All About Royal Families

September 30th. 1811 marks the birth of Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in Weimar (Germany). Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Empress of Germany Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Maria Pavlovna of Russia (daughter of Paul I of Russia and  Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg). In 1826, only 15 years old, Princess Augusta met her future husband Wilhelm. Wilhelm thought Augusta was an Excellent Personality yet less attractive than her older sister Marie (who Wilhelms younger brother Karl already had married). On June 11th. 1829 Princess Augusta married Wilhelm of Prussia in the chapel of Schloss Charlottenburg. The first weeks of her marriage were harmonious but Augusta started to be at the Prussian Court. Later (in the 1840's) she became manic depressive, she felt unwanted due to Wilhelm, who took mistresses... In 1864, Augusta founded the National Women's A...

Charlotte Augusta Mathilda was born on September 29th. 1766 in Buckingham Palace (London). Princess Charlotte with her mother - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were King George III of the United Kingdom and  Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Like her brothers and sisters Princess Charlotte was educated by tutors at Buckingham Palace, Kew Palace and Windsor Castle. On May 18th. 1797, Princess Charlotte married at the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace, Prince Frederick of Württemberg. In 1800 the French Army occupied Württemberg and the Duke and Duchess exiled to Vienna. But Napoleon recognized them as King and Queen of Württemberg and the two came back. This made them an enemy of  King George III of the United Kingdom (Charlotte's father) who refused to call his daughter Queen.  During the Congress of Vienna, Princess Charlotte and her husband were officially recognized as King and Queen. But her husband coul...

Corfu is a Greek Island in the Ionian Sea. Fortress in Corfu  - own picture taken in 2013 With the beautiful old buildings and the amazing sunset, I wanted to know  more about the history of this wonderful Greek Isle which has a mysterious legend. Corfu Town - old buildings - own picture taken in 2013 According to the Greek mythology, Corfu was related to two powerful symbols and gods: Poseidon (the god of the Water) and Asopos (god of the rivers). Once upon a time, Poseidon fell in love with the nymph Korkyra (daughter of Asopos and the nymph Metope). They had a child together which was called Phaiax (translated to Latin it is: Phaeacians). This became the nickname of Corfu: The Island of the Phaeacians.  Isn't that a beautiful legend? Old Town Corfu - own picture taken in 2013 Anyway Corfu Town is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007. Corfu town was the birth place of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...

September 26th. 1329 marks the birth of a remarkable girl, who was called Anne of Bavaria. source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Rudolf II, Duke of Bavaria and Anne of Tyrol. She and her family were from the Royal House of Wittelsbach. On March 11th. 1349 Anne married Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor in the town of Bacharach near the Rhine. She became his second wife after Blanche of Valois.   On July 26th. 1349 Anne was crowned in Aachen (Germany) as Queen of Rome, later she was crowned as Queen of Bohemia. In 1350 Anne gave birth to a son, a long expected and desired heir.  He was called Wenceslaus. Unfortunately the boy died during his first year. On February 2nd. 1353, Fate hit again: Anne died herself. This unfortunate woman was buried in the St.Vitus Cathedral in Prague. After her death Charles IV married for the third time. A new heir was born who saved the monarchy. 

Philip I of Castile also known as the Handsome was born on July 22nd. 1478 in Bruges (now located in Belgium). source picture: Wikipedia He was the son of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Mary, Duchess of Burgundy. Philip was named after his grandfather, Philip the Good. His mother died when he was 4 and Philip became heir but his father was regent. The boy was raised by his aunt Margaret of York in Mechlin (now also located in Belgium). On October 20th.  1496 he married Joanna of Castile (the mad) in Lier. Due to this marriage and several inheritances of Johanna, Philip would became the ruler of The Netherlands, Austria and Spain. In 1506 he moved to Spain. There he died on September 25th. suddenly,  apparently of typhoid fever, although poisoning by his wife was rumored. Philip I was buried in Royal Chapel of Granada alongside his parents.

