All About Royal Families

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

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.

"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 also open

18 September 2009  is an important date in history for train lovers as me. Then the renewed railway station of Liège-Guillemins was officially opened with a big show by Franco Dragone. Philippe, then Crown Prince of Belgium and with a beard, attended the opening ceremony in Liège. Pictures on this link (text in Dutch) Liège-Guillemins railway station in Belgium own picture taken in 2018 Liège-Guillemins railway station is the main station of the city of Liège. This is the third largest city in Belgium. This station is used by 15,000 people every day, which makes it the eleventh busiest station in Belgium and the third in Wallonia. Waiting on a train in Liège-Guillemins own picture taken in 2018 However this futuristic railway station has a real interesting history. Some history In 1838, only three years after the first continental railway, a line linking Brussels and Ans, in the northern suburbs of Liège was opened.  The first railway station called Liège