Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 76

Queen Margrethe II becomes longest-reigning Danish monarch

The Danish Royal House has released several photos of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark to celebrate her becoming the longest-reigning Danish monarch.

The Royal House has calculated that she will officially break the record sometime in mid-July. King Christian IV has the official longest reign at 51 years and six months, however, during the first eight years of his reign, he was under a regency as he was a minor. Queen Margrethe II succeeded her father upon his death on 14 January 1972 and will thus break the record.

She is currently also the second longest-reigning current monarch.

 

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A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS (@detdanskekongehus)

The photos were taken on board the Royal Ship Dannebrog.

 

 

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Queen Camilla’s coronation outfit goes on display

The coronation outfits worn by King Charles and Queen Camilla have gone on display at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen’s coronation dress was designed by Bruce Oldfield. It has floral designs in white and gold, which represent her affection for nature and the British countryside. Some personal details include the name of her children and grandchildren and depictions of her Jack Russell Terriers.

The Coronation display is part of the summer opening of the State Rooms. The outfits are displayed in the Ballroom, which was used by the King and Queen as a rehearsal space for the coronation service. The display will also include the jewellery and the insignia worn by the King and Queen.

Also included are the Anointing Screen, Throne Chairs and the Robes of Estate.

Click to view slideshow.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach can also be found at Buckingham Palace for the summer opening.

The special Coronation display is included in a visit to the summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palac from 14 July – 24 September 2023

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The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette’s adopted children

In addition to her two surviving children, Marie Antoinette also adopted four children.

“Armand” Francois-Michel Gagné

(public domain)

In 1776, Marie Antoinette’s carriage nearly ran over a five-year-old boy who had run into the road. Luckily, the carriage managed to stop in time, and Marie Antoinette learned that the boy was an orphan and was being cared for by his grandmother. She was reportedly so delighted by the boy that she asked to take him with her, and the boy’s grandmother agreed.

Henriette Campan later wrote in her memoirs, “A little village boy, four or five years old, full of health, with a pleasing countenance, remarkably large blue eyes, and fine light hair, got under the feet of the Queen’s horses when she was taking an airing in a calash, through the hamlet of St. Michel, near Louveciennes. The coachman and postilions stopped the horses, and the child was rescued without the slightest injury. Its grandmother rushed out of the door of her cottage to take it; but the Queen, standing up in her calash and extending her arms, called out that the child was hers, and that destiny had given it to her, to console her, no doubt, until she should have the happiness of having one herself. “Is his mother alive?” asked the Queen. “No, Madame; my daughter died last winter, and left five small children upon my hands.” “I will take this one, and provide for all the rest; do you consent?” “Ah, Madame, they are too fortunate,” replied the cottager; “but Jacques is a bad boy. I hope he will stay with you!” The Queen, taking little Jacques upon her knee, said that she would make him used to her, and gave orders to proceed. It was necessary, however, to shorten the drive, so violently did Jacques scream, and kick the Queen and her ladies.”1

She later added that the boy was quite unhappy and wrote, “The arrival of her Majesty at her apartments at Versailles, holding the little rustic by the hand, astonished the whole household; he cried out with intolerable shrillness that he wanted his grandmother, his brother Louis, and his sister Marianne; nothing could calm him. He was taken away by the wife of a servant, who was appointed to attend him as a nurse. The other children were put to school. Little Jacques, whose family name was Armand, came back to the Queen two days afterwards; a white frock trimmed with lace, a rose-coloured sash with silver fringe, and a hat decorated with feathers, were now substituted for the woollen cap, the little red frock, and the wooden shoes. The child was really very beautiful. The Queen was enchanted with him; he was brought to her every morning at nine o’clock; he breakfasted and dined with her, and often even with the King. She liked to call him my child, and lavished caresses upon him, still maintaining a deep silence respecting the regrets which constantly occupied her heart.”2

It was probably Marie Antoinette who changed his name from Jacques to Armand. He remained at court, although he did not have a formal role, and Marie Antoinette’s interest in him waned when she gave birth to her first child. He was killed in the Battle of Jemappes in November 1792.