On August 15th. 1171, the only son of King Ferdinand II of Léon and Urraca of Portugal was born in Zamora (now North West of Spain). The boy received the name Alfonso. Alfonso IX- Source picture: Wikipedia On January 22nd. 1188 Alfonso became King of Léon and Galicia.  He gave the order to found the University of Salamanca in 1212. Besides that Alfonso was known for his battles against the Moors. He won in Cáceres, Mérida and Badajoz (1229-1230). Alfonso IX married two times with one of his cousins 1/ Theresa of Portugal 2/ Berengaria of Castile The marriages were dissolved by Pope Celestine III, although there were children. Alfonso IX had a lot of children by his wives and other women (total children of Alfonso IX: 21). He died on September 24th. 1230. Alfonso IX was buried in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

September 23rd. 1781 marks the birth of Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld in Coburg (Germany). Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld- Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Franz Frederic Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Countess Augusta Caroline Reuss of Ebersdorf. Juliane was the sister of  King Leopold I of Belgium, a niece of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and of King Ferdinand II of Portugal. After the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander of Russia (later Tsar Alexander I), Empress Catherine II of Russia looked for a suitable bride for her other grandson Grand Duke Constantine. The Empress invited Countess Augusta and three of her daughters.  They traveled to Saint Petersburg and received good comments like: it's sad that Grand Duke Constantine couldn't marry the three ... Finally the Grand Duke chosed Juliane. At that time she wasn't 15 yet! Juliana converted to Orthodox faith and she took the name Anna Feodorovna. ...

In Spa, the First Beauty Pageant, or Miss election, took place on September 19th. 1888 in Spa (Belgium). own picture taken in Spa Bertha Soucaret, a girl who was 18-year and came from Guadeloupe won the  competition. She received 5000 Belgian Francs, which was a lot during that time. The First Beauty Pageant was held already in 1859 in Scotland and organized by Archibald Montgomerie,13th. Earl of Eglinton. The competition was won by Georgiana Seymour,Duchess of Somerset and she was proclaimed as 'Queen of Beauty'. First Beauty Pageant - Picture: Wikipedia

August 10th. 1794 marks the birth of Princess Amalie Marie Friederike  Auguste of Saxony in Pillnitz (Dresden - Germany). Princess Amalie of Saxony - Source picture: Wikipedia She was the daughter of Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Carolina of Parma. The Princess had the chance to study well and she became very smart but her real interests were music and writing. She composed chamber music, opera and liked to sing. She published some works under the name: A. Serena. Her most popular compositions were comic operas. Under the name Amalie Heiter she published two dramas and comedies. Princess Amalie never married and died on September 18th. 1870 at the age of 76.

On April 10th. 1579, a boy was born in Dannenberg (Germany). He received the name Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg - Source picture: Wikipedia He was the 7th. child of Henry, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Ursula of Saxe-Lauenburg.  Already in his early years, Augustus was very smart. Later he studied in several universities and he traveled in Europe. Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg married three times: 1/ Clara Maria of Pomerania; 2/ Dorothea of Anhalt-Zerbst; 3/ Elisabeth Sophie of Mecklenburg. In 1635 he received the Principality of Wolfenbüttel, and he earned even the support of Emperor Ferdinand II. Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg couldn't move into his own residence until 1644. His reign was marked by some exceptional facts. He collected many manuscripts and books, which was the foundation of Bibliotheca Augusta in Wolfenbüttel, which is now, besides a library, an important Research Center. ...

Dom Pedro was born on September 16th. 1837 in Lisbon (Portugal). Pedro V of Portugal - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Ferdinand II of Portugal and Maria II of Portugal. He was nicknamed 'The Hopefull'. Besides Prince Royal, Dom Pedro had the title of 19th. Duke of Braganza. In 1853 he became monarch of Portugal. He had the name to be hard working, and he wanted radical modernisation of the Portugese state infrastructure.  Roads, telegraphs and railways were constructed under his reign. When cholera broke out in Portugal his popularity increased but he visited  hospitals and gave gifts. Pedro married on May 18th. 1858 Princess Stephanie of Hohenzollern- Sigmaringen (aunt of the late King Albert I of Belgium). This was an happy marriage until Queen Stephanie died of diphtheria. Pedro and some other members of the Portuguese Royal family had cholera or typhoid fever. He died on November 11th. 1861 at the age of 24 in Lisbon....

