Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 217

Princesses of Orange – Mary, Princess Royal

Mary was the daughter of King Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France, and she was also the first bearer of the title, ‘Princess Royal’. The title was created by Henrietta Maria who wished to imitate the French ‘Madame Royale’ style. Mary was born on 4 November 1631 at St. James’s Palace as the eldest of nine children.

By 1640, Mary was already the subject of negotiations for a possible marriage between her and William, the only son of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. Mary’s father agreed to the marriage on the condition that the Dutch Republic enter into a political alliance with England. However, this alliance never happened, and Charles finally agreed to the marriage without this alliance as a condition. As Mary was still quite young, it was decided that she would stay in England until the end of 1643. In April 1641, William arrived in London with a grand entourage, and he and Mary were married in person at the Chapel Royal in Whitehall Palace. The nine-year-old bride wore a traditional silver gown with a train that was carried by 16 ladies while the 14-year-old groom wore a red velvet suit. Perhaps to evade the dangers of the looming troubles, Mary left England in March 1642. Mary never learned to speak Dutch, and she did not enjoy living in the Dutch Republic.

Mary became Princess of Orange in March 1647 when William’s father died. Mary’s relationship with her mother-in-law Amalia was not very good while the relationship with the rival court of Elizabeth Stuart – who was also her aunt – was very good. Amalia also did not appreciate how much money went to the English exiles who had come to The Hague. William was the leading supporter of the future King Charles II and the future James II in exile. Now that William had succeeded as Prince of Orange, Mary felt additional pressure to have a child. She had suffered a miscarriage in the autumn of 1647, and it was feared that she had become infertile. She squashed those rumours when she fell pregnant again in 1650. On 14 November 1650, she gave birth to a healthy son. He was to be fatherless. Mary’s husband William had died of smallpox one week before – he was still only 24 years old.

Mary had become a widow at the age of 19. The tensions between her and her mother-in-law were again at a high. Mary had wanted to name her son Charles after her father and brother, but Amalia insisted on the name William. Mary withdrew from the court life in The Hague and lived at a hunting lodge called Honselaarsdijk. Between January 1656 and February 1657, she lived with her mother Henrietta Maria in France, after which she returned to live in The Hague.

In May 1660, Charles had signed the Treaty of Breda in which he accepted the crown of England, Scotland and Ireland as its rightful King. Mary attended the ceremonies in Breda and The Hague, and her son was now fifth in line to the English throne, Mary took her son around the Dutch Republic for an official tour, which was a success. Mary’s brother Prince Henry died suddenly of smallpox in September 1660 just as Mary was about to leave The Netherlands. She went to England anyway, and only two months later she also became seriously ill. Mary soon realised that she was dying. On Christmas Eve 1660, Mary wrote her will, and she named her brother King Charles as her son’s guardian, which was not accepted by the regents of the Dutch Republic. Instead, they appointed her mother-in-law Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. Mary died later that same day, lamenting that her greatest pain was to be separated from her son. She was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Her greatest triumph came after her death when her son William became King William III of England, Scotland (II) and Ireland.

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The unknown Countess Othilde

Dirk V, Count of Holland was driven from his lands with his mother around 1070 but just a few years later, the lands would be restored to him with the help of his stepfather. He could now finally take up his rightful place as Count of Holland.

He probably tried to find a wife in Saxony but it is unclear where Othilde eventually came from. Chronicles from that time tell us that she was the daughter of a powerful Duke in Saxony but the register of counts – written when Othilde was still alive – does not mention where she is from. Even the exact date of their wedding is not clear. They went on to have at least two children: Floris (future Count of Holland) and a girl whose name is not recorded. She was possible called Machteld.

Dirk died on 17 June 1091 but although we know that Othilde died on 18 November, the year is unclear. We do know that she was buried in Egmond Abbey beside her husband. Her body was dug up during archaeological research and her remains were examined. It was established that she was between 65 and 70 years old at the time of her death so she must have outlived her husband for quite some time.1

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The Year of Queen Victoria – The Coronation

Queen Victoria’s coronation took place on Thursday, 28 June 1838 in Westminster Abbey; she had become monarch at the age of 18 on 20 June 1837 upon the death of her uncle King William IV.