Jean Amilcar

Jean Amilcar was an enslaved child from French Senegal who had been brought to Marie Antoinette by Chevalier de Boufflers in 1787. Instead of taking him into her service, she had him baptised at Notre Dame de Versailles and gave him the Christian name of Jean Amilcar Müller. He was initially in the care of one of the Queen’s houseboys, but as the revolution became more imminent, it became more challenging to lodge him at the Tuileries. He was then placed in an institution for children at St. Cloud, and Marie Antoinette made monthly payments for him until August 1792, when the monarchy was abolished, and Marie Antoinette was imprisoned in the Temple. He was then turned away from the institution, and it was originally assumed that he starved in the streets.3

Another source states that the young boy finally entered the Liancourt school in 1796. Unfortunately, however, he became seriously ill and died at the age of 14.4

Ernestine Lambriquet

(public domain)

Ernestine was born as Marie-Philippine on 31 July 1778 at the Palace of Versailles as the daughter of Jacque Lambriquet and Marie-Philippine Noiret. Her mother was a chambermaid, while her father was a servant of the Count of Provence. Marie Antoinette renamed her Ernestine after the heroine in a novel. In order to prevent her own daughter from becoming too highhearted, Marie Antoinette installed Ernestine as her playmate. She ordered that Ernestine was to be treated the exact same way as Marie Thérèse. They were dressed the same and ate the same meals.

Nevertheless, Ernestine returned home to her parents every evening until her mother died in April 1788. Marie Antoinette then adopted the girl and had her stay at Versailles permanently. Ernestine received the same education as Marie Thérèse, which the Queen happily paid for.5

At the end of 1788, Ernestine received a pension of 12,000 livres from King Louis XVI “in consideration of the services of her deceased mother.” 6 Marie Antoinette doted on the girl, as shown by the expense reports, and she grew up as part of the family. She accompanied the family to the Tuileries in 1789 and underwent her confirmation with Marie Thérèse on 4 April 1790, and Marie Antoinette also attended in disguise.7 Just before the family was due to flee, in what is now known as the Flight to Varennes, Ernestine was sent to the country to visit her father.8 However, she returned to the Tuileries when the flight failed.

On 10 August 1792, Marie Antoinette ordered sub-governess Renée Suzanne de Soucy to bring Ernestine somewhere safe. During the flight, she was mistaken for Marie Thérèse several times. They eventually made their way to safety, and she was taken in by the family of Renée Suzanne de Soucy. Unfortunately, her biological father was executed in 1794.

According to the official records, Ernestine married a widower called Jean-Charles-Germain Prempain, on 7 December 1810. Unfortunately, she died on 30 December 1813.9 After being released, Marie Thérèse asked to be allowed to leave France with Ernestine, but she could not be found. When Marie Thérèse returned to Paris in 1814, she again tried to find Ernestine, but all that was left was a tomb.10

“Zoë” Jeanne Louise Victoire

Jeanne Louise Victoire was born in 1787 as the daughter of an usher in the royal household. She also had two older unnamed sisters. They were orphaned in 1790, and Marie Antoinette took over the expenses for the three girls.

Jeanne Louise Victoire was close in age to Marie Antoinette’s youngest son Louis Charles, and so Marie Antoinette adopted her and renamed her Zoë. Her elder sisters were sent to a boarding school at her expense. Before the flight to Varennes in 1791, Zoë was sent to join her sisters at the boarding school. However, their expenses stopped being paid when Marie Antoinette was imprisoned in the Temple.

While in the Temple, Marie Antoinette fretted over her adopted children. She learned that Zoë and her two sisters were taken to their father’s family at Brives la Gaillarde. Their further fates are unknown.11

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The Year of Marie Antoinette – The storming of the Bastille

On 14 July 1789, revolutionaries stormed and managed to seize control of the Bastille, a fortress and political prison. The city of Paris had already been in turmoil for several days.

The Bastille was nearly empty and housed just seven prisoners at this time, but as a symbol of tyranny, the fortress still stood strong. Crowds gathered outside the Bastille while negotiators began to arrive. The crowd believed that powder and weapons had been stored in the Bastille, which they wanted in order to arm themselves against “the depredations of the State.”1

The negotiations dragged on, and the crowd soon became restless. Finally, around 1.30 p.m., the crowd made their way into an outer courtyard that had no guards. Soon, gunfire could be heard, and fighting began in its earnest.

