All About Royal Families

Alexandrine was born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 24 December 1879 in the city of Schwerin, the capital of the vast Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg- Schwerin in Northern Germany.  Family Her father was Frederick Francis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; who was the eldest son of and heir to the reigning Grand Duke Frederick Francis II. Her mother was Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, who was a granddaughter of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. Alexandrine was her parents' first child, and was born eleven months after their wedding in St. Petersburg. She was born in the Neustädtisches Palais in Schwerin, which was her parents' residence in the city at the time. Alexandrine had two younger siblings: her only brother was Duke Frederick Francis, who in 1897 succeeded their father as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and her only sister was Duchess Cecilie, who in 1906 married the German Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, eldest son of German Emperor Willia

The  House of Mecklenburg The House of Mecklenburg is a North German dynasty of Slavic origin which ruled until 1918 in the Mecklenburg region. This was one of the longest-ruling families of Europe.  History The family was established by Pribislav, a Slavic prince who converted to Christianity and accepted the suzerainty of Saxon Duke Henri the Lion. The main branch of the house was elevated in 1347 to ducal rank. In the family there were several branches: - Duchy of Mecklenburg; - Lordship of Rostock; - Principality of Schwerin; - County of Schwerin; - Principality of Ratzenburg; - Lordship of Stargard; - Principality of Wenden. Titles and claims to the thrones Sweden The Dukes of Mecklenburg pursued from the 14th. century a claim to  the Swedish throne. The Duke of Mecklenburg was a descendant and the heir of two women whom legends tied to Scandinavian royal houses: * Christina, who was the wife of Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg; * Marianna, who was the wife of duke Barnim I of

Is tennis a Royal Hobby or not? Tennis is mentioned in literature as far back as the Middle Ages. In the Second Shepherds' Play (c 1500) shepherds gave three gifts, including a tennis ball, to the newborn Christ. Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's round table, plays  tennis against a group of 17 giants in the Turke and Gowin (c 1500).  The Medieval form of tennis is termed as real tennis, a game that evolved over three centuries from an earlier ball game played around the 12th. century in  France which involved hitting a ball with a bare and later with a glove. By the 16th. century, the glove had become a racket, the game had moved to an enclosed playing area, and the rules had been stabilized. Real tennis  spread in popularity throughout royalty in Europe, reaching its peak in the 16th. century.  Austria In 1899 Archduke Franz Ferdinand left his watch chain after a tennis party in  Pressburg. In his watch chain there was a portrait of his later wife Sophie.  Forgetting his

The people from Antwerp (Belgium) haven't forgotten a visit from the Russian Tsar Peter the Great (1672-1725). He visited the city near the Scheldt for three days in 1717! According to some  sources the Tsar and his court could drink a lot and he wanted to know the length of the cathedral by measuring it with a rope.  Antwerp and its people never saw such a special person before and of course they wanted to honour him or his visit by a statue.  The statue of Peter De Grote was created in 1998 on the initiative of Art Group International who wanted - after the fall of the communism - to strengthen the cultural ties between Antwerp and Russia. The creator of the statue was Georgy Frangulyan.    Who was Peter the Great? Peter I Aleksejevitsj Romanov, nicknamed Peter the Great was Tsar from Russia from 9 June 1672 till his death on 8 February 1725.  He was the first Russian Tsar who travelled outside his country. He modernised  the vast empire and he especially promoted the science. 

Chess sometimes is called a royal game. However which royals play(ed) chess? Discover it in this blogpost!  Austria Archduchess Anna of Austria and her husband Albert V, Duke of Bavaria liked to play chess (portrait made in 1522). In 1873, the Vienna Chess tournament took place at the Prater from May 1st.  Through this tournament Austria-Hungary presented itself as a world leader  and the equal of France and England. Emperor Franz Joseph, Baron Albert Salomon von Rothschild and Baron Ignaz von Kolisch contributed large sums to the prize fund.  Belgium In Belgium, King Baudouin used to play chess just for fun.  Bohemia King Ottokar II of Bohemia also known as the Iron and Golden King liked to play chess.  Czech Republic Oldrich Duras was a famous chess player from the Czech Republic. He played against Dr. Jur. Wladimir Count Lazanski (1857-1925).  This man was the  husband of Mechtilidis Wallburg-Zeil-Trachburg. As you can see on the name, she was family of the wife of Archduke Theodor

Equestrian Equestrian is commonly known as horse riding. It includes the disciplines of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses.  own picture Some history The exact date horses were domesticated is unknown, just as the date when  they were first ridden. The best estimate is that horses first were ridden about 3500 BC.  Equestrianism was introduced in the 1900 Summer Olympics as a Olympic sport with jumping events.  By 1912, all three Olympic disciplines still seen today were a part of the games. They are governed by the rules of the International Federation for  Equestrian Sports (FEI). * Dressage; * Show Jumping; * Eventing.  Royals and their love for horse riding Austria On 2 January 1743, Maria Theresa of Austria held a ladies carousel in the Winter Riding School of the Hofburg.  Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi)  (1837 - 1898)  was a keen equestrian. She loved horse riding. She rode every day for hours on end. She became the world's best-known female equestrian at her time.