Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 193

Princess Liji – A Vicious Beauty

Princess Liji was considered to be one of the most beautiful women in ancient China. However, she used her beauty for ruthless actions. She is best known for turning “the Jin succession from a worthy heir-apparent to her own son.”[1] The disruption of the succession led to the suicide of her step-son Prince Shensheng, who was once the Crown Prince of Jin.[2] The death of the crown prince threw the state of Jin into disorder for five successive dynasties.[3] Because of her ruthless actions, Princess Liji is often portrayed as a witch and wicked stepmother in Chinese literature.

Princess Liji lived during the Spring and Autumn period, which lasted from 771 to 476 B.C. E.[4] During this period, the Zhou dynasty was in decline, and its rulers were merely figureheads. The real power were the states, Jin, Qin, Qi, and Chu.[5] Princess Liji lived right before the Warring States Period, when the Zhou dynasty had fallen, and the states became independent until they were reunited by the Qin emperor.[6] Thus, during the Spring and Autumn period, they did not really answer to the Zhou emperor. Instead, the Jin state had its own small dynasty.[7] Jin was one of the most powerful states in China. It had a “metropolitan culture”.[8] The Jin state consisted of other sub-regions ruled by powerful warlords that answered to the Duke of Jin.[9] The political upheaval during the Spring and Autumn period played a significant role in Princess Liji’s story.

In the mid-seventh century B. C. E., Princess Liji was the daughter of the chief of Li Rong, which was an ethnic group from Western China.[10] In 672 B. C. Duke Xian of Jin defeated the Li Rong tribe and killed her father.[11] He took two of the women from his tribe to be his concubines, one of whom was Liji. Upon seeing Liji, he was immediately smitten because of her beauty. He desired to make her his main wife. Before he could act, he decided to consult a divination to see if Liji would make a good wife.[12] After receiving a negative response, he decided not to make her his principal wife.

As a concubine, Liji quickly became his favourite.[13] She bore him two sons. When Duke Xian’s principal wife Qi Jiang died, Liji was made Duke Xian’s main wife.[14] However, Liji still was not satisfied. She dreamed of making her son Xiqi become the next ruler of Jin.[15] There was only one obstacle in her way. Duke Xian had already named her step-son, Shensheng the Crown Prince of Jin. Prince Shensheng was known to have a prestigious background. He was the grandson of Duke Huan of Qi.[16] It is at this point in history that Chinese historians have portrayed Prince Shensheng as the virtuous, innocent victim and Princess Liji as the wicked and manipulative step-mother.[17]

Princess Liji persuaded her husband to exile Prince Shensheng and two of his other sons away from court under the pretence of defending Jin’s territories.[18] While Prince Shensheng was away, she began to plant seeds of suspicion in her husband’s ear, casting more doubt about his son.[19] She kept telling him that his son was planning a secret rebellion against him so that Duke Xian began to fear his son.[20]

It was not until 656 B. C. E. that Princess Liji ultimately planned to get rid of her step-son and place her son upon the throne. When Prince Shensheng returned to the capital to make sacrifices for his deceased mother, Qi Jiang, he brought meat and wine for his father.[21] Princess Liji poisoned the food and wine to frame the prince, then made a public display of feeding the food to the dog and the wine to a servant girl.[22] Both the dog and the servant girl died instantly, and Prince Shensheng was blamed for trying to kill his father.[23] The people were set to kill Shensheng for the fake murder attempt. Prince Shensheng realised there was no way out of the situation, so he hung himself.[24]

After Prince Shensheng committed suicide, Liji decided to get rid of her husband’s other sons.[25] She told her husband that two of his sons were trying to revolt against him. Duke Xian tried to order the death of his two sons, but they managed to flee before any harm could come to them. Liji’s son, Xiqi, became heir apparent to the throne of Jin.[26]

It is assumed that she stopped scheming altogether since she accomplished her ultimate goal. However, the price that Princess Liji paid was not worth it. When Xiqi became the Duke of Jin in 651, he was assassinated by General Li Ke a month after his succession.[27] The bloodshed did not end there. Xiqi’s brother, Zhuozi, ended up on the throne. [28]His term also lasted a month when he was also killed by Li Ke. Li Ke also “whipped and killed” Princess Liji.[29] Two pretenders sat on the Jin throne until Duke Xian’s son Chong’er claimed it in 636 B. C. E.[30] 

Thus, Princess Liji ended up a victim of her own ambitions. She succeeded in getting her son on the throne, but it all ended in violence. Was she as evil as she has been portrayed? There is no way of knowing right now, as much of the records of her life are ancient and prone to bias. I found it interesting that she did not try and get direct revenge on her husband, who had killed her father and made her a concubine. Maybe the divination was right; she was not fit to be a main wife. Then again, one day historians may show a different view of Princess Liji.

