Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 70

Berenice – The illustrious Princess of the Herodian Dynasty

Princess Berenice was one of the most significant royal women of the Herodian Dynasty. She was the niece, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law of King Herod the Great. She was also the daughter of Queen regnant Salome I of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis. She was the wife of Prince Aristobulus. While her marriage was unhappy, she was the mother of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea and King Herod V of Chalcis. She was the mother of Princess Herodias and the grandmother of Queen Salome, who would be notorious for their roles in the beheading of John the Baptist.

Princess Berenice was born circa 35 B.C.E. She was the daughter of Salome (the sister of King Herod the Great and the future Queen Regnant of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis). Her father was Kostobar, the Governor of Idumea.[1] Her parents were in an unhappy marriage and often quarrelled.[2] Her mother eventually divorced her father and framed him for treason for conspiring with the Parthians to kill King Herod.[3] King Herod executed Berenice’s father in 25 B.C.E.[4]

In circa 15 B.C.E., King Herod arranged for Berenice to marry his son, Prince Aristobulus, whom he had with Queen Mariamne I.[5] Salome was against the match because Aristobulus was the son of the woman she hated and helped to kill.[6] However, Salome had no choice but to marry her to Prince Aristobulus.[7] The marriage proved to be unhappy.[8] Prince Aristobulus was very proud that he was a descendant of Hasmonean kings.[9] Therefore, he often looked down upon his wife and often insulted her because she came from a commoner family.[10] Princess Berenice complained to her mother about her husband’s mistreatment of her.[11] This gave Prince Aristobulus more cause to dislike her.[12] Despite their unhappy marriage, Princess Berenice bore him five children. They were King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, King Herod V of Chalcis, Princess Herodias (who would be infamous for her role in the beheading of John the Baptist), Princess Mariamne, and Prince Aristobulus. She sent her son, Prince Herod Agrippa I, to be educated in Rome.[13]

In 7 B.C.E., Princess Berenice conspired with Salome to murder Prince Aristobulus.[14] She spied on her husband for any signs of treason.[15] Then, Salome accused both Prince Aristobulus and his brother, Prince Alexander, of treason.[16] King Herod executed them. After the death of Prince Aristobulus, Princess Berenice married Theudion (the brother of King Herod’s first wife, Queen Doris).[17] In 4 B.C.E., Theudion was executed for being a conspirator in Queen Doris’s assassination attempt on King Herod in order to place his nephew, Prince Antipater (the heir apparent), on the throne.[18] Shortly afterwards, Princess Berenice married Archelaus.[19] She remained married to him until her death.[20]

In 4 B.C.E., Princess Berenice and Archelaus accompanied Queen Salome I of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis to Rome to support Prince Herod Antipas’s claim for the kingship of Judea.[21] However, Prince Herod Antipas (who would later be her son-in-law and would play a major role in the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth) lost his bid for kingship. Princess Berenice decided to stay in Rome with her mother and husband.[22] She raised her children in Rome. She won the respect of Emperor Augustus.[23] She also maintained a friendship with the wife of Drusus, Antonia (the daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia).[24] It was because of Princess Berenice’s friendship with her that Antonia would later pay all of King Herod Agrippa I’s debts that he owed to Emperor Tiberius.[25] Princess Berenice died at an unknown date.[26]

It was through the marriage of Princess Berenice and Prince Aristobulus that both the Hasmonean and the Herodian dynasties still continued and prospered.[27] While their marriage was largely unhappy, two of their sons prospered as client kings under the Roman Empire.[28] Their daughter, Princess Herodias, and granddaughter, Queen Salome, became legendary figures in the Bible.[29] Princess Berenice’s other granddaughter, Queen Julia Berenice, would be renowned for her star-crossed romance with Emperor Titus of Rome.[30] Therefore, Princess Berenice was the mother and grandmother of many famous Herodian royal figures.

Sources:

“Berenice (c. 35 BCE–?)”. (2007). In A. Commire & D. Klezmer (Eds.), Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages (Vol. 1, p. 183). Yorkin Publications.

Gottheil, R. & Broyde I. (1906). “Berenice”. The Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articl....

