All About Royal Families

On February 26th. 1914, the ship HMHS Britannic was launched. This vessel was a part of the fleet of the White Star Line and a sister ship of the RMS Olympic and the RMS Titanic. On this link , you can see a very interesting youtube movie about the  HMHS Britannic. Building The Keel of the HMHS Britannic was laid on November 30th. 1911 at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Due to the Titanic disaster, which took place on April 15th. 1912, the launching of HMHS Britannic was postponed. First some improvements of the ship were needed. Duty Initially the HMHS Britannic served for Transatlantic service between New York and Southampton. World War I In 1914, World War I broke out and in 1915 the vessel was needed for the war. The HMHS Britannic left Belfast on December 11th. 1915. Later it arrived in Liverpool where she was commissioned as His Majesty's hospital Ship. Last Voyage On November 21st. 1916, near Kea (Greek Island), a loud explosion s...

Léon Spilliaert (Born: July 28th. 1881, Ostend - Died: November 23rd. 1946, Brussels) was known as one of the most important Belgian painters and one of the founders of the literary symbolism, although his work was too eccentric to have one style. Leon Spilliaert Selfportrait - own picture taken in 2017 Royal Link His father Leonard Hubert Spilliaert (1851-1928) had a perfumery in Ostend and made his own perfumes like "Brise d'Ostend", which made him a royal warrant holder of King Leopold II of Belgium. Spilliaert and Ostend - Own picture taken in 2017 Youth In 1900, Léon Spilliaert and his father visited the World exhibition in Paris. Leon also liked to read works from Edgar Allan Poe, Maurice Maeterlinck, Vergilius and Friedrich Nietzsche. Leon Spilliaert at home, where he works Network From 1902 till 1904, Spilliaert served a famous publisher in Brussels: Edmond Deman. Through this work Léon Spilliaert came in contact with the Brusse...

Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria, also known as the Rich was born on February 23rd. 1417 in Burghausen, Bavaria, now located in Germany. Family His parents were Henry XVI, Duke of Bavaria and Margaret of Austria. He was a member of the noble House of Wittelsbach. Love and Marriage On March 21st. 1452, Louis married Princess Amalia of Saxony. They would have four children. Duty In 1450, Louis succeeded his father as Duke of Bavaria. He was the second of the three famous rich dukes, who reigned Bavaria-Landshut in the 15th. century. In 1458, Louis invaded the imperial free cities of Dinkelsbühl and Donauwörth. He disputed this with Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick III. In 1462, Louis defeated his enemy, Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg. Louis also expelled all Jews who rejected baptism from his duchy. In 1463, peace was made in Prague between Louis and the Holy Roman Emperor. In 1472, the Bavarian duke founded the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Ingolstad...

Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont was born on February 17th. 1861 in Arolsen (now located in Germany). Family Her parents were George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Princess Helena of Nassau. She was thus a sister of Emma, Queen Consort of William III of the Netherlands. Love and Marriage The sisters, Helena, Emma and Pauline were considered as a second wife for King William III of the Netherlands, however Emma became his consort. Later, Helena met Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and the youngest son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, at the suggestion of her mother. In November 1881, the two became engaged. On April 27th. 1882, Leopold and Helena married in the St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. After their wedding, the Royal Couple resided at Claremont House. The couple had a brief, but happy marriage. Unfortunately, Leopold died of haemophilia after a fall in Cannes France in March 1884. Then, Helena was pregnant with the...

In 1792 and 1793, France had occupied the Austrian Netherlands (nowadays Belgium), in the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars. When the Southern Netherlands were incorporated by the French Republic, la Grande Armée realized that they need a fort near the seacoast in Ostend. Fort Napoleon, Ostend, Belgium, own picture taken in 2012 Napoleon On February 13th. 1798, Napoleon made his first visit to Ostend. He thought England would invade the Southern Netherlands and history proved that Napoleon Bonaparte was right. Napoleon Bonaparte Source picture: Wikipedia As soon as the English heard from this visit, they decided to act. On May 19th. 1798, a fleet of 37 ships, led by captain Home Riggs Popham appeared at the coast of Ostend. The city was heavily bombarded.  English special forces, led by Major General Eyre Coote landed in the dunes of Bredene. Captain Arnoud Muscar, his Grenadiers, together with troops from Nieuwpoort...

At the Parliament Square in London, there is a magnificent statue of Sir Robert Peel, 2nd. Baronet, who was born on February 5th. 1788. Sir Robert Peel - Statue in london - own picture taken in 2016 Family Peel was born at Chamber Hall, Bury, Lancashire, as the son of Sir Robert Peel, 1st. Baronet, who was one of the richest textile manufacturers. His mother was Ellen Yates. Love and Marriage In 1820, Peel married Julia, the youngest daughter of General Sir John Floyd, 1st. Baronet. They would have 5 sons and 2 daughters. Duty Peel entered politics in 1809 at the age of 21 as MP. His sponsor for the election was his own father and Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington. Peel was considered as one of the rising stars of the Tory party, he first entered the cabinet in 1822. Later he served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834 - 1835 and 1841-1846) and twice as Home Secretary (1822-1827 and 1828-1830). As Home Secretary, he int...