Sophia Dorothea of Celle was born on September 15th. 1666 in Celle (Germany). Sophia Dorothea of Celle - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and his long time mistress Eleonore d'Esmier d'Olbreuse. Her future husband was a big deal. There were rumors that she had to marry the later King of Denmark but it never came so far. Instead she had to marry her cousin George Louis, the later King George I of Great Britain, which Sophia Dorothea called a pig. Besides her 'reservation' the wedding ceremony took place on November 22nd. 1682 in Celle. This marriage really was an unhappy one. They had two children: 1/ George Augustus, who became King George II of Great Britain; 2/ Sophia Dorothea, who married King Frederick William I of Prussia. George Louis acquired a mistress and started neglecting his wife.  In 1688, Sophia Dorothea on the other hand met a Swedish Count called  ...

My happy Sunday Picture is taken in 2010 above the beautiful place Spiez in Switzerland. Own picture Spiez is located on Lake Thun in the Berner Oberland Region of the Swiss Canton Bern. It has not only wonderful views but also some impressive landmarks like a castle (some pieces were built in 933), a church and a harbour. With this picture I want to wish you all a very happy and relaxing Sunday!

February 23rd. 1800 marks the birth of Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg- Schauburg-Hoym. Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Amalia of Nassau-Weilburg. She had 3 sisters: Hermine, Emma and Ida. On July 24th. 1817 (at the age of 17) Princess Adelheid married Duke Paul Frederick Augustus of Oldenburg. They had 2 children. One of them, Amalia, married later Prince Otto of Bavara, who became King of Greece. However Princess Adelheid died suddenly on September 13th. 1820, after 3 years marriage. Duke Paul Frederick Augustus of Oldenburg married in 1825 Princess Adelheid's younger sister Princess Ida, who died 3 years after their marriage too...

Louis IV Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Karl was born on September 12th. 1837 in Darmstadt (Germany).   Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Prince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine and  Princess Elisabeth of Prussia. On July 1st. 1862, Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse married Princess Alice (the third child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert). They had 7 children. Through his own and his children's marriage(s) Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse was connected  with the  British Royal Family, the Imperial House of Russia, and other Royal Houses in Europe. After the death of his wife he married morganatic with Alexandrina Hutten-Czapska. This caused a lot of trouble in his family. He annulled it within a year. Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse died on March 13th. 1892.

On September 11th. 1525, John George of Brandenburg was born in Cöllin (near Berlin, Germany). John George - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg and Magdalena of Saxony. John George married up to 3 times: 1/ Princess Sophie of Legnica (1525-1546) they had 1 child together: Joachim Frederick. 2/ Margravine Sabina of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1529-1575) with whom he had 10 children. 3/ Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt Zerbst (1563- 1607), whith whom he had 11 children. In 1571 John George became elector of Brandenburg. Due to his savings politics, John George received the nickname: Oeconomics (The Economical). John George, Elector of Brandenburg died on January 8th. 1598.

John the Fearless (in Dutch: Jan zonder Vrees) was born on May 28th. 1371 in Dijon (France). Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Philip the Bold and Margaret III,  Countess of Flanders. His marriage was a political strategy. In 1385 he married  Margaret of Bavaria while his sister, also a Margaret (of Burgundy),  'chose' Albrecht of Bavaria, Count of Holland as her husband. John the Fearless had 7 children together with his wife but he  also had some illegitimate children. During his life there were a lot of political issues. In France there  was a conflict with Louis of Orléans.  He died on September 10th. 1419 in Monterau (France) where he was  assassinated by the Dauphin of France John the Fearless was succeeded by Philip the Good, who formed  an alliance with the English.

This Tree Tuesday picture is taken in 2004 in Cologne (Germany). Cologne Germany On the picture you can see the beautiful Rhine Park in Cologne and of course a lot of trees. There also is  the Cable Car sometimes called the funicular.  This funicular is special because it connects both sides  of the  Rhine River. Some history * The Cable Car over the Rhine was opened on April 26th. 1957. * Among the first guests were: - Theodore Heuss, President of Germany; - Konrad Adenauer, Federal Chancellor and then, Mayor of Cologne. * In 1963 the Cable Car was closed. * After a lot of discussions the Cable Car was moved to the Rhine Park  and reopened on August 22nd. 1966. Some facts * the Cable Car is daily opened from March 20th. till November 1st. * 50 cabins can carry 2,000 people in one hour * Length: 935 meters Interesting site http://www.koelner-seilbahn.de/english/index.html

