King Henry III of England: A Sociological Analysis of His Relationship With The Jews In England's Middle Ages

Henry Plantagenet, or Henry of Winchester (due to his birth place) became King Henry III of England with the death of his father, King John, at the year of 1216. Henry III's reign is most remembered for the continuing First Baron's War, some rebellions supported and leaded by Prince Louis of France, the reinforcement of the use of Magna Carta and the prosecutions to the jews. But it's this latter that will be approached on this post.

Henry III was crowned at the age of nine, the first English monarch to have been crowned in a tender age. Named after his grandfather, the great lion of England King Henry II, Henry had inherited from his father a kingdom fragiled by the failures of his predecessor. England was destroyed by another Civil War and it would have not see an end for a while. Although followed by many misfortunes that marked his reign, though his efforts in trying to keep peace were not always successful. As said in this fragment,  "historian David Carpenter judges Henry to have been a decent man, who failed as a ruler due to his naivety and inability to produce realistic plans for reform, a theme echoed by Huw Ridgeway, who also notes his unworldliness and inability to manage his court, but who considers him to have been "essentially a man of peace, kind, and merciful.""

However, it's not up to us to make a general observance of his reign or to point out the characteristic of Henry's character, but to emphasize the social aspects that clashed both worlds: religion and society. In Middle Ages, those two were not well separated or defined, being very often confused. The history of Catholic Church has been, since its recognition as heir to the late Roman Empire, full of ups and downs when it comes to its building and when it comes to medieval societies with personal bounds were not so different. In fact, with the Carolingian Empire, and even afterwards, the influence the Church had upon every believer especially with canonization to reach the lowest strata to make Catholicism an unique religion in Europe did not face opposition in England. 

With that in mind, it must be remembered that relationship between Henry and the Church was reinforced in his early reign, when the Baron's War was still going and the young king needed support to reinforce his claim to the throne. So "(...) where Henry gave homage to the Papacy, recognising the Pope as his feudal lord. Pope Honorius declared that Henry was the Pope's vassal and ward, and that the legate had complete authority to protect Henry and his kingdom. As an additional measure, Henry took the cross, declaring himself a crusader and so entitled to special protection from Rome." This meant that, towards the rebels, the threat of excommungation could be used if they did not obey their king, with the Bishop of Winchester declaring a crusade against them. 

And how did the jews become involved in this? Now we know how close was the relationship between Rome and England and how pious Henry III was, it is well to remember that, previously, in the last year of King John's reign, "Innocent III had (...) caused the Fourth Council of the Lateran to pass the law enforcing the Badge upon the Jews; and in 1218 Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, brought it into operation in England, the badge taking the form of an oblong white patch of two finger-lengths by four."

Historically speaking, the jews had always been under royal protection, suspiciously for bringing the English monarchs money benefits, in the zone of trade most of times. But under the rule of Henry III, the jews were forced to pay £70,000 and expelled from many towns. It would not be until 1753 they would feel safe in English territory, being able to live without any sort of prosecution.

Sociologically speaking, religion was the moral, the law of any society of those days; and having Catholicism been established in most of european realms, naturally it would be their faith the rulers would turn into to make their will uncontested. The problem with the jewish was that, with receiving the blame for the death of Jesus Christ and as well not being part of Christianism, with the increase of prosecutions they had no place to call their home. Particularly, we can apply the concept of foreigner, as said by sociologist author Alfred Schutz in his essay about the "stranger|": "The term 'foreigner' shall mean an adult individual (...) that tries to be permanently accepted or at least tolerated by the group to which he approaches." Lacking this capacity in belonging to a society that rejects them, the jews turned to live atthe margins of society.

The best example to illustrate the case is the most horrible and shocking about this Christian boy named Hugh who disappeared in Linconlshire and was crucified by the jews. A better description is found in this fragment below:

"The supposed crucifixion in 1255 of a little Christian boy by the Jews of Lincoln, in macabre parody of the crucifixion of Christ, was for Jews and Christians alike, although for very different reasons, one of the most shocking events in the reign of King Henry III. For the Jews it had appalling consequences. One named Copin, who confessed to the crime, was hung, having first been tied to the tail of a horse and dragged for a long time through the streets of Lincoln, his body becoming broken and lacerated with stones. A little later, eighteen more Jews suffered the same fate in London. Meanwhile, the body of the 'vicim' had been laid to rest by the dean and canons of Lincoln in the cathedral, where it performed miracles and became known as 'Little Saint Hugh'. The episode inspired a contemporary ballad in 367 lines of French verse. (...) Matthew Paris's account took up three pages and appeared as a continuous narrative from June through till November, instead of being broken up, in his normal fasshion (...), a good indication of the story's riveting effect."

