All About Royal Families

On October 31st. 1636 the eldest son of Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria and his second wife, Maria Anna of Austria was born. He received the name: Ferdinand Maria. Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria - Source picture: Wikipedia Through his mother, Ferdinand Maria was a first cousin of: Queen Mariana of Spain; Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. With such a an ancestry it wasn't difficult to find an appropriate wife. On December 8th. 1650 Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria married  Henriette Adelaide of Savoy.  She was the daughter of Victor Amadeus I of Savoy and Princess  Christine of France (daughter of Henry IV and Marie de' Medici). Ferdinand Maria and Henriette - Source picture: Wikipedia Ferdinand Maria and Henriette Adelaide of Savoy had 7 children, 2 of them would have progeny. In 1651 Ferdinand Maria succeeded his father as elector of Bavaria, but he still was a minor. His mother and his uncle Albert VI of Bavaria served as re...

October 30th. 1563 marks the birth of Sophie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Sophie of Brunswick-Lüneburg - Source picture: Wikipedia Sophie was the eldest child of Duke William the Younger of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Dorothea of Denmark (daughter of King Christian III of Denmark). In Dresden she married on May 3rd. 1579, Margrave George Frederick I of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmach. He was a powerful figure of his time.  This marriage remained childless. After the death of her husband, in 1604, Sophie returned to her family. She survived her husband for 36 years. She often stayed in Nuremberg with her sisters Clara, Countess of Schwarzburg and Sibylle, Duchess of  Brunswick-Dannenberg. On January 14th. 1639 she died in Nuremberg. There she was buried in the St.Lorenz Church. St.Lorenz Church Nuremberg on a rainy day - own picture

Around 1204 a young girl was born, who received the name: Margaret of Austria Margaret of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia Her life began promising because she was the eldest daughter of Leopold VI, Duke of Austria and Theodora Angelina, a member of the  Byzantine Imperial family. But on November 29th. 1225, Margaret (who was then 21 years old) had to marry the 14-year old Henry, King-elect of Germany. Henry was the  eldest son of Emperor Frederick II. The wedding took place in Nürnberg. Her coronation took place on March 23rd. 1227 in Aachen. King Henry and Queen Margaret had 2 short-lived sons. In 1235 Henry rebelled against his father, but he was defeated and dethroned. After that he died possibly on February 12th. 1242 (after a fall from his horse, which could be a possible attempted suicide).  Margaret (who didn't saw her husband a lot) moved to Würzburg,  where she lived in seclusion in the Markuskloster. On Feb...

Maurice de Saxe was born on October 28th. 1696 at Goslar (now: lower Saxony Germany). Maurice de Saxe - Source picture: Wikipedia He was the illegitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony and Countess Maria Aurora of Königsmarck.  In 1698 the Countess sent him to his father in Warsaw, where his father had been elected King of Poland (in the previous year).  Unfortunately due to the unsettled condition of the country, Maurice was obliged to spend the greater part of his youth outside the borders of Poland. This separation from his father made him independent and had an important effect on his future career. When Maurice was 12 years old, he served in the army of Prince Eugene of Savoy. He next served under Peter the Great against the Swedes. In 1711 August formally recognized him as his son and Maurice was granted the rank of Count. At the age of 17 in 1713 he commanded his own  regiment. Maurice d...

On September 27th. 1275 a very noble boy was born: John of Brabant also called the Peaceful. John II, Duke of Brabant - Source picture: Wikipedia He was the son of John I of Brabant and Margaretha of Flanders, a daughter of Guy of Dampierre (famous from the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302). In 1294 John succeeded his father as Duke of Brabant. During his reign, he could stop the French expansion but he tried to conquer South Holland, plans which weren't successful.  On July 8th. 1290 he married Margaret Plantagenet in Westminster Abbey in London. She was the daughter of King Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castille. They had one son, who became later John III, Duke of Brabant.   On October 27th. 1312 John II died due to kidney stones. He was buried in the St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral in Brussels. own picture of the St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral in Brussels In the modern Kingdom of Belgium, the title 'Duke of Brabant' r...

