All About Royal Families

On January 31st. 1746, Frederick Louis, Prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen was born as a son of Henry August, 1st. Prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen and Countess Wilhelmine of Hohenlohe-Oehringen. Already as a boy Frederick Louis entered the Prussian army. Due to his rank he became a major and in 1775 he became Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1778 he took part in the War of the  Bavarian Succession. After the death of Frederick the Great he was made Major General. In 1791 Frederick Louis became governor of Berlin. In 1794 he commanded the troops on the Rhine and he distinguished himself in many great events. Frederick Louis was popular in the Prussian Army, even Blücher wrote about him that he was a leader of whom the Prussian Army could be proud! However on October 29th. 1806 the capitulation of Pasewalk took place in Germany, this ended in a victory for the French Army of Napoleon Bonaparte. Frederick Louis of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen had to spend 2 years of his life as a...

Louis II, Count of Flanders, Nevers and Rethel was born on October 25th. 1330 at the Male Castle near Bruges (now Belgium). His parents were Louis I of Flanders and Margaret of Burgundy. Louis II, Count of Flanders was a member of the House of Dampierre. In 1346 Louis I of Flanders died during the Battle of Crécy against King Edward III of England. Louis II became the new count. In 1347 Louis married Margaret of Brabant, daughter of Duke John III of Brabant and Mary of Évreux. In 1349 Louis returned to Flanders to take up his new role as Count. On April 13th. 1350 Margaret of Brabant gave birth to a daughter. She would be Margaret III, Countess of Flanders. When his daughter was 7 years old, Louis II of Flanders made an agreement that she married Philip I, Duke of Burgundy. He died in 1361. Louis II 's daughter became a highly popular bride as she was courted by Edmund of Langley, a son of King Edward III of England and Philip the Bold, a son of King Jo...

On January 28th. 1813 the novel Pride and Prejudice was published. Author Pride and Prejudice was a novel written by Jane Austen. About the novel It followed the main character Elizabeth Bennet when she had to deal with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage during the British Regency Period. Once the novel was published Anne Isabella Milbanke , who became later the wife of Lord Byron , called the book fashionable. Later the novel became popular due to theater pieces, television and movies. Source pictures: Wikipedia

Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp was born on January 25th. 1526  as a son of King Frederick I of Denmark and Sophie of Pomerania. After the death of King Frederick I of Denmark his three sons divided his land and possessions. The revenues such as taxes were divided equally between the brothers. So, Adolf became the first Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. On December 17th. 1564 Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp married Christine of Hesse. She was the daughter of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.Their wedding resulted in a scandal when the guests of the wedding consumed too much alcohol. They would have 10 children. One of their daughters, Christina, would marry King Charles IX of Sweden. Adolf participated at the Diet of Augsburg, when he saw Emperor Charles V at the high point of his power. He returned home in 1553. Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp died on August 1st. 1586. Source picture: Wikipedia

January 24th. 1444 marks the birth of Galeazzo Maria Sforza. This event took place in Fermo (Italy). His parents were Francesco I Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti. When his father died on March 8th. 1466 Galeazzo was in France at the head of a military expedition to help King Louis XI of France against Charles I of Burgundi. His mother called Galeazzo back home. Galeazzo entered Milan on March 20th. 1466 and there he became the new Duke. During the first years he ruled together with his mother but his cruel character put his mother away from Milan. In 1466 Galeazzo married Dorotea Gonzaga, a daughter of Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua and Barbara of Brandenburg. She died in 1467. Galeazzo Maria Sforza became a patron of Music. He transformed his chapel into a famous one and composers from the north came to sing for Gaelazzo Maria Sforza. Galeazzo Maria Sforza had a bad reputation. He was a womanizer, who passed his women to his courtiers when he was b...

