All About Royal Families

July 11th. 1662 marks the birth of Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria. This 'event' took place in Munich. His parents were Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria and Henriette Adelaide of Savoy. Maxmilian II Emanuel Statue in Munich - Germany - Own Picture His paternal grandparents played an important role in European History.  They were Victor Amadeus I of Savoy and Christine Marie of France,  daughter of King Henry IV. Already at a young age, Maximilian II moved to Vienna (Austria).  He took up a place in the army of the Habsburgs. His first task was to protect Vienna against the attempt of the Ottoman Empire. In Vienna he married Maria Antonia of Austria, daughter of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and Margaret Theresa of Spain. This marriage was unhappy, since the couple disliked each other, but they managed to produce heirs for Bavaria and for Spain. In 1688 Maximilian II Emanuel led the capture of Belgrade from the Turks, which

Maximilian Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Baden was born on July 10th. 1867 in the spa town Baden-Baden (located in southwestern Germany). His parents were Prince Wilhelm Max of Baden and Princess Maria Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg (granddaughter of Eugène de Beauharnais and niece of Tsar Alexander II of Russia). Prince Maximilian studied at the Gymnasium secondary school and he followed law and cameralism (science of Administration) at the Leipzig University. After finishing his studies he trained as an officer in the Prussian Army. Prince Maximilian of Baden and his family-  Source picture: Wikipedia On July 10th. 1900, Prince Maximilian married Princess Marie Louise of Hanover in Gmunden. The couple had one daughter and one son. Upon the outbreak of World War I, Prince Maximilian served as general staff in the German Army. However, shortly afterwards he retired from his position as he was dissatisfied with his role in the army and he suffered

On May 24th. 1671, Gian Gastone de' Medici was born in Florence, Tuscany as the son of Cosimo III de' Medici and Marguerite Louise d'Orléans. Gian Gastone de' Medici - Source picture: Wikipedia After Gian Gastone's birth, his parents frequently quarreled and Marguerite Louise returned to her home in France. Gian Gastone de' Medici was raised by his paternal grandmother Vittoria della Rovere. He was tutored by Cardinal Henry Noris and the Tuscan Prince became an avid intellectual, an antiquarian, a botanist and an amateur scientist. He also could speak English and several other languages. On July 2nd. 1697, Gian Gastone de' Medici married Anne Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg in Düsseldorf, who was already a widow.  In Tuscany the bride was described as a  'Bohemian peasant more than a princess' After their wedding, the couple moved to Prague, but the widow was not really  interested in Gian Gastone de' Me

My Treetuesday picture was taken a few years ago at the the Kur­sunlu Waterfalls. Kursunly Waterfalls Antalya Turkey Location The Kursunlu Waterfall Nature Park is located 19 km from Antaly in Turkey. History The waterfall and its surroundings covering and area of 586,50 ha (1,449 acres). The Site was declared a Nature park by the Ministry of Environment and Forest on May 21st. 1991. You can't see it exactly on the picture but in the environment of the Kursunlu Waterfalls there are a lot of picnic spots available. It really is a beautiful piece of nature.

July 8th. 1830 marks the birth of Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg. Her parents were Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Amelia of Württemberg. Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg - Source picture: Wikipedia In the summer of 1846 Princess Alexandra met Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich of Russia, when he 'visited' Altenburg. He was the second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (born Princess Charlotte of Prussia). Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich was liberal and intellectual while  Prince Alexandra had more conservative views, but the Grand Duke liked her  youthful beauty and they both shared an interest in music.  On October 12th. 1847, Princess Alexandra arrived in Russia. She was greeted by a fanfare and popular celebrations with jubilant crowds. In February 1848, Princess Alexandra converted to Russian Orthodoxy and she took the name of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna. On September 11th. 1848, P