The Royal Destination Picture from the Gileppe Dam was taken on a sunny day in July 2014. own picture from the lion The Gileppe Dam was built in the 19th. century to ensure the water supply for Verviers, which became then the Wool center of Belgium. Wool was imported through Antwerp and washed at Verviers. The construction works of the Gileppe Dam began in 1868 and lasted 10 years. On July 28th. 1878 the Dam was inaugurated by King Leopold II of Belgium. On the picture you can see a huge lion sculpture (made by Antoine-Félix Bouré). The Lion watches to the Kingdom of Prussia (which was then 5 km from the  Gileppe Dam). own picture - what an amazing landscape This was my Happy Sunday picture and the little story. I hope you liked it and I wish you a very good Sunday and a nice start of the new week. own picture

October 25th. 1795 marks the birth of Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg. Source picture: Wikipedia Princess Sophie Marie Dorothea Auguste Louise was the daughter of  Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and his wife Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Princess Sophie's education was better than average, her home was culture- oriented and she would love the arts through her life. By the age of 16 she spoke German, French, Italian and Latin. In 1773 she was among the group of German Princesses who could be possible brides for the future Tsar Paul I. At that time she was not yet 14 years old ...  First Sophie was engaged to Prince Louis of Hesse, the brother of Tsar Paul's first wife, but he became a widower in 1776. Frederick II of Prussia proposed  Sophie as the ideal candidate and Prince Louis of Hesse received a monetary compensation for breaking the engagement. Frederick II of Prussia arranged a meeting in Ber...

On October 24th. 1739 Anna Amalia was born in Wolfenbüttel (located in Lower Saxony in Germany) as the ninth child of Charles I, Duke of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel and Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia. Duchess Anna Amalia - Source picture: Wikipedia Her maternal grandparents were King Frederick William I of Prussia and Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. On March 16th. 1756 Anna Amalia married Ernst August II Konstantin, Duke of Saxe-Weimar Eisenach. The couple had children and their eldest son Charles Augustus became the new duke, but he wasn't eighteen at the moment of his father's death.  So Anna Amalia became regent which she did with notable prudence.  She wanted to improve the position of her son. In 1775, with her son's maturity, she retired. Anna Amalia could transform the court and its surrounding into the most influential cultural center of Germany. As a patron of art and literature she drew many of the most eminent ...

Hedvig Eleonora was born on October 23rd. 1636 as sixth of sixteen children of Duke Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp and Marie Elisabeth of Saxony. Hedvig Eleonora - Source picture: Wikipedia One day after her eighteenth birthday she married King Charles X of Sweden on October 24th. 1654. This wedding was arranged for political reasons. The marriage was an alliance  between Sweden and Holstein-Gottorp against their mutual enemy Denmark. Charles X chose Hedwig Eleonora because of her beauty after he saw her portrait. The couple had one child, who became later Charles XI of Sweden. On February 13th. 1660 Charles X died and Hedvig Eleonora became regent because her son still was a child. But tragedy continued ... On April 5th. 1697 Hedvig Eleonora's son Charles XI died and she became regent for her grandson Charles XII, this time for one year. Hedvig Eleonora was very interested in culture and sciences. She has been described as firm and dominant but...

Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein was born on October 22nd. 1858 at the Dolzig Palace. Princess Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein -  Source picture: Wikipedia Princess Augusta Victoria was the daughter of Frederick VIII, Duke of  Schleswig-Holstein and Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. She married on February 27th. 1881, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia. They had 7 children. In 1888 Princess Augusta Victoria became the last German Empress. In 1918 her husband was forced to abdicate. She went in excile to Huis (House) Doorn in The Netherlands.  There Princess Augusta Victoria died on April 11th. 1921. She was buried at the Antique Temple in Sanssouci Park in Potsdam (near Berlin). Over 200 000 Germans demonstrated their last respects.  

My tree tuesday picture of this week was taken in 2010 near the Blausee (Blue Lake) in Switzerland. own picture - Blausee Although the Blausee has its own history i liked the legend very much. Once upon a time there was a maid who lived close by the lake. She fell in love with a shepherd. The two shared romantic moments near the lake under the  moonlight... Unfortunately the shepherd fell of a cliff and died. The maid took a boat and rowed to the middle of the lake to mourn her loss. One morning, her parents saw that the boat of their daughter had sunk with the maid on the bottom of  the lake. Since then the lake changed its colour into a deep blue shade, the same colour of the eyes of the maid.  I really hope you enjoyed the pictures and the short story. The Blausee really is a hidden gem near Kandersteg in the Berner Oberland Region in Switzerland. Of course, I'd like to wish you all a very good Tuesday! own picture ...

October 21st. 1898 marks the birth of Prince Amedeo Umberto Isabella Luigi Filippo Maria Giuseppe di Savoia-Aosta . He was born in Turin (northern Italy). Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Prince Emanuele Filiberto, 2nd. Duke of Aosta, and Princess Hélène of Orléans. His grandfather was King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Prince Amedeo received his education in Oxford (United Kingdom). There he cultivated British mannerisms and he also spoke Oxford English. During World War I, Prince Amedeo entered the Italian army. He fought with the artillery. However in 1921 he left the army and traveled widely in Africa. On July 4th. 1931, by the death of his father, Prince Amedeo became Duke of Aosta. In 1932 he entered the Italian Air Forces and became a pilot. When Italy declared war on the United Kingdom and France on June 10th 1940, the Duke of Aosta became commander of the Italian forces in what is known as the East ...

