Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Jane Seymour by David Loades Book Review

Wednesday, 7 January 2015, 17:15 Moniek Bloks 0

Jane Seymour was Henry VIII’s third wife, after Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. She was a maid of honour to both of her predecessors and married Henry a mere 11 days after Anne’s execution. She was reportedly not very beautiful and had a demure personality. She was, for the time, quite old to be [read more]

Under the protection of Catherine the Great – Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Monday, 5 January 2015, 14:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was born 3 December 1764 to Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick and Princess Augusta of Great Britain. Her younger sister Caroline married George IV of the United Kingdom. To her family, Augusta was known as Zelmira. On 15 October 1780, she married Prince Frederick of Württemberg. He was heir presumptive to [read more]

The women of Soestdijk Palace

Saturday, 3 January 2015, 22:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Every house has traces of its former inhabitants. Soestdijk has had many over the years, and I went there in search of its royal women. Soestdijk Palace has only been open to the public since 2006, and its future is still uncertain. The last inhabitant, Queen (then Princess) Juliana, died at the palace in 2004. [read more]

A Lost Love – Archduke Maximilian and Princess Maria Amélia

Monday, 29 December 2014, 10:00 Moniek Bloks 2

Archduke Maximilian is perhaps better knows as Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, but to know how he got to be Emperor of Mexico we have to go back a couple of years and look back to a Princess who was long dead before he became Emperor. Maria Amélia was born on 1 December 1831 as [read more]

Elfrida The First Crowned Queen of England by Elizabeth Norton Book Review

Monday, 22 December 2014, 20:15 Moniek Bloks 1

I just recently received this book, Elfrida The First Crowned Queen of England by Elizabeth Norton from Amberley Publishing for review. It’s been available in hardcover since earlier this year but came out in paperback last month. Elfrida was actually known by several names, Ælfthryth but also Alfrida and Elfthryth. The Anglo-Saxons certainly knew how to make things difficult [read more]

Infanta Adelgundes of Portugal’s many miscarriages

Saturday, 20 December 2014, 13:30 Moniek Bloks 1

Infanta Adelgundes was born on 10 November 1858 to Miguel of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg. She was their fifth child. She was only six years old when her father died. Adelgundes married Prince Henry of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi on 15 October 1876 in Salzburg. She was his second wife. Henry had been wounded [read more]