Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 43

The Poltimore Tiara

The Poltimore Tiara was made for Florence Bampfylde, Lady Poltimore, by the jeweller Garrard around 1870.

The tiara could be worn traditionally but could also be broken down into a necklace or even into brooches. Lady Poltimore wore the tiara to the coronation of King George VI and Queen Mary in 1911. It was her grandson, the 4th Baron Poltimore, who sold the tiara in 1959.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Margaret bought it for £5,000 and wore it for her wedding the following year. However, she also wore it shortly after buying it during a visit to the Royal Opera House. Perhaps most famously, her husband photographed her wearing the tiara in the bathtub.

Embed from Getty Images

The tiara was sold by Princess Margaret’s children in 2006, and it was sold to a private buyer for £926,400.1

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Isabella of Austria – The humble and dutiful Princess (Part one)

Isabella of Austria was born on 18 July 1501 as the daughter of the future Queen Joanna of Castile and King Philip I of Castile. She was their third child, following Eleanor (born 1498 – later Queen of Portugal and France) and Charles (born 1500 – later Holy Roman Emperor). She would have three younger siblings as well: Ferdinand (born 1503 – later Holy Roman Emperor), Mary (born 1505 – later Queen of Hungary) and Catherine (born 1507 – later Queen of Portugal).

Eleanor, Charles and Isabella (public domain)

Isabella was born in Brussels, where her parents were living at the time. She was baptised in the Cathedral of Brussels in honour of her grandmother, Queen Isabella I of Castile. Following Isabella’s birth, Joanna began to prepare for her journey to Castile to be sworn in as its heiress following the deaths of her brother John, her elder sister Isabella and Isabella’s son Miguel de la Paz. Joanna and Philip left Flanders in November 1501, leaving their three young children in the care of their paternal step-grandmother, Margaret of York. The children’s aya or governess was Anne of Burgundy, an illegitimate daughter of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Margaret took the children to Mechelen.

Joanna fell pregnant again while in Castile, and so she remained behind after being sworn in as Princess of Asturias while Philip returned home to Flanders. He arrived in Flanders in November 1503. Joanna gave birth to Ferdinand on 10 March 1503 at Alcalá de Henares. In 1504, Joanna finally received permission to leave Castile to rejoin her husband and children. She left Ferdinand in the care of her parents. At this time, Joanna was reportedly already showing signs of mental illness, although the extent of this has been under debate. Nevertheless, she gave birth to a daughter named Mary in Brussels in 1505. By then, her mother had died, and Joanna became the Queen regnant of Castile in 1504.

In January 1506, Joanna and Philip again left for Castile, and a storm forced them to the English coast, which allowed Joanna to meet up with her sister Catherine, who had been married to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and widowed just months later. She would marry King Henry VIII in 1509. Once again, the children were left behind in Flanders, now in the care of Margaret of Austria, Philip’s sister, as Margaret of York had died in November 1503.

Isabella would never see her parents again. Philip died suddenly in September 1506, and Joanna would never return to Flanders. She would also never meet her sister, Catherine, who was born in Castile in 1507. Under the care of her aunt Margaret, Isabella, Charles, and Eleanor received the best possible education one could imagine. Margaret of Austria also became Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1507.

Besides an education, Margaret instilled a love of music in the siblings, and Isabella learned to play a number of instruments, such as the flute. Their religious education was entrusted to Pierre Dalma and Jean de Lampier. From 1509, they were also tutored by Adrian of Utrecht, the future Pope Adrian VI. Isabella was confirmed in 1508 when she was only seven years old. Isabella became fluent in French, Latin, Spanish and Flemish. She also knew some German.

Several suitors were considered for the young Isabella, from the son of the King of Navarre to the Duke of Guelders. Finally, her grandfather Maximilian and aunt Margaret settled on King Christian II of Denmark to extend the Habsburgs’ influence into northern Europe. Her elder sister Eleanor may have seemed the more obvious choice, but Maximilian wanted to keep her in reserve for a better offer. King Christian was 20 years older than Isabella, and his road to the Danish crown had been anything but easy. He was eventually crowned King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Negotiations for the match took place in early 1514, and the marriage contract was signed in April 1514. The later Treaty of Brussels, which also included the marriage, was signed on 5 June 1514. On 11 June 1514, as Christian was being crowned King of Denmark and Norway, the proxy wedding took place in the palace in Brussels. Isabella was led to the altar by her brother Charles, where Mogens Gjø, a member of the Danish Council of State, stood in for the groom. The ceremony was led by the Bishop of Cambrai. A ceremonial bedding was then performed, where both lay in bed fully clothed.