Francesco Maria della Rovere was born on March 22nd. 1490 in Senigallia, capital of the Duchy of Urbino (now located in Italy). Francesco Maria della Rovere - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Giovanni della Rovere and Giovanna da Montalto. He was a nephew of Giuliano della Rovere, who became Pope Julius II. Guidobaldo I of Urbino had no children and he called Francesco at court and named him as heir for the duchy in 1504. In 1508 Guidobaldo died and Francesco became the new duke of Urbino. With the help of Pope Julius II he could conquer the duchy. In 1508 Francesco Maria della Rovere married a noble called: Eleonora Gonzaga. They had 5 children. When Pope Julius II died, Francesco lost a great support. In 1516 he was excommunicated by the new Pope Leo X and had to leave Urbino. However Francesco could return to his duchy in 1521 due to the death of Pope Leo X. On October 20th. 1538 he was poisoned and died in Pesaro. 

Leopold was born in 1108 as one of the younger sons of Markgrave Leopold III, the Holy. Leopold IV, Duke of Bavaria - Source picture: Wikipedia Through his mother, Agnes, he was related to the House of Hohenstaufen.  Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of German monarchs in the Middle Ages reigning between 1138 and 1254. Leopold died unexpected on October 18th. 1141 at the Niederaltaich Abbey in Bavaria. He was succeeded by his brother Henry. Leopold IV of Bavaria, King Konrad III, Hadmar I of Kuenring Source picture: Wikipedia

On October 17th. 1853 a girl was born at Tsarskoye Selo in St. Petersburg. This girl received the name and title Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. This made her an aunt of Tsar Nicholas II (last Tsar of Imperial Russia). In 1871, Grand Duchess Maria was introduced to Prince Alfred,  Duke of Edinburgh and second son of Queen Victoria, during a family holiday  in Denmark. On January 23rd. 1874 Maria and Alfred married at the Winter Palace in St.Petersburg.  They would have 6 children. Their eldest daughter Marie (Missy in the family)  married later King Ferdinand I of Romania. On March 12th. 1874 the new couple arrived in London where they made their public entry in the Society. However the bride wasn't popular.  First of all a large discussion took place between...

On June 26th. 1726, Victor Amadeus was born at the Royal Palace of Turin. Victor Amadeus of Sardinia - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia and Polyxena of Hesse-Rotenburg. As heir of the throne his birth was much greeted with joy. He also received a proper and military education. Throughout his life, Victor Amadeus would have a great interest in the state military.  On May 31th. 1750, Victor Amadeus of Sardinia married the very noble Maria Antonia, infante of Spain (youngest daughter of King Philip V of Spain). Although, the marriage was arranged, this turned out happy. They had a loving relationship and 12 children. painting: the familie of Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia Source picture: Wikipedia On February 20th. 1773 Victor Amadeus became King of Sardinia. He was very suspicious of anything innovative. However he tried to improve the army and the administration.  Victor Amadeus of S...

October 15th. 1564 marks the birth of a very special and amusing boy. He received the name Henry Julius. Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and  Hedwig of Brandenburg. In 1589 Henry Julius succeeded his father as ruler of Wolfenbüttel  (located in Germany). The ruler of Wolfenbüttel married twice: 1/ Dorothea of Saxony  (they had 1 child) 2/ Elizabeth of Denmark  (they had 10 children) In the years 1593 and 1594 he started to write plays.  Henry Julius invited Robert Browne (an actor) and his theater company. The ruler of Wolfenbüttel also was interested in architecture. He would have designed the main building of University of Helmstedt. But Henry lost control of the state's financing and caused large amounts of public debt.  On July 20th. 1613 Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg died in Prague of alcohol abuse. ...

My Treetuesdaypicture was taken last week at the Bodrum Castle also known as the Castle of St. Peter. Bodrum Turkey The Bodrum Castle was built in 1404 by a German knight architect  Heinrich Schlegelholt. The first walls were completed in 1437. Bodrum Castle - Castle of St.Peter - Turkey Like always with castles built by the Knight Hospitaller, each langue of the order had its own tower. The English Tower was finished in 1413 and there you can see the coats of Henry IV of England.  King Henri IV of England - Source picture: Wikipedia Bodrum - Turkey At the castle there was a beautiful garden with special combination of trees  and flowers, as you can see on next picture. Bodrum Turkey So, this was my treetuesday picture and a small history story of the Bodrum Castle. I also hope you enjoyed this blogpost.

