All About Royal Families

February 29th. 1852 marks the birth of George Maximilianovich, 6th. Duke of Leuchtenberg. He also was known as Prince Gregorii Romanovsky or Georges de Bauharnais. Family His parents were Maximilian de Bauharnais, 3rd. Duke of Leuchtenberg and Grand Duchess Maria Nicolaevna of Russia. His Grandparents were Eugène de Bauharnais and Princess Augusta of Bavaria. Through his mother he was a grandson of Tsar Nicolas I of Russia and Alexandra Feodorvna. Youth In 1854 Grand Duchess Maria Nicolaevna of Russia married secretly to Count Gregory Stroganov. This was morganatic and it was kept secret to Tsar Nicolas I. When Alexander II became a Tsar, Grand Duchess Maria Nicolaevna hoped that he would recognize her secret marriage, but this wasn't the case. She had to exile and left her children behind in St. Petersburg. Love & Marriage On May 12th. 1879, George married Duchess Therese Petrovna of Oldenburg. They would have one son. Unfortunately on April 19t...

From the Declaration to Egypt by His Britannic  Majesty's Government: Whereas His Majesty's Government, in accordance with their declared  intentions, desire forthwith to recognize Egypt as an independent sovereign state....  picture taken by me in 2010 coloured & adapted by Eelco Boeijinga in 2022 Some modern History The Khedivate of Egypt was until 1914 an autonomous tributary state of the Ottoman Empire. Some Important Dates and facts The Khedivate of Egypt was ruled by the Muhammad Ali dynasty. On November 5th. 1914 it was declared British protectorate, when the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Forces during World War I. After World War I there came an Egyptian Nationalist Movement. This led to the Egyptian Revolution in 1919. On February 28th 1922 the UK government issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. However British Military presence in Egypt lasted till 1954. Hurghada Egypt - Own picture

The allied powers having declared that Emperor Napoleon was the sole obstacle to restoration of peace in Europe, Emperor Napoleon faithful to his oath declares that he renounces, for himself and his heirs, the thrones of France and Italy, and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of his life, which he is not ready to do the interests of France. Act of Abdication of Napoleon - 11 April 1814 However, on Elba, Napoleon was separated from his wife and son, who had  returned to Austria.  There also were rumors that he was about to be banished to a remote island  somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. So, on February 26th. 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba with the brig called Inconstant and some 700 men over him. Two days later Napoleon arrived on the French Mainland at Golf-Juan. From there he started his tour to the north. Source pictures: Wikipedia

In the evening of February 24th. 1500 a lot of bell rings and gun salutes announced the birth of a Prince in Ghent (now located in Flanders, Belgium). The boy received the name Charles. His parents were Philip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad. They stayed since November 1499 at the Prinsenhof in Ghent. The Prinsenhof was a residence of the Counts of Flanders. It fell into  disrepair  and it was lost around 1870. The citizens of Ghent came to the Prinsenhof to cheer for Philip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad. A lot of parties were organized in the Netherlands to celebrate this important birth. The Culture and the Courtly life of the Burgundian Low Countries stayed very important during Charles 's young life. And the noble boy grew up to an  Holy Roman Emperor, but that's for  another blog post.  Source pictures: Wikipedia

February 22nd. 1760 marks the birth of Princess Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen. This took place in Hildburghausen, now located in Germany. Her parents were Ernest Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Princess Ernestine of Saxe-Weimar. Her godparents were inter alia: * The Danish Royal Couple; * The King of Poland; * Regents of the Houses of Saxe-Coburg, Saxe-Weimar, Mecklenburg and    Weimar. On March 6th. 1776, Princess Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen married the Hereditary Prince Francis Fedrick Anthony of Saxe-Saalfeld. She was at that time 16. He was already in love with his future wife: Countess Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf. I made already a Today in History about Francis Frederick Antony, Duke of Saxe-Saalfeld. You can read the blogpost on this link .  Princess Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen died on October 28th. 1776 from influenza. She remained childless and she was buried in the crypt of the St. Moritz Church in Coburg. Source pic...

