Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 77

The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette forced to hand over her son

Louis Charles, the future King Louis XVII, was born on 27 March 1785 as the second son of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette. Upon the death of his elder brother Louis Joseph on 4 June 1789, he became the Dauphin of France.

As the situation around the French Revolution spiralled out of control, Louis Charles was moved with his family from Versailles to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. For the next three years, they were to live under surveillance at the Tuileries. Marie Antoinette asked the Marquise de Tourzel, who had replaced the Duchess of Polignac as his governess, to watch over Louis Charles at night. The young boy was terrified by the noises from the crowds outside.

On 10 August 1792, a revolutionary government was established, and soon 20,000 armed citizens were on the streets of Paris. After a terrifying night, the family fled to the Legislative Assembly, where they feared for their lives. Louis Charles clung to his mother as the Legislative Assembly debated over what to do with the family.

They were eventually taken to a former medieval fortress known as the Temple. They were settled into sparse rooms with folding beds. Louis Charles had one room with the Marquise de Tourzel, and Marie Antoinette slept in the next room with Marie Thérèse. The Princess of Lamballe slept in the antechamber while the King and his valet were in a room on the third floor. Finally, Madame Elisabeth and several waiting women slept in the kitchen.

They had arrived at the Temple with virtually nothing, but over the next few weeks, they were able to buy items to decorate their rooms. By then, they had been stripped of their attendants, including the Princess of Lamballe and the Marquise de Tourzel. Louis Charles couldn’t be alone, so he would now sleep in his mother’s room. The family now began to hope for rescue, which seemed like the only way out. Unfortunately, on 2 September, they were disturbed during their daily walk, and that night an angry mob stormed the Temple. When the King asked what was happening, the guard responded, “Well, if you want to know, it is the head of Madame de Lamballe they want to show you, for you to see how the people avenge themselves on tyrants.”1 The Princess of Lamballe had been hastily brought before a tribunal, and she was lynched by the mob. Both Louis Charles and Marie Thérèse were sobbing at the horror of it all.

Following the horrors, the family tried to keep a routine in the Temple. Louis Charles received lessons from his father, while Marie Thérèse received lessons from her mother. They were permitted to take walks in the compound and exercised there as well. Nevertheless, Louis Charles suffered from nightmares and was often visibly distressed and nervous. Finally, in September 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France was proclaimed a republic. In October, the family was moved to the other tower. The King and the Dauphin were on the second floor, while Marie Antoinette, Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth were on the third floor.

On 11 December, Louis Charles was taken from his father to his mother, and he certainly sensed that something was wrong. The King’s trial had begun, and he was told he could see his children, but only if they did not see their mother or aunt as long as the trial lasted. Thus, he refused. The trial continued throughout December and early January. The vote for his execution ended with 361 in favour – a majority of just one. Due to this close majority, another motion for a reprieve was made, which was rejected with a majority of 70. On 20 January 1793, he was informed that he would be executed within 24 hours. Later that day, he was finally reunited with his family. He told Louis Charles directly to pardon those who were putting him to death. He also told him and Marie Thérèse to always be close friends and support each other and to be obedient to their mother.2 He gave them their blessing but refused to spend the night with them. He promised to see them in the morning, but their sobs still echoed as they left him. He was executed the following day without seeing his family again to spare them the agony.

“Shouts of joy” reached the ears of Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the latter of whom exclaimed, “The monsters! They are satisfied now!”3 Marie Antoinette was unable to speak, but she, Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse curtsied deeply for the new – titular – King – the seven-year-old King Louis XVII. Marie Antoinette devoted her life to Louis Charles and took over the lessons. The stifling conditions were bad for Louis Charles’s health, and he began to suffer from headaches, convulsions and a worm infestation. His mother and sister dutifully nursed him through the worst.

On 3 July 1793, Louis Charles was forcibly separated from his family. He “flung himself into my mother’s arms, imploring not to be taken from her.”4 Marie Antoinette refused to give him up for over an hour, telling the guards they would have to kill her first. After being threatened that all would be killed, Marie Antoinette finally gave up.