While the Danish delegation left not much later, Isabella remained in Flanders for a bit longer to attend her brother Charles’s coming-of-age celebration on 6 January 1515. Rumours were already flying that Isabella refused to leave because Christian refused to leave his mistress. In June 1515, the Danish delegation returned to Flanders to retrieve Isabella and bring her to her new home. On 16 July 1515, Isabella left from the port of Veere and she celebrated her 14th birthday shortly before leaving. Finally, on 9 August, the ship docked in Hvidore, and from there, she travelled in another boat to Copenhagen.1

Upon her arrival, she wrote to her aunt, “I must tell you that we landed here last Saturday, after having been in great peril and distress at sea for the last ten days. But God kept me from harm, for which I am very thankful.[…]Madame, if I could choose for myself I should be with you now; for to be parted from you is the most grievous thing in the world to me, and the more so as I do not know when there is any hope of seeing you again. So I can only beg you, my dearest aunt and mother, to keep me in your heart, and tell me if there is anything that you wish me to do, and you shall always be obeyed, God helping me. That He may give you a long and happy life is the prayer of your humble and dutiful niece.”2

Part two coming soon.

The post Isabella of Austria – The humble and dutiful Princess (Part one) appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Empress Fu – The wife of China’s homosexual Emperor

Empress Fu was one of China’s most miserable Empresses. She was the wife of Emperor Ai of the Western Han Dynasty. She was Empress of China for six years. However, Emperor Ai did not favour her because he preferred men.[1] This led Empress Fu to a miserable and tragic end.

Empress Fu was the daughter of Fu Yan, the Marquis of Kongxiang. She was from the powerful Fu clan.[2] Her cousin was Empress Dowager Fu.[3] She married Liu Xin, the Prince of Dingtao.[4] Liu Xin was the grandson of Emperor Yuan.[5] His grandmother was Empress Dowager Fu.[6] The marriage between Princess Fu and Liu Xin was never consummated because he preferred men and not women.[7] The current Emperor, Cheng, had no sons.[8] Therefore, Liu Xin was made the Crown Prince in 9 B.C.E.[9] Princess Fu became the Crown Princess.

On 17 April 7 B.C.E., Emperor Cheng died. On 7 May 7 B.C.E., Liu Xin ascended the throne as Emperor Ai. On 16 June 7 B.C.E., Princess Fu was invested as Empress of China.[10] Yet, Empress Fu was neglected and ignored.[11] Emperor Ai had a concubine who was directly below Empress Fu in rank named Consort Dong.[12] He did not favour her either. Instead, his favourite was Dong Xian, who was Consort Dong’s brother and a government official.[13]

Emperor Ai doted on Dong Xian.[14] He left Dong Xian in charge of all state affairs.[15] He gave him the largest mansion in the capital.[16] He let Dong Xian ride with him in his carriage.[17] Emperor Ai even considered leaving his kingdom to Dong Xian after he passed away.[18] Thus, Emperor Ai wanted Dong Xian to be his successor as the next Emperor of China.[19] The thought of a non-royal ascending to the throne of China horrified Empress Wang Zhengjun, and she began to view Dong Xian as a threat.[20] Thus, Dong Xian was the most powerful man in China during Emperor Ai’s reign.[21]

On 1 August B.C.E., Emperor Ai died of illness. Emperor Ai’s death left Empress Fu in a very vulnerable position.[22] She was an Empress who had no children.[23] Her only political supporter, Empress Dowager Fu, died in 2 B.C.E.[24] Thus, she was at the mercy of the Wang clan.[25] Empress Wang Zhengjun installed a nine-year-old on the throne as Emperor Ping. Wang Mang impeached Dong Xian. Dong Xian and his wife were forced to commit suicide.[26] Empress Fu was stripped of all her imperial titles and was demoted to commoner status. She was ordered to guard Emperor Ai’s tomb.[27] Empress Fu committed suicide on the day of her demotion.[28]

Empress Fu’s life was very pitiful. Because Emperor Ai did not favour her, she did not have any sons.[29] This left her very vulnerable.[30] She had no power and was often at the mercy of her enemies.[31] Empress Fu’s story is very tragic because she could not control her own fate. Thus, Empress Fu was an innocent victim caught in the midst of a power struggle.

Sources:

Theobald, U. (2011, 26 December). “Emperor Han Aidi 漢哀帝 Liu Xin 劉欣”. ChinaKnowledge.de – An Encyclopedia on Chinese History, Literature, and Art. Retrieved on 17 October 2023 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/....

McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.

Thomsen, R. (1988). Ambition and Confucianism: A biography of Wang Mang. Denmark: Aarhus University Press.

[1] McMahon, 2013

[2] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[3] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[4] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[5] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[6] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[7] McMahon, 2013

[8] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[9] McMahon, 2013

[10] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[11] McMahon, 2013

[12] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[13] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[14] McMahon, 2013

[15] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[16] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[17] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[18] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[19] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[20] McMahon, 2013

[21] McMahon, 2013

[22] Thomsen, 1988

[23] McMahon, 2013

[24] Thomsen, 1988

[25] Thomsen, 1988

[26] McMahon, 2013

[27] Thomsen, 1988

[28] Thomsen, 1988

[29] Theobald, 26 December, 2011

[30] Thomsen, 1988

[31] Thomsen, 1988

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Empress Lu – The overshadowed Empress of the Han Dynasty

Empress Lu was the Empress of Emperor Houshao of the Western Han Dynasty. She was from the powerful Lu clan. She was the great-great-niece of Empress Dowager Lu Zhi. Even though she was Empress of China, she has largely been overshadowed by Empress Dowager Lu Zhi.[1] From the little information we have about this forgotten Empress, we know that she was Empress Dowager Lu Zhi’s puppet.[2]

The birthdate of Empress Lu is unknown. We do not know her personal name. Empress Lu was the daughter of Lu Lu, who was the great-nephew of Empress Dowager Lu Zhi.[3] Her mother is unknown. Because of Empress Dowager Lu Zhi, the Lu clan was the most powerful clan in China.[4] They were more powerful than the ruling Liu family.[5]

On 15 June 184 B.C.E., Empress Dowager Lu Zhi installed Liu Hong as Emperor Houshao of the Western Han Dynasty. Emperor Houshao was the son of Emperor Hui.[6] His adopted mother was Empress Dowager Zhang Yan.[7] His birth mother was a concubine.[8] Before Emperor Houshao’s enthronement, Empress Dowager Lu Zhi had his mother executed.[9] Empress Dowager Lu Zhi made Emperor Houshao marry Lu Lu’s daughter, Lady Lu.[10] Thus, Lady Lu became Empress of China.

On 30 July 180 B.C.E., Empress Dowager Lu Zhi died. Before she died, she placed Empress Lu’s father, Lu Lu, in charge of the Northern Army.[11] She also placed Lu Chan in charge of the Southern Army.[12] Empress Dowager Lu hoped that the Lu family could still maintain their hold over China after her death.[13] However, her plans would remain unfulfilled. Shortly after her death, the Lu clan would fall from power.[14] This event would be known as the Lu Clan Disturbance.[15]

Loyal Han Ministers named Zhou Po and Chen Ping viewed the Lu clan as traitors.[16] They believed that the royal family should hold power and not the Lu clan.[17] They staged a coup d’etat.[18] They executed Lu Chan, Lu Lu, and other members of the Lu family.[19] Zhou Po and Chen Ping contemplated their next step. Because Emperor Houshao was Empress Dowager Lu Zhi’s grandson and puppet, they viewed him as unfit to rule.[20] They wanted an Emperor who was not descended from Empress Dowager Lu Zhi.[21] They settled on Emperor Gaozu’s son, whom he had with Concubine Bo named Prince Liu Heng, the Prince of Dai.[22]

On 14 November 180 B.C.E., Emperor Houshao was officially deposed as Emperor of China.[23] Empress Lu was no longer Empress of China. They imprisoned Empress Dowager Zhang Yan, the deposed Emperor Houshao, and the former Empress Lu.[24] Prince Liu was enthroned as Emperor Wen of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Yet, as long as the deposed Emperor Houshao remained alive, he became a mere threat to Emperor Wen’s reign.[25] Even though Emperor Houshao was deposed and a puppet, he was once enthroned.[26] Therefore, the deposed Emperor Houshao had to be eliminated.[27]

The deposed Emperor Houshao and his remaining brothers were declared illegitimate, and that they were not Emperor Hui’s sons.[28] This declaration was meant to make Houshao an illegitimate Emperor who never had the right to rule China.[29] It also strengthened Emperor Wen’s claim to the throne.[30] Then, they executed the deposed Emperor Houshao and his remaining brothers.[31] Empress Dowager Zhang Yan was sent to the North Palace (a place for deposed Empresses).[32] Empress Lu’s fate is never mentioned in the chronicles. Yet, some historians believe that she may have been executed shortly after her husband’s execution.[33] However, she may have been sent to the North Palace with Empress Zhang Yan.[34]