February 21st. 1770 marks the birth of Georges Mouton. This took place in Phalsbourg (France). In 1792 he entered the Revolutionary Army. After serving in several wars, Georges Mouton was promoted to colonel. In 1805 Georges Mouton was promoted to général de Brigade. In 1810 he was created Count of Lobau for his role in the battle of Aspern. During the Russian Campaign (1812), Georges Mouton served as aide-de-camp for Emperor Napoleon I of France. During the Hundred Days, Georges Mouton rallied to Emperor Napoleon I and he was made commander of the VI Infantry Corps. He led the battles of Ligny and Waterloo. There Georges Mouton distinguished himself against the army of Prussia. After the Second Restorations Georges Mouton was forced to leave France, however he returned to his country in 1818. There he was elected to the House of Representatives as a liberal. In 1831 he was made peer of France and Marshal for his services for King Louis Philippe of France. ...

February 19th. 1559 marks the birth of Philip II, Margrave of Baden-Baden. Parents His parents were Philibert of Baden-Baden and Mechtild of Bavaria. Youth In October 1569, Philip's father, Philibert, died during the battle of Montcontour. Philip who was then 10 years old and his sister, Jakobae were raised by their guardian Albert V, Duke of Bavaria in strict  catholic faith. However at the University of Inglostadt Philip was educated in the spirit of the counter reformation. Reign Philibert, Margrave of Baden-Baden had promised freedom of religion to  his subjects, however under his son, Philip II this freedom was restricted. In 1579 Philip gave the order to build a castle in Renaissance style. This increased his debts enormously. During his reign, witch hunts took place. This was a dark side in the history of Baden-Baden. In 1580, 18 women were burnt.  Death Philip II, Margrave of Baden-Baden died on June 7th....

Hendrick van Brederode Statue Brussels own picture taken in 2017 Hendrick, also written as Henry, Hendrik, Lord of Brederode was born in December 1531 in Brussels, now capital of Belgium. His parents were Reinoud III van Brederode and Philippotte von der Marck. Hendrick was their eldest son. They were members of the noble family van Brederode. Hendrick was raised in the Reformed faith and he fought on the side of the Prince of Orange and the Count of Egmont against the Spanish inquisition. In 1566 he was one of the founders of the Confederacy of nobles who bound themselves to keep their rights and their freedom of the country. They signed a very important document: Compromise of Nobles. On April 5th. 1566 Hendrick was one of the nobles who gave a petition with grievance to Margaret of Parma, the regent of The Netherlands. Hendrick became an important member during the Eighty Year's War. He was named 'Grote Geus' or in English 'Big Beggar...

Frederick III of Simmern was born on February 14th. 1515 as a son of John II of Simmern and Beatrice of Baden. Noble House Frederick III of Simmern was a member of the House of Wittelsbach, from the branch Palatinate - Simmern - Sponhein. Love & Marriage In 1537 Frederick III of Simmern married Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. She was the daughter of Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Susanna of Bavaria. They would have 11 children. Although Frederick III of Simmern was educated in the Roman Faith he strongly was influenced by his wife. Later he followed the Reformation. In 1546 he made a public profession of his faith. In 1567 Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach died. Frederick III married for the second time. In 1569 he chose Amalia of Neuenahr as his bride. This marriage remained childless. Reign Frederick III of Simmern became Duke with the death of his father on May 18th. 1557. He also became elector on February 12th. 1559 with the death...

February 13th. 1457 marks the birth of Mary of Burgundy. This took place at the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels (now capital of Belgium). Family Mary of Burgundy was the only child of Charles the Bold and Isabella of Bourbon. Her godfather was Louis, Dauphin of France. Her grandfather, Philip the Good was not impressed by her birth because she was a girl, Isabella of Portugal, Mary's grandmother, on the other hand was delighted at the birth of her granddaughter. Her baptism in 1457 had been a splendid affair. Louis XI of France, then the dauphin, was one of her godfathers. Most of her childhood was spent at Castle Ten Waele in Ghent, under the care of Lady Hallewijn. Anne of Burgundy, later the wife of lord Ravenstein, was responsible for her education. At Brussels, Mary liked the Warende, a deer park, near the ducal palace, she grew up with a keen interest in animals, hunting and other outdoor sports. She also had a taste for music, chess and art. Reig...