This anti-jew feeling only helped to make the Crown independent of the services the jewish in matters of trade, finding other means to supply their economical needs, by taking into his kingdom italians merchants, who had not only access to products from east but from Rome's mesures as well. But the sad event not only had tragic consequences as would later culminate to their fully expelling in 1290, under the reign of Edward I.

What we can see from the direct involvement of the king in judging the case of Young Hugh is that "Langmuir's main point was that Henry III's trial and conviction of the Jews represented the first occasion on which any European ruler had affirmed the truth of such allegations. And even today, it gives one a start, to read in Henry III's letters of this 'horrible crime' and of an 'infant lately crucified'. All this added to the toxic mix of prejudice and profit which was to lead to the eventual expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290".

What we can observe of religion, politics and society in that particular moment is that, whether it is accepted or not, the necessity of classifying and including people and their culture into Christianity was clear enough when this same concept excluded the jews, making them for so long living in diaspora. The role of a monarch and his direct connection with Rome proves that, though the king is the one to have the last word before any order is followed, it is his faith that, when correctly guided, leads him doing so. If Henry III is personally guilty or not, that is hard to say. For he was, independently of our personal views of the society we live nowadays, a social product of his days.

Sources:  "The Stranger: An Essay in Social Psychology ", SCHUTZ, Alfred; 118.

http://www.finerollshenry3.org.uk/content/month/fm-01-2010.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_England_(1066%E2%80%931290)#Under_John.2C_1205.E2.80.931216

http://www.oxfordjewishheritage.co.uk/english-jewish-heritage/68-english-jewish-heritage

http://www.finerollshenry3.org.uk/redist/pdf/Jews.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_III_of_England

Elizabeth Stuart: Princess of Scotland, England and Ireland; Queen of Bohemia and fierce Protestant.

Elizabeth Stuart, princess of Scotland, England and Ireland, known as the "pearl of kingdom", was born in August 19th, precisely at 2 o'clock in the morning in Fife. She was the oldest daughter of King James VI of Scotland and his wife, Queen Anne of Denmark. Born in 1596, she was not yet the princess of England, her father ruling only Scotland so far. Named after the English Queen Elizabeth, she was also a granddaughter of Mary, Queen of Scots, executed years before her birth. 

In Scotland, she was put under the care of Lord Livingstone, growing up at the Linlith Gow Castle. Once her father became King of England as well in 1603, she left Scotland with her favourite and older brother Henry, Prince of Wales. There, she stayed with Lord Harington, where she continued her education and established a long-term friendship with Lady Anne Dudley. 

When she was twelve years old, she was said to have influence on French, Italian and other languages. Her education included natural history, theology, music, writing, dancing, geography, etc; very proper to a lady of her rank. When she was only nine years old, Gunpowder Plot's conspiracy planned to crown her as a Catholic Queen of the three realms (Scotland, England and Ireland) and manipulate her life, as well as destroying Parliament, but King James managed to stop such plan to occur it.

At the age of fifteen, Elizabeth Stuart had several suitors. Her beauty and wit were very appealing, but a marriage of the oldest daughter of James VI of Scotland and I of England was a great deal, especially on the behalf of the Stuart Dynasty, since, unlike Queen Elizabeth, James had heirs and important matches concerning the importance of the realms he ruled was something he wanted to achieve. Of these suitors, there can be said there were quite some variety: from the heir of Swedish kingdom to King Philip III of Spain, this latter being favoured to Anne of Denmark for her sympathy to Catholicism. But it was James's desire to support the Protestant cause so he eventually chose Frederick, heir to the Palatinate. But this choice would find the Queen's opposition, since she strongly believed he was of a lower rank than her daughter's. Nevertheless, in May 16th 1612, the match was signed.

