February 2017 - Page 4 of 6 - History of Royal Women

Marie of Edinburgh – Queen of Romania

Friday, 10 February 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Written by Taylor. Queen Marie of Romania was born as Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh on 29 October 1875 in England. Her father, Prince Alfred, was the second son of Queen Victoria. Her mother, Duchess Marie of Edinburgh (born Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia), was the only living daughter of Tsar Alexander II [read more]

Athénaïs – Madame de Montespan

Wednesday, 8 February 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 2

This is a guest article by Kate Braithwaite. Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, the famously beautiful and witty maîtresse-en-titre of the Sun King Louis XIV, was born in Lussac in 1640. She was the third child of the Duc and Duchesse de Mortemart, one of France’s most noble families. Athénaïs (as she chose to be [read more]

Luxury guest house to be built at Queen Mother’s Highland castle

Tuesday, 7 February 2017, 17:00 Moniek Bloks 0

A luxury guest house is to be created on the grounds of the Queen Mother’s Castle of Mey as plans for ten en-suite visitor rooms have been approved by local authority officials. Under the current plan, the old granary building, locating 500ft to the north-east of the castle would be converted into guest bedrooms. The [read more]

The Romanticisation of Lady Godiva

Tuesday, 7 February 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 2

This article was written by Laura Marriott. The legend of Lady Godiva and her naked horse ride is one of the most enduring myths of the past millennium. For the city of Coventry, at the time a small market town owned by Godiva where her horse ride is supposed to have taken place, the image and [read more]

Matilda of Tuscany – The great Countess

Monday, 6 February 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Matilda of Tuscany was born around 1046 as the daughter of Margrave Boniface III of Tuscany and Beatrice of Lorraine. She knew Latin and was possibly also versed in German and French. Her father was assassinated in 1052, and his heir was Matilda’s brother, Frederick, under the regency of their mother. Matilda was the youngest child, but her [read more]

Maria Elisabeth of Austria – The first-born child

Sunday, 5 February 2017, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

On 5 February 1737, Maria Theresa gave birth to her first child, named Maria Elisabeth. The birth of a daughter was a great disappointment as a son and heir would have solidified her mother’s position as heiress to the Habsburg lands. Despite this, she was a lively child and a favourite of her grandfather the Emperor Charles [read more]