After nearly two hours of fighting, the governor ordered the guards to stop firing, and eventually, they capitulated. Around 5.30 p.m., the mob was allowed to take over the Bastille. Around 100 people total from both sides died during the fighting. The governor was dragged outside, where he was repeatedly stabbed until he bled to death.

King Louis XVI did not learn of the storming of the Bastille until the following morning. He asked the Duke de Liancourt if it was a revolt. He answered, “No, sire, it’s a revolution.”2

The storming of the Bastille has been suggested as being the founding point of the French Revolution. Shortly after the storming of the Bastille, several nobles started to flee the country as émigrés, including one of Marie Antoinette’s favourites, the Duchess of Polignac.

Marie Antoinette told her, “I am terrified of everything; in the name of our friendship go, now is the time for you to escape from the fury of my enemies. […] Don’t be the victim of your attachment to me and my friendship for you.”3

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Princess Tang Shixia – Emperor Puyi’s first love

Princess Tang Shixia’s story proved that marrying into the royal family did not bring a person happiness. She was the childhood sweetheart of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. However, she was forced to marry his younger brother, Prince Pujie. Their marriage would prove to be unhappy. Princess Tang Shixia cheated on him twice and even stole from him. They were forced by the Japanese Kwantung Army to divorce. After the divorce, Princess Tang Shixia became a famous painter.

In 1904, Princess Tang Shixia was born in Beijing. She was from the Tatara clan. Her father was Zhiqi, the younger brother of Zhen and Duan Kang (Emperor Guangxu’s imperial consorts).[1] She had a brother named Tang Junwu and four sisters. The most famous of her sisters was Tang Shunjun, who would later be a delegate to the National Assembly of the People’s Republic of China. She would also later be a cousin of Imperial Consort Tan Yuling (Emperor Puyi’s third wife).

Imperial Consort Duan Kang brought her niece, Tang Shixia, to the palace to keep her company.[2] She was fond of her and gave her an excellent education. Tang Shixia learned calligraphy, painting, chess, and piano.[3] She was described to be beautiful and intelligent.[4] She grew up alongside Emperor Puyi. She fell in love with him, and Emperor Puyi reciprocated her feelings.[5] Tang Shixia began to imagine herself as Emperor Puyi’s empress.[6] Even though they were childhood sweethearts, Imperial Consort Duang Kang found her to be unsuitable for Emperor Puyi because of her willful nature.[7] She decided it would be best for Tang Shixia to marry Emperor Puyi’s younger brother, Prince Pujie.[8]

On 12 January 1924, Tang Shixia married Prince Pujie. Princess Tang Shixia was twenty years old, and Prince Pujie was seventeen. They strongly disliked each other.[9] Prince Pujie thought Princess Tang Shixia had a dominant and frivolous personality.[10] Princess Tang Shixia was still in love with Emperor Puyi, and she often compared her husband to him.[11] Therefore, she frequently looked down on her husband.[12] There was nothing that Prince Pujie could do to satisfy her.[13] Prince Pujie’s father, Prince Zaifeng, also did not like Princess Tang Shixia. He found her to be very arrogant.[14] The marriage between Prince Pujie and Princess Tang Shixia was very unhappy.[15] They did not have any children.

In 1926, Prince Puji wanted to meet a prominent young marshal named Zhang Xueliang, who would later become one of the four greatest men in the People’s Republic of China.[16] On a spring day, Prince Pujie and Princess Tang Shixia met him at a banquet at the Beijing Hotel. Zhang Xueliang was rich, handsome, and passionate.[17] Princess Tang Shixia fell madly in love with him and had a passionate love affair with him.[18] Prince Pujie knew about his wife’s infidelity, but he never discussed the affair with her.[19] Zhang Xueliang loved Princess Tang Shixia because of her gifts of painting and poetry.[20] He hoped that one day Princess Tang Shixia would divorce Prince Pujie so that he could marry her.[21] However, he ended the affair when he learned that Princess Tang Shixia’s paintings and poems were not made by her but by other people.[22] Later, Princess Tang Shixia would refute Zhang Xueliang’s accusations that her paintings and poems were fake.[23] She claimed that her artwork was made solely by her own hand.[24]