In Brussels, a boy was born on October 14th. 1690. He received the names: Léopold Philippe d'Arenberg. Léopold Philippe d'Arenberg - Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Duke Philippe Charles d'Arenberg (who fought against the Turks and died in the Battle of Slankamen) and Marie-Henriette del Caretto de Savona y Grana. On March 20 th. 1711, Léopold Philippe d'Arenberg married Marie-Françoise Pignatelli, Princess of Bisaccia and countess d'Egmont. They had 6 children. Like his father, Léopold became interested in the Army. He fought in the War of Spanish Succession as General-Major in Hungary.  Léopold distinguished himself during the battle of Belgrad. In 1718 he became governor of Hainau in the Austrian Netherlands  (now located in Belgium). During the war of Polish Succession Léopold became Field Marshal (1737). He also was appointed as Supreme Commander of the Austrian forces in The Netherlands. After the war Lé...

My Happy Sunday picture was taken in a beautiful landscape near Blankenberge in Belgium. own picture - a rough one :-) Several weeks ago, some friends and I made the 4km (2,5 mile) walk between Blankenberge and Wenduine near the North Sea in Belgium. own picture - marvelous nature Due to belated holiday there won't be no normal blogposts next week.  But maybe I can surprise you with some pictures. I wish you all a very Happy Sunday and a nice week!  own picture - the way to?

On October 4th. 1585, a notable member of the House of Habsburg was born. She received the name: Anna of Tyrol. Anna of Tyrol - Source picture: Wikipedia original painting in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna Her parents were Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria and Anne Juliana Gonzaga. On December 4th. 1611, Anna married her first cousin Matthias,  Holy Roman Emperor in Vienna.  Matthias was then already over fifty. Besides the difference of age, her husband's  father, Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, was the brother of Anna's father. In 1617 Anna of Tyrol and her husband founded the Capuchin Church in  Vienna. There they wanted to be buried. Since then most of the  Holy Roman Emperors and Empresses were buried in the Capuchin Church. Anna of Tyrol died on December 14th. 1618. Source picture: Wikipedia

The Siege (in Dutch: beleg van) of Leiden took place from 1573 till 1574 and the city was liberated on October 3rd. 1574. Source picture: Wikipedia During the 'Eighty Year's War' Dutch rebels took their arms against the Spanish King Philip II, who appointed the Duke of Alba to beat this rebels. The Duke of Alba, who was governor general of the Spanish Netherlands, had the bad reputation to be violent. To preserve their religious freedom, Leiden sworn allegiance to  Prince William of Orange in 1572. Of course, the Duke of Alba wanted to force this rebellious city to  surrender. He started the Siege of Leiden in 1573. After several battles and due to the weather, the Spanish troops had to flee.  As a special thanks for the resistance of the city, the University of Leiden was founded in 1575 by Prince William of Orange. The October 3rd. remembrance festival is celebrated every year in Leiden. I made a previous blog post ab...

On February 25th. 1848 a boy was born in Stuttgart (then capital of the Kingdom Württemberg). The boy received the name William (in German: Wilhelm). Source picture: Wikipedia His parents were Prince Frederick of Württemberg and Princess Catherine of Württemberg. On February 15th. 1877 William married Princess Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont (elder sister of Emma en Helena). They had 3 children, 1 survived childhood. Princess Marie died in 1882 (aged 24) from complications resulting from the birth of her third child. On April 8th. 1886 William married Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe. With his second wife he had no children.  source picture: Wikipedia When William's childless maternal uncle, King Charles I of Württemberg died, he succeeded the throne of Württemberg.  There he founded the Württembergische Yacht Club in 1911 and he gave the  order to build the Wilhelmspalais in Stuttgart. In 1918, after World War I,...

October 1st. 1685 marks the birth of a boy named Charles, who became later an important man as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Serbia and Archduke of Austria. Charles VI and his family - Source picture: Wikipedia Charles was the second son of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife, Princess Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg. His tutor became Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein. In 1700 Charles II of Spain died without an heir, so Charles VI declared  himself as ruler of Spain (they were both members of the House of Habsburg). However the Treaties of Utrecht and Rastatt declared Philip (grandson of  King Louis XIV of France) as King of Spain. Due to this treaties the Netherlands (also Belgium) were ruled since then by the Austrians until the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Charles VI married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in 1708. They had 4 children, two of them survived childhood. ...