Empress Lu was Empress of China for four years. During her short reign, she was a puppet of Empress Dowager Lu Zhi.[35] Because she was an innocent pawn, she ultimately suffered. Empress Lu had to lose her father, her husband, and possibly her own life.[36] Thus, Empress Lu was a mere victim who was caught in the midst of a power struggle between the Lu clan and the royal family. To this day, Empress Lu has largely been forgotten and overlooked, as most historians tend to focus on Empress Dowager Lu Zhi.[37]

Sources:

iNews. (n.d.). “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”. Retrieved on 17 October 2023 from https://inf.news/en/history/46f8fa75d....

San, T.K. (2014). Dynastic China: An Elementary History. Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia: The Other Press.

Zang, J. (2015). “Zhang Yan, Empress of Emperor Hui”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed., C. Tam, Trans.). NY: Routledge. pp. 241-242.

[1] Zang, 2015

[2] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[3] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[4] Zang, 2015

[5] Zang, 2015

[6] San, 2014

[7] San, 2014

[8] San, 2014

[9] San, 2014

[10] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[11] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[12] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[13] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[14] Zang, 2015

[15] San, 2014

[16] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[17] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[18] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[19] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[20] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[21] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[22] San, 2014

[23] San, 2014

[24] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[25] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[26] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[27] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[28] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[29] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[30] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[31] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[32] Zang, 2015

[33] Zang, 2015

[34] Zang, 2015

[35] iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[36] Zang, 2015; iNews, n.d., “Later Emperor Liu Hong of the Western Dynasty: The son of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty did nothing wrong, why did all the officials in the Han Dynasty have to kill him?”

[37] Zang, 2015

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Book News Week 29

*contains affiliate links*

Book News Week 29 – 15 July – 21 July 2024

Mary, Queen of Scots Slept Here 

Hardcover – 19 July 2024 (US & UK)

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Empress Shi – The forgotten Empress of Emperor Wang Mang the Usurper

Empress Shi was the second Empress of the infamous usurper, Emperor Wang Mang of the Xin Dynasty. She reigned for only a few months.[1] Very little information about Empress Shi of the Xin Dynasty is known.[2] Empress Shi’s story shows the perversity of Emperor Wang Mang.[3] Emperor Wang Mang made her his Empress in the hopes of having an heir.[4] Yet, Emperor Wang Mang’s hopes were quickly dashed when he was overthrown by the Eastern Han Dynasty.[5]

Empress Shi was the daughter of one of his officials named Shi Chen. Emperor Wang Mang of Xin’s first Empress, Wang, died in 21 C.E. This left the Empress position vacant.[6] His last remaining legitimate son named Wang Lin, the Prince of Tongyiyang, also died in 21 C.E.[7] This also left him without an heir.[8] Initially, Emperor Wang Mang was content to not have another Empress.[9] He did not have any concubines.[10] Instead, he had female “attendants.”[11] Three of them bore him five illegitimate children.[12] He gave these children noble titles and fiefdoms.[13] However, Emperor Wang Mang needed both an Empress and an heir to continue his Xin Dynasty.[14]

In early 23 C.E., Emperor Wang Mang’s official, Yang Chengxin, suggested that Emperor Wang Mang should follow the rites of The Yellow Emperor.[15] The mythical Yellow Emperor had an Empress and an additional 120 Consorts.[16] This was how The Yellow Emperor achieved his immortality.[17] Therefore, Emperor Wang Mang sent his officials to look for a “chaste maiden”[18] who was suitable enough to be his next Empress.[19] The officials chose Lady Shi.[20] Emperor Wang Mang sent her family exquisite gifts. He personally greeted her when she arrived at the palace.[21] He married her in a grand ceremony.[22] Thus, Lady Shi became Empress of China. After he invested Empress Shi, Emperor Wang Mang created a harem that consisted of 120 Consorts.[23] He also established a concubine-ranked system.[24]

On 4 October 23 C.E., the Han armies invaded the capital city of Chang’an. They burned Weiyang Palace.[25] Emperor Wang Mang’s supporters, including Shi Chen, tried to defend themselves using military might.[26] Shi Chen eventually surrendered to the Han armies. He would later be executed. Emperor Wang Mang was killed.[27] Emperor Wang Mang’s death ended the Xin Dynasty. Emperor Wang Mang’s body was cut into multiple pieces.[28] They even cut off his head.[29] Emperor Wang Mang’s head was sent to Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty.[30] Emperor Guangwu displayed Emperor Wang Mang’s head in the marketplace.[31] Empress Shi’s fate is unknown because chroniclers never mentioned her fate.[32]

