time. In 1482, Lorenzo married Semiramide Appiano, daughter of the Appiani lord Jacopo III of Piombino. She had a lot of lucrative commercial ties and  important political influences. This was very strategic for his career as banker and politician. Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco was inter alia the proprietor of Villa del Trebbio and Villa di Castello. Botticelli's Mercurius on the Primavera painting may have been modeled after Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco ... Primavera - Botticelli  He died on May 20th. 1503 in Florence (Italy).

Rahel Varnhagen was born on May 19th. 1771 in Berlin. Her family were Jewish wealthy jewelers. Rahel Varnhagen - Source picture: Wikipedia In 1814 she married the biographer Karl August Varnhagen von Ense. This made her the sister-in-law of the poet Rosa Maria Assing. During that time her husband fought in the Austrian army against the French. The couple moved to Vienna. Their house became a meeting-place for the Prussian diplomates @ the Congress of Vienna. In 1819 she lived again in Berlin. Although Rahel never wrote any book, her six thousand letters survived. She published a few of her essays in several newspapers. On March 7th. 1833 she died in Berlin.  Legacy The asteroid 100029 Varnhagen is named in her honour.

Isabella d'Este was born on May 18th. 1474 in Ferrara (Italy). Isabella d'Este - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Ercole I d'Este and Eleanor of Naples. As a young girl she met famous humanist scholars and artists. On February 11th. 1490 Isabella d'Este married Francesco Gonzaga. They had 8 children. Isabella d'Este was engaged in cultural pursuits. She read books, letters and played lute. She was an important patron of music, collected art and sponsored philosophers, poets and painters such as Titian, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. Isabella d'Este - Source picture: Wikipedia In 1500 Isabella met the French King Louis XII. He was impressed by her alluring personality and keen intelligence.  Isabella died on February 13th. 1539 in Mantua (Italy).

Princess Marie of Prussia was born on October 15th. 1825 in the City Castle of Berlin (Germany). Princess Marie of Prussia - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Prince Wilhelm of Prussia ( a younger brother of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia) and his wife Landgravine Marie Anne of Hesse-Homburg. Marie was considered as a wife of Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha but she married on October 12th. 1842 Crown Prince and later Maximilian II, King of Bavaria. They had 2 children together: 1/ Ludwig II 2/ Otto I Marie had a great social engagement as queen of Bavaria. She reactivated the Women's Association. Later the Bavarian Red Cross was founded as result of this charity movement. Maria of Prussia, Queen Consort of Bavaria died on May 17th. 1889 @ the Hohenschwangau Castle. She is buried in the Theatine Church in Munich.

Don Fernando de Austria was born on May 16th. 1609 in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Kingdom of Spain). Cardinal Infante Ferdinand of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were King Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria. When Ferdinand was 10 years old, his father asked the pope to gave his son  the title Cardinal although he never was ordained. In 1634 Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria entered Antwerp, as governor  of the Spanish Netherlands. This event became a big party. As patron of Arts he ordered many portraits by inter alia Rubens and Anton van Dyck. Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria also was a very talented general.  He spent a lot of time @ the battlefield (between the Flemings against the French). Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria died on November 9th. 1641 in Brussels, after he became ill during a battle. His body was brought to Spain in 1643, where he was buried in the Royal Crypt.

Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria was born on May 15th. 1842 @ the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Archduke Franz Karl of Austria and Princess Sophie of Bavaria. Archduke Ludwig Viktor remained a bachelor for the rest of his life  (despite several wedding arrangements of his family). Due to scandals, his elder brother: Emperor Franz Jozef of Austria,  forbade him to stay in Vienna. He retired in Klessheim Palace (near Salzburg) where he became a  philanthropist and a patron of Arts. Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria died on January18th. 1919.

Infanta Maria Antonius of Portugal was born on November 28th. 1862 in Bronnbach (Germany). Infanta Maria Antonius of Portugal - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Miguel I of Portugal (who was banished by his brother Pedro after losing the Portuguese throne) and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg. On October 15th. 1884, she married Robert I, Duke of Parma. She bore him twelve children. She was inter alia the mother of: Zita, Empress of Austria; Prince Félix of Luxembourg. After the World War II, Infanta Maria Antonius of Portugal moved to castle Berg in Luxembourg, where she celebrated her 90th. B-Day. There she died on May 14th. 1959.

