Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 78
June 16, 2023
Book News July 2023
Radegund: The Trials and Triumphs of a Merovingian Queen (WOMEN IN ANTIQUITY)
Paperback – 18 July 2023 (US) & 3 September 2023 (UK)
Radegund presents a new interpretation of this remarkable woman, examining her vibrant life and legacy. E. T. Dailey shows how she succeeded in establishing a place for herself within this difficult and dangerous world, despite the trials she faced. He also demonstrates how Radegund achieved a position of prominence as a woman in a foreign land without resorting to the violence and intrigue that characterized the lives of other prominent women during this period. Based on a wealth of English, French, and German scholarship, this book will equip experts and lay readers with a concise, authoritative, and accessible portrait of Radegund.
Henry VIII’s Children: Legitimate and Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Tudor King
Hardcover – 30 July 2023 (US) & 5 May 2023 (UK)
Of the five Tudor monarchs, only one was ever born to rule. While much of King Henry VIII’s reign is centered on his reckless marriage choices, it was the foundations laid by Henry and Queen Katherine of Aragon that shaped the future of the crown. Among the suffering of five lost heirs, the royal couple placed all their hopes in the surviving Princess Mary. Her early life weaves a tale of promise, diplomacy, and pageantry never again seen in King Henry’s life, but a deep-rooted desire for a son, a legacy of his own scattered childhood, pushed Henry VIII to smother Mary’s chance to rule. An affair soon produced an unlikely heir in Henry Fitzroy, and while one child was pure royalty, the other illegitimate, the comparison of their childhoods would show a race to throne closer than many wished to admit.
The Hats of the Queen
Hardcover – 11 July 2023 (US) & 8 June 2023 (UK)
The Hats of the Queen examines 50 iconic headpieces adorned by the Queen during her reign, uncovering the royal, political, and fashion landscape of the time. In her 70 years in power, Queen Elizabeth II has made her mark on history, navigating the ups and downs of the past century, and wearing many hats – literally and figuratively. In 1933, little Elizabeth, sits in a carriage alongside her grandfather King George V, wearing a round, pink hat hemmed with flowers. In 2020, the year the world fell into crisis with the covid pandemic, the sovereign dons a very similar hat. Nearly 100 years have passed between these two images, a century of politics, diplomacy, and fashion, which is told, in these pages, through the little-known story of the Queen’s hats. With a foreword by royal correspondent Alastair Bruce, The Hats of the Queen is a beautiful and informative look back on the life and times of her majesty through these iconic accessories.
Charles II’s Illegitimate Children: Royal Bastards
Hardcover – 30 July 2023 (UK) & 30 September 2023 (US)
Charles II had at least twelve illegitimate children that we know of. Although his queen, Catherine of Braganza, fell pregnant several times she was not able to bear any children to full term. The king, who was known for his many mistresses, had his first recognised child out of wedlock in 1649; the child was James Croft who would become Duke of Monmouth and mastermind of an infamous rebellion. Not all of his children would gain such notoriety but they would live long and full lives creating a Stuart bloodline that descends to the present day.
Mortal Monarchs: 1000 Years of Royal Deaths
Paperback – 6 July 2023 (UK) & 31 October 2023 (US)
How the monarchs of England and Scotland met their deaths has been a wonderful mixture of violence, infections, overindulgence and occasional regicide. In Mortal Monarchs, medical historian Dr Suzie Edge examines 1,000 years of royal deaths to uncover the plots, accusations, rivalries, and ever-present threat of poison that the kings and queens of old faced.
Lady Katherine Grey: A Dynastic Tragedy
Hardcover – 13 July 2023 (UK)
In 1601, as the reign of Elizabeth I drew to a close, the civil lawyer Thomas Wilson identified the prevailing uncertainty over the English succession: ‘upon whose head it will fall is by many doubted’. During the first decade of the last Tudor monarch’s reign, however, Lady Katherine Grey, great-granddaughter of the first Tudor king, Henry VII, and sister of the ill-fated Lady Jane, was widely viewed as the heir to Elizabeth’s throne, especially by Protestants hostile to the prospect of a Catholic succession.
The post Book News July 2023 appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 15, 2023
Royal Jewels – Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch was given to Queen Victoria by her Household to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
The brooch consists of a “scrolled and pierced foliate design, pave-set with diamonds, with pearl centre surrounded by brilliant in cut-down collets, suspending a detachable loop of brilliant with pearl drop; with alternative back fitting when used as a pendant.”1
After the State Dinner to celebrate the jubilee, Queen Victoria wrote, “I wore a black & silver dress with my Jubilee necklace & the beautiful brooch given me by my Household.”2
Embed from Getty ImagesShe later designated the piece as an heirloom of the Crown, and it passed through the hands of successive Queens. It was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who wore it often.
The post Royal Jewels – Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 13, 2023
Schloss Richmond – Birthplace of a Queen
Schloss Richmond was built between 1768 and 1769 for Princess Augusta of Great Britain, the elder sister of King George III. She was married to Charles William Ferdinand, future Duke of Brunswick, on 16 January 1764 and the palace was a gift from him.