Sources:

Eno, R. (2010).  1.7. Spring and Autumn China (771-453). Indiana University, PDF.

Kinney, Anne Behnke (2014). Exemplary Women of Early China. Columbia University Press.

Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Stefanowska, A. D.; Wiles, Sue (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese

    Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E. Routledge.

Raphals, Lisa Ann (1998). Sharing the Light: Representations of Women and Virtue in Early

    China. N.Y.

Tong, Xiao (2014). Wen xuan or Selections of Refined Literature, Volume III: Rhapsodies on

   Natural Phenomena, Birds and Animals, Aspirations and Feelings, Sorrowful Laments,

   Literature, Music, and Passions. Princeton University Press.

[1] Raphals, p. 62

[2] Kinney, p. 28

[3] Lee, p. 42

[4] Eno, p. 2

[5] Eno, p. 3

[6] Eno, p. 42

[7] Eno pp. 6-7

[8] Eno, p. 7

[9] Eno, p. 7

[10] Lee, et. al., p. 42

[11] Lee, et.al.,  p. 42

[12] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[13] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[14] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[15] Tong, p. 92

[16] Eno, p. 17

[17] Tong, p. 92

[18] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[19] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[20] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[21] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[22] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[23] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[24] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[25] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[26] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[27] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[28] Lee, et. al., p. 41

[29] Lee, et. al., p. 41

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Marie-Antoinette: The Making of a French Queen by John Hardman Book Review

On the morning of 2 November 1755, Empress Maria Theresa gave birth to her 15th child, a daughter named Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna – and she would go down in history as the French Queen Marie Antoinette. In 1770, she married the future King Louis XVI, and they would go on to have four children together – though two would tragically die young. As the French Revolution descended upon them, the family would be decimated. Only their daughter Marie Thérèse would leave France alive after many months of imprisonment. At 12:15 in the afternoon on 16 October 1793, Marie Antoinette was guillotined. Her last words were to the execution, on whose foot she had accidentally stepped. “Pardon me, sir, I meant not to do it.”

Marie-Antoinette: The Making of a French Queen by John Hardman tries to show us an independent and powerful Queen, much misunderstood and ready for a fresh look at her life. However, she disappears from her own book by the introduction of so many different characters small and big. I was surprised to see her miscarriage skipped over in one line and I felt really disconnected from Marie-Antoinette while reading this. I just couldn’t get into it, which I thought was a real shame as I had been really looking forward to this book.

Marie-Antoinette: The Making of a French Queen by John Hardman is available now in both the UK and the US.

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The Palace of Placentia – Birthplace of two Queens

Nothing now remains of The Palace Of Placentia – built in 1443 by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester – on the banks of the River Thames.

Photo by Moniek Bloks

It was then taken over by King Henry VI’s Queen Margaret of Anjou who gave it the name Palace of Placentia. King Henry VII rebuilt the palace between 1498 and 1504. It was the birthplace of his second son, the future King Henry VIII, and his granddaughters Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary I. It was also the site of King Henry VIII’s ill-fated marriage to Anne of Cleves.

Photo by Moniek Bloks

Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair during the English Civil War and after the restoration, King Charles II decided to rebuild the palace. Only one section of this was completed but this was never occupied. The rest of the palace was demolished.

The Greenwich Hospital (which is now the Old Royal Naval College) was built on the site and there is just this marker to remember the magnificent palace that once stood here.

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‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso – The first commoner Queen of Lesotho

Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho was born on 2 June 1976 as Anna Karabo Motšoeneng as the daughter of Thekiso Motšoeneng and his wife ‘Makarabo. She was christened in the Roman Catholic Church with the name Anna.

Not much is known about her youth. She enrolled in the Machabeng International College in Maseru in 1990 and graduated with an International General Certificate for Secondary Education and an International Baccalaureate diploma. In 1997, she enrolled at the National University of Lesotho, and she had first met King Letsie III in 1996. She did not finish her studies after they became engaged in October 1999.

