Empress Archives - History of Royal Women

Empress Elisabeth – The ultimate fashion victim

Tuesday, 18 October 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 1

When Elisabeth married her first cousin Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, her trousseau could hardly be considered worthy of her rank. Nevertheless, her trousseau, consisting of 25 trunks, arrived ahead of the bride in Vienna. Although the jewellery listed was worth at least 100,000 guldens, most of it was gifts from her future husband and [read more]

Maria Anna of Savoy – A good and gentle being (Part one)

Friday, 11 March 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Maria Anna of Savoy was born on 19 September 1803 as the daughter of King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and Archduchess Maria Teresa of Austria-Este (a granddaughter of Empress Maria Theresa). Maria Anna had a twin sister named Maria Teresa, who became Duchess of Parma and Piacenza. The twin sisters were born in Rome [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]

Review: Mourning – From Empress to Corona

Monday, 6 December 2021, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The year 2021 marks 100 years since the death of the last German Empress – Auguste Viktoria. Her husband, German Emperor Wilhelm II, had abdicated in 1918, and they had been living in exile in the Netherlands since then. They had settled in Doorn House in May 1920, and by then, Auguste Viktoria was already [read more]

Royal Wedding Recollections – Archduke Charles of Austria & Zita of Bourbon-Parma

Thursday, 21 October 2021, 5:00 Moniek Bloks 6

On 21 October 1911, Zita of Bourbon-Parma married the future Emperor Charles I of Austria. They had known each other since childhood, and Zita’s aunt, Maria Theresa of Austria, was also Charles’s step-grandmother. Their engagement had been announced on 13 June 1911 and was very much welcomed. After the betrothal ceremony, Charles told Zita, “Now [read more]