All About Royal Families

Melchior Broederlam, who probably lived between 1350 and 1409, certainly is worth to mention as a painter of Royal Art. He was born Ypres (nowadays located in Flanders, Belgium) and he became one of the Early Netherlands painters. In the first years of his career, Melchior Broederlam even stayed in Italy. There he was influenced by Trecento painting (the beginning of the Renaissance in art). Royal Links Melchior Broederlam was appointed as court painter of Louis II, Count of Flanders from 1381. When Louis II, Count of Flanders died in 1384, Broederlam 's career wasn't finished. From then the painter worked for Louis 's son-in-law, Philip the Bold, the first Valois Duke of Burgundy . Melchior Broederlam even stayed at the Burgundian Court during the reign of John the Fearless . The ducal painter was last mentioned in the archives in 1409. Works His only surviving works probably are two wings of an altar piece, commissioned by Phili...

Princess Auguste of Bavaria was born on April 28th. 1875 at Munich, Bavaria (nowadays a part of Germany). Princess Auguste of Bavaria, her parents and her siblings Family Her parents were Prince Leopold of Bavaria and Archduchess Gisela of Austria. Her maternal grandparents were Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi). Princess Auguste of Bavaria was thus a sister of: - Princess Elisabeth Marie of Bavaria; - Prince George of Bavaria; - Prince Conrad of Bavaria. By birth she was a member of the noble House of Wittelsbach. Love and Marriage On November 15th. 1893, Princess Auguste of Bavaria married at Munich to Archduke Joseph August of Austria. The royal couple would have 6 children. Duty During World War I, Princess Auguste of Bavaria and other noble women took care of the wounded people and she gave financial help to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Death Princess Auguste of Bav...

April 26th. 1319 marks the birth of John of France. This took place at Le Mans, France. Family His parents were King Philip VI of France and Joan of Burgundy, also called Joan the Lame. He was thus a brother of inter alia Philip, Duke of Orleans. Love and Marriage At first, there were rumors of a marriage between John of France and Eleanor of Woodstock, sister of King Edward III of England. However King Philip VI of France invited John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia to Fontainebleau. As a part of a treaty, John had to marry Bonne of Bohemia. On July 28th.1332, at the Church of Notre Dame in Melun, the wedding between John of France and Bonne of Bohemia was celebrated. They would have 10 children together. Bonne of Bohemia died in 1349. On February 19th. 1350, John married  Joanna I, Countess of Auvergne and Boulogne. She was the widow of Philip of Burgundy and the mother of Philip I, Duke of Burgundy. She and King John II of France would have 3 childre...

On April 23rd. 1823 a royal birth took place in the Sahil Palace in Besiktas or at the Topkapi Palace, both in Constantinople. ( Now located in Istanbul, Turkey .) The new born boy received the name: Abdul Mecid bin Mahmud also known as: Abdülmecid or Abdulmejid. Family His parents were sultan Mahmud II and his first wife Bezmiâlem Sultan. Youth Abdulmejid received a European education and he spoke fluent French. He was interested in literature and classical music. He traveled to Izmit, Mudanya, Bursa, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Lemnos, Lesbos and Chios and in 1846 he toured in the Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Love & Marriage Abdulmejid married nineteen times and he had forty-three children. Duty On July 2nd. 1839, Abdulmejid became the 31st. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Like his father Abdulmejid I, he was an advocate of reforms and he was lucky enough to have the support of the progressive viziers. The conservatives opposed his reforms. ...

Royals, rock stars, tycoons and artists, all of them, like to have a special or a beautiful interior of their homes.  Many times they end up by Axel Vervoordt, a Belgian collector, antiquarian, interior designer and curator.  Vlaeykensgang in Antwerp Some history Axel Vervoordt was born in 1947 in Antwerp. His father was active in the international horse trade and his mother was a good friend with artists.  In 1960, Axel Vervoordt started to renovate houses in Antwerp. This became an important part of the group Vervoordt: the purchase of houses, renovate  them and even upgrade them.  One of his most famous projects is the renovation of the Vlaeykensgang,  a small street in Antwerp from the 16th. century (see pictures). Traveling At the age of 14 he traveled for the first time to England, to collect special objects of art. This also became one of his main activities.  In the early 1970's Axel traveled ...

On the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains, above the town of Sintra, a real national Portuguese monument certainly is worth a visit: Pena Palace. Pena Palace - Sintra - Portugal - own picture taken in 2017 This Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.  Nowadays it is used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials. The Pena Palace is open for visitors. See more on next link .  Pena Palace entrance Some history The history of the Pena Palace started in the Middle Ages when a chapel  dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. Soon there was a Royal Connection. In 1493, King John II of Portugal and his wife, Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, also was very fond of this place, he ordered the construction of a monastery, which was donate...

Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg was born on October 15th. 1550 in Dillenburg (now located in Germany). Counts of Nassau - Source picture: Wikipedia Family His parents were William the Rich and Juliana of Stolberg-Wernigerode. Count Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg was thus a brother of inter alia William the Silent. Education Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg was raised in the Lutheran faith and he studied in Leuven and Strasbourg. Military action Henry and his brothers, William and Louis joined the Hugenot army of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince of Condé. He took part in the Battle of Moncontour ( 3 October 1559) and the Battle of Mookerheyde. The Battle of Mookerheyde took place on April 14th. 1574. Then Henry died at the age of 23. His elder brother Louis, was also killed in the battle. Battle of the Mookerheyde - Source picture: Wikipedia

Léopold Louise Philippe Marie Victor was born on April 9th. 1835 in Brussels, Belgium. Leopold, in 1844 - Source: Wikipedia Family Leopold was the second child of King Leopold I of Belgium and his wife Louise of Orléans. He was thus a brother of: - Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium (who died young), - Philippe, Count of Flanders, - Charlotte, the later empress of Mexico His first cousins included both Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert, but also King Fernando II of Portugal. King Leopold II and his wife Queen Marie Henriette Source: Wikipedia Love & Marriage In 1853, at the age of 18, Leopold married Marie Henriette of Austria. She was a cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and a granddaughter of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Some people joked about this marriage of a "stableman and a nun". Leopold was referred as the nun. From this marriage four children were born: - Princess Louise, wh...

The Old Palace of Ostend, was closely linked with the Royal Family of Belgium. Old Royal Palace in Ostend - own picture It was in this residence that Louise of Orléans, the first Queen of Belgium died on 11 October 1850. death chamber of Queen Louise of Belgium own picture taken in 2017 Some history This residence in the Langestraat 69 in Ostend was bought by Théodore van Moorsel. Under the French occupation, this building was used as headquarter for Emperor Napoleon. In 1815, Théodore van Moorsel sold this house to Eduard Jean Serruys. He rented it to King Leopold I of Belgium and his wife Queen Louise of Orléans. Flags of Belgium and Statue of King Leopold I own picture taken in 2017 In 1867, King Leopold II of Belgium bought the house and he stayed there sometimes during the winter months. In 1922, it became a part of the Royal Trust of Belgium. Nowadays it is open for public. It houses some museums. Queen Louise of Belgium  Besides i...