Empress Shi was Empress of China for a few months. Emperor Wang Mang only made her his Empress because he had no heirs.[33] Emperor Wang Mang hoped that Empress Shi would give him an heir that would continue his Xin Dynasty.[34] However, Emperor Wang Mang did not expect he would be overthrown.[35] Emperor Wang Mang’s short-lived Xin Dynasty lasted for fourteen years. After the Xin Dynasty ended, the Eastern Han Dynasty began. The Eastern Han Dynasty continued for almost two hundred years.

Sources:

McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.

Shackelford, T. (Ed.). (2021). The SAGE Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology. United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.

Wills, J. E., Wills, J. E. (2012). Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History. United Kingdom: Princeton University Press.

[1] McMahon, 2013

[2] McMahon, 2013

[3] McMahon, 2013

[4] McMahon, 2013

[5] McMahon, 2013

[6] McMahon, 2013

[7] McMahon, 2013

[8] McMahon, 2013

[9] McMahon, 2013

[10] McMahon, 2013

[11] McMahon, 2013, p. 93

[12] McMahon, 2013

[13] McMahon, 2013

[14] McMahon, 2013

[15] McMahon, 2013; Wills & Wills, 2012

[16] McMahon, 2013; Wills & Wills, 2021

[17] Wills & Wills, 2012

[18] McMahon, 2013, p. 93

[19] Shackelford, 2021

[20] McMahon, 2013

[21] McMahon, 2013

[22] McMahon, 2013

[23] McMahon, 2013

[24] McMahon, 2013; Wills & Wills, 2012; Shackelford, 2021

[25] McMahon, 2013

[26] McMahon, 2013

[27] McMahon, 2013

[28] McMahon, 2013

[29] McMahon, 2013

[30] McMahon, 2013

[31] McMahon, 2013

[32] McMahon, 2013; Wills & Wills, 2013

[33] McMahon, 2013

[34] McMahon, 2013

[35] McMahon, 2013

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Queen Mary’s Stomacher

Queen Mary’s Stomacher is “formed as three linked articulated brooches of tapering and delicately scrolled outline, the stones in cut-down pavé and millegrain settings, each brooch suspending three pear-shaped pendants, formed of brilliant clusters, and two brilliant pendants, the smallest brooch with a fourth pear-shaped pendant.”1

The stomacher was made for Queen Mary in 1920 using diamonds from a few of her wedding presents: a crescent brooch from the town of Swansea and a stomacher from the Maharajah of Kapurthala. The latter she wore to the Devonshire Ball in 1897.

The then Duchess of York wearing the stomacher from the Maharajah of Kapurthala.

The new stomacher was designed so that it could be worn as three separate brooches when needed. Queen Mary gave the stomacher to the future Queen Elizabeth II for her wedding in 1947. Queen Mary wore the stomacher as one piece, but Queen Elizabeth II usually only wore a single brooch. Below, she wore the entire piece; click here to see her wearing the bottom section.

Embed from Getty Images

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Queen Bao Si – The legendary beauty who is accused of causing the downfall of the Western Zhou Dynasty

Queen Bao Si was the second Queen to King You of the Western Zhou Dynasty. She has been notorious for causing the fall of the Western Zhou Dynasty.[1] Her story has often been seen as a morality tale that rulers should stay away from beautiful women because they could destroy them and their kingdoms.[2] Yet, some modern historians have been very sympathetic to Queen Bao Si.[3] They see her as a scapegoat for a weak ruler who no longer held authority in his own kingdom.[4] Thus, Queen Bao Si still remains a controversial and elusive historical figure.