In 1929, Emperor Puyi arranged for Prince Pujie to study abroad in Japan. Princess Tang Shixia did not accompany her husband to Japan. While Prince Pujie was in Japan, Princess Tang Shixia had a love affair with Lu Xiaojia, the son of the Governor of Zhejiang, Lu Yongxiang. Later, Lu Xiaojia would also be considered one of the four greatest men in the People’s Republic of China.[25] Princess Tang Shixia’s affair with Lu Xiaojia caused her to be openly criticized.[26] The public was shocked that she was openly flaunting her lover rather than remaining faithful to her husband.[27] They even called her “scum.” [28] One of her critics was her former lover, Zhang Xueliang.[29] He called her a “too big asshole” [30] for cheating on her husband.

Princess Tang Shixia began to steal many rare treasures from her husband’s princely mansion and sold them to make a large profit.[31] She claimed the reason was that she did not want them to fall into Japanese hands.[32] In 1935, Prince Pujie returned from Japan. He asked his wife to move with him to the puppet state of Manchukuo. Princess Tang Shixia refused to go with him because she was unwilling to cooperate with the Japanese.[33] 

Even though Princess Tang Shixia cheated on Prince Pujie and stole his property, Prince Pujie still did not want to divorce her.[34] In 1936, the Japanese Kwantung Army wanted Prince Pujie to marry a Japanese woman.[35] Prince Pujie refused and said, “I have a wife, and I can’t marry again” [36]. His statement angered the Japanese Kwantung Army.[37] They made their way to Prince Pujie’s mansion to force Princess Tang Shixia to divorce him.[38] However, Princess Tang Shixia had already left for Shanghai.[39] They forced her brother, Tang Junwu, to provide the divorce papers for Princess Tang Shixia and Prince Pujie.[40] Thus, Princess Tang Shixia and Prince Pujie were forced to divorce.[41] Prince Pujie would marry Princess Hiro Saga and have a happy marriage with her. Princess Tang Shixia never remarried.

After the divorce, Princess Tang Shixia ended her affair with Lu Xiaojia.[42] Painting became her primary profession.[43] In 1947, she held her own art exhibition at the China Painting Gallery.[44] She became a famous and successful painter. In 1949, she moved to Hong Kong and became a professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Oriental Language School.[45] After that, very little is known about her. She held art exhibitions in Taiwan.[46] Before her death, she donated her paintings to the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan. In 1993, Princess Tang Shixia died in Hong Kong. She was eighty-nine years old.

Princess Tang Shixia was an unconventional and controversial figure. Yet, she lived her life according to her own terms. She was able to find success and happiness after divorcing her royal husband. Even though she did not gain Prince Pujie’s love, she did win the hearts of three famous men in Chinese history. Because of her shocking public scandals, Princess Tang Shixia will continue to be scrutinized and judged.

Sources:

iNews. (n.d.). “Tang Shixia: After marrying the prince, he captured Zhang Xueliang and joined Lu Xiaojia to grab the Chun Wangfu. What was the ending?”. Retrieved on 20 November 2022 from https://inf.news/ne/history/cc42f1188....

iNews. (n.d.). “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”. Retrieved on 20 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/d 4936a5ca49d86df2ff9c806a3c440d4.html.

iNews. (n.d.). “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”. Retrieved on 20 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/df7a01498....

iMedia. (n.d.). “”Cuckold” Puyi’s brother and affair with Zhang Xueliang, what does the Republic of China scumbag look like?”. Retrieved on 20 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/fbd41b841....

Laitimes. (October 27, 2021). “Tang Yiying is Princess Jin’s niece, Pu Jie’s married wife, why did she divorce, and what was the ending?”. Retrieved on 20 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/6....

[1] iNews, n.d., “Tang Shixia: After marrying the prince, he captured Zhang Xueliang, and joined Lu Xiaojia to grab the Chun Wangfu. What was the ending?”