Marie Thérèse later wrote, “At last they threatened my mother so positively to kill him and us also that she had to yield for love of us. We rose, my aunt and I, for my poor mother no longer had any strength, but after we had dressed him, she took him and gave him into the hands of the municipal herself, bathing him with tears and foreboding that she would never see him again. The poor little boy kissed us all very tenderly and went away in tears with the municipal.[…] She was overcome by the separation, but her anguish was at its height when she learned that Simon, a shoemaker, whom she had seen as a municipal, was entrusted with the care of the unfortunate child. She asked incessantly to see him but could not obtain it; my brother, on his side, wept for two whole days, never ceasing to ask to see us.”5

It was decided that Louis Charles should be re-educated into a good citizen. The horrors that would be inflicted on him were unspeakable and would eventually lead to the young boy’s death.

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette forced to hand over her son appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Book Review: The Boleyns of Hever Castle by Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway

*contains affiliate links*

Hever Castle is perhaps best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, but there is far more history there. Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 until her execution in May 1536. From her marriage to King Henry VIII of England, she had one surviving daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I.

It is unclear where Anne was born exactly, but she certainly spent part of her childhood at Hever Castle. The Boleyns of Hever Castle takes us back to the rise of the Boleyns and how the castle evolved over the years. The book is wonderfully illustrated with maps and other illustrations. The writing is excellent and really takes you in. I visited Hever Castle many years ago and was immediately taken back there in my mind.

The Boleyns of Hever Castle by Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway is available now in the UK and the US.

 

 

The post Book Review: The Boleyns of Hever Castle by Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Royal Jewels – Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace was created in 1888 after quite some debate.

The “Women’s Jubilee Offering” committee had been established in 1887 with the purpose of marking Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. With the Queen’s approval, an equestrian statue of Prince Albert was made for Windsor Great Park, but the contributions raised far outgrew the money necessary for the statue. Queen Victoria agreed that the extra money should be donated to the St Katherine’s Fund for Nurses.

Embed from Getty Images

At the same time, it was suggested that some of the money should be used for a personal gift to Queen Victoria, but some of the members disagreed as the money had been donated to charity. Eventually, after negotiations between the Marchioness of Hertford, the Duke of Westminster, Major Tully and the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Henry Ponsonby, £5,000 was set aside for a gift for the Queen.

Embed from Getty Images

The jeweller Carrington & Co. was commissioned to design and make the necklace, along with a pair of earrings. The Duchess of Buccleuch presented the set to the Queen on 30 July 1888. Queen Victoria loved the necklace and had it dedicated as an heirloom to the Crown.1

The post Royal Jewels – Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Jin Zhijian – The Princess who became the People’s Republic of China’s Teacher

In Emperor Puyi’s autobiography, The First Half of My Life, he frequently mentioned his sister, Princess Yunhuan. He mentioned how envious he was of Princess Yunhuan because she was able to have the freedom that he could never have.[1] Princess Yunhuan was the seventh sister of Emperor Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. Out of all of his seven sisters, Princess Yunhuan is considered to have the most freedom.[2] She had the freedom to marry for love and pursue her own career.[3] Princess Yunhuan devoted her life to teaching. She was even the first Qing Dynasty princess to open her own school.[4] She became known as the “People’s teacher of New China.” [5]

On 11 September 1921, Princess Yunhuan was born in Beijing. She was the sixth daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun. Her mother was Lady Denggiya, who was Prince Zaifeng’s concubine. She had four older brothers and six older sisters. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the deposed Emperor of China. After the death of Emperor Puyi’s eldest sister, Princess Yunying, Princess Yunhuan became Prince Zaifeng’s second favourite daughter.[6]

In 1928, Prince Zaifeng’s family moved to Tianjin to be with Emperor Puyi. Princess Yunhuan was enrolled in a primary school run by the British called “Yew Wah School.” [7] Because the foreigners ran the school, Princess Yunhuan began to have more Western ideas.[8] This school had a lasting impact on her. It enabled her to oppose imperialism and look down on her brother, Emperor Puyi.[9] The school closed in 1936 when Princess Yunhuan was fifteen years old.[10]