Ilan, T. (31 December 1999). “Hasmonean Women.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Jewish Women’s Archive. Retrieved on December 20, 2022 from. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/....

Ilan, Tal. (31 December 1999). “Salome.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Jewish Women’s Archive. Retrieved. on December 22, 2022 from https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/....

Macurdy, G. H. (1937). Vassal-queens and Some contemporary Women in the Roman Empire. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press.

Smith, M. H. (n.d.). “Aristobulus (IV) [executed 7 BCE]”. Virtual Religion Network. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://virtualreligion.net/iho/arist....

[1] Macurdy, 1937

[2] Macurdy, 1937

[3] Macurdy, 1937; Commire and Klezmer (Eds.), 2007, “Berenice (c. 35 BCE-?)”

[4] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”; Commire and Klezmer (Eds.), 2007, “Berenice (c. 35 BCE-?)”

[5] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[6] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[7] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[8] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[9] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[10] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[11] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[12] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[13] Commire and Klezmer (Eds.), 2007, “Berenice (c. 35 BCE-?)”

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

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

[16] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[17] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[18] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[19] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[20] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[21] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[22] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[23] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[24] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[25] Gottheil and Broyde, 1906, “Berenice”

[26] Commire and Klezmer (Eds.), 2007, “Berenice (c. 35 BCE-?)”  

[27] Smith, n.d., “Aristobulus (IV) [executed 7 BCE]”

[28] Smith, n.d., “Aristobulus (IV) [executed 7 BCE]”

[29] Macurdy, 1937

[30] Macurdy, 1937

The post Berenice – The illustrious Princess of the Herodian Dynasty appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Royal Jewels – Queen Mary’s Kensington Bow Brooch

Queen Mary’s Kensington Bow Brooch is a “pavé-set bow in the form of a double ribbon, the larger two diamonds in cut-down settings, with pavé-set baroque pearl pendant.”1

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The brooch was given to the then Princess Mary of Teck by the inhabitants of Kensington to mark her wedding to the then Duke of York on 6 July 1893. Mary had a long history with Kensington, as she had been born in Kensington Palace.

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She wore it often following her marriage, such as her coronation and the Devonshire House Ball. The brooch was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The post Royal Jewels – Queen Mary’s Kensington Bow Brooch appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Queen Salome I – The monstrous image of King Herod the Great’s sister

Salome I was the Queen regnant of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis. She was the sister of King Herod the Great of Judea. Chroniclers have often depicted her as “the female counterpart of her brother in her unbridled passions, her intellectual capacity, her ambition, and her ruthlessness.”[1] In the chronicles, she plots the deaths of her sister-in-law, her husbands, and her nephews. Yet, modern-day historians are actually questioning whether she was actually as wicked as the chroniclers made her out to be.[2] Most of the information about her comes from the chronicler Nicolaus.[3] He became her enemy because she favoured a candidate that he opposed as the next King of Judea.[4] Thus, Nicolaus was the first to blacken her reputation.[5] Did Queen Salome I deserve her negative reputation?

Queen Salome I of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis was born circa 57 B.C.E.[6] Her parents were Antipater the Idumaean and Princess Cypros. She had two brothers, Phasael and Herod. When Herod became King of Judea in 37 B.C.E., he married a Hasmonean princess named Mariamne. It was said that Queen Salome was jealous of Queen Mariamne I because her mother was a princess while her mother was a commoner.[7] Therefore, Salome hated Queen Mariamne I with a passion and secretly wished for her death.[8]

Salome married her uncle, Joseph. They had no children. It was during her marriage to Joseph that Salome discovered an opportunity to try to kill Queen Mariamne I.[9] When King Herod was summoned by Mark Antony to Laodicea regarding the matter of the death of the High Priest of Jerusalem named Aristobulus, he left his beloved wife in the care of Joseph.[10] When King Herod returned, Salome accused Queen Mariamne I of having an affair with her husband, Joseph.[11] King Herod executed Joseph (which left Salome a widow), but he eventually forgave his wife.[12] Thus, Salome’s efforts to kill Queen Mariamne I failed.