Following tradition, the coronation ceremony was in London’s Westminster Abbey and took place after Queen Victoria left Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach before her people. The new railway system allowed for around 400,000 people to travel to London for the festivities.

Lord Melbourne stressed that the public needed to be involved, and a longer route for the people to line up to see the monarch was selected.

The budget was a contentious subject. Some wanted a lavish coronation like that in 1821 and the smaller scaled version for the 1831 event. In the end, a budget of £70,000 was decided on as a compromise between the two.

The crown made for Queen Victoria (public domain)

A new Imperial State Crown was also created for Her Majesty as it was feared that St Edward’s Crown would be too heavy for her head, so a smaller one was created for her. It would later be heavily damaged and redone for King George VI’s coronation decades later.

A lack of rehearsals led to mistakes in the ceremony; however, the Queen did visit Westminster Abbey the night before but insisted she knew the service and what was going to take place. One such event took place when Lord Rolle, 82, fell ascending the steps and the Archbishop placed the ring on the wrong finger.

Even with some mistakes, the ceremony, which began with the Queen in a very long red velvet robe, continued on and lasted for five hours and two costume changes (which included the Queen changing from the red robes into a white linen lace gown to be presented with the Crown Jewels). Music was provided by 157 singers and an 80 piece orchestra, but it was criticised by many. However, Bishop of Rochester was impressed by the music and its ability to remind those in attendance that they were also taking part in a religious service.

British social theorist Harriet Martineau called the service “barbaric” but did share some special moments with her readers. Some may have considered the Treasurer of the Household throwing silver coronation medals into the crowd (which resulted in a mad scramble) as one of the “barbaric” moments to which Martineau referred.

After the coronation, the Queen, wearing the George IV State Diadem, rode through the streets for an hour in a carriage as she returned to Buckingham Palace. There was no coronation banquet as the budget emphasised the carriage procession and not a banquet.

Of course, we have been able to read first-hand accounts by Queen Victoria via her famous journals. In part, she said, “I was awoke [sic] at 4 o’clock by the guns in the Park & could not get much sleep afterwards, on account of the noise of the people, Bands, &c. Got up at 7, feeling strong & well. The Park presented a curious spectacle, — crowds of people up Constitution Hill, — soldiers, Bands, &c. & At 10, I got into the State Coach with the Dss of Sutherland & Ld Albemarle, & we began our Progress.”

She wrote about the carriage ride back to Buckingham saying, “At about ½ p. 4 I reentered the State Coach, the crown on my head & Sceptre & Orb in my hands, & we proceeded the same way as we came, the crowds, if possible, having become still greater. The demonstrations of enthusiasm affection, & loyalty were really touching & shall ever remember this day as the proudest in my life, I came home at a little after 6, really not feeling too tired. — At 8 we dined, besides we 13, my Uncle, sister, & brother Spëth & the German Gentlemen, — my excellent Ld Melbourne & Ld Surry dining.”

Many of the items from the coronation are in the possession of the Royal Collections and housed at Kensington Palace.

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From Queen Victoria to the Empress Frederick – 27 June 1894

From Queen Victoria to the Empress Frederick – Windsor Castle, 27 June 1894

You rejoice as I do, indeed, and as the whole nation does, at the birth of dear George’s1 boy.2 It is a great pleasure and satisfaction but not such a marvel, for if Alicky3 had not refused Eddy4 in ’89 I might have had a great-grandchild four years ago already. As it is, however, it is true that it has never happened in this country that there should be three direct heirs as well as the sovereign alive. I went over yesterday with Beatrice5, Nicky6, Alicky and Marie L7to see May8 and the baby, who is a very fine strong boy, a pretty child. May I did not see, as it was rather too soon and the doctor specially wished she should be kept very quiet, but she is perfectly well…