In 1939, Prince Zaifeng moved back to Beijing. He was often in conflict with his son because Emperor Puyi relied heavily on the Japanese.[11] He only visited Puyi three times when he was the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo. Thus, Princess Yunhuan rarely saw her brother.[12] After they returned to Beijing, Princess Yunhuan was tutored at home.[13] She studied songs and poetry.[14] Princess Yunhuan began to see the importance of education and longed to open her own school.[15]

When the puppet state of Manchukuo fell on 18 August 1945, it did not affect her at all. In 1948, Princess Yunhuan and her friend, Li Shufen, opened a school called Jianzhi Women’s Vocational School.[16] She also changed her name from Aisin-Gioro Yunhuan to Jin Zhijian, which means “aspiration is as indestructible as gold” [17]. This symbolized her break from her imperial past.[18] At first, Princess Yunhuan’s lectures were not very good because she followed a pre-made script.[19] Over time, she stopped following the script, and her lectures improved.[20] She lectured with enthusiasm, which engaged her many students.[21]

Under the founding of New China, Princess Yunhuan was recruited by the government to become a teacher at a public elementary school.[22] This made her the first Qing royal to participate in the revolution of the People’s Republic of China.[23] She even became a member of the Standing Committee of China that had attended the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[24] Princess Yunhuan quickly became acquainted with a Han Chinese teacher named Qiao Hongzhi. Qiao Hongzhi was plain looking and had very little education.[25] Nevertheless, Princess Yunhuan fell madly in love with him.[26]

On 12 February 1950, Princess Yunhuan and Qiao Hongzhi were married. This made her the first of Emperor Puyi’s siblings to marry a Han Chinese commoner.[27] She was also the only one of Emperor Puyi’s sisters whose marriage was not arranged.[28] Because it was a love match, the marriage was very happy.[29] It was said that Qiao Hongzhi had a sense of humour.[30] He often teased his wife about her not doing any housework.[31] He even joked if she had ever performed her duties as a princess.[32] They lived comfortably on two teachers’ salaries.[33] They had two sons and one daughter.

In 1960, Emperor Puyi was pardoned as a war criminal and was released from prison. Because Emperor Puyi represented China’s imperial past, Princess Yunhuan did not bother to pick him up at the station to bring him home.[34] She did not even make the effort to meet him because he represented many principles that she strongly opposed.[35] It was not until the Spring Festival that Premier Zhou wanted to meet Emperor Puyi and his family that Princess Yunhuan reluctantly met her brother again.[36] In order to please Premier Zhou, she called Emperor Puyi her “Big Brother.” [37] This was the only time Princess Yunhuan ever spoke to Emperor Puyi after the war.[38] Emperor Puyi could scarcely recognize his little sister because she had changed since he had last seen her.[39] After the conversation, Premier Zhou praised her for being a great teacher.[40] Princess Yunhuan replied, “I didn’t make any achievements, just studying hard.” [41]

In 1960, Qiao Hongzhi suddenly died. His death left Princess Yunhuan to raise her children by herself.[42] With only a teacher’s salary, she struggled to support her family.[43] Because she was a Princess of the Qing Dynasty, the new government offered to give her financial aid.[44] However, Princess Yunhuan did not want to identify herself as an imperial princess but as an ordinary citizen.[45] Therefore, she refused the government’s aid.[46] Princess Yunhuan continued to teach. In 1979, Princess Yunhuan officially retired from teaching. However, she continued to be involved in education.[47] 

On 9 August 2004, Princess Yunhuan died. Her last words were, “My family is a sinner of Chinese history in a sense, and it is my greatest honour to have the opportunity to serve the people in my life.” [48] This meant that she believed that since the creation of the Qing Dynasty, the imperial family had cruelly mistreated the common people.[49] By serving the people through education, Princess Yunhuan believed she was making reparations for what her ancestors and her brother had done to the common people.[50] Princess Yunhuan was eighty-three when she died. She was the first Qing imperial family member to be buried in Babaoshan Cemetery.[51]

Even though Princess Yunhuan was a member of the Qing Dynasty imperial family, she was devoted to the People’s Republic of China. She went from a Princess of the Qing Dynasty to “Teacher who walks into the masses.” [52] Due to her passion for teaching, Princess Yunhuan became a highly respected and famous teacher. Her devotion to her people led the government to honour her by burying her in the Babaoshan Cemetery. It is no wonder that Emperor Puyi both envied and admired his youngest sister, Princess Yunhuan.