In 30 B.C.E., Salome found a second opportunity to try to kill Queen Mariamne I. When King Herod left for Rhodes to meet with Emperor Augustus, he left Queen Mariamne I in the protection of the Iturean named Sohemus.[13] When King Herod returned to Judea, Salome accused Queen Mariamne I of plotting to assassinate him and having an affair with Sohemus.[14] King Herod executed Sohemus but imprisoned Queen Mariamne I.[15] Salome was not happy with Queen Mariamne I’s imprisonment and desired her execution.[16] She convinced her brother to execute her by persuading him that there would be a public revolt against him if he kept his wife imprisoned.[17] Thus, Queen Mariamne I was executed in 29 B.C.E. King Herod would regret his decision to execute her for the rest of his life.[18]

Salome married for the second time to Kostobar, the Governor of Idumea.[19] Salome bore him two children, Antipater and Berenice. Salome’s marriage to Kostobar was very unhappy, and they often quarrelled.[20] She violated Jewish law by divorcing him.[21] After her divorce, she accused Kostobar of treason.[22] King Herod executed him.[23]

Salome fell passionately in love with the young and handsome, Syllaeus (the prime minister of the King of Arabia).[24] However, he refused to marry her because he had no wish to convert to Judaism for fear of being stoned in his homeland.[25] Despite being rejected, Salome was still determined to marry him.[26] Through the intervention of Empress Livia in Rome, Salome finally abandoned all thoughts of marrying Syllaeus.[27] King Herod arranged for her to marry his friend, Alexus.[28] She remained married to him until her death in 10 C.E.[29]

King Herod arranged for Salome’s children to marry two of his children whom he had with Queen Mariamne I.[30] It was said that Salome disliked the idea of her children marrying the offspring of the woman she hated.[31] However, she had no choice but to submit to her brother’s wishes.[32] Her son, Antipater, married Princess Cypros. Berenice married Prince Aristobulus. Princess Berenice bore him five children. They were King Herod Agrippa I, King Herod V of Chalcis, Princess Herodias (who would be infamous for her role in the beheading of John the Baptist), Princess Mariamne, and Prince Aristobulus.

Salome hated Queen Mariamne I’s sons and plotted to eliminate them.[33] She ordered her daughter, Princess Berenice, to spy on her husband, Prince Aristobulus.[34] Then, she accused Prince Alexander and Prince Aristobulus of treason.[35] Eventually, King Herod listened to his sister’s accusations.[36] He executed them in 7 B.C.E. After the execution of Queen Mariamne I’s sons, Princess Salome decided to eliminate Queen Doris’s son, Prince Antipater, who was the heir apparent.[37] In 4 B.C.E., Salome revealed to King Herod of Queen Doris’s assassination attempt to place Prince Antipater on the throne.[38] King Herod executed Prince Antipater a few weeks before his death and banished Queen Doris.[39]

In 4 B.C.E., King Herod died. On his deathbed, King Herod ordered the executions of many Jewish nobles.[40] However, Salome freed these nobles.[41] Because of her pardon of the Jewish nobles, she won the respect of the people.[42] Salome was praised for her heroic deeds.[43]

In King Herod’s will, Salome was made the Queen regnant of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis.[44] Even though Salome was the Queen regnant, she did not administer the kingdoms personally. Instead, she left the administration in the hands of the governors. King Herod’s sons, whom he had with Queen Malthace, Prince Archelaus and Prince Herod Antipas (who would play a major role in the executions of both John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth), were left with the best territories of the kingdom, which were Samaria, Judea, and Idumaea.[45] 

Prince Archelaus and Prince Herod Antipas quarrelled over the kingship of Judea. This led them to plead their case to Emperor Augustus and forced the Jewish elite to choose sides.[46] Queen Salome went to Rome to support Prince Herod Antipas.[47] However, she made an enemy of the chronicler, Nicolaus, who supported Prince Archelaus.[48] He has portrayed her as the monstrous and ruthless queen that has been notorious for millennia.[49]

Emperor Augustus decided that Judea would not have a king.[50] Instead, he declared Prince Herod Archelaus the ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea.[51] Emperor Augustus then declared Prince Herod Antipas the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.[52] After the settlement of King Herod’s will, Queen Salome remained in Rome with her children and grandchildren.[53] She maintained a friendship with Empress Livia.[54] Queen Salome died in 10 C.E. In her will, she left her kingdoms to Empress Livia.[55]

The story of Queen Salome I of Iamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis is hard to separate fact from fiction when a bitter enemy spreads her initial story. Therefore, her role in the deaths of Queen Mariamne I, her husbands, and her nephews is still unclear.[56] However, during her lifetime, she was loved by the Jewish people. She was even acclaimed as a hero for freeing the Jewish nobles. Thus, she may not have been as wicked as the chroniclers depicted her.[57] Perhaps with more scholarship, the truth about this Queen may one day be revealed.