The newspapers have charmingly written articles. But oh, what a frightful contrast is this horrible assassination of poor Monsieur Carnot!9 The two events seem almost parallel and the contrast too awful. It is like the murder of Henri Quatre10 in 1610. They ought not to have allowed the people to crowd round the carriage. It is very unsafe. It is too shocking. He was a good man, and one feels so much for her. I fear it will mean bad feeling between France and Italy. Who, I wonder, will they elect? Dear Nicky is very amiable and quite at home with us…11

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Princesses of Orange – Louise de Coligny

Louise de Coligny was the fourth and final wife of William, Prince of Orange. Louise was born on 23 September 1555 at Castle Châtillon-sur-Long as the second child, and first daughter of Gaspard de Coligny and Charlotte de Laval. She had four brothers and a half-sister.

She was only two years old when her father, who was an Admiral of France, was captured by the Spanish. He was held captive for almost two years, and during those years he converted to Calvinism. By 1562, he and the Prince of Condé were the commanders of the Huguenot Army. Louise’s mother brought Louise and her siblings to the besieged city of Orléans, and her mother cared for the wounded soldiers in the army hospitals. Her mother died of typhoid just six years later. After her mother’s death, Louise spent some time at the court of Jeanne d’Albret, Queen Regnant of Navarre, and a Calvinist.

At the age of 16, Louise was married for the first time. The groom was Charles de Téligny, who served as a soldier and diplomat under her father. It was to be a short marriage, and during the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre in Paris, both her husband and her father were brutally murdered. Louise then received an offer of marriage from The Prince of Orange without having met him. He had been a widower since 1582. She agreed to marry him, and she arrived in the Netherlands on 8 April. The couple were officially married in Antwerp on 12 April. It would be a happy marriage, but it would again be short.

On 29 January 1584, Louise gave birth to a son named Frederick Henry. On 10 July 1584, William was assassinated in Delft by Balthasar Gerards. She was with him when he was shot.

After her husband’s death, Louise received custody of four of William’s six daughters from his third marriage. Louise, her four stepdaughters, and her young son lived in Vlissingen. She was in financial trouble, and it wasn’t until 1592 that the States General granted her an allowance. She was quite the matchmaker, and she travelled to France to arrange marriages for two of her stepdaughters. She returned to France in 1598 to introduce her son at the French court. Louise then remained in France for five years before returning to the Hague in 1603. She divided her time between the two countries she felt closest to, but France was her absolute favourite. From 1605 to 1608, she again went to live in France.

Louise became an essential political link between the French Court and the Dutch Republic. She mediated between Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who preferred peace with Spain and her stepson Maurice, who was against peace with Spain. In 1619, Louise asked her stepson Maurice to spare the life of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, but he did not listen. Johan was executed 13 May 1619. In 1620, she decided to return to France for good. She lived with the French Queen Marie de’ Medici at the Fontainebleau Palace. She died just shortly after her arrival – on 13 November 1620. Her body was embalmed and returned to the Netherlands on 24 May 1621 so that it could be interred with her husband.

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Gertrude of Saxony – Twice a Countess

Gertrude of Saxony was born circa 1030 as the daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxony and Eilika of Schweinfurt.

Gertrude married Floris I, Count of Holland around 1050 and they had at least six children together. Their children were Dirk (later Count of Holland), Bernhard (died young), Eilika (died young), Othilde (died young), Bertha and Floris (died young). Their marriage turned out to be rather short, and Floris died on 19 May 1961 at the age of around 31. He was buried in Egmond Abbey. Gertrude was left widowed with three young children of which another one would soon follow his father to the grave, and the young boy would be interred with his father.

Gertrude saw no other way to secure her surviving son’s inheritance than to remarry. The chosen husband was Robert, a younger son of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders and they married in 1063. Gertrude and Robert acted as co-regents for Gertrude’s son Dirk. Gertrude and Robert went on to have five children together: Robert (later Count of Flander), Adela, Gertrude, Philip and Ogiva. In July 1070, Robert’s elder brother Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and soon the succession of Baldwin’s young son Arnulf was disputed. Arnulf had the support of the French King but he was defeated and killed in battle and his uncle Robert was victorious. Robert later made peace with the French King by offering his stepdaughter Bertha in marriage to the King.

