All About Royal Families

Brussels, the capital of Belgium, really has a hidden gem. This is not the Royal Palace, but without any doubts: the Coudenberg Palace. The Coudenberg Palace certainly must have been a spectacular place during the reign of the Dukes of Burgundy. The Coudenberg Palace - How it once was - Source picture: Wikipedia Maquette of the Coudenberg Palace - Own Picture Philip the Good, gave the order to build new wings for this palace, he also stipulated that the Palace Park should be redecorated. He even built the Aula Magna, a gigantic room for Royal Receptions and other festivities. Aula Magna - Palace Coudenberg - Brussels - Own Picture One of the first regular meetings of the States General of the Burgundian Netherlands were held at the Coudenberg Palace Coudenberg Palace - Brussels - Own picture Many important events of the Low Countries took place here. For example: In 1515, Margaret of Austria released her duty of governor of the Netherlands.

September 7th. 1683 marks the birth of Maria Anna of Austria. This took place in Linz. Family Her parents were Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg. Maria Anna was the sister of Joseph I and Charles VI, both Holy Roman Emperors. She also was an aunt of Maria Theresa, Austria's first Queen regnant. Love and Marriage On October 27th. 1708, Maria Anna of Austria married John V, King of Portugal. They would have 6 children. Duty She was Queen Consort till July 31st. 1750, when her husband died. Maria Anna even was regent during the illness of her husband. As Queen Consort and regent, she had great influence. She liked to hold big parties and invited the nobility for a magnificent festival. Death Maria Anna died in the Palace of Belém on August 11th. 1754. Her body was buried in Lisbon while her heart returned to the imperial crypt in Vienna. Source picture: Wikipedia

September 2nd. 1883 marks the birth of Archduchess Elisabeth Maria Henriette Stephanie Gisela of Austria. This event took place at Schloss Laxenburg. Elisabeth, with her mother Stéphanie Family Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria was the daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and Princess Stéphanie of Belgium. Her grandparents were Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also called Sisi.  Her maternal grandparents were King Leopold II of Belgium and his wife, Marie Henriette of Austria.  Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria received the name Erzsi from her family. She was Franz Joseph's favorite granddaughter. Erzsi was only five years old, when her father and his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, died in the Mayerling drama. After the death of her father, Franz Joseph took the guardianship over Erzsi.  She could not leave Austria with her mother. In 1900 Stéphanie married the younger Hungarian Count