Caroline’s painting of her birthplace (Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023)The architect of the palace was Carl Christoph Wilhelm Fleischer, and the palace lies in the city of Braunschweig (Brunswick) in Germany. It was named after her home in Richmond Park, and it was built in the Baroque style. It was mainly used as a summer residence. On 17 May 1768, it became the birthplace of a future Queen when Augusta gave birth to her third child there. The little girl, Caroline, would go on to marry her first cousin, the future King George IV of the United Kingdom, although it would all end in disaster.
Click to view slideshow.In 1935, the city bought the grounds from Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick and the palace has been used for events since 1945. It is not normally open to the general public, although you can join a guided tour and you can enter the park and walk around it.
The post Schloss Richmond – Birthplace of a Queen appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 11, 2023
Princess Jin Yunxian – Emperor Puyi’s least favourite sister
Princess Yunxian was the fourth and least favourite sister of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. She received very little attention from her father, Prince Zaifeng. Despite receiving very little affection from both her father and brother, Princess Yunxian was a desirable candidate for marriage and had three suitors. After the fall of the state of Manchukuo, Princess Yunxian had to beg her relatives and friends for money. She eventually landed a job with a steady income.
In 1914, Princess Yunxian was born in Beijing. She was the fourth daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun. Her mother was Lady Denggiya, who was Prince Zaifeng’s concubine. She had two older brothers, three older sisters, two younger brothers, and three younger sisters. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the deposed Emperor of China. Out of all of Prince Zaifeng’s seven daughters, Princess Yunxian was her father’s least favourite.[1] Because she was the daughter of a concubine, Emperor Puyi also greatly disliked her and mostly ignored her.[2] He did not treat her as well as her three older sisters.[3]
When Puyi became the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo in 1934, he began to look for a suitable husband for Princess Yunxian. Emperor Puyi decided that Princess Yunxian should marry the son of Leng Sheng (a Mongolian nobleman and the governor of Xing’an Northern Branch Province of the puppet state of Manchukuo).[4] Leng Sheng was very loyal to Emperor Puyi and did not trust the Japanese.[5] Leng Sheng believed that if his son married Princess Yunxian, Emperor Puyi would not be so heavily influenced by the Japanese.[6] However, the Japanese began to view Leng Sheng as a threat to their influence over Emperor Puyi.[7] They assassinated Leng Sheng. This frightened Emperor Puyi so badly that he cancelled the wedding between Princess Yunxian and Leng Sheng’s son.[8]
Emperor Puyi casually looked at other possible marriage candidates for Princess Yunxian. However, none of them appealed to him.[9] When a Japanese man asked Emperor Puyi for Princess Yunxian’s hand in marriage, it scared Emperor Puyi because of his distrust of the Japanese.[10] He realised he had to arrange his sister’s marriage quickly before she married a Japanese man.[11] Emperor Puyi arranged the marriage of Princess Yunxian to Zhao Qifan, a Mongolian nobleman and Emperor Puyi’s former classmate.[12] After the wedding, the couple left Beijing and moved to Changchun.[13] Zhao Qifan became Emperor Puyi’s bodyguard.[14] The couple had a son and a daughter.
In 1943, Princess Yunxian suffered from asthma. She returned to Beijing with her children to recover.[15] Because she was still in Beijing when the state of Manchukuo fell on 18 August 1945, the new government of China pardoned her and her children.[16] Princess Yunxian and her family often struggled to make a living. They had to borrow money from their friends and relatives.[17] In 1949, Zhao Qifan was declared a traitor under the founding of New China.[18] Zhao Qifan fled to Taiwan, abandoning Princess Yunxian and his children in Beijing.[19] She would not see him again until thirty-three years later.
Princess Yunxian continued to rely on her relatives and friends for money.[20] Because she was a Princess of China, the new government of China eventually helped her find a job as a librarian.[21] As a librarian, she was able to have a steady income. In 1982, Princess Yunxian was finally reunited with Zhao Qifan.[22] She died in 2003 at the age of eighty-nine.
Princess Yunxian had a hard time after the fall of China. She had to beg for money from those close to her. Due to her status as a Princess, the government of China found her a good and stable job. After over thirty years apart, Princess Yunxian was finally allowed to be with her husband. Thus, Princess Yunxian was eventually able to live peacefully and comfortably as an ordinary citizen.
Sources:
DayDayNews. (September 9, 2019). “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”. Retrieved on 15 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 15 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/eac5239ca....
iNews. (n.d.). “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?” Retrieved on 15 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 15 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....
[1] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[2] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”
[3] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[4] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[5] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[6] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[7] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[8] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[9] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[10] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[11] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[12] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[13] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”
[14] DayDayNews, 9 September 2019, “Puyi had seven sisters. What was their fate after the death of Qing Dynasty?”
[15] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[16] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[17] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[18] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[19] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[20] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[21] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[22] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
The post Princess Jin Yunxian – Emperor Puyi’s least favourite sister appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 9, 2023
Jin Yunying – The Princess who sold cigarettes on the street
(Not to be confused with Princess Yunying, the eldest of Emperor Puyi’s seven sisters).
