The Royal Women Archives - Page 197 of 582

Grand Empress Dowager Xiaoning – The nefarious Consort who destroyed the Ming Dynasty

Monday, 28 November 2022, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Grand Empress Dowager Xiaoning is known as one of the most controversial figures in China. Many historians have accused Grand Empress Dowager Xiaoning of causing the Ming dynasty’s downfall.[1] Did Grand Empress Dowager Xiaoning deserve the blame? She has been accused of seducing Emperor Shenzong of Ming and trying to interrupt the rightful succession by [read more]

Review: The Serpent Queen (2022) – Episode 8

Sunday, 27 November 2022, 0:00 Moniek Bloks 0

*contains affiliate links* *spoilers* Episode eight will be the final episode of this season, and it has already been announced that there will be a second season. We begin the episode with Rahima locating Ruggeri, who just happens to have a replica of Queen Elizabeth I of England’s seal. She meets with Catherine, who offers [read more]

Archduchess Sophie’s tragic obstetric history

Friday, 25 November 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

On 4 November 1824, Princess Sophie of Bavaria married Archduke Franz Karl of Austria, the third son of Emperor Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Princess Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. Her family had been reluctant, and Sophie’s sister wrote, “They say he is educated, but he is not at all to the Queen’s [read more]

Sisi’s lost love

Thursday, 24 November 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

As the young Elisabeth travelled to Bad Ischl in 1853, where she would eventually leave as the Emperor’s fiancé, she was mourning the loss of her first love. Elisabeth had fallen in love with a young man who was considered totally unsuitable for her. His name was Count Richard S, and he had been in [read more]

Princess Fukang – Was she abused to death?

Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Princess Fukang’s death is one of China’s most tragic and unresolved mysteries. While Princess Fukang officially died of unknown causes, Emperor Shenzong accused Princess Fukang’s husband named Li Wei of abusing her to death. While we may never know if Princess Fukang died at the hands of her husband, we do know that she suffered [read more]

Empress Liu E – The great Empress (Part two)

Monday, 21 November 2022, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

In my previous article, I chronicled Empress Dowager Liu E’s humble origins as an orphan who entertained people on the streets and rose to become the regent of Northern Song China. Empress Liu E was said to be one of the greatest empresses of China, but she was not evil.[1] She was known to be fair, [read more]