Usually, when a Chinese dynasty falls, the imperial family suffers a tragic end.[53] When the Qing Dynasty fell, the imperial family did not suffer a horrible end. Instead, the People’s Republic of China pardoned the royals and gave them the opportunity to become ordinary citizens under the new regime.[54] They helped the royals find jobs or aided them financially. Thus, the Qing Dynasty royals had a better ending than the other royals of previous fallen Chinese dynasties.[55] Because of the government’s pardon of the Qing Dynasty royal family, their descendants are still living in Beijing today.[56]

Sources:

DayDayNews. (October 16, 2020). “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....

DayDayNews. (January 19, 2021). “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....

DayDayNews. (July 13, 2020). “The younger sister of the last emperor Pu Yi, who lived to 2004, said something that Pu Yi did not dare to say when she died”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/entertainmen....

iMedia. (n.d.). “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/f63605e74....

iNews. (n.d.). “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/537107402....

iNews. (n.d.). “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/a63acf578....

Laitimes. (January 17, 2022). “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....

[1] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”

[2] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”

[3] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[4] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[5] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”, para. 8

[6] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[7] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[8] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[9] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”; DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[10] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[11] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[12] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[13] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[14] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[15] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[16] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[17] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”, para. 17

[18] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[19] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[20] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[21] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[22] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[23] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[24] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[25] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[26] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[27] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[28] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[29] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[30] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[31] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[32] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[33] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[34] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[35] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[36] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[37] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”, para. 12

[38] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[39] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[40] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”

[41] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”, para. 18

[42] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[43] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[44] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[45] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[46] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[47] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[48] DayDayNews, 13 July, 2020, “The younger sister of the last emperor Pu Yi, who lived to 2004, said something that Pu Yi did not dare to say when she died” para. 14

[49] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[50] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”

[51] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[52] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”, para. 37

[53] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”

[54] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”

[55] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

[56] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”

The post Jin Zhijian – The Princess who became the People’s Republic of China’s Teacher appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Pu Yunyu -The Qing Dynasty Princess who became a famous painter

Princess Yunyu was the sixth sister of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. Out of all of Emperor Puyi’s seven sisters, Princess Yunyu’s life was the happiest. After the fall of Manchukuo in 1945, Princess Yunyu did not suffer as much as her other sisters did. Instead, she is considered to be the happiest of Emperor Puyi’s sisters.[1] Princess Yunyu married a famous painter and became a highly successful artist. Her artwork has been praised for her unique and elegant style.[2] For almost seventy years, many people around the world still continue to admire Princess Yunyu’s paintings.

In 1919, Princess Yunyu was born in Beijing. She was the sixth daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun. Her mother was Lady Denggiya, who was Prince Zaifeng’s concubine. She had four older brothers, five older sisters, and one younger sister. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the deposed Emperor of China. At an early age, Princess Yunyu developed an interest in paintings.[3] Because she was a Princess of the Qing Dynasty, Yunyu had access to paintings from the Song and Yuan dynasties.[4]

In 1943, Emperor Puyi arranged for Princes Yunyu to marry Wang Ailan (the twenty-seventh descendant of Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty and a descendant of King Sejong of Joseon Dynasty).[5] Emperor Puyi chose him because of his royal heritage from both China and Korea.[6] Even though the marriage was arranged, they were very compatible with each other.[7] Their marriage was affectionate and blissful. Wang Ailan was also a painter. Both Princess Yunyu and Wang Ailan pursued their passions for painting and often competed against each other.[8] In 1947, Princess Yunyu and Wang Ailan held an art exhibition in Beihai Park in Beijing. This established the couple as renowned painters.[9] The couple also had one son and four daughters.

