Empress Zoë Porphyrogenita was one of the four women in the Byzantine Empire to rule in her own name. She was crucial in establishing the principles of the dynastic successions of the Byzantine Empire.[1] She was also the second Empress of Byzantium who held supreme power. Despite her accomplishments, Empress Zoë Porphyrogenita led a turbulent [read more]
The suicide of Elisabeth and Franz Joseph’s only son Crown Prince Rudolf was preceded by years of unhappy marriage with Princess Stephanie Belgium, frustration at not being included in government affairs and severe illness. Rudolf had grown up mostly without his mother, but he worshipped her nonetheless. As his mental state deteriorated, he began to [read more]
Read part one here. In early 1858, it became apparent that Empress Elisabeth was pregnant for the third time. She suffered from morning sickness during the first three months of pregnancy, but she felt fine otherwise. Finally, on 21 August, she gave birth to a son and heir who would be named Rudolf. The family [read more]
Members of Italy’s former royal family have begun negotiations with the Italian authorities in an attempt to recover the crown jewels of the House of Savoy. The jewels have been in a vault in the Bank of Italy for the last 76 years. The jewels consist of more than 6,000 diamonds and 2,000 pearls on [read more]
Archduchess Sophie was born Princess Sophie of Bavaria on 27 January 1805 as one of a set of twins. Her sister was named Maria Anna, and she eventually became Queen of Saxony as the wife of King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony. She would have four surviving full sisters, two half-brothers, and two half-sisters, including [read more]
Read part one here. Maria Theresa would be last the Holy Roman Empress as the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806 after Austrian forces suffered a defeat at Austerlitz. Francis had to agree to the Treaty of Pressburg between him and Emperor Napoleon, which brought about the final collapse of the Holy Roman Empire [read more]
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