Sources:

Gottheil, R. & Krauss, S. (1906). “Mariamne”. The Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/ar....

Hizmi, H. (2016). The Toparchy of Salome, Sister of King Herod, and its Towns: Archelais, Phasaelis, and Livias. Judea and Samaria Studies. 26(2):137-170.

Ilan, Tal. (31 December 1999). “Salome.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Jewish Women’s Archive. Retrieved. on December 22, 2022 from https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/....

Macurdy, G. H. (1937). Vassal-queens and Some contemporary Women in the Roman Empire. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press.

Malamat, A. (1976). A History of the Jewish People. United Kingdom: Harvard University Press.

Milwitzky, W. (1906). “Alexandra”. The Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articl....

Smith, M. H. (n.d.). “Salome I (died 10 CE)”. Virtual Religion Network. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://virtualreligion.net/iho/salom....

[1] Macurdy, p. 69

[2] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[3] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[4] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[5] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[6] Hizmi, 2016

[7] Smith, n.d., “Salome I [died 10 CE]”

[8] Smith, n.d., “Salome I [died 10 CE]”

[9] Macurdy, 1937

[10] Macurdy, 1937

[11] Macurdy, 1937

[12] Gottheil and Krauss, 1906, “Mariamne”

[13] Gottheil and Krauss, 1906, “Mariamne”

[14] Gottheil and Krauss, 1906, “Mariamne”

[15] Gottheil and Krauss, 1906, “Mariamne”

[16] Macurdy, 1937

[17] Gottheil and Krauss, 1906, “Mariamne”

[18] Milwitzky, 1906, “Alexandra”

[19] Macurdy, 1937

[20] Macurdy, 1937

[21] Macurdy, 1937

[22] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[23] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[24] Macurdy, 1937

[25] Macurdy, 1937

[26] Macurdy, 1937

[27] Macurdy, 1937

[28] Macurdy, 1937

[29] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[30] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[31] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[32] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[33] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[34] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[35] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[36] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[37] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[38] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[39] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[40] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[41] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[42] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[43] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[44] Hizmi, 2016

[45] Malamat, 1976

[46] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[47] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[48] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[49] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[50] Malamat, 1976

[51] Malamat, 1976

[52] Macurdy, 1937

[53] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[54] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[55] Hizmi, 2016

[56] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

[57] Ilan, 31 December 1999, “Salome”

The post Queen Salome I – The monstrous image of King Herod the Great’s sister appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Marie Clotilde of France – Angel of Peace (Part two)

Read part one here.

Their marriage wasn’t always harmonious. Charles Emmanuel had a weak constitution, and he had been unable to join his brothers in military service. This made him rather melancholy, which sometimes led to explosive behaviour. This led to fights between him and his father, during which Marie Clotilde often tried to intervene. Her father-in-law began calling her an “angel of peace.”1 If her husband was ill, Marie Clotilde would not let anyone near him and nursed him herself. If she had to forego religious services to do so, she called it “leaving God for God.”2

In France, the political situation was coming to a head. After the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, it was decided that the Count of Artois and his family should leave the country. His wife, Marie Thérèse of Savoy, was a sister of Charles Emmanuel. She and their two sons arrived in Turin shortly after the Count. More people followed, including her aunts, Madame Adélaïde and Madame Victoire, who later travelled to Austria. The Count and Countess of Provence, another sister of Charles Emmanuel, had made their way to Brussels, but the King and his family had been captured during the Flight to Varennes. The Countess of Provence made her way home to Turin early in 1792.

