Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Sisi & Sophie – The ‘evil’ mother-in-law tale (Part two)

Friday, 28 January 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part one here. In early 1858, it became apparent that Empress Elisabeth was pregnant for the third time. She suffered from morning sickness during the first three months of pregnancy, but she felt fine otherwise. Finally, on 21 August, she gave birth to a son and heir who would be named Rudolf. The family [read more]

Descendants of Italy’s last King and Queen attempt to reclaim crown jewels

Thursday, 27 January 2022, 14:34 Moniek Bloks 0

Members of Italy’s former royal family have begun negotiations with the Italian authorities in an attempt to recover the crown jewels of the House of Savoy. The jewels have been in a vault in the Bank of Italy for the last 76 years. The jewels consist of more than 6,000 diamonds and 2,000 pearls on [read more]

Sisi & Sophie – The ‘evil’ mother-in-law tale (Part one)

Thursday, 27 January 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Archduchess Sophie was born Princess Sophie of Bavaria on 27 January 1805 as one of a set of twins. Her sister was named Maria Anna, and she eventually became Queen of Saxony as the wife of King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony. She would have four surviving full sisters, two half-brothers, and two half-sisters, including [read more]

Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily – The last Holy Roman Empress (Part two)

Wednesday, 26 January 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part one here. Maria Theresa would be the last Holy Roman Empress as the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806 after Austrian forces suffered a defeat at Austerlitz. Francis had to agree to the Treaty of Pressburg between him and Emperor Napoleon, which brought about the final collapse of the Holy Roman Empire [read more]

Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily – The last Holy Roman Empress (Part one)

Tuesday, 25 January 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily was born on 6 June 1772 as the eldest daughter of King Ferdinand IV & III of Naples and Sicily (later King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies) and Maria Carolina of Austria. She went on to have 17 siblings, but only six of those would survive to adulthood. [read more]

Elisabeth of Württemberg – Propriety, grace and resolution

Monday, 24 January 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Elisabeth of Württemberg was born on 21 April 1767 as the daughter of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, by his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. She was the eighth of twelve children. When she was ten years old, her elder sister Sophie Dorothea became the bride of Catherine the Great’s son, which greatly enhanced [read more]