[2] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[3] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[4] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[5] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[6] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[7] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[8] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[9] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[10] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[11] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[12] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[13] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[14] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[15] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[16] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[17] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”; iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[18] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[19] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[20] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[21] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[22] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[23] Laitimes, 27 October 2021, “Tang Yiying is Princess Jin’s niece, Pu Jie’s married wife, why did she divorce, and what was the ending?”

[24] Laitimes, 27 October 2021, “Tang Yiying is Princess Jin’s niece, Pu Jie’s married wife, why did she divorce, and what was the ending?”

[25] Laitimes, 27 October 2021, “Tang Yiying is Princess Jin’s niece, Pu Jie’s married wife, why did she divorce, and what was the ending?”

[26] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[27] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[28] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”, para. 13

[29] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”

[30] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying: First marry Pu Jie, then cheat on Zhang Xueliang, and then have an affair with Lu Xiaojia and become romantic”, para. 117

[31] iMedia, n.d., “”Cuckold” Puyi’s brother and affair with Zhang Xueliang, what does the Republic of China scumbag look like?”

[32] Laitimes, 27 October 2021, “Tang Yiying is Princess Jin’s niece, Pu Jie’s married wife, why did she divorce, and what was the ending?”

[33] Laitimes, 27 October 2021, “Tang Yiying is Princess Jin’s niece, Pu Jie’s married wife, why did she divorce, and what was the ending?”

[34] iMedia, n.d., “”Cuckold” Puyi’s brother and affair with Zhang Xueliang, what does the Republic of China scumbag look like?”

[35] iNews, n.d., “Tang Shixia: After marrying the prince, he captured Zhang Xueliang, and joined Lu Xiaojia to grab the Chun Wangfu. What was the ending?”

[36] iNews, n.d., “Tang Shixia: After marrying the prince, he captured Zhang Xueliang, and joined Lu Xiaojia to grab the Chun Wangfu. What was the ending?”, para. 11

[37] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[38] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[39] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[40] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[41] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[42] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[43] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[44] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[45] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

[46] iNews, n.d., “Tang Yiying, a scumbag girl from the Republic of China, is abusive? Pu Jie is her husband, Zhang Xueliang and Lu Xiaojia are her lover”

The post Princess Tang Shixia – Emperor Puyi’s first love appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Book review: The Mistresses of George I & II: A Maypole & a Peevish Beast by Catherine Curzon

*contains affiliate links*

*review copy*

Melusine von der Schulenburg was the longtime mistress of King George I of Great Britain before he even succeeded as King. She gave birth to three daughters by George, although none of them were recognised by him. George’s wife, Sophia Dorothea of Celle had been imprisoned following their divorce in 1694. His son, the future King George II, also kept a mistress, by the name of Henrietta Howard, who later also became Countess of Suffolk.

The Mistresses of George I & II: A Maypole & a Peevish Beast by Catherine Curzon covers the stories of these women in great detail. Naturally, we also cover the ultimate double standard of the time. Sophia Dorothea also had a lover and she was brutally punished for it. Her lover mysteriously disappeared and his body has never been found. Sophia Dorothea saw her marriage ended and never saw her children again. She spent the rest of her life imprisoned and never became Queen of Great Britain.

Henrietta Howard had a Queen to compete with but she was generally on good terms with Caroline of Ansbach. She never bore her lover any children and had considerably less influence than Melusine. Henrietta’s own marriage to Charles Howard was practically non-existent. He liked to spend her money as far away from her as possible. They had a single son together. The couple never officially divorced so when Charles became Earl of Suffolk in 1731, she was entitled to call herself Countess of Suffolk. He died just two years and their son became the new Earl.

The book is a wonderful look at the Hanoverian court, although it can be a bit confusing at times. The author did her best to separate the many Georges and Sophias but sometimes they just become a blur. Don’t let that scare you off though, as this book is well worth the read.

The Mistresses of George I & II: A Maypole & a Peevish Beast by Catherine Curzon is available now in the US and the UK.

The post Book review: The Mistresses of George I & II: A Maypole & a Peevish Beast by Catherine Curzon appeared first on History of Royal Women.

