Rabia Gulnus Emetullah Valide Sultan has often been overlooked by historians of the Ottoman empire. While she was one of the most powerful Queens, she is not included in the “Sultanate of Women.” [1] Yet Gulnus Sultan was Mehmed IV’s favourite for 23 years. She was also the Valide Sultan for 20 years during her [read more]
Read part two here. On the evening of 27 January, Marie found Mary, her mother Helene and her sister Hanna at home. Mary was drinking tea laced with rum and sat smoking as her mother admonished her. Mary and Marie retreated to Mary’s bedroom, where Mary asked her if she looked nice. Marie later wrote, [read more]
Read part one here. It all began in the spring of 1888. Marie would collect the 17-year-old Mary from her mother’s residence every few days, ostentatiously to take her shopping or to the Prater, but they always ended up with Rudolf. It was hardly a secret, and even Rudolf’s wife Stéphanie knew of it after [read more]
Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich was born on 24 February 1858 as Marie Louise Elizabeth Mendel as the illegitimate daughter of Ludwig Wilhelm, Duke in Bavaria (the eldest brother of Empress Elisabeth) and the actress Henriette Mendel. When Henriette fell pregnant for the second time, she and Ludwig Wilhelm contracted a morganatic marriage. They were [read more]
Read part one here. By then, Sophie Charlotte was pregnant again, and Prince Emmanuel was born on 18 January 1872. Sophie and Elisabeth were incredibly close during the months of her pregnancy, and they often took long walks together. Emmanuel was born in Merano, where Sophie Charlotte was again staying for health reasons. Elisabeth was [read more]
Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria was born on 22 February 1847 at 5.20 in the morning as the daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. She would be one of eight (surviving) siblings, and her sisters included Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Helene, Marie Sophie and Mathilde Ludovika. She was their penultimate [read more]
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