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Remembrance: September 28th 1918 - World War I

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Exact 100 years ago, on 28 September 1918, one of the major operations during World War I started. Battle of Flanders , picture taken @ Ypres, Belgium In the spring of 1918, the troops on both sides of the Western Front were stocked in the war in Flanders Fields. So they wanted to try to force an opening. This took place on 28 September 1918, when the Battle of Flanders began. There was a successful Anglo-Belgian attack on a 23 mile front from Diksmuide (Dixmude) to Ploegsteert. King Albert I of Belgium had the command over this military operation. The Uniform of King Albert I of Belgium from World War I The international coalition (Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Australia ...) captured the Houthulst Forest and more than 4,000 prisoners. In France, General Mangin advanced in the Champagne on the Aisne and the German army had to retire to the Ailette. But not only in Belgium or France armies were fighting against each other. The American army advance...

Royal Families: House of Württemberg

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One of the most interesting noble families of Germany, certainly is the House of Württemberg. From their capital Stuttgart, in southwest Germany, they spread their wings across Europe. They really had lots of interesting links with many other royal families inter alia: Nassau (The Netherlands), Romanov (Russia), Bourbons, Orléans, Liechtenstein etc. Besides this enthralling links they also had a very nice royal history with some surprising facts. Royal history The House of Württemberg probably had its origins in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty. Around 1080, ancestors of the modern Württemberg, then called "Wirtemberg" settled themselves in the Stuttgart region. It was Conrad of Württemberg who became the heir of the House of Beutelsbach and built the Wirtemberg Castle. Around 1089 he received the title Count. In 1495, at the Diet of Worms, Count Eberhard V was raised to Duke, in German Herzog, by the later Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. ...

Royal Shopping: Jewels - Van Cleef & Arpels

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"Diamonds are a girl's best friend", Marilyn Monroe knew it already in 1953. However some royal jewelry really has a famous and very nice history on its own. In this blog post  about the jewelry Van Cleef & Arpels, I especially mentioned the former royal family of Iran because their crowns really were fantastic! Imperial Crown of Farah Pahlavi of Iran Source picture: Wikipedia On this picture, you see the Imperial Crown of Farah Pahlavi of Iran. This piece  of art was made by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1966. Some history of the company The jewelry company was founded in 1896 by Alfred van Cleef and  Salomon Arpels in Paris.  Later Alfred and two of his brothers-in-law, Charles and Julien, acquired space for Van Cleef & Arpels at 22, Place Vendôme, just across the Hôtel Ritz, where the jewelry company opened its first shop.  Place Vendôme in Paris, France own picture taken in 2017 Van Cleef & Arpels...