In 792 B.C.E., Queen Bao Si was born. Because she brought about the downfall of the Western Zhou Dynasty, ancient chroniclers have mythologised her origins.[5] The myth claimed that in the palace of the Western Zhou Dynasty, a palace maid magically gave birth to a baby girl because she did not have a father.[6] The maid abandoned her daughter after she gave birth.[7] The baby girl eventually ended up in Baoguo. When Bao Si grew up, she was given to King You of Western Zhou.[8] This story’s message is clear. Queen Bao Si was born solely to destroy the Western Zhou Dynasty.[9]

Modern historians believe that Bao Si was actually from a humble and poor family in Baoguo.[10] Her beauty attracted a Prince of the State of Bao, and she became his concubine.[11] In 779 B.C.E., the State of Bao was defeated by King You of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The Prince of Bao gave Bao Si to King You to beg for mercy.[12] King You immediately fell in love with Bao Si.[13] He accepted the Prince’s terms and brought her back to his palace.[14] Bao Si became King You’s concubine.[15] 

Consort Bao Si bore King You a son named Prince Bo Fu. King You wanted to depose Queen Shen and make Bao Si his Queen instead.[16] He also wanted to demote Prince Yijiu as the Crown Prince to commoner status in favour of Prince Bao Fu.[17] Many of his ministers were outraged.[18] Yet, King You still made Bao Si the Queen of the Western Zhou Dynasty and Bo Fu the Crown Prince.[19]

Queen Bao Si had everything she wanted.[20] Yet, it was said that she never smiled.[21] King You would often light the beacon fires just to make her laugh.[22] The beacon fires were supposed to be used to summon the lords to protect the Western Zhou Dynasty from foreign invaders.[23] Eventually, the lords stopped coming because they knew that King You was trying to please his Queen.[24] 

Meanwhile, in 771 B.C.E., the Marquis of Shen was very angry that King You had deposed his daughter as Queen.[25] He was also angry that he demoted his grandson, Prince Yijiu, as the Crown Prince.[26] He wanted to kill King You and put Prince Yijiu on the throne.[27] The Marquis of Shen rebelled against Zhou and joined forces with the State of Su and Xiyi Quanrong.[28] They invaded  Haoting (the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty). King You was forced to light the beacons, but the warlords never came. They believed that King You was trying to please his Queen.[29]

King You was killed during the rebellion.[30] Queen Bao Si was captured by Xiyi Quanrong.[31] Her fate after her kidnapping remains unknown because she is no longer mentioned in ancient chronicles.[32] Prince Yijiu ascended the throne as King Ping.[33] He moved the capital from Haoting to Luoyi and created the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.[34]

Queen Bao Si has been infamous for being instrumental in the fall of the Western Zhou Dynasty.[35] Yet, some historians believe that she may have been a scapegoat.[36] They believe that the story of King You lighting the beacons may have been false.[37] They also believe that King You’s power was already so weak that he could no longer control the lords of various states.[38] Instead, the lords became very powerful and no longer looked to King You as their ruler.[39] Therefore, modern historians have been more sympathetic to Queen Bao Si.[40] After King You’s death, the era of the Spring and Autumn period began.[41] During this period, Chinese states were declaring their own independence from the ruling Zhou Dynasty to form their own dynasties.[42] 

Sources:

Cook, C. A. (2015). “Bao Si. Wife of King You of Zhou”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 3-7.

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

iMedia. (n.d.).“Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”. Retrieved on 14 October 2023 from https://min.news/en/history/ec3eeaa31....

iNews. (n.d.). “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”. Retrieved on 14 October 2023 from https://inf.news/en/history/431e4d138....

Kleeman, T. F. (1994). A God’s Own Tale: The Book of Transformations of Wenchang, the Divine Lord of Zitong. NY: State University of New York Press.

[1] Cook, 2015

[2] Cook, 2015

[3] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[4] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[5] iMedia, n.d., “Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”

[6] iMedia, n.d., “Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”

[7] iMedia, n.d., “Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”

[8] iMedia, n.d., “Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”

[9] iMedia, n.d., “Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”

[10] iMedia, n.d., “Bao Si: It’s a beauty but it’s not necessarily a disaster”

[11] Cook, 2015

[12] Cook, 2015

[13] Kleeman, 1994

[14] Cook, 2015

[15] Kleeman, 1994

[16] Kleeman, 1994

[17] Kleeman, 2015

[18] Kleeman, 2015

[19] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[20] Kleeman, 1994

[21] Cook, 2015

[22] Cook, 2015

[23] Cook, 2015

[24] Cook, 2015

[25] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[26] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[27] Cook, 2015

[28] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[29] Cook, 2015

[30] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[31] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[32] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[33] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[34] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[35] Cook, 2015

[36] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[37] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[38] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[39] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[40] iNews, n.d., “Bao Si: the second queen of King You of Zhou, the protagonist of ‘The Beacon Fire Show’”

[41] Eno, 2010

[42] Eno, 2010

The post Queen Bao Si – The legendary beauty who is accused of causing the downfall of the Western Zhou Dynasty appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Elisabeth of Austria – “The splendour of our countries”

Elisabeth of Austria was born on 9 July 1526 as the eldest child of the future Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife Anne of Bohemia and Hungary.