Her relationship with Prince Henry of Wales would as well be seen there, as apparently her brother helped in the choice of a Protestant husband for her. As a matter of fact, Henry was so Protestant that he eventually influenced his sister in taking the cause of Protestantism against Catholicism, as seen in letters exchanged between them. Whilst speaking Latin was not expected ladies to do, Henry would help Elizabeth with her Italian, since that was a language he was excellent at. When Frederick arrived in England, his relationship with Henry was one of very good friends, which pleased Elizabeth very much. But Henry's death would have a very sad effect to the Kingdom and to Elizabeth's life as well, for in 1612 she was second in the line on the throne. Again, Queen Anne attempted to break the engagement but Elizabeth refused, for she "stood by Frederick, whom her brother had approved, and whom she found to have the sentiments of a fine gentleman. Above all, he was 'regarded as the future head of the Protestant interest in Germany'"

On February 14th 1613, the marriage finally happened, at Whitehall Palace. "Three days beforehand, an incredible fireworks display was held on the Thames and on the afternoon before an impressive mock sea battle involving thirty-eight vessels took place on the river. Masques were performed and plays and poems celebrated the union as a victory over 'the evils of popery'." Apparently, the young match was very popular, with people going out to celebrate it. Below, we have a description of how Elizabeth was dressed and the moment she took her vows:

"The bride was dressed in cloth of silver lined with taffeta, with a crown of "immense value" on her head. Sixteen noble bridesmaids, dressed in white stain, carried her train. Her hair hung in plaits down to her waist, and between every plait was "a roll of gold spangles, pearls, rich stones and diamonds... Many diamonds of inestimable value were embroidered upon her sleeves which even dazzled and amazed the eyes of all the beholders." Elizabeth was apparently overcome with adolescent laughter as she took her vows. For almost two months the couple were feted and feasted in the capital. They eventually set out on the journey to their palace in Heidelberg, sailing from Margate to Vlissingen, in Holland." But through their journey, where they had long stops, the popular couple were entertained at different courts with musicians, artists, other nobles's presence, having received gifts until they were welcomed as family by Frederick's uncle, 

In January 1st, 1614, Henry Frederick, first of the fourteen children of the couple, was born. Named after Elizabeth's brother, he would not live for long, unfortunately dying years later by drowning. Another important even would happen years later, when Elizabeth Stuart was crowned Queen of Bohemia next to her husband, who became Frederick V of Bohemia. This happened because it was feared the Catholics would take power, which eventually happened when Emperor Ferdinand II seized their throne.

Living in exile for thirty years, Elizabeth would not give up her claim to the throne easily. Sending miniatures to their supporters, she would fight for her life to have her children's titles back. In Hague, where they settled, she became to be known as Winter Queen and as the Queen of Hearts. Whilst sending letters to every possible supporter she could arrange, we come to find that her father and later Charles I, her brother, refused to help her by any chance, so her cause seemed lost for a while. But Elizabeth would still  restlessly fight for her cause and the Protestant's, having received the name of "Helen of Germany" by the Catholics. As said here: "Lobbying, bargaining, negotiating and cajoling, she was a major player during a particularly unsettled period of European history".

With her husband's death, "Elizabeth, devastated on hearing the news (...), became senseless with grief and for three days was reported to be unable to eat, drink or sleep. When her brother, now King Charles I heard of her sad plight, he invited her to return to England, she turned his offer down, preferring to remain and push the rights of her son and Fredercik's heir Charles Louis. Charles Louis regained the Electorate of the Palatinate in 1648, but Elizabeth remained in exile in The Hague". Once her son was then reestablished at the Electorate of the Palatinate, Elizabeth remain in Holland, but it was not until her nephew Charles II's restoration in 1660, that she would return to England.

The day Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, previously the pearl of the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland, left this world was the thirteenth day of february, the year being 1662. At her funeral, only Rupert, her (most famous) son, appeared and she is buried in Henry VII's chapel, in Westminster Abbey. It was written of Elizabeth:

"A survivor of an earlier age, isolated and without a country she could really call her own, was laid to rest among her ancestors and close to her beloved elder brother, Henry, Prince of Wales."

