Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Queen Wilhelmina – A third tragedy

Thursday, 23 July 2020, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

With Wilhelmina’s marriage to Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 7 February 1901, she and her mother both fervently prayed for healthy children to continue their line. Tragically, Wilhelmina would go on to suffer five miscarriages and only one healthy child was born to Wilhelmina and Henry. In the spring of 1906, Wilhelmina was pregnant for the [read more]

Catherine the Great – The later years (Part five)

Wednesday, 22 July 2020, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part four here. Catherine saw her son as her rival, and she never gave him a role in government. Despite this, he and his wife were required to appear at official ceremonies. He and his mother had very little contact otherwise. Catherine even began to consider skipping Paul all together and making her eldest [read more]

Catherine the Great – Ruling an Empire (Part four)

Tuesday, 21 July 2020, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part three here. Catherine enforced her success by rewarding those who helped to put her on the throne, including the church and the army. She also cancelled the unpopular alliance with Prussia but assured them she had no wish for a new war. She also called on Russia’s two most experienced statesmen. She settled [read more]

Catherine the Great – The coup that made her Empress in her own right (Part three)

Monday, 20 July 2020, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part two here. As Empress Elizabeth’s health deteriorated, Catherine found herself pregnant with Gregory Orlov’s child, and she began to seclude herself. Peter was already talking of repudiating her and Catherine did not want to fuel the fire by appearing in public while pregnant. On 3 January 1762, Empress Elizabeth suffered a massive stroke, [read more]

Book News August 2020

Saturday, 18 July 2020, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Queen, Mother, and Stateswoman: Mariana of Austria and the Government of Spain Paperback – 18 August 2020 (US) & 15 May 2020 (UK) When Philip IV of Spain died in 1665, his heir, Carlos II, was three years old. In addition to this looming dynastic crisis, decades of enormous military commitments had left Spain a [read more]

Catherine the Great – An Empress-in-waiting (Part two)

Friday, 17 July 2020, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part one here. Sophie had arrived at the Russian court as a 14-year-old German Princess to marry the 15-year-old Grand Duke Peter – heir and nephew of Empress Elizabeth of Russia – accompanied by her mother, Johanna. They were received like Queens, much to Johanna’s delight who considered the match her personal triumph. Sophie [read more]