The Year of Marie Antoinette – The life and death of Princess Sophie

On 9 July 1786, Marie Antoinette gave birth to her fourth child – a daughter named Sophie.

As her labour pains began in the early hours of 9 July, Marie Antoinette continued with her routine, including attending Mass at the Royal Chapel. Finally, around 4.30 p.m., she could no longer deny that she was, in fact, in labour, and the ministers who had to be present were summoned for the birth. Just three hours later, little Sophie was born. She was named for Louis’s aunt, Madame Sophie, who had died four years earlier.

Sophie was baptised on the day of her birth in the chapel of Versailles. Her godparents were Marie Antoinette’s brother Ferdinand, represented by the Count of Provence, and Louis’s sister Madame Elisabeth.

It was likely that Sophie was born a bit premature, given the insistence of Marie Antoinette that she was not in labour and the fact that Louis had gone on a coastal tour so close to Sophie’s birth. As such, Princess Sophie had a difficult start in life. Marie Antoinette herself also had a slow recovery from the delivery and had trouble throughout the autumn.

Just a few weeks before her first birthday, Sophie died after “five or six days of convulsions”, probably following the cutting of a few teeth.1 The autopsy revealed that Sophie had never really developed as she should have. Marie Antoinette had invited her sister-in-law Madame Elisabeth to view the body of “my little angel.” She apparently told Marie Antoinette that little Sophie was happy now, “having escaped all life’s perils.”2

Madame Elisabeth later wrote to Madame de Bombelles, “Sophie died on the 9th of this month. The poor little girl had a thousand reasons for dying. Nothing could have saved her. My niece (Madame Royale) has been charming. She showed an extraordinary sensitivity for her age. Her poor little sister is happy now.[…] It is incredible, the day before, she was white and rose-coloured, not thinned out, charming.”3

Sophie’s body lay in a salon at the Grand Trianon, under a gilded coronet and a velvet pall. When Joseph Weber commented that she had not even been weaned yet, insinuating that the grief couldn’t really be that great, Marie Antoinette responded, “Don’t forget that she would have been my friend.”4

(public domain)

A portrait of Marie Antoinette and her children had to have little Sophie painted out shortly after her death. Nevertheless, in a poignant reminder, the Dauphin points to the empty cradle.

To mourn the loss of her daughter, Marie Antoinette withdrew to the Petit Trianon with Madame Elisabeth. Marie Antoinette had written to her, “Come, we shall mourn my poor little angel. I need all of your heart to console mine.”5

On the first of August, Marie Antoinette wrote to Landgrave Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt, “You can have no doubt, Madame, of the pleasure your letters always give me. I was very touched by the part you played in the loss I suffered of my youngest daughter. I was very saddened. Unfortunately, I have been expecting this almost since her birth, as this child never thrived or advanced for her age. Thank God the other three6 are doing well.”7

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Princess Charlotte’s emerald brooch headed for auction

An emerald and diamond brooch that belonged to Princess Charlotte of Wales is headed for auction in July. Princess Charlotte would have succeeded her father, King George IV, as Queen if she hadn’t died in childbirth in 1817.

The brooch was given by Princess Charlotte’s husband, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who went on to become Leopold I, King of the Belgians, to Princess Charlotte’s lady of the bedchamber, Mary Anne John Thynne, Baroness Carteret.

The story of the brooch is written in the accompanying Regency fitted ebony box, which states, “This broach belonged to Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Augusta, Obt 6 Nov 1817 at 22, & on her lamented demise, was the kind and valued gift of Her Consort, Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg to Mary Anne John Thynne, one of H.R.Hs ladies of the bedchamber, in attendance on that afflicting event, whose wish it is, that it should descend unalter’d to posterity, in lasting and grateful remembrance of its former beloved & illustrious possessor.”

Photo: Dreweatts

James Nicholson, Head of Dreweatts Jewellery department, said: “This is a jewel of extraordinary historical importance interwoven into the story of Britain and its Royal Family. Had Princess Charlotte and her son lived, they would have gone on to inherit the British throne after the Prince Regent(later King George III1). This would have meant no Queen Victoria or her descendants sitting on the British throne, and our Royal Family might look very different today. The colour of the emeralds in the brooch are truly mesmerising, and seated in its box with the inscribed gold lid, it is without doubt an exceptional piece.”