My treetuesday picture of this week was taken in Rotterdam in 2013. Rotterdam - The Netherlands It is a tree near the Sint-Laurenskerk in Rotterdam. During World War II this church was heavily damaged. It was Queen Juliana of The Netherlands who laid the foundation stone for the restauration, which was completed in 1968.

Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was born on September 14th. 1547 in Amersfoort, a beautiful city in The Netherlands. Remembrance Plaque - Amersfoort   Picture taken by Oscar Meijer  from the Dutch blog: ' De Staat van Oranje '. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt learned Latin in Amersfoort. Later he studied law in Leuven, Bourges, Heidelberg and Padua. After his studies Johan van Oldenbarnevelt traveled to France and Italy before he was settled in The Hague. Statue in The Hague - taken in 2013 Later Johan van Oldenbarnevelt supported William the Silent in his revolt  against Spain. He even fought in William's army. In 1575, he married Maria van Utrecht and obtained the important post  as pensionary of Rotterdam. On March 15th. 1586, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt became a  Land's Advocate of Holland. What's a Land's Advocate of Holland ? This was the person who acted as chairman of the states of Holland. The office started in

On October 19th. 1658, Adolphus Frederick was born in Grabow as the posthumous son of Duke Adolf Frederick I, of Mecklenburg and Maria Katharina of Brünswick Dannenberg. Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz -  Source picture: Wikipedia He married three times: 1/ Princess Maria of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (they had 5 children); 2/ Princess Johanna of Saxe-Gotha; 3/ Princess Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen. Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the grandfather of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who married George III of Great Britain  and Ireland. She became Queen Consort. Queen Charlotte - Source picture: Wikipedia Adolpus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz died on May 12th. 1708.

Anne of Bohemia was born on May 11th. 1366 in Prague. Anne of Bohemia - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and  Elizabeth of Pomerania. On January 22nd. 1382, Anne of Bohemia married Richard II of England in Westminster Abbey. There were a lot of tournaments held the day after the wedding. Richard II and Anna of Bohemia - Source picture: Wikipedia Anne of Bohemia was described as beautiful and gentle. She also influenced the design of cards in England.  On June 7th. 1394, Anne of Bohemia died @ Sheen Priory in London.

On a Rainy Day I visited Salzburg in Austria. My first stop was the beautiful Mirabell Palace and its gardens. Mirabell Palace Salzburg Austria - Own Picture Mirabell Palace became very famous because of the movie The Sound of Music.  It was here that the children learned to sing Do-Re-Mi. Of course the Palace has a rich Royal History. It was owned by members of the House of Wittelsbach. Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria served as stadtholder in the former Electorate of Salzburg. His son, Otto I of Greece, was born at  the Mirabell Palace. Mirabell Palace Gardens Salzburg - Own picture

Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna was born on May 10th. 1788 at the Tsarskoye Selo in Saint Petersburg (Russia). Catherine Pavlovna of Russia - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Paul I of Russia & Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. Catherine had a happy childhood and her mother supervised her carefully. She also recieved the best education. Catherine was very close with her brother Tsar Alexander I of Russia. On August 3rd. 1809, Catherine married her first cousin Duke Georg of Oldenburg. Although the marriage was arranged, Catherine stayed devoted to her husband. She was saddened when he died in 1812. During a visit in England, Catherine fell in love to  Crown Prince William of Württemberg.  However he was married with Princess Charlotte of Bavaria.  He took the drastic step to divorce her. In 1816, William married Catherine in Saint Petersburg. When her husband became a King, she became Queen Consort. Catherine's youngest daugh