Almost from birth, she was destined for the Polish throne. When she was just a few months old, her father offered her hand in marriage to the seven-year-old heir to the Polish throne, Sigismund Augustus. The Polish King, who was also Grand Duke of Lithuania, agreed to the match, and it was renewed in 1530. A papal dispensation was requested in 1531.

In 1531, the humanist Ursinus Velius was employed as a tutor for Elisabeth and her brother, Maximilian. He taught her to read Latin, Italian and German and gave her a strict Catholic upbringing. A German dance master was also employed.

(public domain)

When Elisabeth was seven years old, she ratified the betrothal. Ferdinand was required to pay one-third of the dowry (100,000 guilders), and the rest was to follow the year after the marriage was consummated. When she was 12 years old, the marriage contract was drawn up, which stipulated that she was to come to Krakow at the age of 16. When asked if she wanted to marry Sigismund Augustus, she answered, “What my gracious lord and father commands, I will obediently comply with.” She then began to cry.1

In 1536, Elisabeth described in a letter to her future mother-in-law. Piotr Opalinski wrote, “These children, all of them are exceedingly handsome, but the royal Elisabeth, the future wife of my Lord, excels above the others in beauty and arrangement.”2

On 15 July 1538, the proxy wedding ceremony was performed in the Hofburg. Elisabeth wore a bridal wreath and a silver wedding dress and several of her many siblings were dressed in white. The following day, Elisabeth, now in a gold dress, the court went to church to celebrate High Mass. However, she would not celebrate her 16th birthday until 1542.

Her future mother-in-law, Bona Sforza, was opposed to the match because of a conflict with the Emperor of some Italian estates and her worries over his growing influence over central Europe.3

Elisabeth finally left Vienna on 21 April 1543, and her mother Anne accompanied her until Korneuburg. They would never see each other again. On 5 May 1543, she arrived in Krakow, where she was received by her husband and an entourage of 4,000 people. As Sigismund Augustus had been crowned as co-ruler alongside his father, the following days consisted of both the in-person wedding ceremony and a coronation. On 6 May, they were married in person at Wawel Cathedral. Still reluctant to accept Elisabeth, Queen Bona did not give her wedding gifts until 13 May.

It soon became apparent that Elisabeth had epilepsy, and her new husband was horrified. He apparently wanted to divorce her, but the marriage had been consummated.

In June 1543, pestilence reached Krakow, and on the advice of his mother, Sigismund Augustus left under the pretext of having to manage the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He reportedly said farewell to Elisabeth with just a few words. Immediately after he left, Queen Bona tried to have his marriage annulled.4 While he wrote to his mother on a near-daily basis, he did not write to Elisabeth until he was pressured to do so.

In 1544, Elisabeth’s father-in-law handed over the control of Lithuania to his son, allowing them to set up a court in Vilnius.

The payment of the dowry on 10 April 1545 secured her position somewhat, but her illness threatened the continued existence of the Jagiellon dynasty, as Sigismund Augustus was the only son. Apparently, under the influence of his mother, Sigismund Augustus kept away from his wife. Articles of complaint about her mistreatment were sent to Queen Bona, which said, “Why does the young king never eat together with his spouse? Why does he never visit her on days out, nor give signs of love for her?”5

Her health continued to deteriorate, and her husband asked her father, Ferdinand, to send a good doctor to Poland. He also tried to obtain a miracle ring from England, said to have the power to cure epilepsy. In May 1545, Elisabeth’s health stabilised somewhat, and her husband left for Krakow. She was well enough to participate in the Corpus Christi Procession and Vespers on 4 June.

On 11 June, she suffered 15 epileptic attacks in 10 hours, leading to complete exhaustion.

Elisabeth died on 15 June 1545, still only 18 years old. It has been alleged that her mother-in-law poisoned her, but this cannot be proven.6 Her husband wrote to Elisabeth’s father, “So early died the splendour of our countries and our only delight.”7 Despite these beautiful words, his only show of mourning was his black mourning clothes.

Elisabeth was buried in Vilnius Cathedral on 24 August, shortly after her husband had returned. Her health and the influence of her mother-in-law had left Elisabeth with no significant political role.

