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The Sad Royal History of St. Bavo's Abbey in Ghent

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Imperial Interferences  with disastrous consequences In Ghent, the capital of Eastern Flanders in the northern part of Belgium,  there once was a beautiful Abbey called the Saint Bavo's Abbey.  However due to Imperial Interferences, this Abbey was demolished in the 16th. century.  Luckily for us, there still are a few traces from the Saint Bavo's Abbey and it still has a wonderful royal history. St. Bavo's Abbey and the eldest wall of Ghent Royal history Saint Bavo's Abbey was founded in the 7th. century by Saint Amand, who also founded the Saint Peter's Abbey in Ghent. Originally the Saint Bavo's Abbey was called Ganda, which meant "river mouth in Celtic" referring to the location of the area.  Louis the Pious , the youngest son of Charlemagne and also King of the  Franks, from 814-840 chose Einhard as abbot of the St. Bavo's Abbey. Einhard was the biographer of Charlemagne.  In the 9th. century, the St. Bavo's Abbey was raided twice by the Vi

Why ballet is a royal hobby?

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History of ballet and  the royals as influencers During the Italian Renaissance and in the fifteenth century, Ballet, a certain type of dance was founded. Later it spread its wings to France and Russia.  Ballet started in the Italian Renaissance courts of the fifteenth and the sixteenth centuries. When Catherine de'Medici became Queen of France, Ballet became popular. However it reached its height under the reign of King Louis XIV of France. King Louis XIV of France founded the Royal Dance Academy (Académie Royale de Danse) in 1661.  After 1830, ballet started to decline in France, but it continued to develop in Europe. It became popular in Denmark, Italy and Russia.  👉 Did you know that Tsar Nicholas II of Russia had a mistress (before his marriage). It was the prima Polish ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska . She would have had a relationship with at least two Grand Dukes from Russia: - Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich of Russia (died on 18 July 1918) ; - Grand Duke Andrei Vladimir

William I of The Netherlands and his statue in Ghent, Belgium

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King William I of The Netherlands and his statue in Ghent, Belgium  People from Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, have not only the language in common with citizens from The Netherlands but they also share some royal history together. Common royal history From 1815  Belgium and thus Flanders, was a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. But not everybody was happy with this union it led to the independence of Belgium in 1830.  However in Ghent, the capital of Eastern Flanders, the people were happy with the reign of King William I of The United Kingdom of The Netherlands.  The Monarch founded the University of Ghent and he gave the order to create  the canal of Ghent-Terneuzen.  A statue In 2015 (200 years after the formation of the United Kingdom of The Netherlands), Ghent honoured King William I with a statue. This statue was erected on a beautiful location at the Reep and was revealed on 20 October 2018. The statue costed 25.000 euro and was paid by crowdfunding, gifts

Henry III, King of France and Poland

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On 19 September 1551, Henry was born at the royal castle of Fontainebleau in France. Family He was the fourth son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de'Medici. His paternal grandparents were King Francis I of France and Claude of France. His maternal grandparents were Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino and Madeleine de la Tour d'Auverge.  His older brothers were Francis II of France; Charles IX of France and  Louis of Valois. Henry was a member of the royal house of Valois-Angoulême. He was raised under the supervision of Diane de Poitiers.  Childhood & Youth Henry was considered one of the best of the sons of Catherine de'Medici and Henry II. Unlike his father and his elder brothers, he had little interest in the traditional Valois pastimes such as hunting and physical exercise. He preferred the arts and reading.  There were reports that Henry engaged in same-sex relations with his court favourites known as the mignons.  Love & Marriage There were discuss