Princess Jin Yunying was the third sister of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. Before the fall of Manchukuo in 1945, Princess Jin Yunying lived a carefree and luxurious life. She married Runqi, Empress Wanrong’s younger half-brother. She taught Emperor Hirohito’s sister-in-law the Chinese language. After the fall of Manchukuo, Princess Jin Yunying went through a series of hardships. She was even forced to sell cigarettes on the street. Under the founding of New China, Princess Jin Yunying was gradually able to become a respected politician.
In 1913, Princess Jin Yunying was born in Beijing. She was the third daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun. Her mother was Gūwalgiya Youlan. She had two older brothers, two older sisters, two younger brothers, and four younger sisters. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the deposed Emperor of China. She had a close relationship with Emperor Puyi, and he gave her the nickname of Binghao.[1]
In 1924, the imperial family was expelled from the Forbidden City. The eleven-year-old Princess Jin Yunying followed Emperor Puyi to Tianjin.[2] While her brother made plans with the Japanese to restore his throne, Princess Jin Yunying led a carefree childhood.[3] She played badminton and learned foreign languages with her brothers.[4] In 1932, Emperor Puyi moved to Changchun to become the head of the Japanese state of Manchukuo. He would later become the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo in 1934. Princess Jin Yunying followed him to Changchun.
Jin Yunying with her husband (public domain)In 1932, Emperor Puyi arranged Princess Jin Yunying’s marriage to Empress Wanrong’s younger half-brother, Gobulo Runqi.[5] Princess Jin Yunying was nineteen years old, and Runqi was twenty. Her father, Prince Zaifeng, did not approve of the match because he believed his daughter was not yet ready for marriage.[6] However, Emperor Puyi ignored his father’s blatant opposition. Princess Jin Yunying and Runqi were married on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.[7] It was not a traditional Chinese wedding. Instead, it was a European-style wedding ceremony.[8] Runqi wore a Western suit, and Princess Jin Yunying wore a white cheongsam.[9]
Shortly after their wedding, Emperor Puyi arranged for Runqi and Princess Jin Yunying to study in Japan. Runqi studied military affairs and was an instructor.[10] Princess Jin Yunying became the honorary President of the Women’s Association in Japan.[11] She taught Emperor Hirohito’s sister-in-law Chinese.[12] However, she was very lonely and often felt restrained under the Japanese imperial family.[13] She began to long to return to Changchun.[14] Princess Jin Yunying and Runqi returned to Changchun in 1933. Runqi became an instructor at a military high school in Changchun.[15] The couple had two sons and one daughter.
On 18 August 1945, the state of Manchukuo collapsed. Runqi fled with Emperor Puyi. They were captured by the Soviet Union and became war criminals. Princess Jin Yunying would not see her husband again until a decade later.[16] Princess Jin Yunying took her three children and moved to Tonghua to live with her mother-in-law.[17]
They were so poor that they often starved. In order to buy food, Princess Jin Yunying sold off her personal items.[18] When she ran out of items to sell, she began selling cigarettes on the street.[19] Her mother-in-law often looked down on her for selling cigarettes which she considered a horrible job for a princess.[20] However, Princess Jin Yunying became a popular cigarette seller because she was a member of the imperial family.[21] Many wealthy women bought her cigarettes, and Princess Jin Yunying made a large income.[22]
In 1949, Princess Jin Yunying and her children were finally given permission to return to Beijing. Princess Jin Yunying began to gain the people’s respect and became a local politician.[23] She became the leader of a local resident group.[24] In 1951, she became the Director of Public Security.[25] In 1954, she was recommended by Zhang Shizhao to become a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in Dongcheng District.[26] In 1956, Princess Jin Yunying visited Runqi in prison. However, she would not see him again until nearly twenty years later, when he would finally be cleared as a war criminal.[27]
In the 1970s, Runqi was finally reunited with Princess Jin Yunying. The couple grew closer to one another and depended on each other.[28] He owned a small clinic for treating diseases.[29] They lived on the fifth floor, in an apartment in Beijing.[30] Before the couple could celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, Princess Jin Yunying died of illness in 1992.[31] She was seventy-nine years old. Runqi died on 6 June 2007. He was ninety-four years old.
Princess Jin Yunying went through a period of hardships. She was able to adapt to the current regime of China. Even though she was separated from her husband for nearly thirty years, they were able to form a strong and loving marriage. Princess Jin Yunying was able to gain the respect of her people and the government of China. Thus, she was able to live a peaceful and quiet life with her family.
Sources:
DayDayNews. (May 10, 2020). “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”. Retrieved on 14 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 14 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/eac5239ca....
iMedia. (n.d.). “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”. Retrieved on 14 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/6e8d3f020....
iNews. (n.d.). “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?” Retrieved on 14 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 14 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1....
Turner, M. (February 8, 2000). “The Odyssey of a Chinese Imperial Favorite”. The New York Times. Retrieved on 14 November 2022 from https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/08/st....
