All About Royal Families

My Happy Weekend picture was taken in 2015 during a visit to Bruges. Bruges is the capital of the Province of West Flanders, located in Belgium. It is famous for its historic center, which is listed on the World Heritage Site of UNESCO. The picture was taken from the Basilica of the Holy Blood. (in Dutch: Heilig-Bloedbasiliek, French: Basilique du Saint-Sang). This building has a great Royal History. Basilica of the Holy Blood - own picture Already in 1134 Thierry of Alsace ordered to build a private double chapel next to the Oud Steen, the first residence of the Counts of Flanders. This is now the Town Hall of Bruges. Thierry went on crusade a second time in 1147, during the Second Crusade. He returned to his capital, Bruges, on April 7th. 1150 with the relic of the Precious Blood, however the Bible never mentioned that Christ's blood was preserved. Every year there is in Bruges the Procession of the Holy Blood. This takes place each Ascension Day

Emmanuel de Grouchy was born on October 23rd. 1766 in Paris. His parents were François-Jacques de Grouchy, 1st Marquis de Grouchy and Gilberte Fréteau de Pény. Grouchy married twice 1/ Cécile le Doulcet de Pontécoulant (1767-1827) they would have 4 children 2/ Fanny Hua (1802-1889) they would have one daughter. Despite his aristocratic birth, Grouchy always was a convinced supporter of the principles of the Revolution. Source picture: Wikipedia Timeline : 1779: Emmanuel de Grouchy entered the French artillery. 1782: he was transferred to the cavalry. 1786: he entered the Gardes du Corps. 1792: Grouchy became colonel of the Régiment de Condé-Dragons & Maréchal du camp. In that function he was sent to serve on  the south-eastern frontier.  1793: Grouchy distinguished himself in La Vendée and he was promoted as Général de division. 1799: he distinguished himself as a divisional commander in the campaign against the Austrians and the Russians. After the

May 28th. 1760 marks the birth of Alexandre de Beauharnais. His birth took place in Fort-de-France, Martinique. Alexandre's parents had been François de Beauharnais, marquess and Marie Henriette Pyvart de Chasstullé. On December 13th. 1779 Alexandre de Beauharnais married Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie (later she became Empress of the French Empire under the name Joséphine de Beauharnais). The couple would have 2 children. However their marriage was a bad one. He was most of the time absent due to his work, he hadn't any appreciation for the intellectual knowledge of his wife and above all he was unfaithful to her. Alexandre de Beauharnais - Source picture: Wikipedia During the American Revolutionary War, Alexandre fought in the army of King Louis XVI. He had rather an interesting professional career: * Deputy of the noblesse in the Estates-General * president of the National Constituent Assembly (1791) * Minister of war (1794) * General-

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher was born on December 16th. 1742 in Rostock in the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in northern Germany. His family had been landowners in northern Germany since the 13th. century. At the age of 16 he joined the Swedish Army as Husar. During that time Sweden was at war with Prussia in the Seven Years' War. As Husar he gained much experience of light cavalry work. von Blücher - Source picture: Wikipedia In 1772, his spirit led him into excesses of all kinds such as an execution of a priest, suspected of supporting the Polish uprisings in 1772. Due to this action von Blücher was passed over for promotion to Major, but he sent a rude letter to King Frederick the Great and the King replied: 'Cavalry Captain von Blücher can go to the devil'. von Blücher settled down to farming. He was married twice. The first time was in 1773 to Karoline Amalie von Mehling (1756-1791) and in 1795 to Amalie von Colomb, sister of General Peter von C