The brooch has a central squared cushion-cut Colombian emerald estimated to weigh 2.47 carats. It has several step-cut and oval-cut emeralds to the cardinal points, claw set in gold cut-down collets, with old mine cut diamond scrolls and cut-down collet set diamond accents.

It will be auctioned on 12 July by Fine Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Objects of Vertu. It carries an estimate of £10,000-£15,000.

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Royal Jewels – Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Brooch

Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Brooch consists of a “bow-centred oval outline, set with one large and two smaller pearls encircled with brilliant, the outer border with 20 brilliant in pierced collet claw settings, and suspending three detachable brilliant and pave-set baroque pearls; the central bouton pearl framed by 14 brilliants also detachable.”1

Embed from Getty Images(public domain)

The wedding brooch formed part of a parure given by the future King Edward VII to his bride, Alexandra of Denmark, as a wedding present. She wore the necklace, earrings and brooch on her wedding day. The tiara in the set was eventually bequeathed to Queen Alexandra’s second daughter Princess Victoria, who “disposed” of it.2

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II wore the brooch here to fasten the order triband she is wearing.

Embed from Getty Images

The necklace was passed to Queen Mary, who passed it directly to Queen Elizabeth II.

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Princess Youlan – Emperor Puyi’s birthmother who committed suicide

Princess Youlan’s life was very tragic and heart-wrenching. She was the birthmother of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. Because her infant son was the Emperor of China, she had to give him up for adoption to one of Emperor Guangxu’s imperial consorts. Therefore, Princess Youlan only saw her son on a few occasions. When the Qing Dynasty fell, Princess Youlan conspired with Emperor Puyi’s adopted mother, Imperial Consort Duan Kang, to restore her son’s throne. When their plans failed, Princess Youlan attempted suicide. Tensions strained her relationship with Imperial Consort Duan Kang, which led to her suicide. Emperor Puyi felt guilty and blamed himself for her death. Even though Princess Youlan left Emperor Puyi at a young age, she would have a lasting impact on him. Because of her, Emperor Puyi would make plans to restore his throne, which would eventually prove disastrous.

In 1884, Princess Youlan was born in Beijing. She was from the Gūwalgiya clan, which was one of the Manchu Eight Banners. Her father was Ronglu, a prominent military official who played a major role in the Boxer Rebellion. Her mother was a member of the royal family. She had a sister. Gūwalgiya Youlan was Empress Dowager Cixi’s goddaughter.[1] In October 1902, Empress Dowager Cixi arranged for Gūwalgiya Youlan to marry Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun and the half-brother of Emperor Guangxu.[2] Prince Zaifeng was nineteen years old, and Gūwalgiya Youlan was eighteen years old. The wedding was very grand.[3] Prince Zaifeng liked Princess Youlan very much and was very satisfied with his bride.[4]

On 7 February 1906, Princess Youlan gave birth to Prince Puyi. On 16 April 1907, she gave birth to her second son, Prince Pujie. On 14 November 1908, Emperor Guangxu died. Empress Dowager Cixi chose Emperor Puyi to be the next ruler. When Princess Youlan heard that her two-year-old son was to be the next Emperor, she immediately fainted.[5] She did not want her son to be taken from her.[6]

Against Princess Youlan’s will, Prince Puyi was brought to the Forbidden City, where he was officially adopted by Imperial Consort Duan Kang (Emperor Guangxu’s imperial consort). Imperial Consort Duan Kang became the official mother of Emperor Puyi. Because Princess Youlan was not acknowledged as Emperor Puyi’s mother, she was given very little access to Emperor Puyi.[7] For the next ten years, she visited the Forbidden City only on a few occasions.[8] On the few occasions that Princess Youlan did visit Emperor Puyi, she was very strict with her son. She often spoke to him in a condescending manner.[9] Her cold treatment of her son caused Emperor Puyi to be afraid of her.[10]