Corfu Palace hotel is a luxurious 5-star establishment located in Corfu Town with exceptional views. It is one of the most fanciest hotels of Corfu Town. Own picture: view from Corfu Town to the sea - isn't it amazing? Since the Corfu Palace hotel was inaugurated in 1958, it hosted many politicians and  other very important guests.  The hotel was built on a great location, near the Old city and the  Archaeological museum. Own picture of Corfu Town

Louis Honoré Charles Antoine Grimaldi was born on July 12th. 1870 in Baden-Baden (Germany). Prince Louis II of Monaco - Source picture: Wikipedia He was the only child of Prince Albert I of Monaco and Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton. His mother disliked Monaco and she was unhappy with her husband. Shortly after her marriage she left the country. Louis II was raised in Germany by his mother and stepfather. He didn't see his father, Prince Albert I, till the age of 11. Louis went to France and entered the Saint-Cyr Military Academy. Later he asked to be posted in the French Foreign Legion in Africa. In Algeria he met Marie Juliette Louvet, a cabaret singer. On September 30th. 1898, their illegitimate daughter Charlotte Louise Juliette was born (in 1911 she was recognized by her father). On June 27th. 1922, Prince Albert I died in Paris. Louis ascended the throne as Louis II, Prince of Monaco. During his reign the Monaco Football Club was formed a

Victor Amadeus I (in Italian: Vittorio Amedeo I di Savoia) was born on May 8th. 1587 in Turin (now located in Italy). Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy - Source picture: Wikipedia He was the son of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and  Catherine Micaela of Spain (daughter of King Philip I of Spain). Victor Amadeus spent much of his childhood at the Spanish Royal Court in Madrid. In 1619 he married Christine Marie of France (sister of King Louis XIII of France). The wedding took place at the Louvre in Paris. They had 7 children. Christine Marie of France - Source picture: Wikipedia Christine Marie of France had much influence at the court of Savoy. She introduced the French lifestyle, culture and art. Christine Marie lived at the Palazzo Madama, but she insisted to rebuild or to renovate the palaces: Castello del Valentino and Royal Palace of Turin too.  Victor Amadeus was also King titular of Cyprus and Jerusalem. Victor Amadeus di

Charlottenburg Palace - Berlin - Own picture Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia was born on May 7th. 1767 in Charlottenburg Palace (Berlin). Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia - Source picture: Wikipedia She was the only child of Frederick William II of Prussia and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg. On September 27th. 1791 she married Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. Prince Frederick was a son of King George III of the United Kingdom. At Buckingham Palace there was a second marriage ceremony on November 23rd. 1791. She became the Duchess of York and Albany. Their marriage was not a happy one, although the duchess recieved a warm welcome. After a while the couple separated. They had no children. Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, Duchess of York and Albany died at Outlands Park on August 6th. 1820 in Surrey. Former Outlands Palace - Surrey - Source picture: Wikipedia 

Ferdinand III (In Italian: Ferdinando Guiseppe Giovanni Baptista) was born on May 6th. 1769 in Tuscany (now Italy). Ferdinand III - Grand Duke of Tuscany - Source picture: Wikipedia Personal life : He was the second son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and  Maria Luisa of Spain. On August 15th. 1790, Ferdinand married Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily. She died in 1802.  Maria Luisa of Tuscany - Source picture: Wikipedia On May 6th. 1821 he married Princess Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony. Princess Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony Source picture: Wikipedia Ferdinand died on June 18th. 1824. 

Karl Heinrich Marx was born on May 5th. 1818. He became a philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist and revolutionary socialist. Marx has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history. Statue of Karl Marx Berlin Germany Life : Karl Marx was a son of a wealthy middle-class family who lived in  Trier (Germany). Birth House of Karl Marx in Trier He studied at the University of Bonn and the University of Berlin.  After his studies Marx wrote for a radical newspaper in Cologne.  In 1843, Karl Marx married Jenny von Westphalen ,  (daughter of Ludwig von Westphalen, who was a prominent member of the Prussian aristocracy). They had 7 children, only three survived childhood. Jenny von Westphalen - Source picture: Wikipedia In 1843 Marx moved to Paris, where he started writing for other radical newspapers. There he met Friedrich Engels . The two became very good friends and collaborators. In 18