After the founding of New China, Princess Yunyu and Wang Ailan did not have any struggles. They continued to pursue their love of painting.[10] Wang Ailan was hired as an instructor at the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts.[11] Princess Yunyu became a member of the China Artists Association.[12] She was also an art teacher at a middle school.[13] Princess Yunyu participated in national art exhibitions.[14] Princess Yunyu and Wang Ailan became very famous and successful. Her style was said to be “unique, light and elegant, and rich in business”[15]. Princess Yunyu once said that even though she did not get to enjoy the wealth of the royal family, she was still the happiest.[16] Princess Yunyu was the second shortest living princess among all of Emperor Puyi’s sisters.[17] In 1982, she died of illness at the age of sixty-three.

Princess Yunyu briefly enjoyed the life of an imperial Princess of the Qing Dynasty. However, she was happy to be an ordinary citizen because it allowed her to pursue her passion for painting. Under the new government, Princess Yunyu was able to become a successful and famous artist in her own right. It is no wonder she is considered to be the happiest among all of Emperor Puyi’s seven sisters.[18] Due to her stunning artwork, Princess Yunyu’s story will never be forgotten.

Sources:

DayDayNews. (October 16, 2020). “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....

iNews. (n.d.). “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/a63acf578....

iNews. (n.d.). “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://inf.news/ne/history/6ba8b7d02....

Laitimes. (December 17, 2021). “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....

Laitimes. (December 20, 2021.). “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....

Laitimes. (December 20, 2021). “Who are the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi? What kind of ending do they all have in the end?”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....

[1] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[2] Laitimes, 19 December 2021, “Who are the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi? What kind of ending do they all have in the end?”,

[3] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[4] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[5] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”, Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[6] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”, Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[7] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[8] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[9] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[10] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[11] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[12] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[13] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[14] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[15] Laitimes, 19 December 2021, “Who are the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi? What kind of ending do they all have in the end?”, para. 23

[16] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[17] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[18] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

 

The post Pu Yunyu -The Qing Dynasty Princess who became a famous painter appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Review – African Queens: Njinga

From Netflix comes the African Queens series, and the first series focuses on Njinga, Queen of Ndongo and Matamba.

Netflix describes it as “a new documentary series exploring the lives of prominent and iconic African Queens. The first season will cover the life of Njinga, the complex, captivating, and fearless 17th-century warrior queen of Ndongo and Matamba in modern-day Angola. The nation’s first female ruler, Njinga earned a reputation for her blend of political and diplomatic skill with military prowess and became an icon of resistance.”

Queen Njinga is covered in four episodes from her early life to her death. The story rather drags initially as it tries to build Njinga’s backstory. While I was most horrified by the death of her son and her forced sterilization at the hands of her own brother when I read about it, the series barely covers it.

Njinga is rightly shown as a brave and shrewd warrior and leader, but for some reason, it feels like something is missing, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Nevertheless, African Queens is off to an interesting start, and I can’t wait to see more Queens being covered.

Read more about Queen Njinga here.

The post Review – African Queens: Njinga appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Royal Jewels – Queen Victoria’s Wheat-ear Brooches

Queen Victoria’s Wheat-ear Brooches were actually commissioned in 1830 by King William IV for his wife, Queen Adelaide, using 580 stones from the collection of his father, King George III. The set consists of six brooches.

Three of the brooches had to be surrendered by Queen Victoria to her uncle, the King of Hanover, after he claimed them. They were then remade in 1838, completing the set again. They were designated as heirlooms of the Crown in 1858 and 1896.

Embed from Getty Images

They were often worn as hair ornaments and Queen Elizabeth II wore three as hair slides and sometimes wore two together as brooches.1

 

 

The post Royal Jewels – Queen Victoria’s Wheat-ear Brooches appeared first on History of Royal Women.

The Year of Marie Antoinette – The flight to Varennes

As the situation spiralled out of control, a plan was hatched to allow the family to escape. Marie Antoinette told the Count of Mercy in early May, “Our situation here is frightful, in a way that those who do not have to endure it cannot hope to understand.”1

The plan was set in motion. The destination was to be Montmédy, through Varennes. It had been largely planned by Count Axel von Fersen and Baron de Breteuil. In the main carriage were the King and Queen, their two children, the King’s sister Madame Elisabeth and the Dauphin’s governess, the Marquise de Tourzel. Two equerries were to ride outside as bodyguards, along with the courier, the Count of Valory. Two waiting-women, Madame Brunier and Madame de Neuville, followed in a lighter carriage. Count Axel von Fersen was to drive the carriage the first part of the way out of Paris before separating from the royal party.

