All About Royal Families

On 2 February 2002, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands married Máxima.  The bride wore a beautiful wedding dress made by Valentino. Who is this wonderful fashion designer, which is the history of this house and which are/were the royal clients? Check it in this fashion blog post. Who is Valentino? Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (born 11 May 1932), known  as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer and the founder of the Valentino brand and company.  Valentino was born in Voghera, in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. His mother named him after screen idol Rudolph Valentino. He became interested in fashion while in primary school in his native Voghera, Lombardy, northern Italy, when he apprenticed under his aunt Rosa and local designer Ernestina Salvadeo, an aunt of noted artist Aldo Giorgini. Valentino then moved to Paris to pursue this interest with the help of his mother Teresa de Biaggi and his father Mauro Garavani. There he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and at t

In a world full of fashion, the House of Gucci made the difference.  Who were they? And what is/was their connection with the royals? History Gucci was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci in Florence, Tuscany on  7, Via della Vigna Nuova in Florence, Azienda Individuale Guccio Gucci where he sold imported leather luggage.  He also opened a small workshop to have his own leather goods made by local craftsmen. Eventually, a larger workshop had to be acquired to house Gucci's 60 artisans. In 1935 the invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini led the League of Nations to impose a trade embargo on Italy. Leather became scarce, pushing Guccio Gucci to introduce other fabrics in the composition of the products, such as raffia, wicker, wood, linen and, jute. The rombi motif, a Gucci signature, was created. The Gucci's developed a new tanning technique to produce "cuoio grasso", which became a Gucci trademark. In 1937, Gucci launched its handbags. Guccio's wife and children all worke

Motorcycling certainly is a royal hobby because many kings and princes like(d) to drive incognito around.  Motorcycling is the act of riding on a motorcycle. Motorcycles are mainly a luxury good in developed nations. There they are mostly for recreation or as a symbol of identity.  Belgium King Albert II of Belgium was known as a keen motor cyclist. However he stopped  after a few accidents. His most famous accident was around the time of the wedding of his daughter Princess Astrid.  King Albert I,   the grandfather of King Albert II, had a passion for mechanics and especially for motors too. Denmark Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and her husband Crown Prince Frederik were seen on a scooter ride in 2006. Prince Hendrik of Denmark , the husband of Queen Margrethe of Denmark also liked to ride on a motor bike.  Germany Otto von Hessen died in an accident with his motor bike on 17 May 2020.  Italy Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice, the grandson of Princess Marie-José of Belgi

Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born on 8 November 30 (his year of birth was disputed) in the village of Narni, 50 kilometres north of Rome.  Family He was the son of Marcus Cocceius Nerva, who was consul during the reign of Caligula and Sergia Plutilla.  Nerva was a member of the Italian nobility rather than one of the elite of  Rome. However the Cocceii were among the most esteemed and prominent political families of the late Republic and the early Empire.  Emperor Not much was known of Nerva before he became an Emperor. However on  18 September 96, Domitian was assassinated and the same day the Senate proclaimed Marcus Cocceius Nerva emperor. This was a remarkable choice. Nerva was old and childless and spent much of his career out of the public light.  Nerva was considered a safe choice precisely because he was old and childless. Furthermore he had close connections with the Flavian dynasty and he had  gained respect from the Senate.  Duty Nerva publicly swore that no senators would be p

Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer born on 11 July 1934. He formed his  company Armani in 1975. By 2001, Armani was the most successful Italian fashion designer.  Source picture: Book Cover Giorgio Armani was born in the northern Italian town of Piacenza, where he was raised with his older brother Sergio and his younger sister Rosanna by their mother Maria Raimondi and father Ugo Armani. During the secondary school at the liceo Scientifico Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan,  Armani aspired to a career in medicine, particularly after reading A.J Cronin's  The Citadel. He enrolled in the Department of Medicine at the University of Milan. But he left after three years and in 1953 he joined the army. Due to his medical  background, he was assigned to the Military Hospital in Verona.  Finally he opted luckily for another career path. After the army, Armani found a job as a window dresser at La Rinascente, a department store in Milan in 1957. He went on to become a seller for the  me

Recently I bought a royal book from the library in Sint-Niklaas. I received a hint from a wonderful colleague and he discovered a real treasure. It is a book about Princess Marie-José of Belgium, who became the last Queen of Italy and her royal wardrobe.  Source picture: Bookcover Who was Princess Marie-José of Belgium? Princess Marie-José of Belgium was the third child and only daughter of King Albert I of Belgium and Queen Elisabeth (born Duchess in Bavaria). Her brothers were the  later King Leopold III of Belgium and Prince Charles (Regent of Belgium). Princess Marie-José was born on 4 August 1906 in Ostend (Oostende). During the First World War she was evacuated to England and later she attended the College  of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, Italy. On 8 January 1930, Princess Marie-José of Belgium married Crown Prince Umberto of Italy. They would have 4 children. She became president of the Red Cross in Italy. During World War II, Princess Marie-José became a diplomatic channe

On 24 September 15, Aulus Vitellius was born in Rome, then a part of the Roman Empire. Family Aulus Vitellius was the son of Lucius Vitellius and his wife Sextila. He had one brother who also was named Lucius Vitellius. When Vitellius was born his horoscope was so horrified that his father tried to prevent Aulus from becoming a consul. Early Youth Vitellius was one of the noble companions of Tiberius' retirement on Capri and there befriended Caligula, whose favour he won, by sharing in his passion for chariot racing and games of dice.  Love and Marriage Before the year 40 - he married a woman named Petronia with whom he had a son Aulus Vitellius Petronianus. Around the year 50, Aulus Vitellius married secondly a woman named  Galeria Fundana. They had two children, a son called Aulus Vitellius Germanicus and a daughter Vitellia, who married Decimus Valerius Asiaticus.  Career In 48, Aulus Vitellius became a Consul. In either 60 or 61, he became a  proconsular governor of Africa. At

On 27 March 1746, Carlo Maria Buonaparte also called Charles-Marie Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio Corsica (then a part of the Republic of Genoa) as the youngest of three children.  Family His parents were Giuseppe Buonaparte, who had represented Ajaccio at the Council of Corte in 1749 and Maria Saveria Paravicini.  The Corsican Buonapartes were descended from minor Italian nobility of Tuscan origin, who had come to Corsica from Liguria in the 16th. century.  Carlo studied to be a lawyer at the Pisa University but he left before earning his degree to take charge of family responsibilities.  Love and marriage Carlo married Donna Maria Letizia Ramolino. Both were of Corsican nobility and very young at the time of their marriage. Carlo was 17, Letizia was 13! Their marriage was arranged.  They would have 13 children between 1768 and 1784. Five of them died, eight children survived.  Among them: Napoleon Bonaparte, who became later Emperor of the French.  Gaining Power In June 1764, Carlo wo

The collection of coins for their artistic value was a development and a real royal hobby. My own modest coin collection from the royal Family of Belgium received by my co-worker History Historical records state that in Ancient Rome and medieval Mesopotamia coins were collected and catalogued by scholars and state treasuries.  Emperor Augustus sometimes presented old and exotic coins to friends and courtiers during festivals and other special occasions. More about Augustus on this link .  Coin collecting and appreciation began around the fourteenth century. During the Renaissance it became a must among the members of the  priveleged classes, especially for Kings and Queens.  Many European Kings, princes and other nobility kept collections of ancient coins.  Collectors Emperor Maximilian I of Austria  (1459 - 1519) was a member of the House of Habsburg. He married to Mary of Burgundy.  Maximilian - Source picture Wikipedia More about Maximilian and the House of Habsburg on this link