[1] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[2] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[3] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[4] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[5] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[6] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[7] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[8] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[9] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[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] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[13] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[14] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[15] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[16] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi?”
[17] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[18] iMedia, n.d., “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”
[19] iMedia, n.d., “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”
[20] iMedia, n.d., “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”
[21] iMedia, n.d., “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”
[22] iMedia, n.d., “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”
[23] iMedia, n.d., “Japan was defeated, Puyi’s sister fled everywhere, and could only sell cigarettes to survive”
[24] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[25] Laitimes, 17 December 2021, “The last emperor Puyi had seven younger sisters, and what was the final fate of these sisters?”
[26] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[27] DayDayNews, 10 May 2020, “The last princess set up a street stall to sell antiques, Ma Weidu took out the best official kiln, but she didn’t even give one”
[28] Turner, 8 February 2000, “The Odyssey of a Chinese Imperial Favorite”
[29] Turner, 8 February 2000, “The Odyssey of a Chinese Imperial Favorite”
[30] Turner, 8 February 2000, “The Odyssey of a Chinese Imperial Favorite”
[31] Turner, 8 February 2000, “The Odyssey of a Chinese Imperial Favorite”
The post Jin Yunying – The Princess who sold cigarettes on the street appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 8, 2023
Royal Wedding Recollections – Crown Prince Naruhito & Masako Owada
Masako Owada and the then Crown Naruhito of Japan first met in 1986 during a tea in honour of Infanta Elena of Spain. Although she was reportedly reluctant to accept his proposal of marriage, she finally did so in 1992.
The engagement was officially announced on 19 January 1993, and the engagement ceremony was held on 12 April 1993. Crown Prince Naruhito declared, “I will do everything in my power to protect you.”1 This highly educated woman was about to enter a most secretive world, where she would forever walk behind her husband and where her sole duty was to produce a son. Naruhito might have meant well, but he would never be able to protect her.
Embed from Getty ImagesHer future mother-in-law presented Masako with an heirloom platinum ring with a seven-carat ruby that had once belonged to Empress Nagako. The wedding was set for 9 June 1993.
The New York Times reported, “Although they have become the centre of one of the most minutely protected monarchies in the world, the grounds are surprisingly unkempt, a wooded ramble of maple, ginko and other trees inside a moat where white swans floated silently in this morning’s rain. That moody setting made the wedding a surprisingly subdued spectacle, at least for those watching from the muddy pathways in front of the austere shrine where the ceremony took place. It was a return of sorts to the quiet religious roots of the imperial family. The dignity of the event was given extra emphasis by the silence that prevailed throughout the ceremony. There was no music, and not a word was uttered that could be heard by the guests or those waiting in the thickening mud in front of the shrine.”2
Masako was dressed in a juni hitoe, which consists of 12 cloak-like layers of different coloured silk fabric, which has been woven with gold thread into a pattern of white jasmine flowers. It took eight people an hour to swaddle her into it, and it weighed about 16 kilos (35 pounds). It also costs an astonishing $350,000. Her black hair had been soaked in camelia oil, moulded into a bun, and held in place with a golden comb. She carried a white cedar fan, while her face was white with red lips.3
Embed from Getty ImagesNaruhito was wearing a hakama, a broad divided skirt of cream silk, with cream-coloured booties inside black clogs. Over this, he wore an oninoho, which was dyed in the colour of the sunrise and was decorated with storks. In addition, he carried an item called a shaku, his sceptre of office, and he wore a black hat.
The actual ceremony remained private, and only an animation of it was broadcast on Japanese television. Afterwards, they changed into more Western clothes to officially meet the in-laws. Masako changed into a cream-coloured brocade gown and was now wearing a diamond tiara and necklace. Naruhito changed into a black morning coat. After lunch, it was time for the official photographs before they were ushered into their new home. 4
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesUpon marriage, Masako became Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess of Japan. Her husband became Emperor on 1 May 2019, making Masako Her Majesty The Empress. Masako and Naruhito went on to have one daughter together, who is not eligible to succeed to the throne.
The post Royal Wedding Recollections – Crown Prince Naruhito & Masako Owada appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 7, 2023
Royal Wedding Recollections – Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Chris O’Neill
Princess Madeleine of Sweden married her American-British financier fiancé on 8 June 2013 in front of friends, family and foreign royals. As the couple marks their tenth wedding anniversary, we look back at their special day.
Princess Madeleine’s engagement to Christopher O’Neill was announced on 25 October 2012, and the wedding date was later revealed as 8 June 2013.
The pair wed at the Royal Chapel of Stockholm Palace in a wedding entirely financed by Madeleine’s father, King Carl XVI Gustaf. Chief Court Chaplain Lars-Göran Lönnermark and Vicar of the Royal Court Michael Bjerkhagen conducted the service broadcast by several Swedish channels throughout the day. Ewa-Marie Rundquist was chosen as the photographer.