Marie Antoinette’s brother Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, continued to advise her to remain in Paris, even as late as early June. Marie Antoinette had made up her mind, though, and wrote, “The glory of the escape must be ours…”2 The first date they settled on was 12 June 1791, but that the eve of the Feast of Pentecost and Louis feared that there would be more people in the streets.

On the evening of 12 June, the hairdresser Léonard went to the Tuileries and was admitted with a note from Marie Antoinette. He was then entrusted with the baton of a Marshal of France, which was to be given to the Marquis of Bouillé at Montmédy. He was also entrusted with Marie Antoinette’s personal casket of jewellery, which was to be sent to Brussels. Marie Antoinette kept only a set of pearls, some diamond drops and two diamond rings. The actual Crown Jewels were already in the possession of the National Assembly.

As a new date of 19 June loomed, several loyal servants were tipped off for their own safety, and Louis and Marie Antoinette went to the opera as usual. Then Louis objected to the 19th being on a Sunday, and the departure was again delayed for a day. Marie Antoinette wrote to the Count of Mercy, “We go, Monday, at midnight, and nothing can alter that plan, we should expose those who are working for us in the enterprise to too much danger.”3

Throughout the day, Marie Antoinette tried to keep her normal routine. Louis spoke with Fersen once more, and he told him to get out himself if the plan was to fail. Marie Antoinette also bid farewell to Fersen, which was hoped to be only a temporary farewell. In the afternoon, she took her children for a drive to the Tivoli Gardens and walked in public with them. It was here that Marie Antoinette finally let her daughter know of the plan. As they returned to the Tuileries, Marie Antoinette asked the guards to prepare for a similar outing the next day.

The Dauphin went up to his rooms at 8.30 p.m., and his governess joined him at 10 p.m. The Count and Countess of Provence arrived for a family dinner, and it was only then that they were informed of the plan. Marie Joséphine was told to flee separately with a lady-in-waiting while the Count was told to eventually join the King. They ended the evening in a tender embrace.

They then withdrew to their room just before 11 p.m. By then, the Dauphin had been awakened by his governess and dressed in girl’s clothes. Marie Thérèse later described herself as being bewildered, despite being warned that the escape was to take place. The family escaped from the palace itself on foot through an unused and unguarded ground-floor apartment. Count Axel von Fersen and the carriage waited for them in a side courtyard on the north side of the Tuileries, known as the Cour des Suisses.

Slowly, the royal party slipped past the guards, with Marie Antoinette being the last to leave. This was done in case she was discovered and would allow the rest of the party to escape. When Marie Antoinette finally managed to escape, her husband embraced her with the words, “How happy am I to see you!”4 Finally, it was time to leave as they pretended to be a Baroness, her children and her servants.

(public domain)

It wasn’t until 1.30 a.m. that the carriages reached the city border at the Porte Saint-Martin. At Bondy, Count Axel von Fersen left his post as coachman as previously agreed. The carriages kept up a good pace at six to seven miles per hour as they travelled on. There were a few breathing stops along the way. After a horse stumbled, breaking the harness, the carriages were now delayed for two hours.

This delay caused the Duke of Choiseul, who was waiting at the Somme-Vesle post, to believe the mission had gone awry. He did not await the arrival of the courier and took his dragoons back towards Montmédy. News that the plan had supposedly gone awry was passed along to all the other posts. When the courier finally arrived at the Somme-Vesle post at 6 p.m., he was appalled to find it without the dragoons. The carriages arrived 30 minutes later, and the party was horrified. Did the Duke’s absence mean that they had been found out? They decided to keep moving, even if they did not have extra military support.

They arrived at Sainte-Menehould at around 8 p.m., and here they finally found 40 dragoons, although they had unsaddled by that time. It was at this post that an official named Drouet recognised the King, but he was unsure, and the carriage was allowed to leave again. Nevertheless, from this point on, rumours about their true identity now began to spread. An hour and a half later, Drouet and another man set off in pursuit.