One of the most expensive and prestigious streets in Brussels, capital of Belgium, is the Avenue Louise. The street runs southeast from the Place Louise till the Bois de la Chambre. It covers a distance of 2,7 kilometers or 1,7 miles. Avenue Louise Brussels Belgium Some History The Avenue Louise was commissioned in 1847 as a monumental avenue bordered by chestnut Trees. During World War II, Brussels was occupied by the German military. The Nazi security organization set up their headquarter at the Avenue Louise. On January 20th. 1943, Jean de Selys Longchamps attacked this headquarter. Jean de Selys Longchamps was a Belgian aristocrat and pilot by RAF. For this pilot there is still a monument on the Avenue Louise before the number 243. Royal Link The name Avenue Louise was chosen in honor for Princess Louise of Belgium. She was the eldest daughter of King Leopold II. Source picture: Wikipedia I wrote a 'Today in History' about the tragic life ...

Robert I (also called the Good) was the first Count of Artois and a son of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castille. In 1237,by his majority, Robert received the County of Artois as an appanage in accordance to the will of his father. On June 14th. 1237 Robert married Matilda, daughter of Duke Henri II of Brabant and Marie of Hohenstaufen. They would have 2 children: - Blanche - Robert II In 1240 Pope Gregory had a conflict with Emperor Frederick II and the Pope offered the crown to Robert, but the French count refused. Robert I died on February 8th. 1250 during a reckless attack in Al Mansurah (now Egypt) during the 7th. crusade. Source pictures: Wikipedia

Robert, Count of Clermont was born in 1256 as the son of King Louis IX of France and Margaret of Provence. In 1272 Robert married Beatrice of Burgundy, the Heiress of Bourbon. They would have 6 children. In 1279 Robert suffered head injuries, which made him invalid for the remainder of his life. Robert & Beatrice were considered as founders of the House of Bourbon. Their eldest son Louis became the first Duke of Bourbon. The House of Bourbon had links with: * Kings of Navarre; * Kings of France; * Kings of the Two Sicilies; * Dukes of Parma * Grand Dukes of Luxembourg; * Kings of Spain. Robert, Count of Clermont died on February 7th. 1317. Source picture: Wikipedia

One of the most beautiful buildings in Aachen, Germany is the Elisenbrunnen, About the building The Elisenbrunnen were built  after the plans of architects: Johann Peter Cremer and Karl Friedrich Schinkel Its style is Neoclassicism. About the name & Royal Link The Elisenbrunnen were called after Elisabeth Ludovika, Princess of Bavaria, who married the future King Frederick William IV of Prussia. About its history Since long Aachen was famous for its Spa. A lot of famous (royal) guests came therefore to Aachen inter alia: King Frederick the Great of Prussia; Czar Peter the Great of Russia. In 1819, the council of the city decided to build a "Brunnenhall". The first stone was placed on November 16th. 1822. On May 2nd. 1827 the Elisenbrunnen were opened, although the official inauguration took place in 1828. Inside marble panels remember the famous guests of Aachen. During World War II the Elisenbrunnen was destroyed by bombs, however...

Reading books about Royal History is very interesting, especially when a former King told his own story. About the Duke of Windsor Edward was born on June 23rd. 1894 during the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria. He was the eldest son of the later King George V and Queen Mary. On July 13th. 1911 Edward was invested as the Prince of Wales during a ceremony at Caernarvon Castle. In 1914 World War I broke out and Prince Edward joined the Grenadier Guards. In the 1920"s Prince Edward represented his father, King George V, at home and abroad for many occasions. On January 20th. 1936 King George V of England died and Prince Edward became King. In October 1936 it became clear that King Edward VII wanted to marry Wallis Simpson. Wallis Simpson was twice divorced. On December 11th. 1936 King Edward VII abdicated so that he could marry his big love. On March 8th. 1937 the title Duke of Windsor was created for the former King Edward VII. On J...

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a very small state in Central Europe bordered by Switzerland and Austria. Some facts & figures : It has 11 municipalities and its capital is Vaduz. The main language of Liechtenstein is German. Liechtenstein has a constitutional monarchy founded by Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein. First stamps On February 1st. 1912 this beautiful country issued its own stamps. However Austrian stamps were valid in Liechtenstein till January 31st. 1921. Famous objects for the stamps As everywhere the Royal Family of Liechtenstein was a famous object for its stamps. Source picture: Wikipedia