All About Royal Families

On 31 January 1938, a very noble girl was born at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, the Netherlands. She received the names: Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard Family Princess Beatrix was the eldest daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (then Princess) and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She belonged to the noble house of Orange-Nassau by birth. Through her father she was a member of the noble house of Lippe. Baptism Princess Beatrix was baptized in the Great Church of The Hague. Her godparents were: - King Leopold III of Belgium; - Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone; - Elisabeth, Princess of Erbach-Schönberg; - Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg; - Countess Allene de Kotzebue. Sisters Princess Beatrix has 3 sisters: Princess Irene Princess Margriet Princess Christina Love and Marriage Queen Beatrix married on 10 March 1966 to Prince Claus. They had 3 children: Willem-Alexander Friso Constantijn Reign On 30 April 1980, Queen Juliana abdi

On 31 January 1512, a noble boy was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He received the name: Henry. Family Henry was the fifth son of King Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of Aragon. He belonged to the noble house of Aviz. A cardinal As a younger son in the royal family, Henry was not expected to succeed to the Portuguese throne. Already early in his life, Henry took the Holy Orders to promote Portuguese interests in the Catholic Church (then dominated by Spain). Henry rose fast through the Church hierarchy, he became soon Archbishop of Braga, Archbishop of Évora and Grand Inquisitor before receiving a Cardinal's hat in 1545. From 1564 till 1570 he was Archbishop of Lisbon. Henry encouraged to bring the Jesuits to Portugal and to employ them in the colonial empire. A King After 1562, Henry served as regent for his great-nephew King Sebastian. After the terrible Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578, King Sebastian died. Henry attempted to renounce his eccle

On 25 January 1139 Godfrey, I Count of Louvain died. He also was called the Bearded, the Courageous or even the Great. Titles Godfrey was: - Landgrave of Brabant and Count of Brussels and Leuven (Louvain) - Duke of Lower Lorraine - Margrave of Antwerp (from 1106 till his death). Noble Family Godfrey was born around 1060 as the son of Henry II, Count of Louvain and Adela of Orthen (or Betuwe) a daughter of the Count of Orthen. Godfrey belonged thus to the noble House of Reginar. Love and Marriage Godfrey married Ida of Chiny, daughter of Otto II, Count of Chiny and Adelaide of Namur. The couple had 6 children together. Their eldest daughter, Adeliza of Louvain would marry King Henry I of England. Godfrey married later to Clementia of Burgundy, the daughter of William I, Count of Burgundy and the widow of Robert II, Count of Flanders. They would have no children. Duty Godfrey came into conflict with Otbert, Bishop of Liège about the county of Brunen

When Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, founded in 1430 the Order of the Golden Fleece, he granted members of his court the title knight. One of them was Antoine I de Croÿ, Count of Porcéan. This Antoine I de Croÿ, also called Antoine le Grand, was the eldest son and heir of Jean I de Croÿ. The de Croÿ family became important during the rule of the Burgundian Dukes. They were actively involved in the difficult politics of France, Spain, Austria and of course the Low Countries. A noble history Jean I de Croÿ Jean served two dukes of Burgundy:  Philip the Bold and  John the Fearless . Jean I de Croÿ married a wealthy heiress: Marie de Craon. In 1397 Jean acquired the lordship of Chimay, which would become the main seat of the de Croÿ family. Later he was appointed governor of Artois. He was Grand Bouteiller of the King of France. Jean and two of his sons were killed at the  Battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415. Antoine I Le Grand  Antoine I le Gra

For more than 90 years the Savonneries Bruxelloises offer tradition and beauty products, especially known for its soap. own picture taken in 2018 - Savonneries Bruxelloises This was  noticed by some members of the royal family of Belgium. Since a few years Savonneries Bruxelloises are purveyor to the royal court of Belgium. Savonneries Bruxelloises are based in Laeken (near the centre of Brussels) not far of the royal Palace. own picture taken in 2018 - Savonneries Bruxelloises Timeline 1922: foundation of the Karak Soap and Perfume Works by           Emile Collin and Alexis Huylenbroeck 1926: Karak Soap produces its first soap at the           Rue Tollenaere in Brussels 1953: The Name Savonneries Bruxelloises was created 2016: Savonneries Bruxelloises became Royal Warrant Holder To know more about this interesting purveyor of the Belgian Royal Court, check their site on this link .

On 9 January 1878, King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy died. That's why I'd like to mention the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II in Rome. National Monument Victor Emmanuel II of Italy in Rome - picture taken in 2017 About the Monument The Altare della Patria or the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II really is a must see for royal history lovers. This piece of art is built in honour of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. It has a wonderful location between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill in Rome, the capital of Italy. Some history The National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in 1885. It was inaugurated in 1911 and completed in 1925. Equestrian Statue of King Victor Emmanuel II - own picture taken in 2017 The building The National monument has stairways, Corinthian columns, fountains and an equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel and two statues of the goddess Victoria. T

In the garden of the Petit Sablon in Brussels, capital of Belgium, there is a remarkable statue worth to take a closer look to the person behind the statue. Lodewijk van Bodegem own picture taken in 2017 It is the one made of Lodewijk van Bodegem, also called Loys van Boghem or Lowys van Beughem.  First of all Lodewijk van Bodegem isn't very famous anymore though his  history really is remarkable.  Personal story Lodewijk van Bodegem was born around 1470 in St. Martens Bodegem (one of the Brussels regions).   Loys' father had a stone quarry near Stuivenberg. Loys and his brother continued the business after their father's death. After 1496 Loys married Anna van Aelst. They had a lot of children. Loys died in 1540 in Brussels. Royal Duty Loys Van Bogem was master in a guild from Brussels. Together with  Laurens Keldermans and Hendrik van Pede he built the Nassau Palace  in Brussels. This was the city's residence of

Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar was born on 20 February 1867 at Marlborough House in London. The three daughters of Wales and their cousins from Russia Family The Princess was the daughter of King Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark (then the Prince and Princess of Wales). She was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She was a sister of inter alia the later King George V. In 1905, her father granted Louise the title: Princess Royal. Love and Marriage On 27 July 1889, Louise married Alexander Duff at the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace. Two days after the wedding Queen Victoria created him 1st. Duke of Fife and Marques Macduff. They would have 3 children. Only two daughters would reach their adulthood: - Princess Alexandra - Princess Maud Duty In 1911, the Princess Royal and her family sailed to Egypt. They were shipwrecked in Morocco. The Duke of Fife went ill and he died in Assuan, Egypt. Louise, Princess Royal w

One of the most amazing monuments in Lisbon, Portugal is the National Pantheon or the Church of Santa Engrácia. National Pantheon - Lisbon - Portugal Some Royal History The original church was sponsored by Infanta Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu. She was the daughter of King Manuel I of Portugal. Maria of Portugal, Duchess of Viseu Source: picture In 1681 the construction of the current church began after previous structures collapsed. Small National Panteon - Lisbon - Portugal The design was made by João Antunes, the royal architect and one of the most important baroque architects of Portugal. Dome of the National Pantheon in Lisbon - Portugal In 1916, during the First Portuguese Republic, the Church of Santa Engrácia was converted into a National Pantheon. It was compleded in 1966. There are a few important monuments for famous Portuguese people: buried: - Amália Rodrigues (fado singer); - Eusébio (football player) cenotaphs: - P