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Their wedding took place on 18 February 2000 at Maseru in the Setsoto Stadium. The ceremony was conducted by Archbishop Bernard Mohlalisi with a crowd of around 40,000 people watching. It was the first time in modern history that a commoner had married a royal in Lesotho. They went on to have three children together; Princess Senate (born 7 October 2001), Princess ‘Maseeiso (born 20 November 2004) and Prince Lerotholi (born 18 April 2007). Women are barred from inheriting the throne in Lesotho, so Prince Lerotholi is the heir to the throne. ‘Masenate later lamented having only had three children in an interview with the Lesotho Times in 2014, “I would have loved to have more children, but I think it is risky to conceive at 38. Maybe I should have had one early after Prince Lerotholi, but now my biological clock is telling me the time is up. I have read a lot about reproductive health-related risks and some medical researchers, in their studies, don’t recommend women to consider falling pregnant at my age. When your eggs are no longer that fresh to make a healthy baby, then it’s better to be on the safe side.”1

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She credited her mother-in-law Queen ‘Mamohato for making her feel welcome in the Royal Family as a commoner. In the interview, she said, “As you know, I was a commoner who married His Majesty, which was very rare and also says a lot about his humble nature. I am thankful for the support I received from the Royal Family. His family accepted and loved me and taught me almost everything that I know today. I am now comfortable and no longer intimidated by my role as Queen. When the Queen Mother passed away (on 6 September 2003), it was hard for me for some time because she had been my pillar of strength.”

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She continued her mother-in-law’s work with the Queen’s National Trust Fund – founded in 1985 and has also been involved in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns. In the interview, she said, “It would make me happy to see the Trust Fund helping all the underprivileged children countrywide. I know that this would give them hope and let them know we are there for them.”

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Eleanor of Provence – Queen of England

Eleanor of Provence was born around 1223 as the second daughter of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy. She and her three other sisters would all become Queens. Her eldest sister Margaret became Queen of France as the wife of Louis IX, King of France. Her third sister Sanchia became Queen of the Romans as the wife of Richard, King of the Romans and her fourth sister Beatrice became Queen of Sicily as the wife of Charles I, King of Sicily. Eleanor herself became Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III.

Not much is known about her childhood, but her later relationship with her sisters suggest that it was happy. When Margaret became Queen of France in 1234, Eleanor’s chances of making a grand match also increased. Her future husband, King Henry III, was quite a bit older than her – 16 years to be exact – and had been looking for a bride for a decade. Plans to marry Joan, Countess of Ponthieu came to nothing, and she ended up marrying King Ferdinand III of Castile. Eleanor was probably selected because she was now the sister-in-law of the King of France.

They were betrothed on 23 November 1235 when Eleanor was still only 12, and Henry was 28. Eleanor, accompanied by her uncle William of Savoy, landed at Dover in January 1236. She travelled on to Canterbury where she married Henry in person on 14 January at Canterbury Cathedral. The couple set out for London where Eleanor was crowned Queen of England on 20 January. Despite the age difference, Eleanor and Henry became quite close. Eleanor came to England with a large entourage, and hundreds of Savoyards visited England after Eleanor’s wedding to Henry. This influx of foreigners made Eleanor quite unpopular with the people.

It did not take long for Eleanor to fall pregnant and their eldest child – a son named Edward – was born on 16 June 1239. Four more children followed: Margaret (born 29 September 1240), Beatrice (born 25 June 1242), Edmund (born 16 January 1245) and Katherine (born 25 November 1253). Katherine suffered from an unspecified illness, and Henry had her image placed on the shrine of Edward the Confessor, hoping that she would be healed. Tragically, she would die young.

Eleanor and Henry had a close family life, and when their daughter Margaret became Queen of Scots and was close to delivering her first child, she travelled home to Windsor, and her mother was by her side when she gave birth. Their second daughter Beatrice left her children with Eleanor when she and her husband went on crusade.

Eleanor also did not shy away from politics, and in 1253, she was made joint regent with her brother-in-law Richard when Henry was on campaign in Gascony. Although measures taken during her regency were effective, they were not popular with the Londoners. Her regency ended when Henry summoned her to Gascony in 1254. She and her eldest son travelled on to Castile for his marriage to Eleanor of Castile – the daughter of the aforementioned Joan, Countess of Ponthieu. Eleanor rejoined Henry after the wedding, and they visited the French court where they met with her sister Margaret, but also her other sisters and her mother. When they returned to England in December 1254, they faced increased hostility from the barons.