Madeleine was escorted halfway down the aisle by her father before meeting Chris to walk the rest of the way to the altar. Swedish tradition dictates that the bride and groom enter the church together. Still, Princess Madeleine’s sister, Crown Princess Victoria, broke that tradition at her 2010 wedding when she requested her father escort her down the aisle. A compromise was reached in her request and Swedish tradition by the King walking his daughter halfway down the aisle to her groom. He did the same for Madeleine.
The bridesmaids were Chloé and Anaïs Sommerlath (maternal cousins of the bride), Lillie von Horn, Countess Chiara Abensperg und Traun (groom’s niece), Jasper d’Abo (groom’s nephew) and Count Louis Cajetan Abensperg und Traun (groom’s nephew). Chris’s best man was Cedric Notz.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe ceremony was conducted in English and Swedish, with the Princess reciting her vows in her native Swedish while the groom recited his in his native English. After they were proclaimed husband and wife, “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” was sung.
The couple appeared before the public outside the church on a stand. Both waved to the crowd and kissed in front of the cheering spectators. They then took a carriage ride through Stockholm before riding a boat to Drottningholm Palace for the private reception.
Embed from Getty ImagesMadeleine wore a bespoke Valentino gown featuring lace; it was cupped-sleeved with a four-metre train and a five-metre silk organza veil. Her veil was held in place by the Modern Fringe Tiara, which Madeleine personally owns.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnlike the receptions of her sister, Crown Princess Victoria, and brother, Prince Carl Philip, Madeleine’s wedding reception at Drottningholm Palace was not televised. She later remarked that she wished everyone could have heard the speeches of her family as they were quite touching.
Several foreign royals travelled to Sweden for the nuptials. Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Princess Benedikte, Princess Marie and Prince Joachim of Denmark; Crown Prince Pavlos, Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Tatiana, Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos of Greece; the Princess of Monaco; the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (then the Earl and Countess of Wessex); Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Märtha Louise (and then-husband Ari Behn) of Norway; Princess Takamado of Japan, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg all attended.
The pair had a triangle-shaped cake featuring 700 macaroons, and Princess Madeleine changed into her mother’s strapless Nina Ricci white gown for the party that lasted late into the evening.
Chris chose to remain a private citizen and not become Swedish; as such, he was not granted the title of Prince of Sweden like his brother-in-law, Prince Daniel.
Madeleine and Chris now have three children: Princess Leonore (b. 2014), Prince Nicolas (b. 2015) and Princess Adrienne (b. 2018). They are set to relocate to Sweden from Miami, Florida, this autumn.
The post Royal Wedding Recollections – Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Chris O’Neill appeared first on History of Royal Women.
June 6, 2023
Gertrude of Poland and her Prayer Book
Between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, marriages between the Rurikids of the Kyivan Rus and the Piasts of Poland were very common. One of the marriages between a Rus prince and a Polish princess was that of Iziaslav I of Kyiv and Gertrude of Poland.
Early Life
Gertrude of Poland was born around 1025. She may have been born on March 16 or 17, the feast day for St. Gertrude. Gertrude celebrated the memory of St. Gertrude and mentioned her multiple times in her prayers, so it’s quite possible that she could have been named after the saint on whose feast day she was born. Gertrude’s parents were Mieszko II, King of Poland and Richeza of Lotharingia. Through her mother, Gertrude was a great-granddaughter of Holy Roman Emperor Otto II.
Gertrude’s father became King of Poland in 1025, perhaps around the time she was born. In 1031, Poland was invaded by both the Kyivan Rus and the Holy Roman Empire. This forced Mieszko to flee to Bohemia. He was not safe in Bohemia; however, instead, he was captured, imprisoned, and castrated by Duke Oldrich of Bohemia. Mieszko’s half-brother, Bezprym, took over Poland and persecuted Mieszko’s followers. Soon afterwards, Gertrude fled to Germany with her mother and siblings. In 1032, Bezprym was killed, and Mieszko was released from captivity and returned to Poland. He and his wife, Richeza, never reunited. Mieszko died suddenly in 1034, possibly killed in a conspiracy.
Gertrude appears to have remained in Germany with her mother during these events. Some time afterwards, Richeza returned to Poland with her children. She tried to set her son, Casimir, up as Prince, but strife broke out amongst the contenders for the crown, and the family fled to Germany once more in 1037. During this time, Gertrude received an excellent education in one of the Cologne monasteries.
Marriage
Around 1040/1041, Gertrude’s brother Casimir married Maria Dobroniega of Kyiv, as part of an alliance between Poland and the Kyivan Rus. This alliance resulted in an agreement between the Rus and Poland to make Chevern, which was in between the two kingdoms, as part of the Rus. Around this same time, a marriage between Gertrude and Iziaslav, the second son of Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Kyiv, was arranged. Iziaslav was a nephew or first cousin of Gertrude’s sister-in-law, Maria Dobroniega. Gertrude and Iziaslav were believed to have married around the same time, or sometime between March 1043 and February 1044. On her marriage, Gertrude is believed to have received a prayer book as a wedding gift from her mother. This book would later become important.