January 23rd. 1674 marks the birth of Dorothea Christina of Aichelberg. This event took place in Plön, Schleswig-Holstein, North-Germany. Dorothea Christina of Aichelberg was the daughter of Hofmeister John Francis von Aichelberg and Anna Sophia von Trautenburg. The family was in the nobility from the early 16th. century. Dorothea Christina of Aichelberg became a lady's maid from Duchess Elisabeth Charlotte of Anhalt-Harzgerode. After the death of Duke Augustus (husband of Duchess Elisabeth), Dorothea Chirstina started a relationship with Prince Christian Charles of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Norburg. On February 20th. 1702 Prince Christian Charles married his Dorothea Christina secretly. He made an arrangement with his elder brother that he would change his family name in Karlstein. When his brother would die without male heirs, his son would became duke. The couple would have 3 children. After her husband's death in 1706 at the age of 31, Dorot...

Diana's Boys - William and Harry and the mother they loved - is a book written by Christopher Andersen in 2001. On the picture it is the Dutch translation issued by the House of Books. Books about Diana, Princess of Wales About the author : Christopher Andersen is an American Journalist and author of 32 books. He wrote inter alia: The Day Diana Died (1998); After Diana: William, Harry, Charles and the House of Windsor (2007); William and Kate: A Royal Love Story (2010) About the book : The book - Diana's Boys - is easy to read although it is such a tragic topic. The author used quotes, which are based on Diana, Princess of Wales and Charles, Prince of Wales. Review Interested? Read also the review of People ! Source picture: Picture taken from the book (in Dutch).

Friedrich Eugen was born on January 21st. 1732 as the fourth son of Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg and Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn und Taxis. This event took place in Stuttgart (Germany). On November 2nd. 1753 Frederick Eugene married Margravine Friederike of Brandenburg-Schwedt. They would have 12 children and many Royal descendants: - Queen Elizabeth II of The United Kingdom; - King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden; - King Juan Carlos I of Spain; - King Harald V of Norway; - King Willem Alexander of The Netherlands; - King Philippe of Belgium; - Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; - Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. In 1786 Frederick Eugene was made lieutenant-general by his elder brother, Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg. In 1795 Frederick Eugene became Duke of Württemberg due to the death of his elder brothers (and the lack of male heirs). He died on December 23rd. 1797 in Hohenheim. Source picture: Wikipedia.

Henry Casimir II of Nassau-Dietz was born on January 18th. 1657 in The Hague (The Netherlands) as the eldest son of Willem Frederik of Nassau-Dietz and Albertine Agnes of Nassau. In 1664 Henry Casimir was made stadtholder of Friesland and Groningen. Due to his age, his mother took the guardianship. In 1683 Henry Casimir married his cousin: Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau. The couple would have 9 children. Henry Casimir II died on March 25th. 1696 (at the age of 39) in Leeuwaarden. There he was buried in the family crypt. After his death Henry Casimir II was succeeded by his son John William Friso. Source pictures: wikipedia

The most amazing building in Aachen is the cathedral (in German: Dom). This was ordered by Charlemagne around 796. Aachen Cathedral Germany When Charlemagne died on January 28th. 814, of course, he was buried in the Aachen Cathedral, although the exact place is unknown due to a lack of documents. After the instructions of Charlemagne the Aachen Cathedral became the most important place for Germany Kings. It was here their coronation took place. The coronation occurred at the High Altar and then there was an enthronement on the Throne of Charlemagne, which can be seen today. From 1238 the Aachen Cathedral became a place for pilgrimage. Since 1349 the relics are been shown every 7 years. The last time was in 2014. Some important dates: * 805: Consecration by Pope Leo III * 814: Funeral of Charlemagne * 936: Coronation of Otto I * 1165: Canonization of Charlemagne * 1794: Occupation of the City by French Revolutionary Troops * 1814: Aachen became a par...

Anthony Günther, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst was born on January 11th. 1653 in Zerbst as the fourth (but second surviving) son of John VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst and Sophie-Auguste of Schleswig - Holstein - Gotttorp. Youth When John VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst died on July 4th. 1667, Anthony Günther received the castle of Mühlingen and during his minority, his mother acted as regent. Grand Tour From 1669 till 1672 Anthony Günther and his older brother Karl William went on a Grand Tour. They visited inter alia Holland, France, England and Italy. Military Career Anthony Günther started his military career in 1672 soon after his Grand Tour. He fought inter alia in * Italy (against France); * Siege of Oudenaarde (1674) now located in Belgium; * Grave (1674); * Philippsbrug (1676); * Battle of Vienna (1683); * Brabant (1690); * Battle of Steenkerke (1692). In 1694 King William III of England appointed him Commander-in Chief of a brigade of 9 battalio...