The situation was quite awkward for the King of Sardinia, as many prominent French were making their way to Turin, and he was soon declared an enemy of the French Revolution. Marie Clotilde was stuck in the middle, although her sympathies were with the French refugees. The Countess of Artois, who had been terribly depressed since her arrival, had announced her intention to enter a convent. However, Marie Clotilde managed to convince her of the importance of her duties as a wife and a mother. The Countess and Marie Clotilde grew so close that when the Countess died in 1805, she directed that her heart should be enclosed in an urn and placed into Marie Clotilde’s tomb.

In early 1793, Marie Clotilde’s brother King Louis XVI was executed. The Duke the Genevois wrote about how she received the news. He wrote, “After Mass, we went up to the Princess’s apartments. She was in bed and shed many tears, but she showed a strength of soul beyond anything that can be imagined.”3 Nevertheless, she insisted on joining her husband in the Countess of Artois’s room, who she believed had not yet been told the news. She found the Countess already crying and told her that God knew how to turn the greatest misfortunes into good issues.4 She continued crying in her own room.

The Minister of the Genoese Republic later wrote, “The Princess of Piedmont has been compelled by her extreme affliction to keep to her bed, and she finds only consolation in her great piety. She submits herself to God’s will and considers her unfortunate brother as a martyr because of the constancy with which he has opposed the persecution of religion and of the clergy, and the firmness he has shown in his attachment to the Catholic faith.”5

The execution of Queen Marie Antoinette was no longer a surprise for her. However, this seemed to confirm the fears everyone had for Madame Elisabeth, who was still a prisoner in the Temple, along with the children of the King and Queen. When news of Elisabeth’s execution reached Turin, it was kept from Marie Clotilde until the following day. Charles Emmanuel broke the news to her. While holding a crucifix in one hand, he told her, “A great sacrifice must be offered to God.” Marie Clotilde knew what he meant and said, “The sacrifice is made.”6 She then fainted.

She later told a businessman who came to take an order, “You will have heard of the death of my sister Elisabeth. She was a holy woman, I assure you, and people in France knew it. I can only attribute her death to a grace from God, who wished thus to reward her virtues.” She then added, “Order my usual mourning things.”7 For the rest of her life, she went into a sort of semi-mourning. She wore only blue woollen dresses (except during actual mourning) and had her hair cut short. She wore only a gold ring engraved with two hearts and a small cross around her neck.

Meanwhile, Sardinia was under attack from the French, which would only end with a humiliating treaty that saw the King give up several important territories. Stricken by old age and the stress of it all, the King of Sardinia died on 15 October 1796 as Marie Clotilde nursed him. Charles Emmanual succeeded his father as King, with Marie Clotilde as his Queen. She turned out to be quite an influential Queen, even though she never publically claimed any attention. They were eventually forced to flee from Turin, with Marie Clotilde being the brains behind the operation.

While in exile, Marie Clotilde spent most of her free time visiting churches and caring for the poor. She suffered several bouts of ill health and was advised not to spend too much time in cold churches. At the end of February 1802, she became very fatigued and had difficulty breathing. She could not get any rest as she had a headache which felt like a crown of thorns was being forced on her head. As death approached, she resigned herself to it, maybe even welcomed it. She received Last Rites, although by then, she was unable to speak. Shortly afterwards, on 7 March 1802, she died.

She was not dressed in royal robes. Instead, she wore a simple woollen dress and two women were appointed to be the only ones to touch her after death. The funeral procession was simple, although huge crowds came to say goodbye to the Queen. She was buried in Santa Caterina a Chiaia in Naples.

Her devastated husband later wrote, “I have lost on March 7 the dearest thing I had in this world within a few days of typhoid fever. She died as she had lived. I had the consolation of assisting her to the end. I wiped her hands and feet and kissed them after she had received Extreme Unction. She died, like our Lord, bowing down her head, without any agony, leaving me such examples and grief as shall last as long as my own life.”8

Devastated by grief and ill health, Charles Emmanual abdicated the throne on 4 July 1802. He survived his wife for 14 years. On 10 April 1808, Pope Pius VII declared Marie Clotilde venerable, which is the first step to her beatification.