Yaroslav divided up his territories between his six sons. Iziaslav received Turov in 1045, soon after his marriage. It is believed that Iziaslav and Gertrude could have commissioned a cathedral while living in Turov. Iziaslav’s elder brother, Vladimir, died in 1052, before their father. Since Vladimir’s son was considered too young, he was passed over in the line of succession in favour of Iziaslav. Since Iziaslav was now his father’s heir, he became Prince of Novgorod.
Gertrude and Iziaslav had two or three sons together while living in Turov: Mstislav, Yaropolk, and Svyatopolk. Some believe Svyatopolk might have been an illegitimate son of Iziaslav rather than a son of Gertrude. There may have also been a daughter. Later sources say that Gertrude and Iziaslav had a daughter named Eudoxia, who married the Polish Prince, Mieszko. However, it is unlikely that she was their daughter, because if she was, she would have been too closely related to Mieszko.
Grand Princess of Kyiv
Yaroslav died on 20 February 1054. On his death, Iziaslav became the new Grand Prince of Kyiv. In 1068, an uprising in Kyiv forced Gertrude and Iziaslav to flee. They found refuge in Gertrude’s native Poland, at the court of her nephew, Boleslaw II of Poland. Boleslaw was also the first cousin of Iziaslav himself, through his mother, Maria Dobronega. Boleslaw helped Iziaslav regain Kyiv in 1069. Unfortunately, Gertrude and Iziaslav’s eldest son, Mstislav, died that same year, perhaps from poisoning.
Iziaslav would lose his throne again in 1073. That year, he was expelled from Kyiv by his two brothers, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. Iziaslav, Gertrude and their two sons returned to her nephew’s court in Poland, but they were not welcome there this time. Boleslaw decided to support Svyatoslav and Vsevolod instead. So Gertrude and her family instead went to Germany. This time, they hoped to seek the support of the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV. However, they were unsuccessful in doing so, and instead took refuge at the court of Dedi I, Margrave of Lusatia. During this time, a marriage was arranged between Gertrude’s son, Yaropolk, and Dedi’s stepdaughter, Kunegunda. In 1075, a meeting was set up between Iziaslav and Emperor Henry, but it was unsuccessful. Instead, Yaropolk went to Rome and met with Pope Gregory VII. The Pope pressured Boleslaw to help Iziaslav and his family.
These events took place after the official break between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. In return for helping Iziaslav, among other reasons, the Pope had Boleslaw crowned King of Poland in December 1076. Iziaslav and Gertrude participated in the coronation. During this time, Gertrude is believed to have chosen Catholicism over Orthodoxy. The Pope also agreed to crown Iziaslav as King of the Rus and to have the Rus become a Catholic state, but this was unsuccessful.
Also, in December 1076, Iziaslav’s brother and main opponent, Svyatoslav, died. Iziaslav, Gertrude, and Yaropolk returned to Kyiv with the support of Boleslaw. Iziaslav’s next brother, Vsevolod, became the new Grand Prince of Kyiv, but he did not rule for long. Finally, Iziaslav was able to retake the throne, and once again became Grand Prince of Kyiv in July 1077. However, Iziaslav remained in conflict with Vsevolod and the sons of Svyatoslav. Iziaslav was killed in a battle against them on 3 October 1078, and Vsevolod became Grand Prince of Kyiv once again.
Widowhood
After Iziaslav’s death, Yaropolk became Prince of Turov and Volhynia. The second son, Svyatopolk, became Prince of Novgorod. Gertrude settled with Yaropolk in either Turov or Vladimir-in-Volhynia.
In 1085, Yaropolk had a falling out with his uncle, Grand Prince Vsevolod. Due to this, Yaropolk fled to Poland, but he left Gertrude and his wife, Kunigunda, behind in Lutsk. Soon, Vsevolod’s son, Vladimir Monomakh, arrived in Lutsk and captured Gertrude and Kunigunda, taking them to Kyiv.
Yaropolk returned and regained his lands in 1086, but was murdered, probably by the orders of his cousins, the Rostislavichs. There are conflicting accounts of what happened to Gertrude soon afterwards. Some believe that she did not survive her captivity and died in 1086. However, most say that she was eventually released, and lived at the court of her surviving son, Svyatopolk. Since Kunigunda returned to Germany, where she remarried after Yaropolk’s death, Gertrude is believed to have taken her grandchildren into her care.
Gertrude would have seen Svyatopolk become Grand Prince of Kyiv, on the death of his last remaining uncle, Vsevolod, in 1093. It is believed that Gertrude herself may have helped him obtain the throne. According to The Russian Primary Chronicle, “the Princess, Svyatopolk’s mother” (most likely Gertrude herself), died on 4 January 1107/8. She would have been around 81-82, a very long life for the time.
Gertrude’s Prayer Book
Of all of the Grand Princess consorts of Kyiv, Gertrude probably left one of the most significant cultural and religious legacies. She is primarily known for her prayer book, called the Gertrude Psalter, which survives to this day. The book includes 90 hand-written prayers, some of them written by Gertrude herself, showing that she was literate.