Initially, Princess Youlan and Imperial Consort Duan Kang had a positive relationship and were close friends.[11] Both of them wanted what was best for their son, Emperor Puyi.[12] Later, when the Qing Dynasty fell in 1912, they would make plans to restore Emperor Puyi’s throne.[13] Thus, it was not until after the fall of the Qing Dynasty that the relationship between the two mothers became strained.[14] Their fallout would be the main driving force behind Princess Youlan’s suicide.[15]

In 1909, Princess Youlan gave birth to her eldest daughter, Princess Yunying. In 1911, she gave birth to her second daughter, Princess Yunhe. However, she was sad and dearly missed her son.[16] Her relationship with her husband grew worse.[17] Prince Zaifeng took a beautiful woman from the Denggiya clan to be his concubine. Prince Zaifeng fell madly in love with Lady Denggiya and preferred her over Princess Youlan.[18] Prince Zaifeng’s love for his concubine left Princess Youlan heartbroken.[19] She began smoking opium to relieve her broken heart.[20]

In 1912, the Qing Dynasty fell, and Emperor Puyi abdicated his throne. The royal family were still allowed to retain their imperial titles, and Emperor Puyi still lived in the Forbidden City.[21] However, Princess Youlan found the fall of the Qing Dynasty to be very humiliating.[22] She and Imperial Consort Duan Kang made plans to restore their son’s throne.[23] They asked prominent warlords for help.[24] However, the warlords refused to help them.[25] Princess Youlan was so angry with the warlords’ refusal to help her son that she decided to commit suicide by mixing opium with wine.[26] However, her servant prevented her from successfully committing suicide.[27] In 1913, Princess Youlan gave birth to her third daughter, who was also named Princess Yunying.

Imperial Consort Duan Kang was very upset that she could not restore her adopted son’s throne.[28] When Emperor Puyi became more and more disobedient, Imperial Consort Duan Kang did not have the patience to handle Emperor Puyi’s misconduct.[29] Instead of reprimanding her adopted son, she decided to reprimand Emperor Puyi’s birth mother.[30] On 20 September 1921, Imperial Consort Duan Kang summoned Princess Youlan to the Forbidden City. She publicly reprimanded her for Emperor Puyi’s disobedience.[31] She made her kneel all morning.[32] 

Princess Youlan was so humiliated that after she returned home, she wrote a suicide note to her second son, Prince Pujie.[33] In the letter, she told Prince Pujie to help his brother restore his throne at all costs.[34] When Emperor Puyi read his mother’s suicide note that she had written to his brother, he was very upset and blamed himself for her death.[35] His mother’s death would be the main driving force to restore his throne and why he allied himself with the Japanese.[36] He thought that by restoring the Qing Dynasty, he would be honouring his mother’s dying wish.[37] After Princess Youlan wrote her suicide note, she mixed opium with wine.[38] On 20 September 1921, Princess Youlan committed suicide. She was thirty-seven years old.[39]

Princess Youlan was entirely devoted to her son, Emperor Puyi and the Qing Dynasty. She worked tirelessly to restore his throne. Her two suicide attempts (in which the second attempt would prove successful) were connected to Emperor Puyi. Princess Youlan would be one the most influential women in Emperor Puyi’s life.[40] She hoped that one day her son’s throne would be restored. Emperor Puyi worked tirelessly to fulfil his mother’s wish. However, it would lead to disastrous results.

Sources:

DayDayNews. (September 30, 2020). “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/entertainmen....

iMedia. (n.d.). “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/68879e144....

iNews. (n.d.). “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/f15af63e0....

[1] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[2] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[3] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[4] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[5] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[6] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[7] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[8] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[9] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[10] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

[11] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[12] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[13] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[14] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[15] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[16] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[17] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[18] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[19] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[20] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[21] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[22] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[23] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[24] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[25] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[26] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[27] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[28] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[29] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[30] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[31] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[32] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[33] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[34] iNews, n.d., “Why did the birth mother of the last emperor Puyi suddenly commit suicide?”

[35] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[36] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[37] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[38] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[39] DayDayNews, 30 September 2020, “Puyi’s biological mother, Cixi’s goddaughter, committed suicide twice, and finally died of Puyi”

[40] iMedia, n.d., “The two people who had the greatest impact on Puyi, one of them forced the other to death”

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