The post Marie Clotilde of France – Angel of Peace (Part two) appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Book News Week 39

*contains affiliate links*

Book news week 39: 25 September – 1 October 2023

Meiji Japan in Global History

Paperback – 25 September 2023 (US)

The Royal Heritage Cookbook: Recipes From High Society and the Royal Court 

Paperback – 26 September 2023 (US)

[no image yet]

Queens, Regents, Mistresses: Reflections on Extracting Elite Women’s Stories from Medieval and Early Modern French Narrative Sources

Hardcover – 30 September 2023 (US & UK)

Queen Victoria After Albert: Her Life and Loves 

Hardcover – 30 September 2023 (UK)

Heirs of Ambition: The Making of the Boleyns 

Hardcover – 28 September 2023 (UK)

Sybil, Queen of Jerusalem, 1186–1190 (Rulers of the Latin East)

Paperback – 25 September 2023 (UK)

The post Book News Week 39 appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Marie Clotilde of France – Angel of Peace (Part one)

Marie Clotilde of France was born on 23 September 1759 as the eldest surviving daughter of Louis, Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of Saxony. Her three surviving elder brothers were King Louis XVI, the Count of Provence (later King Louis XVIII) and the Count of Artois (later King Charles X). Her only surviving sister was Princess Elisabeth. Her birth was reportedly so quick that only her father, the midwife and a lady-in-waiting were present. They were soon joined by the King, and the baby was promptly baptised by the Bishop of Autun.

Her parents took a great interest in the education of all the siblings and were assisted in this by Madame de Marsan, their governess. Upon their parents’ deaths in 1765 and 1767, Madame de Marsan became particularly close to the two sisters. In her youth, Marie Clotilde was described as being “one of those privileged beings in whom almost perfect mental and moral equilibrium exists and manifests itself simply and easily without effort or conflict.”1 Madame de Marsan instilled in Marie Clotilde a piety that she would live by for the rest of her life. From her earliest years, she was known to be stout and was given the nickname “Gros Madame.”2

Marie Clotilde was just ten years old when her brother, the Dauphin, married Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria. She met her for the first time on the morning of her wedding with her sister Elisabeth, and it seemed that Marie Antoinette was more taken with the younger Elisabeth. Both girls were too young to participate in any official ceremonies. When her grandfather, King Louis XV, died on 10 May 1774, Marie Clotilde and Elisabeth were among the party to leave Versailles with the new King and Queen for fear of infection.

Marie Clotilde’s possible marriage to Charles-Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont and heir to the Sardinian throne, was being discussed as early as 1773. By January 1775, talks were so advanced that Marie Clotilde was advised to start learning Italian, and she received the poet Carlo Goldoni as her tutor. He wrote about her, “She was extremely docile, had great facility for learning and a most retentive memory. She soon was able to speak Italian fluently and to read it quite easily.”3 On 13 March 1775, her brother King Louis XVI publicly announced the plans for the marriage of his sister to the Prince of Piedmont.

Marie Clotilde was present for her brother’s coronation at Rheims on 12 June 1775, after which she fell into the whirlwind of planning for the future. On 16 August, a formal betrothal was made, followed by the proxy marriage on 21 August as the Count of Provence stood in for the groom. As the new Princess of Piedmont, she wrote to her father-in-law, the King of Sardinia, that same day. She wrote, “I cannot express to Your Majesty how much I desire to be able to show my gratitude for all your goodness to me. My gratitude is most ardent and sincere, and the more I hear about Your Majesty, the more impatient I am to know you, to devote myself to you, and to deserve your kindness.”4

On 25 August, Marie Clotilde joined her family for a magnificent ball, but two days later, it was time to leave for her new home. King Louis, Queen Marie Antoinette, and Elisabeth went with her to Choisy for the final goodbye. Although they were not known to have been particularly close, Marie Antoinette wrote to her mother, “I am oppressed by the joy of Monsieur and Madame. Their joy is certainly very natural, and I have hidden my tears in order not to spoil it… But how dreadful for me not to be able to share their happiness!”5

The farewell between Elisabeth and Marie Clotilde was even more heartbreaking, as the two sisters had been kept apart. Marie Antoinette later wrote, “My sister Élisabeth is a charming child, who has intelligence, character, and much grace; she showed the greatest feeling, and much above her age, at the departure of her sister. The poor little girl was in despair, and as her health is very delicate, she was taken ill and had a very severe nervous attack. I own to my dear mamma that I fear I am getting too attached to her, feeling, from the example of my aunts, how essential it is for her happiness not to remain an old maid in this country.”6

