All About Royal Families

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to visit the Rubens House (in Dutch: Rubenshuis) in Antwerp. Rubens House Antwerp, Belgium This was the former house and studio of the famous artist Pieter Paul Rubens. Now it is a museum. On this link you'll find more information about the museum.  Pieter Paul Rubens was born on June 28th. 1577 in Siegen (now Germany). His parents were Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelincks.  Jan Rubens became a legal advisor of Anna of Saxony  (wife of William of Orange) and later he was her lover.  When this was discovered Jan was captured. Later the family moved to Cologne and in 1589, two years after his father's death Rubens mother took her family to Antwerp There Pieter Paul Rubens learned his craft by Tobias Verhaecht. In 1600 Rubens made his 'Grand Tour' and traveled to Italy. In 1603 Rubens had a diplomatic mission. He had to offer gifts from the court of the Gonzaga family to the Royal Court of Philip...

Maria Theresa of Spain was born on September 10th. 1638 at the Royal Monastery of El Escorial, as a daughter of  King Philip IV of Spain and his wife Elisabeth of France.  Maria Therese of Spain, Source picture: Wikipedia Maria Theresa was a member of the House of Habsburg and she could use the titles Infanta of Spain and Archduchess of Austria as well.  In 1658 Anne of Austria, the mother of King Louis XIV of  France (who was born in Spain) wanted to end the hospitalities between her native country and her adopted one, France, so she  desired a marriage between her son and Maria Theresa of Spain. The negotiations for this marriage contract were very hard. There was a fear that France would overrule Spain.... Finally on June 7th. 1660 Maria Theresa of Spain left her native country and on June 9th the wedding took place. On August 26th. 1660 the Royal Couple made their  traditional Joyous Entry into Paris. It ...

Ludovico Sforza was born on July 27th. 1452 at Vigevano (now located in Lombardy). He was a younger son of Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti. Due to his mother he received a proper education and he learned inter alia the classical languages, the instruction in the beauties of painting, sculpture and letters. He also was taught the methods of government and warfare. painting of Ludovico Sforza : Source picture: Wikipedia In 1466 his father Francesco died (the famous painting the last Supper was painted next to his burial place). Ludovico's older brother, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, became the new Duke of Milan. He ruled over the Duchy till his assassination in 1476. Then he left the throne to his son, who was at that moment 7 years old! Ludovico and the boy's mother, Bona of Savoy, moved into a bitter struggle for the regency and in 1481 Ludovico seized control of the government of Milan, despite attempts to keep h...

July 24th. 1561 marks the birth of Maria of the Palatinate. This event took place in Heidelberg (Germany). Her parents had been Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse. Mary of the palatinate - Source picture: wikipedia In April 1578 Prince Charles of Sweden, who was Duke of Södermanland too,  visited her home and proposed Maria. In this marriage proposal, religion played a huge role. Maria was Lutheran and Charles was sternly Protestant. On May 11th. 1579 the wedding took place and Maria followed Charles to Sweden. There they lived in his Duchy. Although there were no portraits of Mary, she was described as beautiful, gentle and diplomatic and her marriage to Charles IX of Sweden was happy.  She accompanied him around the Duchy as long as her pregnancies made it possible. The Royal Couple would have 6 children. Mary died on July 29 -th. 1589 in Eskilstuna. She was buried in the Strängnäs Cathedral. It was said that then Duke Char...