All About Royal Families

Besides blogging is reading one of my favorite hobbies. I really read everything from novels till amazing history books because sometimes history is even better than  a story. This week, I read an amazing book called Former People. The last days of the Russian Aristocracy and it was written by Douglas Smith in 2012. This book is about the nobility in Russia during the time of Lenin and later  Stalin. It really touched me. The author did his research very well. He could use a lot of fragments from diaries! Even the Guardian made review about this book, which you can read on this link . History When Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated in March 1917 a difficult time broke out for the Russian Aristocracy. They lost most of their possessions and their status in the society... portrait of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia made by Boris Kustodiev Source picture: Wikipedia

September 25th. 1680 marks the birth of Adam Franz Karl. This event took place in Linz. His parents were Ferdinand Wilhelm Prince of Schwarzenberg and Countess Maria Anna of Sulz. Schwarzenberg - Source picture: Wikipedia Love & Marriage On December 6th. 1701 he married Princess Eleonore Elisabeth Amalia Magdalena of Lobkowicz. They would have 2 children. Pursuits Prince Adam Franz Karl of Schwarzenberg was Grand Marshall at the Imperial Court. He had the following titles: Prince of Scharzenberg; Member of the Order of the Golden Fleece; Duke of Ceský. Death After 31 years of marriage Prince Adam Franz Karl of Schwarzenberg was killed in an hunting accident. Emperor Charles VI fired the shot. The Prince died on June 11th. 1732. He was buried in the Augustinian Church in Vienna. Afterwards Emperor Charles VI took the son of Prince Adam Franz Karl, to the imperial court. His widow would receive some money for his death.

September 24th. 1562 marks the birth of Ercole (also called Hercules). This took place in the beautiful  Monaco. His parents had been Honoré I, Lord of Monaco and Isabella Grimaldi. Ercole - Hercules - Source picture: Wikipedia Family Ercole was the youngest son of Honoré and Isabella. His elder brother Charles became Lord of Monaco in 1581. In 1587 Charles died without any children. Ercole became the new lord at the age of 27. Love & Marriage On September 15th. 1595 he married Maria Landi. They would have 3 children. On November 29th. 1604 Ercole was murdered and his six year old son Honoré became Lord of Monaco under the regency of his uncle (from mother side). Future This Honoré was the first Lord of Monaco who was called Prince ... Monaco - own picture taken in 2013

On September 23rd. 1158 a noble boy called Geoffrey was born. His parents were King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Legitimate Children of King Henry II of England - Geoffrey is the 5th from left Geoffrey had a lot of famous brothers and sisters inter alia: King Richard I 'The Lionheart' Queen Eleanor Queen Joan Prince John Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany was named after his grandfather Geoffrey V of Anjou. Seal of Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany How did Geoffrey become Duke of Brittany?  King Henry II of England was in war with Conan IV, Duke of Brittany. In order to conquer the region, the daughter of Conan, Constance, had to marry King Henry's son: Geoffrey. When he was duke of Brittany Geoffrey started a revolt against his own father King Henry II of England. He became a good friend with Prince Philip of France. Geoffrey also was known to attack monasteries and churches in order to raise funds for his campaigns.