The barons would eventually force some provisions of Henry, including the exile of the King’s half-siblings – the Lusignans. Tensions turned into a full-on civil war in 1263 when Henry refused to renew his commitment to the provisions. Henry and Eleanor were forced to seek the protection of the Tower of London. Henry surrendered to Simon de Montfort – the leader of the barons – on 16 July 1263 and handed over the government to him. It was probably Eleanor who persuaded her brother-in-law the King of France to mediate in the matter. They all sailed to France, but Henry and their eldest son returned to England before the matter was settled. Eleanor and their younger son refused to return while civil war raged on. They were still in France when they received the news that Henry and Edward were defeated at the Battles of Lewes in May 1264 and that they had both been captured. Eleanor turned her attention to raising more money for their cause. By the summer, she had raised an army, but bad weather prevented them from sailing. On 4 August 1265, Edward defeated Simon de Montfort in battle – killing him – and restoring his father to power. Eleanor immediately began making preparations for her return, and she landed in England on 1 November 1265.

Eleanor returned to a different England that the one she had left, but she remained influential during the last years of her husband’s reign. When her husband died on 16 November 1272 while Edward was away on crusade, she made sure her eldest son was proclaimed King. She was present in August 1274 with her grandchildren to welcome back Edward and his wife Eleanor from the Holy Land. In 1275, she lost her two surviving daughters in quick succession, Margaret died on 26 February 1275, followed by Beatrice on 24 March 1275.

Eleanor retired from court after becoming a widow, but she kept in touch with her son. She also became increasingly religious as she grew older. She became attached to Amesbury Abbey and two of her granddaughters – Eleanor of Brittany and Mary of England – became nuns there. On 7 July 1286 Eleanor herself took the veil, though she never did entirely live the life of a nun. She even secured a papal dispensation to retain her dower. She would spend the rest of her life at the abbey and died there on 24 June 1291. Upon her request, her heart was buried at Grey Friars Church with her daughter Beatrice while the rest of her remains were buried at Amesbury Abbey.1

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Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz – Born in exile

Infanta Pilar of Spain was born on 30 July 1936 as the eldest daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess María Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Through her father, she was a descendant of Queen Victoria.

At the time, the royal family had been exiled for five years, and so Pilar was born in Cannes, France. Her father was the third son and designated heir of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. His elder brother Alfonso suffered from haemophilia and renounced his rights in 1933 to marry Edelmira Sampedro y Robato. His second brother Jaime, who was deaf, also renounced his rights in 1933.

Two years after her birth, the family moved to Italy where her younger brother, the future King Juan Carlos I of Spain was born. Two more siblings Infanta Margarita and Infante Alfonso were born in 1939 and 1941. The family’s final home before being restored to the throne would be Portugal. Infanta Pilar attended high school ins Estoril, and she also studied nursing. Her younger brother Alfonso died at the age of 14 during an accidental shooting. In 1962, Pilar was a bridesmaid during the wedding of brother Juan Carlos and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.

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It is said that her father wanted Pilar to marry King Baudouin of Belgium but Pilar already had her eye on someone else – the aristocrat Don Luis Gómez-Acebo y Duque de Estrada, Viscount de la Torre, Grandee of Spain. They had met through King Simeon of Bulgaria, who had married Luis’ cousin, Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela.

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Upon her marriage to Luis, Pilar renounced her succession right to the Spanish throne, but she would later be made an Infanta with the style of Royal Highness. She was also made Duchess of Badajoz. She and Luis were married on 5 May 1967 at the Jerónimos Monastery in Portugal. They went on to have five children together.

After her brother became King of Spain 1975, Pilar nor her younger sister Margarita had an official role. She mainly made appearances at family events, but she did hold some official positions. For example, she was the president of the International Equestrian Federation and a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

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Infanta Pilar was widowed in 1991 when her husband died at the age of just 56 of lymphoma. Infanta Pilar had been suffering from colon cancer for several years and ultimately died of the illness on 8 January 2020.

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The title of Duchess of Badajoz was for Pilar’s life and reverted to the crown.