By then, the carriages had reached Clermont, where the Count of Damas was awaiting their arrival with 140 men. He, too, had heard the news that the plan had gone awry and had allowed his men to go to sleep. The carriage continued on to Varennes, taking a sharp turn north through wooded hills. Finally, at 11 p.m., the royal part reached Varennes, and they desperately needed fresh horses. However, they had no idea where these horses were supposed to be, and this caused yet further delay. An overturned furniture wagon on the bridge also added to their worries. Eventually, the family sought refuge in a man named Sauce, and the children promptly went to sleep. Outside, the rumours and clamour had caused several peasants to gather outside the windows. At one point, Louis appeared before them and told them he had no intention of leaving France.

Perhaps at this point, military intervention could have still saved the family, but there was no action. At six a.m., emissaries from the National Assembly began to arrive and ordered the immediate return of the King to Paris. An exhausted Marie Antoinette shouted, “What audacity! What cruelty! Subjects having the temerity to pretend to give orders to their King!”5

It had taken 22 hours to reach Varennes, it took them four days to return to Paris. From this point, the hostility towards the royal family would only grow.

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – The flight to Varennes appeared first on History of Royal Women.

The Year of Marie Antoinette – A mob breaks into the Tuileries Palace

Since their failed attempt at fleeing, Marie Antoinette, her husband, children, and sister-in-law were being kept under strict guard in the Tuileries.

On 20 June 1792, a terrifying mob was allowed into the gardens of the palace by the National Guard. They carried pikes and hatchets and eventually broke into the palace itself. They made their way to the King’s apartments and confronted Louis, who was being protected by the Duke de Mouchy, Marshal of France. The 72-year-old Duke had placed himself firmly between the King and the mob. King Louis reportedly behaved himself admirably in the face of the mob and accepted the small bonnet rouge offered to him on the end of a butcher’s pike. It was too small for him. He also toasted to the health of the people with the mob.

The King’s sister, Madame Elisabeth, also acted quite bravely. The mob had mistaken her for Marie Antoinette, and she wished to keep up that pretence, saying, “Don’t undeceive them, let them think that I am the Queen…”1

Marie Antoinette was helped to safety, even though she had wished to remain by her husband’s side. After being reminded that she was also a mother, she took refuge with her children after escaping. When she was later asked if she had been afraid, she replied, “No, but I suffered from being separated from Louis XVI at a moment when his life was in danger.”2

When the coast was finally clear, they were able to reunite with King Louis. The children were much affected by the horrifying mob, and Marie Thérèse became increasingly withdrawn after the incident, while the Dauphin had not been able to speak at all.

Just a few short months later, the family would be moved to a much more terrifying prison.

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – A mob breaks into the Tuileries Palace appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Princess Jin Yunxin – The relationship between the Last Emperor of China and his fifth sister

Princess Yunxin was the fifth sister of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. When Puyi was Emperor, Princess Yunxin’s relationship with him was not close. She saw him as her ruler and not her brother.[1] It was not until Emperor Puyi was pardoned as a war criminal that the two began to have a close relationship. Emperor Puyi lived with Princess Yunxin, and she began to see him as her brother.[2] Even though Emperor Puyi’s imperialist dreams fell, it allowed him to live a quiet life and form a closer bond with his fifth sister.

In 1917, Princess Yunxin was born in Beijing. She was the fifth daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun. Her mother was Lady Denggiya, who was Prince Zaifeng’s concubine. She had three older brothers, four older sisters, one younger brother, and two younger sisters. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the deposed Emperor of China. She did not have a close relationship with Emperor Puyi.[3] When she first arrived at the Forbidden City to see her older brother, there were too many rules installed in the palace for her to feel comfortable with Emperor Puyi.[4] Instead, her first meeting with her brother made her very afraid of him.[5]

When Puyi became the puppet Emperor of the state of Manchukuo, Princess Yunxin followed him to Changchun.[6] They were still not close. Their relationship was strictly ruler and subject.[7] She was the only sister of Emperor Puyi, who bowed to her brother every time she saw him.[8] It was not until he was released from being a war criminal that Princess Yunxin and Emperor Puyi finally had a loving brother-sister relationship.[9]

