*contains affiliate links* Margaret was born in late July 1522 as the illegitimate daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Johanna Maria van der Gheynst, the daughter of a carpet manufacturer. Johanna Maria worked as a maid for the Governor of Oudenaarde, who hosted the then 22-year-old and unmarried Charles for six weeks. Margaret [read more]
Royal uncle-niece marriages happened several times over the years. These marriages often happened for strategic reasons, such as land or power, but also because of rank and status. There simply weren’t enough others of high enough rank for marriage. The offspring of such marriages often suffered from genetic abnormalities, such as the famous Habsburg jaw. [read more]
*contains affiliate links* Book News Week 41 – 7 October – 13 October 2024 The Queens and Royal Women of Sweden, c. 970–1330: Their Lives, Power, and Legacy (Lives of Royal Women) Paperback – 11 October 2024 (US & UK)
The Dutch Emerald Parure Tiara is a versatile piece in the collection of the Dutch royal family. The tiara was made in 1899 by Schürmann using emeralds which were already in the collection of the royal family. The order came from Queen Emma, who gave it to her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina, as a present. There [read more]
Read part one here. Tragedy struck on 13 July 1491 when Afonso was crushed underneath his stumbling horse. Isabella and her mother-in-law Eleanor rushed to be by his side, but Afonso never regained consciousness. He died three hours after the accident. Isabella was so grief-stricken that she cut off her hair and wore a veil [read more]
The future Queen Isabella I of Castile had made a daring choice by marrying the future King Ferdinand II of Aragon against the wishes of her half-brother King Henry IV of Castile and even proudly displayed the bloodstained sheets to the waiting officials after the wedding night. Isabella and her half-brother had a volatile relationship [read more]
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