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OBITUARY: Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz – Born in exile

Infanta Pilar of Spain was born on 30 July 1936 as the eldest daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess María Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Through her father, she was a descendant of Queen Victoria.

At the time, the royal family had been exiled for five years, and so Pilar was born in Cannes, France. Her father was the third son and designated heir of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. His elder brother Alfonso suffered from haemophilia and renounced his rights in 1933 to marry Edelmira Sampedro y Robato. His second brother Jaime, who was deaf, also renounced his rights in 1933.

Two years after her birth, the family moved to Italy where her younger brother, the future King Juan Carlos I of Spain was born. Two more siblings Infanta Margarita and Infante Alfonso were born in 1939 and 1941. The family’s final home before being restored to the throne would be Portugal. Infanta Pilar attended high school ins Estoril, and she also studied nursing. Her younger brother Alfonso died at the age of 14 during an accidental shooting. In 1962, Pilar was a bridesmaid during the wedding of brother Juan Carlos and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.

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It is said that her father wanted Pilar to marry King Baudouin of Belgium but Pilar already had her eye on someone else – the aristocrat Don Luis Gómez-Acebo y Duque de Estrada, Viscount de la Torre, Grandee of Spain. They had met through King Simeon of Bulgaria, who had married Luis’ cousin, Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela.

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Upon her marriage to Luis, Pilar renounced her succession right to the Spanish throne, but she would later be made an Infanta with the style of Royal Highness. She was also made Duchess of Badajoz. She and Luis were married on 5 May 1967 at the Jerónimos Monastery in Portugal. They went on to have five children together.

After her brother became King of Spain 1975, Pilar nor her younger sister Margarita had an official role. She mainly made appearances at family events, but she did hold some official positions. For example, she was the president of the International Equestrian Federation and a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

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Infanta Pilar was widowed in 1991 when her husband died at the age of just 56 of lymphoma. Infanta Pilar had been suffering from colon cancer for several years and ultimately died of the illness on 8 January 2020.

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The title of Duchess of Badajoz was for Pilar’s life and reverted to the crown.

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Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz, has died at the age of 83

Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz, Dowager Viscountess of la Torre, has died today at the age of 83.

Infanta Pilar was born the daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess María Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. She was the older sister of King Juan Carlos I of Spain and the aunt of King Felipe VI of Spain.

She had been suffering from colon cancer for some years.

Read the full obituary here.

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Anne of Cleves – God send me well to keep (Part two)

Read part one here.

Despite her marriage being on the rocks, Anne was popular in England, and she was actually good at being Queen. According to one reformer, “The state and condition of that kingdom is much more sound and healthy since the marriage of the queen than it was before. She is an excellent woman, and one who follows God: great hopes are entertained of a very extensive propagation of the gospel by her influence. There is now no persecution.”1

By the end of June, a secret investigation into Anne’s betrothal to Francis of Lorraine was begun again. Anne – hindered by her limited English – had very little idea of what was going on, and she was shocked when she finally learned what was going on. In the early hours of 6 July, a messenger arrived to inform Anne that Henry had concerns over their marriage. Anne was terrified, and she probably feared that she would end up in the Tower. She agreed to have the marriage investigated, and she was probably asked about the (lack of) consummation of their marriage. The following day, clergymen declared that the King and Anne were not bound by the marriage solemnised between them. Henry sent commissioners to Anne to obtain her agreement to an annulment, and Anne reportedly took the news well, despite having fainted in terror when the commissioners arrived. Anne believed herself to be Henry’s lawful wife, but she was also terrified of being executed like Anne Boleyn. She was informed that if she agreed, she would be treated favourably, and she was so relieved that she agreed.

Anne would from now on be treated as the “King’s beloved sister”, and in his first letter to her after the annulment, he addressed her as “Right dear and right entirely beloved sister.” Henry was so grateful that Anne agreed that he showered her with money and houses. Anne asked her brother to remain a friend to England, but the news was not well-received by her family. Her sister Sybilla refused to accept it and continued to call Anne Queen.