Princess Anna Sophie of Swarzburg-Rudolstadt was born on September 9th. 1700 in Rudolstadt. That city is located in the German Bundesland of Thuringia (near the Thuringian Forest) Princess Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt- Source picture: Wikipedia She was the daughter of Louis Frederick I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.  On January 2nd. 1723 she married Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld. They had 8 children. Princess Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was the great-grandmother of inter alia King Leopold I of Belgium and the  great-great grandmother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom! She died on December 8th. 1780 in Römhild.  

The recent building 'Museum Ludwig' was created by architects  Peter Busmann and Godfrid Haberer and it's located near the Cathedral in Cologne (Germany). Own picture The Museum Ludwig on this location was opened on this location on  September 6th. 1986. It houses art made after 1900. Special is the Russian Avant-Garde and the American Pop art collection.

In Altmünster (Upper Austria) a new Archduchess was born. She got the name: Archduchess Karoline Marie of Austria. Archduchess Karoline Marie of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Archduke Karl Salvator of Austria and Princess Maria Immaculata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Through her birth, Karoline Marie was an Archduchess and Princess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Tuscany. On May 30th. 1894, Archduchess Karoline Marie married Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, member of the Koháry Branch. They had 8 children together. Archduchess Karoline Marie of Austria died on May 12th. 1945 in Budapest (Hungary). 

Joan of England was born in October 1165 as the seventh child of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitane. Joan of England - Source picture: Wikipedia Joan spent her youth at the Courts of her mother at Winchester and Poitiers. In 1176, William II of Sicily asked Joan's hand to marry her. After a very difficult voyage she arrived in Sicily (Italy). In Palermo Joan married William and she was crowned Queen on February 13th. 1177. Unfortunately her husband died in 1189. Then she  was prisoner of the new King, Tancred of Sicily. In 1190 Joan's brother, King Richard I of England returned from his crusade. He asked for her return at Tancred but the King of Sicily refused. Finally Richard I of England attacked the city of Messina and Tancred agreed the return of Joan.  In October 1196 Joan married Raymond VII of Toulouse at Rouen (France). And then something strange happened. Pregnant and married, Joan asked to be admitted to Fontevra...

Olga Constantinovna of Russia was born on September 3rd. 1851 in Pavlovsk. Olga Constantinovna of Russia - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Grand Duke Constantine of Russia and Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg. In 1863 King George I of Greece visited Tsar Alexander II and his sister Dagmar, who married the later Tsar Alexander III and who took the name Maria Feodorovna. Initially it was a political match, but Olga and King George I of Greece fell in love with each other. However Grand Duchess Olga was afraid to leave Russia. Olga Constantinovna and King George I of Greece married in the Chapel of the Winter Palace in St.Petersburg on October 27th. 1867. The wedding caused a lot of festivities (5 days long!). They were a good couple and had 8 children together, who grew up in a warm atmosphere.  In her new country, Greece, Olga founded some hospitals. Several revolutions led that the Royal Family of Greece exiled. Olga Const...

My tree Tuesday picture of this week is taken in Salzburg (Austria) during our holiday in 2012. Salzburg Austria On the picture you see trees and a statue of people who play music. That's the link with one of the most notable man who was born in Salzburg in 1756.  Of course, I talk about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  On next link you can listen to one of his most famous works: The magic flute. So far my Treetuesdaypost, I wish you all a very nice and Sunny day!

On September 1st. 1878 a young girl was born in Rosenau Castle in Coburg (Germany). She received the long name: Princess Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha- Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha  (second eldest son of Queen Victoria) and  Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia (daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Marie of Hesse and by Rhine). Princess Alexandra was nicknamed Sandra in her family. She spent her childhood first in England and Malta where her father served in the Royal Navy. Throughout her life, Princess Alexandra was overshadowed by her two eldest sisters  (Marie and Victoria) and her mother who wanted that her daughters married  very young, which Queen Victoria complained. She married on April 20th. 1896 Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.  They had 5 children.  Princess Ale...