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The Roman Series: Roman Emperor Nero

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Most people know Roman Emperor Nero due to its bad reputation and his  role  in the Great Fire of Rome. But how did he become as he was? What's his  background? You'll read it in this post of the Roman Series.  Was Nero a bad guy?  Family Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus on 15 December 37 AD in Antium. He was the only son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahnobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. His maternal grandparents were Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.  Nero was thus a great-great grandson of Augusts and he descended from  the first Emperor's only daughter Julia.  Early Life in 40 AD Nero's father Domitius died. A few years before his death  Domitius had been involved in a political scandal. The next year Nero's mother Agrippina had been caught up in a scandal on her own. She was suspected of adultery with her brother-in-law Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Agrippina and her sister Julia Livilla were banished by Caligula to a remote island in the Mediterranean Sea. Nero'

Is auto racing a royal hobby?

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The noise of motors on the black asphalt ... the tension and of course  the competition. Who will win the race? Who will lose?  Car racing certainly is a nice hobby for everyone who likes cars,  technique and especially speed.  But what's the history of Car racing and which royals love(d) the high speed of cars. Read it in the following paragraphs. own picture taken in 2013 in Monaco History The first prearranged match race of two self-powered road vehicles over a prescribed route took place on 30 August 1867.  On 28 April 1887, the first organized contest took place. This was organized by the chief editor of Paris publication Le Vélocipède, Monsieur Fossier. It ran 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Neuilly Bridge to the Bois de Boulogne near Paris. It was won by George Bouton. He used a car constructed by Albert, the Comte de Dion.  On 22 July 1894, the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal organized the world's first motoring competition from Paris to Rouen in France. 69 cars stared th

Who is who at the princely Family de Ligne

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One of the oldest Belgian noble families is without no doubt the  House of Ligne. The family was named from the village of Ligne, located between Ath and Tournai (nowadays the Hainaut province of Belgium).  Some Royal History At the time of the Crusades, the lords of Ligne belonged to the  entourage of the Count of Hainaut.  In the Battle of Bouvines, which took place in 1214, they were described as "great name and men of honour". Thierry de Ligne was mentioned than for the very first time.  In 1544 Jacob of Ligne was granted by Emperor Charles V as Count of Ligne.  On 20 March 1601 Lamoral I of Ligne received from Emperor Rudolf II the title prince of the Holy Roman Empire. This was granted for himself and for all his descendants both male and  female.  King Willem I of the Netherlands granted on 13 March 1816, Eugène of Ligne as prince for him and all his descendants.  In 1923, King Albert I of Belgium granted Ernest of Ligne the right to use his old titles of Prince of Amb

The Roman Series: Roman Emperor Claudius

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On 1 August 10 BC Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born at Lugdunum (nowadays Lyon in France). own picture of Claudius Taken at the Vatican Museums in 2017 Family Claudius was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia. His maternal grandparents were Mark Antony and Octavia Minor, Augustus' sister. Claudius was thus the great-great grand nephew of Tiberius Claudius Nero.  Claudius had two older siblings Germanicus and Livia. His mother had two other children who died young.  Youth In 9 BC , Claudius' father Drusus unexpectedly died on campaign in Germania, possibly from illness. He was then left to be raised by his mother, who never remarried.  In 7 AD, Livy was hired as tutor of Claudius. He also took lessons  from the philosopher Athenodorus.  The guards proclaimed Claudius Emperor Source picture: Wikipedia Raise to power When Augustus died in AD 14,Claudius was 23 years old. He appealed to his uncle Tiberius, to allow him to begin the curus honorum. Tiberius