The Prince and Princess of Piedmont (public domain)

On 5 September 1775, Marie Clotilde arrived at the Point de Beauvoison, where she was granted military honours for the last time as a French Princess. The following day, the official handover took place, and she was introduced to her husband. Well aware of her nickname, she blurted out, “You will find me very stout!” He responded with, “I find you adorable.”7 A delighted Marie Clotilde wrote, “I will be perfectly happy; heaven has endowed me with a husband who is charming, much loved and who will take care of me.”8 When being taunted in the streets with shouts of “How big she is!”, her new mother-in-law told her, “Oh, pay no attention to that, my dear child. When I arrived here at the time of my marriage, the people exclaimed wherever I went, ‘How ugly she looks!'”9

Nevertheless, her sweet disposition and charitable acts soon made her a much-beloved member of the family. After a few years of childless marriage, it became clear that there would be no successor to the throne. She had undergone several “treatments”, such as drinking various medicines which made her feel ill and taking the waters. She did not become pregnant, but the medicine did make her lose weight. Around 1779, she had “a moment of great hope”, but this too passed.10 Both Marie Clotilde and her husband accepted it as the will of God, but they went one step further. After around eight years of marriage, they began to live together “as brother and sister.”11

Part two coming soon.

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Royal Jewels – Queen Mary’s Dorset Bow Brooch

Queen’s Mary’s Dorset Bow Brooch was given to the then Princess Mary as a wedding present from the country of Dorset.

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She wore the brooch frequently and often combined it with other bow brooches. It is considered to be an almost exact copy of a bow brooch made in 1855 for Empress Eugenie, which was sold at auction with the rest of the French crown jewels in 1887.1

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The Dorset Bow Brooch was among the wedding gift to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and was also worn frequently by Queen Elizabeth II.

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The Year of Marie Antoinette – The fall of the monarchy

On 21 September 1792, the National Convention of France announced that the French monarchy had been abolished and that the French First Republic was born.

At the time, Marie Antoinette and her family were imprisoned in the Temple, and they learned the news from the town criers that evening. King Louis ignored it and continued reading his book.

His valet later wrote, “The royal family could hear distinctly the proclamation of the abolition of royalty and the establishment of a republic. Hébert, so well-known under the name of Père Duchesne, and Destournelles, afterwards minister of public taxation, happened to be on guard that day over the royal family; they were seated at the moment near the door, and they stared at the king, smiling treacherously. The king noticed them; he had a book in his hand and continued to read; no change appeared upon his face. The queen showed equal firmness, not a word, not a motion that could add to the enjoyment of those two men. The proclamation ended, and the trumpets sounded again. I went to the window; instantly, all eyes turned to me; they took me for Louis XVI; I was loaded with insults. The gendarmes made threatening motions towards me with their sabres, and I was obliged to retire in order to stop the tumult.”1

When Louis later requested bed coverings for his son through his valet, he was told, “You can tell monsieur (pointing to the king) to cease to take a title the people no longer recognize.”2 The family was given the name Capet, which was the name of the dynasty that had ruled France until 1328. Being a Bourbon and a history lover, Louis disliked the name as it was not his own.3

Just a few days after the fall of the monarchy, Louis was separated from his family and taken to the Great Tower. It was time to prepare for the trial.

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Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem – The humble wife of King Herod the Great

Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem was the fifth wife of King Herod the Great of Judea. King Herod married her as a substitute for his executed wife, Queen Mariamne I. King Herod did not love her, but he deeply respected her. She proved to be very loyal to him. Due to her loyalty, her son, Prince Herod Philip II, inherited lands northeast of modern-day Palestine.[1]

Most of Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem’s life is unknown.[2] She came from a prominent family of Hellenized aristocrats that settled in Jerusalem.[3] Some historians believe that she was named after Queen Cleopatra II and III of Egypt, who were known for their generosity towards the Jews.[4] It is unclear how King Herod came to marry Cleopatra of Jerusalem.[5] Historians generally believe that he married her after Queen Malthace sometime before 22 B.C.E.[6] This is because King Herod married her as a substitute for Queen Mariamne I, whom he executed on suspicion of adultery.[7] Even though he did not love Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem (because Queen Mariamne I was his greatest love), he still respected her.[8] Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem gave Herod two sons. They were Prince Herod and Prince Herod Philip II.

Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem was said to have been a very loyal and dutiful wife to King Herod.[9] She did not participate in the political machinations of Queen Mariamne I’s sons and Queen Doris of Jerusalem.[10] Because of her faithfulness, King Herod highly regarded her.[11] Therefore, she enjoyed all the wealth and privileges that King Herod bestowed on her as queen until his death in 4 B.C.E.[12] King Herod even sent her sons, Prince Herod and Prince Herod Philip II, to be educated in Rome.[13] However, only Prince Herod Philip II benefited from it.[14]

In 4 B.C.E., King Herod died. Very little is known about Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem after King Herod’s death.[15] There is no mention of how or when she died.[16] Prince Herod Philip II was the only son of Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem to be named in King Herod’s will.[17] This may be that if Prince Herod was older than Prince Herod Philip II, then he may have died in Rome.[18] If he was younger than Prince Herod Philip II, he might have been too young to be included in King Herod’s will.[19] Prince Herod Philip II inherited Trachonitis, Auranitis, Panaeas, Batanea, and Gaulanitis (which were lands northeast of modern-day Palestine).[20] He would eventually marry his niece, Princess Salome, the daughter of Princess Herodias and Prince Herod Philip I. Princess Salome was known for her infamous dance of death that led to the beheading of John the Baptist.[21] Thus, Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem was Princess Salome’s mother-in-law.

While very little is known of Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem, it is clear that she was very smart and faithful to King Herod.[22] She did not participate in any conspiracies against her husband. Because of her loyalty to him, she enjoyed the privileges of Judaea’s queen. King Herod even rewarded her by including her son in her will. Queen Cleopatra of Jerusalem’s greatest legacy was her son, Prince Herod Philip II.[23] He was said to be “a good and honourable prince” [24], who administered justice throughout his realm.[25]

Sources:

“Cleopatra of Jerusalem”. (n.d.). Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/....

Kasher, A., Witztum, E. (2008). King Herod: A Persecuted Persecutor: A Case Study in Psychohistory and Psychobiography. Germany: Netlibrary.

Macurdy, G. H. (1937). Vassal-queens and Some contemporary Women in the Roman Empire. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press.

Smith, M. H. (n.d.). “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”. Virtual Religion Network. Retrieved on December 22, 2022 from https://virtualreligion.net/iho/cleo_....

[1] “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”, n.d., Jewish Virtual Library

[2] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[3] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[4] Kasher and Witztum, 2008

[5] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[6] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[7] Kasher and Witztum, 2008

[8] Kasher and Witztum, 2008

[9] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[10] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[11] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[12] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[13] Kasher and Witztum, 2008

[14] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[15] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[16] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[17] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[18] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[19] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[20] Kasher and Witztum, 2008; “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”, n.d., Jewish Virtual Library

[21] Macurdy, 1937

[22] Smith, n.d., “Cleopatra of Jerusalem”

[23] Macurdy, 1937

[24] Macurdy, 1937, p. 83

[25] Macurdy, 1937

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Book Review: In the Shadow of the Empress by Nancy Goldstone

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Empress Maria Theresa was the ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1740 until her death in 1780 and was Holy Roman Empress by right of her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. The couple had 16 children together, of which the future Queen of France – Marie Antoinette – was the youngest daughter. Her other daughters became Duchess of Teschen, Duchess of Parma and Queen of Naples, while some remained unmarried.

In the Shadow of the Empress by Nancy Goldstone focuses on both the Empress and her daughters. It is an interesting look at how interwoven the family connections were, even when they were separated by borders. However, I find myself not always agreeing with the author on certain matters, such as her insistence that Count Fersen was the father of Marie Antoinette’s last two children. We can speculate, but we will never know for sure.

Overall, it’s a good book that lets you see how everything was connected, but it certainly has its flaws.

In the Shadow of the Empress by Nancy Goldstone is available now in the US and the UK.

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