The prayer book also offers some insight into the relationship between Gertrude, her husband, and her son, Yaropolk. Gertrude’s prayers are believed to have been written during her and Iziaslav’s exile between 1073 and 1077. In her prayers, she asks God to turn away her husband’s heart from hatred and anger. The prayers also indicate that she sometimes argued with her hot-tempered husband. In one prayer, she asks for God to relieve all torment and sorrows that fall upon her due to her husband’s rudeness and refusal to listen to her advice. This shows that Gertrude was not a passive, quiet wife.
After her husband’s death, Gertrude continued to record prayers for her son, Yaropolk. In these prayers, she states that Yaropolk had “sank into the abyss of drunkenness and gluttony, was guilty of pride, boasting, perjury, slander, greed, vanity, impatience, deceit, theft, and even became a laughing stock for everyone.” Gertrude prays for the saints to forgive him. She asks St. Peter to reason with Yaropolk and to turn his heart to mercy. Gertrude also wrote prayers for Pope Gregory, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, and all who were captured at the hands of enemies.
Gertrude is believed to have passed the book to her granddaughter, Zbyslava, when she married Prince Boleslaw III of Poland in 1103. Afterwards, it seems to have passed to the Hungarian royal family, possibly brought to this family by Queen (consort) Gertrude of Merania. She is believed to have given it to her daughter, the future saint, Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth gave it to the Cathedral of Cividale in Friuli, Italy, where it remains to this day.
Thanks to the prayer book, we have contemporary images of Gertrude. Also, because of this book, Gertrude holds a special place in history for being the first Polish writer known by name.
Sources
Andrzejuk, Artur; “Gertrude, daughter of Mieszko II and her Prayer-Book”
Chekasina, Nadezhda; “Gertrude of Poland- Iziaslav’s wife”
Evgenievna, Morozova Lyudmila; Great and Unknown Women of Ancient Russia
Mielke, Christopher; “Every hyacinth the garden wears: the material culture of medieval queens of Hungary (1000-1395)
Voloshchuk, Myroslav; “Ruthenian-Polish matrimonial relations in the context of the inner-dynastic policy of the house of Rurik in the 11th-14th centuries: selective statistical data”
“Gertrude of Poland” on the website, The Court of Russian Princesses of the XI-XVI centuries
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June 4, 2023
Jin Xinru – The wandering Princess
Princess Yunhe (also known as Jin Xinru) was the second younger sister of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. However, her life was very turbulent. She was forced to flee the Forbidden City. She also witnessed her brother become the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo. After the fall of Manchukuo, Princess Yunhe was forced to wander and often begged for food. She was finally allowed to return to Beijing, where she lived the rest of her life as an ordinary citizen. Princess Yunhe’s story chronicled the rise and fall of the imperial family as they tried to adjust to a new China.
In 1911, Princess Yunhe was born in Beijing. She was the second daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun and the half-brother of Emperor Guangxu. Her mother was Gūwalgiya Youlan. She had two older brothers, one older sister, two younger brothers, and five younger sisters. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the Emperor of China.
In 1912, the Qing Dynasty had fallen, but the imperial family was allowed to keep their titles. Emperor Puyi still lived in the Forbidden City. When Princess Yunhe was a young child, she went to the Forbidden City to live with Emperor Puyi.[1] Emperor Puyi and Princess Yunhe had a close relationship.[2] Princess Yunhe continued to live in the Forbidden City after Emperor Puyi married both Empress Wanrong and Imperial Consort Erdet Wenxiu.[3] When the Emperor was forced to leave the Forbidden City on 5 November 1924, Princess Yunhe followed him.[4] She lived with Emperor Puyi in Tianjin. In 1932, Emperor Puyi moved to Changchun to become head of the Japanese state of Manchukuo, and Princess Yunhe followed him.[5] He would later become the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo in 1934.
Shortly after Princess Yunhe’s arrival in Changchun, Emperor Puyi arranged her marriage to Zheng Guangyuan, the grandson of Zheng Xiaoxu (the former governor of Hunan and the Prime Minister of Manchukuo).[6] The wedding was a grand affair and made news headlines in China.[7] Emperor Puyi even presided over the wedding.[8] Over the next ten years, the couple split their time between Changchun and England, where her husband studied abroad.[9] Princess Yunhe first arrived in London in 1933.[10] Their marriage was very happy.[11] Princess Yunhe gave birth to one son and three daughters.
On 18 August 1945, the state of Manchukuo collapsed. Princess Yunhe no longer lived a life of luxury. Instead, Princess Yunhe, Zheng Guangyuan, and her children wandered throughout northeastern China.[12] They often starved and begged on the streets.[13] This earned her the nickname of the “Wandering Princess.”[14] It was not until the founding of New China in 1949 that they were finally allowed to return to Beijing.[15]
Upon her arrival in Beijing, Princess Yunhe changed her name to Jin Xinru.[16] Zheng Guangyuan became a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[17] He also worked as an engineer at a post office.[18] Princess Yunhe became a kindergarten teacher.[19] Years later, she worked briefly at a factory that made mosquito nets.[20] During her last years, she lived on a small pension that was given to her by her daughter.[21] In 2000, she wrote the preface to the bestselling biography on her by Jia Yinghua called The Last Emperor’s Sister: The Life of Yunhe.[22] In 2001, Princess Yunhe died of illness at the age of ninety-two.
