All About Royal Families

Augustus: The first Roman Emperor In this second  post about the Roman Empire series , there is a main role for Augustus.  Early Life Augustus was born in the city of Rome, very close to the Roman Forum on 23 September 63 BC.  He was named Gaius Octavius Thurinus.  Due to the crowded places in Rome during that time, Octavius was taken to his father's home at Velletri to be raised. His mother, Atia was the niece of Julius Caesar.  In 59 BC his father died, when he was just four years old. His mother remarried a former governor of Syria, Lucius Marcius Philippus. Then Octavius was raised by his grandmother, Julia, the sister of  Julius Caesar.  Julia died in 52 or 51 BC and Octavius delivered the funeral oration for his grandmother. From this point his mother and stepfather took more interest in Octavius.  In 47 BC Octavius was elected to the College of Pontiffs. A turning point When Julius Caesar was killed on the Ides of March in 44 BC, Octav...

While reading in biographies about royals, sometimes other interesting noble families are mentioned. Such as the Family Lichtervelde. Nowadays Lichtervelde still is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The Counts of Lichtervelde are one of the oldest noble families of the County of Flanders. Some members of them became even mayors. Some history * Already in the 13th. century the County of Flanders knew a baroness of Lichtervelde. * In the 14th., 15th and 16th. century several family members were knights. * It was on 27 May 1745 that Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa granted the title of Count to Gillis-François de Lichtervelde.  Famous people * Roger of Lichtervelde was mayor of Bruges between 1378 and 1379. * Louis of Lichtervelde was councillor of Louis of Male . The most famous one was Louis de Lichtervelde (1889 - 1959). He was a private secretary of the Prime Minister and he hold some important positions. He also was an historian.  Louis de Li...

On 17 November 1558, at the age of 25, Elizabeth I became Queen of England.  During a speech she declared her intentions: "My lords, the law of nature moves me to sorrow for my sister, the burden  that is fallen  upon me makes me amazed and yet, considering  I am God's creature, ordained to obey  His appointment,  I will thereto yield, desiring from the bottom of my heart that I may  have assistance of His grace to be the minister of  His heavenly will in this office now  committed to me.  And as I am but one body naturally considered through  by his  permission a body politic to govern, so shall I desire you all... to be  assistant to me  that I with my ruling and you with your service may make  a good account to the  Almighty God and leave some comfort to our  posterity on earth. I mean to direct  all my actions by good advice  and counsel." As her triumphal progress wound through the city o...