Despite Robert’s success in Flanders, he did manage to lose the county of Holland – belonging to his stepson Dirk. It would not be until 1076 that Robert would win back Holland for Dirk. Robert was once again at odds with the French King when he tried to repudiate her and marry another woman. This time Robert would make no peace. There was no battle, but Robert died on 13 October 1093. Gertrude would survive Robert as well and spent the last years of her life in Veurne – today in Belgium. She died there on 3 or 4 August 1113 – over 80 years old.

Even though she lived a long life, very little is known about it. She only appears in a few charters, and her influence at the Flanders court was limited by her mother-in-law Adela of France and later by her daughter-in-law Clementia of Burgundy. Gertrude probably played a limited role in politics, but her grandchildren became Count of Holland, King of France, Princess of Antioch, Count of Flanders, Princesses of Denmark, and Duchess of Lorraine. In 1123 – exactly ten years after her death – her grandsons Dirk VI, Count of Holland and Charles I, Count of Flanders attended a service in the church at Veurne to commemorate her.1

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The Year of Queen Victoria – The Baptism of Victoria

Queen Victoria, or Princess Alexandrina Victoria as she was to be known before taking the throne, was baptised into the Church of England in the Cupola Room of Kensington Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Manners-Sutton.

The private affair, ordered by the Prince Regent (George III’s son, the Prince of Wales and later King George IV) on 24 June 1819 (exactly one month after her birth) saw her names being revealed amongst close family. Her Christian name, Alexandrina was in honour of her godfather, Emperor Alexander I of Russia. Of course, her second name was in honour of her mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld – the Duchess of Kent.

Her godparents were Emperor Alexander I of Russia, the Prince Regent (her paternal uncle); her maternal aunt, Charlotte, Princess Royal (also the Dowager Queen of Württemberg); and her maternal grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

Not much is known about the christening due to its private nature. There are no paintings or much written about it. This could be because, being born fifth in line, it was not certain that she would one day reign, but as her uncles either did not have children or had children who died in infancy, her future role became more apparent.

However, we do know the christening had a bit of controversy, and family squabble as the Duke of Kent wanted to name his daughter Victoria Georgiana Alexandrina Charlotte Augusta, but the Prince Regent would not allow it. Reportedly, as the Archbishop was holding Victoria over the christening font, the family was still in disagreement until the Prince Regent declared that she be named after her godfather. More arguments then ensued as the Duke of Kent wanted her middle name as ‘Elizabeth’, but the Prince Regent rejected that. As such, he finally ordered that she be named after her mother.

The future queen was born in Kensington Palace on 24 May 1819 to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the Duchess of Kent. At the time of her birth, she was fifth in line to the throne; she became Queen of the United Kingdom upon the death of her uncle, William IV in 1837.

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Victoria’s first morning as Queen

Kensington Palace shared this video about a fascinating document now on display as part of Victoria: A Royal Childhood, and Victoria’s first morning as Queen from experts Claudia Williams and Victoria Iglikowski.

The document is on loan from The National Archives.

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Catherine The Great – Official trailer

Coming to Sky Atlantic in autumn 2019.

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The Year of Queen Victoria – The Queen’s devotion to the Munshi

On 23 June 1887, two Indians served Queen Victoria breakfast in Frogmore House at Windsor. Queen Victoria was enchanted by the younger of the two – Abdul Karim. He would go on to serve her for over a decade.

Abdul Karim was born in 1863 to Haji Mohammed Waziruddin, and he was just 13 years old when Queen Victoria was given the title Empress of India. As an adult, Abdul took up a position as a vernacular clerk to the superintendent of the Central Jail in Agra, where his father was also employed. His marriage to a sister of a coworker was arranged, and the family became well-known in Agra. Then came the day that Abdul was called to his superintendent. Abdul had helped select carpets from the jail’s carpet weavers for an exhibition, and Queen Victoria had been impressed by them. During the superintendent’s trip to England, Queen Victoria had discussed with him the possibility of employing Indians servants during Jubilee celebrations where Indian Princes were also invited. The superintendent believed Abdul was the right person for the job and Abdul believed it to be a dream come true.

