All About Royal Families

Archduke Maximilian Francis of Austria was born on December 8th. 1756 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. Archduke Maximilian Francis of Austria - Source: Wikipedia His parents were Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa of Austria. Archduke Maximilian Francis was the brother of Queen Marie Antoinette of France and Queen Maria Carolina of the Two Sicilies. Two of his brothers and one of his nephews were Holy Roman Emperors: Joseph II, Leopold II and Francis II. In 1784 he became Archbishop and Elector Spiritual of Cologne, he lived in the Electoral residence in Bonn. As a keen patron of music Maximilian Francis maintained court musicals.  The court organist, Christian Gottlob Neefe was Beethoven's early mentor  and teacher. He recognized the remarkable gift of his young pupil, both as performer and as composer. Neefe brought Beethoven to the court and advised Maximilian Francis to appoint him as assistant organist. Maximilian Francis recog

On December 5th. 1766, the first auction of James Christie took place at rooms in the Pall Mall in London. James Christie - Source picture: Wikipedia Although the official company literature stated that December 5th. 1766 was the first Christie's auction there were mentions that James Christie rented earlier rooms for sales (even in 1762). However Christie's soon established a strong reputation as a leading auction house.  Christie's main saleroom is located on King Street in St. James's in London where it has been based since 1823. In 1977 Christie's opened a branch on New York's Park Avenue. peep @ Christie's - Source picture: Wikipedia During all those years there were a lot of remarkable auctions. Even possessions of Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon and Diana, Princess of Wales were sold.  Nowadays Christie's had 85 offices in 43 countries. Isn't that amazing?

December 4th 1711, Marks the birth of Infanta Barbara of Portugal. Barbara of Portugal - Source picture: Wikipedia The Portuguese Princess was baptised as: Maria Madalena Bárbara Xavier Leonor Teresa Antónia Josefa. All her names were honouring  a number of saints and relatives.  Formally she was known as Bárbara, a name never used before among  the Portuguese Royals in honour of Saint Barbara, the saint of her  birthday. Barbara was the first cousin of the future Empress Maria Theresa as well as Maria Josepha of Austria.   She was considered to marry Louis XV of France, however in 1729 at the age of 18, Barbara married the future Ferdinand VI of Spain.  From 1733 until 1737 the couple were kept under more or less house  arrest in their apartments at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, due to  Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Farnese).  This gave Barbara the opportunity to deepen her relationship with  the timid Ferdinand. He became deeply attac

The Battle of Hohenlinden was fought on December 3rd. 1800 during the French Revolution Wars. Battle of Hohenlinden - Source picture: Wikipedia The French army was led by Jean Victor Marie Moreau. A coalition army of Austrians and Bavarians was led by Archduke John of Austria. Jean Victor Marie Moreau, 14 February 1763 – 2 September 1813)  was a French general who helped Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power,  but later became a rival and was banished to the United States.  Source picture:Wikipedia This battle took place at Hohenlinden, which is now located around 33 km in the east of Munich (Germany).  In February 1801 the Austrians had to sign the Treaty of Lunéville . They also accepted the French control up to the Rhine and the French puppet republics in Italy and the Netherlands.  There also is a poem called Hohenlinden, which was created by  Thomas Campbell. The first verse is: On Linden, when the sun was low, All bloodless lay the untrodden snow;