All About Royal Families

On 31 January 1938, a very noble girl was born at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, the Netherlands. She received the names: Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard Family Princess Beatrix was the eldest daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (then Princess) and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She belonged to the noble house of Orange-Nassau by birth. Through her father she was a member of the noble house of Lippe. Baptism Princess Beatrix was baptized in the Great Church of The Hague. Her godparents were: - King Leopold III of Belgium; - Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone; - Elisabeth, Princess of Erbach-Schönberg; - Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg; - Countess Allene de Kotzebue. Sisters Princess Beatrix has 3 sisters: Princess Irene Princess Margriet Princess Christina Love and Marriage Queen Beatrix married on 10 March 1966 to Prince Claus. They had 3 children: Willem-Alexander Friso Constantijn Reign On 30 April 1980, Queen Juliana abdi

On 31 January 1512, a noble boy was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He received the name: Henry. Family Henry was the fifth son of King Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of Aragon. He belonged to the noble house of Aviz. A cardinal As a younger son in the royal family, Henry was not expected to succeed to the Portuguese throne. Already early in his life, Henry took the Holy Orders to promote Portuguese interests in the Catholic Church (then dominated by Spain). Henry rose fast through the Church hierarchy, he became soon Archbishop of Braga, Archbishop of Évora and Grand Inquisitor before receiving a Cardinal's hat in 1545. From 1564 till 1570 he was Archbishop of Lisbon. Henry encouraged to bring the Jesuits to Portugal and to employ them in the colonial empire. A King After 1562, Henry served as regent for his great-nephew King Sebastian. After the terrible Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578, King Sebastian died. Henry attempted to renounce his eccle

On 25 January 1139 Godfrey, I Count of Louvain died. He also was called the Bearded, the Courageous or even the Great. Titles Godfrey was: - Landgrave of Brabant and Count of Brussels and Leuven (Louvain) - Duke of Lower Lorraine - Margrave of Antwerp (from 1106 till his death). Noble Family Godfrey was born around 1060 as the son of Henry II, Count of Louvain and Adela of Orthen (or Betuwe) a daughter of the Count of Orthen. Godfrey belonged thus to the noble House of Reginar. Love and Marriage Godfrey married Ida of Chiny, daughter of Otto II, Count of Chiny and Adelaide of Namur. The couple had 6 children together. Their eldest daughter, Adeliza of Louvain would marry King Henry I of England. Godfrey married later to Clementia of Burgundy, the daughter of William I, Count of Burgundy and the widow of Robert II, Count of Flanders. They would have no children. Duty Godfrey came into conflict with Otbert, Bishop of Liège about the county of Brunen

When Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, founded in 1430 the Order of the Golden Fleece, he granted members of his court the title knight. One of them was Antoine I de Croÿ, Count of Porcéan. This Antoine I de Croÿ, also called Antoine le Grand, was the eldest son and heir of Jean I de Croÿ. The de Croÿ family became important during the rule of the Burgundian Dukes. They were actively involved in the difficult politics of France, Spain, Austria and of course the Low Countries. A noble history Jean I de Croÿ Jean served two dukes of Burgundy:  Philip the Bold and  John the Fearless . Jean I de Croÿ married a wealthy heiress: Marie de Craon. In 1397 Jean acquired the lordship of Chimay, which would become the main seat of the de Croÿ family. Later he was appointed governor of Artois. He was Grand Bouteiller of the King of France. Jean and two of his sons were killed at the  Battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415. Antoine I Le Grand  Antoine I le Gra