All About Royal Families

April 28th. 1612 marks the birth of Odoardo Farnese, also known as Odoardo I Farnese, to distinguish him from his grandson Odoardo II Farnese. Family His parents were Ranuccio I Farnese and Margherita Aldobrandini. Love & Marriage On October 11th. 1628 Odoardo Farnese married Margherita de' Medici, a daughter of Cosimo II de' Medici and Maria Maddalena of Austria. This took place in Florence (Italy). The wedding ceremonies were accompanied with much spectacle, including the performance of a special opera. Margherita de' Medici was described as a beautiful, amiable and well-educated woman. The Duke was very devoted to her. Duty The years in which the couple ruled over Parma were marked by the Plague in 1630. There also was a huge contrast between the Splendor of the court and the way their subjects lived. A raise in Tax Income was used to improve Odoardo 's army. The Duke also had a pro-French policy, therefore he made an alliance with ...

On April 25th. Anzac Day takes place in Australia and New Zealand. Why Anzac Day takes place?  This day commemorates all soldiers of Australia and New Zealand who served and died in all wars, conflicts and Peacekeeping operations. What does Anzac mean? Anzac stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. What is the history behind Anzac ? During World War I Australia and New Zealand were placed on the side of the Commonwealth. In 1915 the soldiers formed a part of an expedition with as main objective the capture of Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire (now is it the city of Istanbul, located in Turkey). The soldiers arrived in Gallipoli on April 25th.  and they had to deal with a huge resistance of the Ottoman defenders. The campaign got stocked for eight months. At the end of 1915 all the allied forces were evacuated from the peninsula of Gallipoli. So sadly Gallipoli had a lot of impact in Australia and New Zealand. That's ...

On June 9th. 1854 the Great Western Royal Hotel was opened by Albert, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. This building wanted 'to rival the facilities of the great hotels on the continent'. Hilton London Paddington - own picture - taken in 2016 Owners The early owners of the hotel were the Great Western Railway Company and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who became the first manager from the hotel. Architect The Great Western Royal Hotel was designed by architect Philip Charles Hardwick. The building itself was built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts. Style This Hotel was built in the Second Empire style (which was one of the earliest buildings in that style). Hilton London Paddington - own picture - taken in 2016 History Originally the Great Western Railway Company leased to the Great Western Royal Hotel Company. In the 1930's  the Railway Company took control over the Hotel. However due to the privatization of Britis...

On April 21st. 1767, Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg was born in Trzebiatów (now located in West Poland). Family Her parents were Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt (a niece of Frederick the Great). Education At the age of 15, Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg was called by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II to Vienna. There she was educated at the Salesianerinnenkloster and she converted to Catholicism. Love & Marriage On January 6th. 1788 Elisabeth married Archduke Francis of Austria, who became later Holy Roman Emperor. At the end of 1789 Elisabeth was pregnant, though her condition wasn't that good. On February 18th. 1790 the Elisabeth gave prematurely birth to Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth of Austria. Death On February 18th. 1790 Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg died. She didn't survived the childbirth. She was buried at the Imperial Crypt in Vienna (Austria). Source picture: Wi...

April 20th. 1727 marks the birth of Florimond Claude, Comte de Mercy-Argenteau. This took place in Liège (Belgium). Family He was the son of Field Marshal Antoine Ignace de Mercy d'Argenteau and Thérèse Henriëtte de Rouvroy. Career Florimond Claude entered the Austrian diplomatic corps. He became Austrian minister in Turin (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia) and in Paris (France). In Paris his first work was to strengthen the alliance between France and Austria. This resulted in a marriage between the later Louis XVI and Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria. When Louis XVI became King, Mercy-Argenteau was one of the most powerful persons at the French court by manipulating Queen Marie-Antoinette, which made her unpopular with the French nobility and with the people. In 1792 Mercy-Argenteau became governor of the Austrian Netherlands. His ability and his experience made from him an excellent ruler. In 1794 Mercy-Argenteau was appointed as Austrian ambassado...

April 18th. 1590 marks the birth of Ahmed I Bahti. This took place in Manisa, a city in the Agean Region in Turkey (then Ottoman Empire). Family Ahmeds parents were Sultan Mehmed III and Handan Sultan. He belonged to the House of Osmanli. Love & Marriage Ahmed I married 3 times: - Mahpeyker Sultan; - Mahfiruz Sultan; - Fatma Sultan. He had more than 12 children. The most famous were: - Osman II; - Murad IV; - Ibrahim I. Reign In 1603, at the age of 13, Ahmed succeeded his father as sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He was known for his skills in poetry, horseback riding, and his fluency in different languages. Ahmed I interfered with two wars and a revolt - Ottoman Safavid War (1604-1606); - War with the Austrian Habsburgs (1604-1606); - Jelali Revolt. Legacy Ahmed I became most famous for his contribution of the Blue Mosque, also called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, in Istanbul. Death Ahmed I died on November 22nd. 1617 in Istanbul. So...

