All About Royal Families

Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria was born on August 21st. 1858 in Laxenburg (near Vienna in Austria). Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria - Source picture: Wikipedia Crown Prince Rudolf was the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi).  On May 10th. 1881 Crown Prince Rudolf married Princess Stéphanie of Belgium, daughter of King Leopold II of Belgium.This marriage wasn't happy at all.  Crown Prince Rudolf found soulace in drink and other women. In 1887 Rudolf bought Mayerling Hunting Lodg. In 1888 he met the 17-years old Barones Marie Vetsera. On January 30th. 1889 they both were found dead in the Mayerling Hunting Lodge. After the death of Rudolf, the Mayerling Hunting Lodge was transformed into a  convent where the sisters could pray for Rudolf's soul. Crown Prince Rudolf was buried in the Capuchin Church in Vienna.  However, this tragedy still causes a lot of questions and rumors. 

On January 29th. 1602 the birth of Countess Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg took place. Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg - Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Philip Louis II, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg and Countess Catharina Belgica of Nassau. Countess Amalie Elisabeth was through her mother a granddaughter of William the Silent. Via her mother's numerous siblings, Amalie Elisabeth even was related to many of the noble Houses of Europe. In 1619, Amalie Elisabeth married Landgrave William V of Hesse-Kassel. They would have 14 children. In 1627 William became the ruler of Hesse-Kassel. During the Thirty Years' War, William fought on the Portestant side, however later he was defeated by the Emperor's troops. Troughout his flight, William and Amalie Elisabeth had to leave their little daughters: Amalia, Charlotte and Elisabeth behind in Kassel. Amalie Elisabeth only saw her daughters again three years later. In 1637, William V of Hess...

Countess Anna of Stolberg-Wernigerode was born on January 28th. 1504 in Stolberg (Saxony-Anhalt). Anna of Stolberg-Wernigerode- Source picture: Wikipedia Her parents were Bodo VIII, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode and Anna of Eppstein-Königstein. Anna was the older sister of the famous Juliana of Stolberg. In 1516 Anna of Stolberg-Wernigerode became Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg. She was the first Abbess who followed Lutheranism. During her reign she established Lutheranism in all the Houses. As Princess Abbess Anna controlled nine churches, two male monasteries and a hospital. Anna died on March 4th. 1574 at the age of 70.