Emperor Puyi wanted to bring an important former Qing dynasty official named Wan Sheng to his side.[10] He arranged Princess Yunxin’s marriage to Wan Sheng’s son, Wan Jiaxi, who was also a former classmate of Prince Pujie.[11] Wan Sheng became a minister of the puppet state of Manchukuo.[12] Shortly after their marriage, Emperor Puyi sent Wan Jiaxi to study abroad in Japan.[13] Princess Yunxin stayed behind in Changchun.[14] After he returned to China, Wan Jiaxi became an instructor at Manchukuo’s military academy.[15] Princess Yunxin and Wan Jiaxi had three sons and one daughter.[16]

On 18 August 1945, the puppet state of Manchukuo fell. Wan Jiaxi was captured and imprisoned by the Soviet Union.[17] He was sentenced to hard labour and was sent to a farm to do construction work.[18] A few years later, he would be sent to China, where he remained in prison until 1952.[19] This forced Princess Yunxin to support herself and her children. She worked as a maid for a wealthy man.[20] Then, she worked as a waitress at a hotel.[21]

After the founding of New China, the new government helped Princess Yunxin find a job because of her status as a Princess of the Qing Dynasty.[22] The job they found for Princess Yunxin was as an accountant at a state-run hotel.[23] Princess Yunxin was able to make a steady income.[24] In 1952, Wan Jiaxi was finally pardoned as a war criminal and released from prison.[25] Princess Yunxin was reunited with her husband. Because he was proficient in Japanese, her husband quickly got a job as a translator.[26] In 1960, Emperor Puyi was released from prison. Even though they did not have a close relationship when he was the Emperor, Puyi lived with Princess Yunxin and her family for a period of time.[27] The two finally formed a close and loving relationship, Princess Yunxin saw him as her brother and not her ruler.[28]

In 1972, Wan Jiaxi died of a cerebral haemorrhage.[29] Princess Yunxin decided to go to college. She attended college and eventually graduated.[30] During the last years of her life, she lived in a house with her granddaughter.[31] Her closest neighbour was her older brother, Prince Pujie.[32] Princess Yunxin passed away in 1998 at the age of eighty-one.

When Puyi was the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo, Yunxin lived a glamorous life as an imperial princess. After the fall of Manchukuo, Princess Yunxin lived a hard life for a period of time. Her husband was a war criminal and was sentenced to hard labour as a prisoner of the Soviet Union. Princess Yunxin went through two difficult jobs. It was not until the government helped her find a good job because of her status as a princess. Because of the government’s help, Princess Yunxin was able to live the rest of her life in peace and comfort.

Sources:

DayDayNews. (September 9, 2019). “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....

DayDayNews. (February 2, 2020). “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi, all beautiful and beautiful, what was the final outcome?”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....

DayDayNews. (16 October, 2020). “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....

iMedia. (n.d.). “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/eac5239ca....

iNews. (n.d.). “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/a63acf578....

iNews. (n.d.). “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://inf.news/ne/history/6ba8b7d02....

Laitimes. (December 17, 2021). “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....

Laitimes. (December 20, 2021). “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....

O’Callaghan, M. (20 November 1984) “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved on 16 November 2022 from https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/....

[1] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

[2] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

[3] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[4] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[5] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[6] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[7] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

[8] DayDayNews, 2 February 2020, “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi, all beautiful and beautiful, what was the final outcome?”

[9] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

[10] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[11] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”

[12] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”

[13] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[14] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”

[15] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[16] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”

[17] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[18] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[19] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”

[20] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[21] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[22] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”

[23] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”

[24] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”

[25] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[26] Laitimes, 20 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[27] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”

[28] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

[29] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”

[30] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”

[31] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

[32] O’Callaghan, 20 November 1984, “Jin Yun Xin remembers her brother, the last Emperor of China”

The post Princess Jin Yunxin – The relationship between the Last Emperor of China and his fifth sister appeared first on History of Royal Women.