On 28 July 1540, Henry married Anne’s former maid Catherine, and she reluctantly accepted the lower status to her former maid. They did not meet formally until the New Year and Anne was determined to make friends, and she threw herself on the ground before Catherine, addressing her on her knees. By that time, Anne was finally fluent in English, and she had a pleasant conversation with both Catherine and Henry. However, she probably did not return to court during Catherine’s time as Queen. Instead, Anne went on progress in 1541. When Catherine fell from favour and was eventually executed in 1542, Anne probably expected to be reinstated as Queen. However, she never would be. Anne remained close to the court and developed a close relationship with Henry’s daughter Mary. The two were only one year apart in age.

Henry’s sixth marriage to Catherine Parr in 1543 permanently dashed Anne’s hopes to be reinstated as Queen. She was also devastated to learn of her mother’s death that same year. Anne developed a friendship with Catherine and became a regular visitor to court again. She became a full member of the royal family – the King’s sister indeed. She last saw her former husband in August 1546 when she was present during a reception for the Admiral of France. Henry died on 28 January 1547.

During the new reign, Anne found herself in financial trouble due – in part – to the high inflation. Anne became anxious to return home to Cleves. When King Edward VI died on 6 July 1553, he was succeeded by Anne’s former stepdaughter and friend; now Queen Mary I. Mary was determined to give Anne the respect that she was due and she was present when Mary was crowned. It was to be Anne’s last public appearance. She did keep in touch with Mary and even suggested Archduke Ferdinand as a possible husband. Mary became betrothed to Philip of Spain, and the following Wyatt rebellion also put Anne under suspicion. Anne wrote to Mary upon her marriage, “Wishing you both much joy and felicity, with increase of children to God’s glory, and to the preservation of your prosperous estates, long to continue with honour in all godly virtue.”2 However, she was not invited back to court.

Anne spent her final years in the shadows. By the end of 1557, Anne was very ill. She was moved to Chelsea where she deteriorated quickly. On 12 July, she took to her bed and drafted her will. On 15 July 1557, Anne died at the age of only 41. Mary made sure that Anne was honourably buried and she was buried on 3 August 1557 at Westminster Abbey.3

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The Year of Queen Wilhelmina – The wedding of King William III of the Netherlands and Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Wilhelmina would be the only child of the 22-year-old Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont and the 63-year-old King William III of the Netherlands. They were both descendants of Carolina of Orange-Nassau.

William had been married once before – to his first cousin Sophie of Württemberg – and they had had three sons together. The succession seemed secure, one would think. However, their second son Maurice died at the age of 6 of meningitis. Their eldest son William and their youngest son Alexander were both still alive when their mother died in 1877 but it seems that King William already realised they would not have children.

The younger William was denied marriage to Countess Mathilde von Limburg-Stirum who was considered too low in rank for a future King. In addition, there were rumours that she could be one of King William’s bastard children, making her the younger William’s half-sister! He left the Netherlands to settle in Paris, where he lived a debauched lifestyle. Alexander had always been nervous and sickly and he shied away from women.

King William met Emma as he was taking the cure in Pyrmont. He initially came to court her elder sister Pauline who rejected the elderly King but her sister Emma supposed exclaimed, “We cannot just let the poor man go home alone!” Their engagement was announced on 30 September 1878. A tutor was dispatched to teach Emma Dutch, though she would always struggle with spelling and grammar.

The wedding of Emma and King William took place in the chapel of Arolsen on 7 January 1879 when they were 20 and 61 respectively. The groom wore the uniform of an admiral and the bride wore a white dress with a long train, a lace veil, a tiara and an ermine shoulder cover.

The Chapel at Arolsen/Photo by Moniek Bloks

The entire Princely family of Waldeck and Pyrmont was there, plus Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife, Princess Sophie of the Netherlands (William’s sister), William, Prince of Wied (husband of Princess Marie of the Netherlands, granddaughter of King William I), Duke William of Württemberg, Georg, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe and his wife Princess Marie Anne of Saxe-Altenburg. The Netherlands was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the presidents of both houses of the States-General and the vice-president of the Council of State. The court preacher Ulrich Scipio blessed the marriage.1

Notable absentees were King William’s sons who were both shocked by their father’s upcoming nuptials. The younger William must have been especially hurt after being denied his Countess and he reportedly ordered the windows of his palace at Kneuterdijk boarded shut in protest.

On 10 January 1879, Emma joined her husband on the journey home to a court where she would not be welcomed with open arms and yet, she managed to charm a nation and provide them with an heir – to which the year 2020 – also the 140th anniversary of Wilhelmina’s birth – is dedicated.2

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