Messages

136

French Royals / Re: Queens of France

« on: September 18, 2005, 10:57:32 AM »

I agree about Ingeborg's Hermaphroditism - wasn't the same thing said about the late Duchess of Windsor? The original Hermaphrodite was a child of Hermes and Aphrodite I believe (consanguinity alarm!).

Yes, in Greek mythology, Hermaphroditus was the son of the god Hermes and the goddess Aphrodite. Hence his name! He was an extremely handsome boy. One day, a beautiful nymph called Salmacis saw him while he was going to enter a pool in the forest and fell madly in love with him. She declared her passion, but he rejected her. When he thought she was gone, Hermaphroditus undressed and entered the waters of the empty pool. Salmacis sprang out from behind a tree and jumped into the pool, wrapping herself around the boy and forcibly kissing him while he struggled to be free. She clung to him with her whole body and prayed the gods that they should never be separated. The gods granted her prayer and their two bodies were joined together and they no longer were a boy or a girl but a mix of both. Hermaphroditus thereupon asked the gods that anybody who bathed in this pool should lose his virility, which was also granted.  

137

The Stuarts of Scotland / Re: Charles I and family

« on: September 18, 2005, 10:28:28 AM »

Does anyone have pictures and information on Clementina Sobieska, the Old Pretender's wife?

138

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Queens of Portugal

« on: September 16, 2005, 07:51:39 PM »

Surprisingly, there has been another Urraca in moder times, Princess Urraca of the Two Sicilies (1913-1999). Why in the world her parents chose that name, God only knows... Her parents were Ferdinand III, duke of Calabaria since 1894, and Princess Marie of Bavaria, daughter of King Ludwig III.

I've always wondered why Ferdinand and Marie named their daughter Urraca. Their other daughters had common names: Marie Antoinette, Maria Christina, Barbara and Lucia.

139

Having Fun! / Re: Your Top 10 of Boring Royals

« on: September 16, 2005, 07:35:54 PM »

2. Empress Alix of Russia: always ill, always in suffering.

I agree with you, Grand Duke. In my opinion, the role of an empress was more fitting to someone more glamorous and less shy, like Missy.

140

Having Fun! / Re: Your Top 10 of Boring Royals

« on: September 16, 2005, 11:42:05 AM »

1. LENCHEN!!! I'm sorry, but she was just the most dull of all QV's daughters . . .  dull as dishwater!

I agree with you, Prince. Even Beatrice seems more interesting.

141

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Queens of Portugal

« on: September 15, 2005, 09:47:50 PM »

Mencía López de Haro (1230-1270), wife of Sancho II. Married in 1246.

Mencía is a strange name, I think. Never heard it before...

142

The Stuarts of Scotland / Re: Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen

« on: September 15, 2005, 09:31:40 PM »

Thanks trentk! Where did you hear this?

Sorry for the delay, Prince. I read it in a website, but right now I don't remember which one.  :-/

143

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Queens of Castile

« on: September 14, 2005, 01:57:27 PM »

This Urraca about whom you are talking is Queen Urraca of Zamora, a Castilian infanta, daughter of King Ferdinand I and Sanchia of Leon. When Ferdinand died he divided his reign between his children: Sancho II received Castile, Alfonso VI received Leon, García received Galicia, Urraca received Zamora and Elvira received Toro. Urraca had been a lover of her brother Alfonso VI (giving him a daughter who ended her days as a nun) and Elvira, mother of Jimena (the Cid's wife), had also very probably been Alfonso's mistress.

I didn't know that Urraca was the lover of her own brother! It could be true, but we have to remember that they were real-life historical figures whose story was romanticized in the medieval Spanish epic poems.

144

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Queens of Castile

« on: September 13, 2005, 11:10:44 PM »

I'm working my way through to see which ones I recognise. Is Queen Urraca the one who was in love with the Cid? Or am I getting her mixed up with someone else (the one who was always looking daggers at Sophia Loren in the film)?

As far as I know, the princess Urraca who was in love with the Cid was an infanta, not a queen, but I don't know if she later became a queen.

Bell, which film are you talking about?

145

The Stuarts of Scotland / Re: Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen

« on: September 10, 2005, 02:58:52 PM »

According to Sophie, Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel was hopeless and stupid. When she married Karl Ludwig, it was her own mother, Amelia Elisabeth von Hanau-Muenzenberg, who warned him of Charlotte's foul temper.

146

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Isabel de Valois (Elisabeth de Valois), Queen of Spain

« on: September 10, 2005, 02:41:34 PM »

Umigon, do you know what was Don Carlos and Isabel de Valois' relationship with the Austrian archdukes, Rudolph and Ernest, who were living in Spain at the time?

147

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Isabel de Valois (Elisabeth de Valois), Queen of Spain

« on: September 07, 2005, 11:31:19 PM »

Do you know what Don Carlos' relationship with his stepmother Isabel de Valois was like?

148

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Spanish Habsburg Queens

« on: September 07, 2005, 09:50:21 PM »

Absolutely true, trentk! Their children also spoke Spanish. When their daughter Elisabeth became Queen of France she prefered talking in Spanish rather than French or German!

All of Maximilian and Maria's sons were sent to complete their education at the court of Spain, but I think the most deeply influenced by their Spanish upbringing were the Archdukes Rudolph (later emperor) and Ernest who lived in Spain from 1564 to 1571.

149

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Spanish Habsburg Queens

« on: September 07, 2005, 02:51:46 PM »

In 1583 Ana's mother, Empress María, returned to Spain. She helped Felipe with the upbringing of her nephew-grandson. Felipe III grew to love very much his Imperial grandmother and so did his wife, Queen Margarita. However, Lerma's influence over the King WAS irrefutable and although María tried to warn and guide Felipe, he prefered Lerma's parties...

It is said that when Empress Maria returned to Spain as a widow, her first words were to express delight at being back in a country without heretics! She took her youngest daughter Margaret with her and some people thought that the girl would become Philip II's fifth wife, but in 1585 she became a nun and went to live with her mother in a convent in Madrid.

As for Lerma, I read that one of the reasons why the court moved from Madrid to Valladolid for a few years was because Lerma wanted to avoid Empress Maria's influence over the King. However Madrid became once again the capital of the kingdom after Empress Maria died.

150

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Spanish Habsburg Queens

« on: September 07, 2005, 02:49:58 PM »

María was absolutely pro-Spanish and a fervent Catholic and Maximilian was more inclined to the Protestant faith, and although he never really abjured his Catholic faith, he refused receiving the extreme unction in his death bed. However, the marriage was a very happy one and Maximilian seems to have been faithful with María, or at least discreet.

I remember reading that Maximilian loved spending time in the countryside. In the spring of 1573, after having been very ill, he didn't attend mass during the Holy Week not even a single time, but he spent a lot of time in the countryside. During one of these days, the Emperor told the Empress: "Let's go having fun". The Empress responded: "I don't know how I can have fun while I see you, sir, very happy with all these feasts and very ill when it comes to attending mass. Until I see another way of proceeding, nothing will give me pleasure." The Emperor, laughingly responded: "Come on, we'll attend mass later."
 
It is worth mentioning that in the German-speaking court of Vienna, the Emperor and Empress spoke to each other in Spanish.