Louis of Nassau was born on January 10th. 1538 as the third son of William, Count of Nassau and Juliana of Stolberg. Louis of Nassau was one of the leaders of the league of the lesser nobles in the 'Compromis des Nobles'. This compromise took place in 1566. This compromise was an open letter to King Philippe II of Spain stating that he should withdraw the inquisition in the Netherlands. On April 5th. 1566 the compromise was offered to Margaret of Parma, Louis of Nassau helped his brother William in various ways. He served in several battles like the Battle of Heiligerlee, Jemmingen and Mookerheyde. Louis also arranged the wedding between his brother and Anna of Saxony. Louis of Nassau died on April 4th. 1574 during the battle. His body was never founded. On April 14th. 1981 a statue was inaugurated for Louis and his brother Hendrik, at the reformed church in Heumen. Picture 1 : Louis of Nassau - Source: Wikipedia Picture 2 : Counts of Nassau - S...

Rudolph Johannes Joseph Rainier von Habsburg-Lothringen was born on January 8th. 1788 as the son of Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold II, and Maria Luisa of Spain. He was born at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence (Italy). In 1803 or it could also be 1804 Archduke Rudolf of Austria took lessons in piano and composition from Ludwig van Beethoven. The two became friends and Archduke Rudolf became the patron of the artist.The composer even dedicated 14 compositions to Rudolf inter alia: the Archduke Trio or Piano Trio, Op. 97. Their letters were kept at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. On March 24th. 1819, Archduke Rudolph was appointed as Archbishop of Olomouc. This is now located in the Czech Republic. On July 31st. 1831 he died at the age of 43 in Baden bei Wien. He was buried at the Imperial crypt in Vienna. Source pictures: Wikipedia

Louis (Ludwig) Eugene (Eugen), Duke of Württemberg was born on January 6th. 1731 in Frankfurt am Main (Germany). Family His parents were Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg and Maria Augusta of Thurn und Taxis. His maternal grandparents were Anselm Franz, Prince of Thurn und Taxis and Maria Ludovika Anna of Lobkowicz. Love & Marriage He married Sophie of Beichlingen and they had 3 daughters. Duty On October 24th. 1793 Louis Eugene succeeded his brother Karl Eugen as Duke of Württemberg. He reigned till 1795, when he was succeeded by his younger brother Frederick Eugen. Death Louis Eugene, Duke of Württemberg died on May 20th. 1795 in Ludwigsburg (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Source picture: Wikipedia

When King Ludwig II of Bavaria purchased the former Herrenchiemsee monastery and gave the order to convert it in a Royal Residence, he never knew his fate. The Herrenchiemsee is a complex of Royal Buildings which is located 60 km south of Munich (Germany). Herrenchiemsee Palace Chiemsee Bavaria Germany The New Palace was built between 1863 and 1885. It was designed in a  Neo-Baroque style, due to King Ludwig's admiration of King Louis XIV of  France. The most tragic thing is that King Ludwig of Bavaria spent only a few days in this Palace. One year after the construction works were finished, the King died.  His death caused a construction stop. 50 of the 70 rooms were still incomplete. Herrenchiemsee Palace Bavaria Germany In 1923 Crown Prince Rupert of Bavaria gave the New Palace at the Herrenchiemsee to the State of Bavaria. Nowadays it is open for public with guided tours.   To visit Herrenchiemsee is ...

Anna, Princess of Brandenburg was born on January 1st. 1507 as the eldest daughter of Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg and Elisabeth of Denmark. Through her mother Anna, Princess of Brandenburg, was a granddaughter of King Johann of Denmark. On January 17th. 1524 she married Duke Albert VII of Mecklenburg. This took place in Berlin. 10 Children were born from this marriage. In 1547 Anna's husband died, she moved to Eldenburg in Lübz. Anna of Brandenburg, Duchess of Meclenburg died on June 19th. 1567. She was buried at the Schwerin Cathedral (north Germany). Source picture: Wikipedia