Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Katherine Howard: Henry VIII’s Slandered Queen by Conor Byrne Book Review

Saturday, 16 November 2019, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Katherine Howard was still in her teens when she became the fifth wife of King Henry VIII. After the death of Jane Seymour, Henry remarried to Anne of Cleves on 6 January 1540 and Catherine was chosen to serve in the new Queen’s household. She was probably around 15 years then. She probably travelled to [read more]

The ruins of the Jacoba Fortress

Friday, 15 November 2019, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Fortress of Voorne, also known as the Jacoba Fortress, is in the city of Oostvoorne in the Dutch province of South-Holland. The name Jacoba Fortress comes from its use in the early 15th century by Jacqueline (Jacoba in Dutch!), Countess of Hainaut. She used it as her summer residence. The oldest part of the [read more]

Zizi Lambrino – “La misere noire” (Part two)

Thursday, 14 November 2019, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part one here. During this separation from Zizi, Carol took a mistress which apparently frightened his parents to such an extent that they allowed Zizi to come to Bucharest where they lived together. Carol spent the mornings with his regiment while the afternoons and evenings were for walking or driving with Zizi. However, Zizi [read more]

Zizi Lambrino – “La misere noire” (Part one)

Wednesday, 13 November 2019, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Zizi Lambrino was born on 3 October 1898 as the daughter of Constantin Lambrino and Euphrosine Alcaz. She was sent to a convent school in France where she lived until 1910 when she returned to Bucharest. There, she became part of the aristocratic society and learned English, playing the piano, painting and singing. Zizi moved [read more]

Elisabeth von Gutmann – The Jewish Princess

Monday, 11 November 2019, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Elisabeth von Gutmann was born on 6 January 1875 as the daughter of Wilhelm Wolf Isaak Gutmann and his second wife, Ida Wodianer. She had two full brothers and two half-brothers and a half-sister, from her father’s first marriage. Her father received a hereditary knighthood from Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1878. Not [read more]

Marie of Hesse – The saintly Empress (Part two)

Friday, 8 November 2019, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 1

Read part one here. On 2 March 1855, Marie’s husband became Emperor upon the death of his father. Both Marie and Alexander were by his side when he died. Their coronation took place on 17 August 1856, with Alexander placing a crown on Marie’s head as she knelt before him. When she arose, it clattered [read more]