April 16th. 1663 marks the birth of Alexander Sigismund von der Pfalz-Neuburg. This took place in Neuburg an der Donau (Germany). Family His parents were Philip William, Elector Palatine and Landgravine Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Alexander Sigismund was their fifth son. Education From an early age it became clear that Alexander Sigismund was destined for Clergy. Therefore he was sent to the Jesuits in Neuburg an der Donau and later in Düsseldorf. Career On February 10th. 1681 Alexander Sigismund von der Pfalz - Neuburg was appointed as coadjutor (assistant) bishop of Ausburg. On April 1st. 1690 he succeeded Johann Christoph von Freyberg-Allmendingen as Prince Bishop of Ausburg. In 1714 Alexander Sigismund suffered from mental illness "Melancholy" (hint by Mad Monarchs - More Mad Monarchs on this link  ). and he had to give up his duties in 1718. Death On January 24th. 1737 Alexander Sigismund von der Pfalz-Neuburg died in Ausburg. ...

April 14th. 1818 marks the birth of Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. This took place in Hildburghausen, Thuringia (Germany). Family & Titles Her parents were  Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Duchess Amalia of Württemberg. In 1826 the family moved from Hildburghausen to Altenburg. Within the family Ernestine Wettins, there were an amount of transfers of territories, so Princess Marie received the title Princess of Saxe-Altenburg. Love & Marriage On February 18th. 1843 Princess Marie married George Crown Prince of Hanover. They would have 3 children: - Prince Ernest August; - Princess Frederica; - Princess Marie. Queen Consort of Hanover On November 18th. 1851, George became King of Hanover, upon the death of his father Ernest Augustus I of Hanover. However in 1866 her husband was expelled from his Kingdom due to his support of Austria, during the Austria-Prussian war. Royal Connections On September 18th. 1872, Queen Marie of Hanover be...

April 12th. 1432 marks the birth of Anne of Bohemia and Austria. This took place in Vienna (Austria). Anne also was Duchess of Luxembourg in her own right. Family Her parents were Albert of Austria and Elisabeth, Queen of Bohemia. Anna's sister Elisabeth would become Queen of Poland. Love & Marriage On June 2nd. 1446 Anne married William "The Brave" of Saxony. He was the Landgrave of Thuringa and a younger son of Frederick I of Saxony. Anne and William would have 2 daughters. Death On November 13th. 1462 at the age of 30! Anne died in Eckartsberga (Germany). Source picture: Wikipedia

William  (in Dutch: Willem) I, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg was born on April 10th. 1487 in Dillenburg (Germany). Parents His parents were John V of Nassau-Dillenburg and Landgravine Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg. Love & Marriage On October 29th. 1506 William married Countess Walburga of Egmont. They would have two daughters. His first wife died in 1529. On September 20th. 1531 William married Countess Juliana of Stolberg- Wernigerode. They would have 12 children! Through his children he is an ancestor of Princes Beatrix of The Netherlands and King Willem-Alexander. Nickname William I "The Rich", Count of Nassau came from his huge number of children. Death William I, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg died on October 6th. 1559. Source picture: Wikipedia

Leopold George Duncan Albert was born on April 7th. 1853 at Buckingham Palace in Londen, United Kingdom. Family His parents were Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband, Prince Albert. Prince Leopold was named after his grand-uncle, King Leopold of Belgium. On June 28th. 1853, Prince Leopold was baptized in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Bird Sumner.His godparents were: - George V of Hanover; - Princess William of Prussia; - Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge; - Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Illness Unfortunately Prince Leopold inherited hemophilia from his mother, Queen Victoria. Study In 1872, Prince Leopold entered Oxford University. There he studied various subjects and he even became president of the Oxford University Chess Club. Later he was a patron of Chess and in 1883 the London Chess Tournament was held under his patronage. Title On May 24th. 1881 Prince Leopold recei...

Near the St. Pancras Station in London a very beautiful building caught immediately my attention. Built in the amazing Victorian architectural style, the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel really is a striking landmark. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London - United Kingdom - Own picture Designer: George Gilbert Scott, who also designed the Albert Memorial in London. Timeline: * Between 1873 and 1935 it was used as the Midland Grand Hotel; * 1873 opening of the east-wing * Spring 1876 the rest of the hotel opened * 1922: the hotel was taken by the London Midland and Scottish Railway * Between 1935 and the 1980's it was used as Railway offices; * 1990's: Restoration of the exterior * 1996: the music video "Wannabe" of the Spice Girls was captured in the hotel * March 14th. 2011 re-opening of the Hotel to guests, the formal opening took    place on May 5th., exactly 138 years after the first opening of the hotel. Interesting Link about the...

James III was born on April 5th. 1315 at Catania, a beautiful city located on the east coast of Sicily. Parents His parents were Ferdinand of Majorca and Isabella of Sabran. King of Majorca In 1324, after the death of his uncle Sancho, James III became King of Majorca. Till 1329, his uncle Philip ruled the Kingdom as regent. Between 1343 and 1344 there was a short war and James III was driven out of Majorca. Love & Marriage On September 24th. 1336 James III married Constance of Aragon. Constance was the eldest daughter of King Alfonso IV of Aragon and his first wife Teresa d'Entença. This marriage was a dynastic agreement. James III and Constance of Aragon would have 2 children. However Constance died soon in childbirth. In 1347 James married his second wife Violante of Vilaragut. They had one daughter who lived very shortly. Death James III died on October 25th. 1349 during the Battle of Llucmajor, while he tried to retake his island. Source...