The post Elisabeth of Austria – “The splendour of our countries” appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Queen Julia Drusilla – The Queen who died in Pompeii during Mt. Vesuvius’s Eruption

Queen Julia Drusilla of Emesa is famous for being mentioned in the Book of Acts in the Bible.[1] She has often been criticised for divorcing her husband, King Gaius Julius Azizus of Emesa, and remarrying Antonius Felix (the Roman Procurator of Judea).[2] She was known to exercise her power in Judea.[3] She was also known to be very “corrupt.”[4] Yet, she is most well known for getting her just desserts as she died in Pompeii during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.[5]

Queen Julia Drusilla of Emesa was born in 38 C.E. She was the descendant of the Hasmonean Kings and King Herod the Great. Her father, Herod Agrippa I, became King of Judea two years before she was born. Her mother was Queen Cypros II. She had an older brother named Prince Herod Agrippa II (who would later be King of Chalcis) and two older sisters named Princess Julia Berenice (the future Queen of Chalcis) and Princess Mariamne. She was the niece of Princess Herodias and the cousin of Queen Salome, both of whom would play major roles in the execution of John the Baptist. She was known to be very beautiful.[6]

In 43 C.E., Princess Julia Drusilla was originally engaged to Prince Julius Archelaus Epiphanies of Commagene (the son of King Antiochus IV).[7] In 44 C.E., the engagement was broken off due to King Herod Agrippa I’s death.[8] Princess Julia Drusilla was six years old at the time.[9] In 49 C.E., King Herod Agrippa II arranged for his sister to marry King Gaius Julius Azizus of Emesa.[10] He had converted to Judaism to marry her.[11] Thus, Julia Drusilla became Queen of Emesa. The marriage proved to be unhappy.[12] They had no children.

While visiting Emesa, Antonius Felix (the Roman Procurator of Judea) fell in love with Queen Julia Drusilla because of her beauty.[13] Queen Julia Drusilla reciprocated his feelings.[14] She divorced her husband, King Gaius Julius Azizus of Emesa.[15] She then remarried Antonius Felix.[16] The marriage caused an outrage because she divorced her royal husband.[17] She was also a Jew who married a pagan, which created further outrage.[18] Thus, Queen Julia Drusilla seemed like she had given up her Jewish faith in order to marry a Roman.[19] Princess Julia Drusilla bore a son named Marcus Antonius Agrippa.[20]

Many historians believe that Princess Julia Drusilla shared equal powers with Antonius Felix during his term as the Roman Procurator of Judea.[21] They criticised her rule as being “corrupt.”[22] It was said that she was often tortured by her sister, Queen Julia Berenice of Chalcis. This was because Queen Julia Berenice was jealous of her sister’s beauty.[23] However, many historians believe this story to be false.[24] In 60 C.E., Princess Julia Drusilla witnessed St. Paul’s trial. On 24 August 79 C.E., Princess Julia Drusilla and her son, Marcus Antonius Agrippa, died in Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.[25]

Very little information is known about Queen Julia Drusilla of Emesa. The few details we have of her have not been kind.[26] She was a queen who divorced her husband in order to marry a pagan.[27] She ruled corruptly in Judea.[28] Historians believe the most fascinating detail about her was that she died in Pompeii during Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption.[29] Yet, it is clear Queen Julia Drusilla was a powerful and influential woman during the early Roman Empire.[30] Hopefully, with more modern scholarship, a more balanced view of this little-known queen may be brought to light.

Sources:

Bunson, M. (2012). Drusilla (2) (d. after 79 C.E.). In Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome. Facts On File. Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://search.credoreference.com/art....

“Drusilla”. (2021). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1.

Ilan, Tal. (31 December 1999). “Berenice.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Jewish Women’s Archive. Retrieved on 14 October 2023 from https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/....

Ilan, T. (2022). Queen Berenice: A Jewish Female Icon of the First Century C.E. Netherlands: Brill.

[1] “Drusilla”, 2021

[2] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[3] Bunson, 2012

[4] Bunson, 2012, para. 1

[5] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[6] Bunson, 2012

[7] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[8] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[9] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[10] Ilan, 2022

[11] Ilan, 2022

[12] Ilan, 2022

[13] Ilan, 2022

[14] Ilan, 2022

[15] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[16] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[17] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[18] Ilan, 2022

[19] Ilan, 2022

[20] Bunson, 2012

[21] Bunson, 2012

[22] Bunson, 2012, para. 1

[23] Bunson, 2012

[24] Ilan, 2022

[25] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[26] Ilan, 2022

[27] Ilan, 2022

[28] Bunson, 2012

[29] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Herodian Women”

[30] Bunson, 2012

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