Abdul received a crash course in English social customs, etiquette and the English language. His travelling companion would be Mohammed Buksh, who would be the Queen’s extra groom-in-waiting. After a long boat trip where Abdul was often seasick, they arrived in London to the appropriately named Victoria Hotel. As Abdul and Mohammed served Queen Victoria her breakfast, she was delighted by their tunics and white turbans. They bent down to kiss her feet, and Victoria was sold. She later wrote, “The Indians always wait now and do so, so well and quietly.” Soon, she was asking Abdul to teach her Hindustani. During these times, he would also tell her about India and the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. They were soon in the court routine and went along as the court moved around the residences. Abdul learned from the lessons as well, and he was soon speaking English well enough to help Victoria with her papers.

The rise of Abdul soon began to be noticed by the Royal Household, and they were reminded of John Brown – The Queen’s Highland servant – who had died in 1883. She had come to lean on John Brown after the death of Prince Albert, and now she was leaning on Abdul. The Royal Household was wary of him. Meanwhile, Abdul wanted to go home – the year was almost up. The Queen was petitioned, and she wrote back, “I am sorry you think you cannot remain permanently in my service, but I quite understand your motives and feel you are right.”

Nevertheless, she asked him to remain another year, and he soon had an elevated position among the servants. In August of 1888, he was appointed a Munshi. Queen Victoria was clearly trying to make him stay longer, and it was working. It was inevitable that the Royal Household began to resent him and Abdul believed himself to be more important than the rest. He was also given John Brown’s old room. When Abdul fell ill in early 1890, Queen Victoria was very anxious, and she began to visit him twice a day.

When Queen Victoria realised how the Royal Household felt about Abdul, she tried to make sure he would be comfortable when she passed away. She began trying to get him a generous grant of land in India. The distance between India and England meant that it took quite some time before Victoria got her way. In May 1892, after a visit to India, Abdul brought back his wife and his mother to England. Victoria wrote excitedly to her eldest daughter, “I don’t think I told you of the two Indian ladies who are here now, and who are, I believe, the first Mohammedan purdah ladies who ever came over… and keep their custom of complete seclusion and of being entirely covered when they go out,  except for the holes for their eyes.” Victoria soon became a regular visitor to Abdul’s wife in their new cottage. When she learned that they had not been able to conceive children, she got them medical advice.

The Royal Household was still not happy with Abdul, and they began to discredit him, even though by now they knew that Victoria would continue to stand up for him. There were rumours that he was linked to radical Muslim groups and that he was a spy. Even members of the Royal Family disliked his position, but Victoria paid them no attention. Slowly but surely, a dossier was being compiled on Abdul. In 1897, the physician revealed that he had been treating Abdul for venereal disease and the Royal Household absolutely refused to dine with him. It was a full out revolt. Queen Victoria was outraged and dramatically swept off the contents of her desk. The Household was shocked but continued to threaten their resignation if he stayed on. Once again, Victoria won the battle.

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was fast approaching and also Abdul’s ten years of service. Victoria had wanted to knight Abdul but was advised against it, and now she wanted to grant him the MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order). This too was railed against, and Victoria found the tension of the last few months very tiring. In October, a photo appeared in the press with Abdul looking directly at the camera while Queen Victoria worked beside him. The Royal Household was furious, and Victoria was annoyed at the publication.

On 7 November 1900, Queen Victoria last wrote in her Hindustani Journal, and she was soon seriously ill. On 22 January 1901, she passed away peacefully. Abdul was allowed to see her body before the coffin was closed. After the funeral, the new King demanded all of Victoria’s letters from Abdul and had them burned in a bonfire. Abdul was ordered to leave the country. He was visited by the future King George V in Agra in 1905 who wrote, “I am told he lives quite quietly here and gives no trouble at all.” Abdul died in April 1909, and King Edward VII asked for any remaining correspondence to be destroyed.1

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