As the sister of Emperor Puyi, Princess Yunhe enjoyed many privileges and luxuries. After the fall of Manchukuo, Princess Yunhe was never able to enjoy her luxurious life again. Instead, she experienced many hardships and quietly lived the rest of her life as an ordinary citizen. Princess Yunhe’s greatest claim to fame is that she was the subject of a popular biography. Through this famous book, Princess Yunhe’s story will never be forgotten.
Sources:
iMedia. (n.d.). “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”. Retrieved on 13 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 13 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 13 November 2022 from https://inf.news/ne/history/6ba8b7d02....
Zingge, E. (June 16, 2000).“Onetime Princess recalls imperial past”. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on 13 November 2022 from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/n....
[1] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”
[2] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[3] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[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?”
[6] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[7] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[8] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[9] Zingge, The Globe and Mail, 16 June 2000, “Onetime Princess recalls imperial past”
[10] Zingge, The Globe and Mail, 16 June 2000, “Onetime Princess recalls imperial past”
[11] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”
[12] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[13] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[14] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”, para. 4
[15] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[16] Zingge, The Globe and Mail, 16 June 2000, “Onetime Princess recalls imperial past”
[17] iMedia, n.d., “After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, who did the Grids marry?”
[18] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[19] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
[20] Zingge, The Globe and Mail, 16 June 2000, “Onetime Princess recalls imperial past”
[21] Zingge, The Globe and Mail, 16 June 2000, “Onetime Princess recalls imperial past”
[22] iNews, n.d., “What happened to the seven sisters of the last Emperor Puyi?”
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June 3, 2023
Yuriko, Princess Mikasa at 100 – The oldest living royal
Yuriko, Princess Mikasa was born on 4 June 1923 as the daughter of Viscount Masanari Takagi and Kuniko Irie. She has an older sister, Kinuko, and two younger sisters, Momoko and Sayoko.
At the age of five, she enrolled at the Gakushein kindergarten and continued at the Gakushein school until her graduation in 1941.
That very same year, Yuriko became engaged to Prince Takahito, who had been granted the Mikasa title in 1935. He was the younger brother of Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa) of Japan, the grandfather of the current Emperor of Japan, and he was seven years older than her. It is unclear how they met, though it seems likely that the marriage was arranged. They were second cousins once removed.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir engagement was announced on 29 March 1941, and their official engagement ceremony took place on 3 October. Their wedding followed on 22 October 1941.1 The New York Times reported, “The roaring of cannon from the great moat-encircled Chiyoda Castle, Emperor Hirohito’s residence in the centre of Tokyo, announced to the empire today the wedding of Prince Mikasa, youngest brother of the ruler, to Yuriko Takagi. The ceremonies, according to court etiquette, were conducted with ancient shinto rites before the nation’s holy of holies, the Kaski-ko-Dokoro, one of the three palace sanctuaries. Firing of the twenty-one-gun salute, in single explosions spaced a few seconds apart, announced the completion of the first stage of the ceremonies at 9 A.M.”2 Upon marriage, she became Her Imperial Highness The Princess Mikasa.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe couple went on to have five children together: Princess Yasuko (born 1944), Prince Tomohito (born 1946 – died 2012), Prince Yoshihito (born 1948 – died 2014), Princess Masako (born 1951) and Prince Norihito (born 1954 – died 2002). They performed public duties for the imperial family, and Prince Mikasa also served in the army during the Second World War. After the Second World War, Prince Mikasa reportedly supported an early abdication by Emperor Hirohito.3 In 1946, the peerage system was abolished, which meant that Yuriko’s family was no longer noble. In 1948, her father died, reportedly by suicide.4
Yuriko held several patronages and served as Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross, among other things. She also attends family-related events.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrincess Yuriko has so far outlived all three of her sons and her husband. Her youngest son, Norihito, died in 2002 at the age of 47 following a cardiac arrest. He left behind a wife and three daughters. Her eldest son, Tomohito, died of cancer in 2012 at 66. He left behind a wife and two daughters. Her middle son, Yoshihito, died in 2014 of a heart attack at the age of 66. He was unmarried. Her two daughters have married outside of the imperial house and have given up their imperial titles. Yasuko has a son and three grandchildren, while Masako has two sons and a daughter. Three of her granddaughters through her sons are still members of the imperial family. The two others have married outside of the family.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn 22 October 2016, Yuriko and her husband celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary as he was hospitalised. He died five later at the age of 100. Princess Yuriko still visits his grave every month on the 27th. She has suffered several health issues over the years and was diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2022.
As she celebrates her 100th birthday, she lives a quiet life in Tokyo. She is currently the oldest living royal from a reigning family.
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