But in her coffin you can find this written:

"The remains of the Most Serene and Puissant Princess Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, relict of Frederick, by the grace of God King of Bohemia, Chief Steward and Elector Palatine of the Holy Roman Empire, only daughter of James, sister of Charles I and aunt of Charles, the second of that name, kings of Great Britain, France and Ireland. She fell asleep most piously in the Lord at Leicester House, on Thursday 13 Feb., year of Christ's Nativity 1661 in the 66th year of her age"

Elizabeth's youngest daughter, Sophia, was married into the House of Hanover and her son, George would succeed Anne Stuart as King of England, Scotland and Ireland. She is, then, the ancestor of the current royal family, ruling in Britain.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Stuart,_Queen_of_Bohemia

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_28.html

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/elizabeth-stuart,-queen-of-bohemia

http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/marriage-winter-queen

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21532311

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Stuart

http://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/creating-new-europe-1600-1800-galleries/born-on-this-day-the-winter-queen-elizabeth-stuart-queen-of-bohemia

http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com.br/2015/03/a-princess-most-royal-elizabeth-stuart.html

https://books.google.com.br/books?id=yoNnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=elizabeth+stuart+queen+of+bohemia&source=bl&ots=NiGA4EL-7J&sig=zqEzSBSi7JQIA_mDhALZVwBw474&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ved=0CEoQ6AEwCzgKahUKEwiPmNP_5dTIAhVKkJAKHeGgBmw#v=onepage&q=elizabeth%20stuart%20queen%20of%20bohemia&f=false

Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia: A Forgotten Love Story

When we look into the past, independently of the period we are studying, especially when it comes to royals, it is commonly thought that love was not the reason why they married between the greatest and most important dynasties that ruled in Europe. To perpetuate their lineages through a male heir and, with it, to keep peace with kingdoms that were enemies in past or allies in the present, most kings were advised well before they could choose the one who would be his crowned queen.

However, unlike popular belief, love was not rare and it could be found amongst most arranged marriages. Inside British History, few stories of the sort are recorded in people's mind, except, perhaps, the famous love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Today, we will approach one that is not very known in the public eyes, one love that rose unexpectedly in days that duties were expected to be filled, nothing else or even so less.

King Richard II, born Richard Plantagenet, was the second son of the Prince of Wales Edward (who would later receive the nickname Black Prince) and his wife, Joan of Kent (known as the 'Fair Maid of Kent' due to her beauty and kindness) and was not prepared to become king. His grandfather, King Edward III, was still alive and so was his father, who would be the monarch of England before this young man... but Prince Edward died suddenly and Richard would inherit the crown from his grandfather at the age of ten.

At the age of 13, Richard was recommended the Bohemian princess as a good match by his favourite Michael de la Pole, despite the fact she was poor and that her brother, King Wenzel of Bohemia, could not afford her dowry. As seen here: "Soon after the 1381 rebellion, marriage arrangements began in earnest. Sir Simon travelled abroad and, along with the Earl of Suffolk, negotiated a match between his pupil and the daughter of the late Emperor Charles IV, and sister of King Wenzel of Bohemia (also known as Wenceslas, but NOT the one of the Christmas carol). Anne was, by all accounts, a cultured young woman with royal connections throughout Europe." In those days, it is important to remember that Rome was divided by two rival popes, Urban VI and Clement of Avignon, but the first one was supported by both the Bohemians and the English.

Anne was born in Prague, on the eleventh day of May. The year was 1366. Her parents were the Holy Roman Emperor Charles and his fourth wife, Empress Elisabeth of Pomerania. She was a very well educated woman of her time and her character was known to be gentle, as well as being described as a beauty. "Anne was described as a Godly, intelligent young girl with an inquiring mind, renowned for her love of reading and for her possession of the Scriptures in three languages. Her favourite books of the Bible were the four Gospels, which she constantly studied."Being her father one of the most powerful men in the 14th century, Pope Urban VI enjoyed the situation to arrange an alliance and gain support over Clement of Avignon, who was supported by the French.

Nevertheless, when the match was finally arranged with Anne being fifteen and Richard, fourteen, she was accompanied by the her uncle and aunt, duke and duchess of Saxony, as it was expected the journey to end in Calais before they sailed to Dover. But they were intercepted by Normans vassals sent by the King, who would later excuse himself for merely being concerned to his cousin's safety in her travel to England.

In January 22nd 1382, she was eventually married to King Richard II and crowned Queen of England. In this excerpt, it is said that the "(...) ceremony was performed in Westminster chapel (...). King Richard appeared delighted with his bride, and after a week spent with her and the court in festivities and celebrations, they left for Windsor by barge, accompanied by Richard's mother, Joan of Kent."

At first, she was not very welcomed by the nobility because she came to England with no dowry and Richard had to pay for her arrival, but with her kind heart and good manners, she soon became popular and would later be remembered as the Good Queen Anne. At court, she introduced the headdress and sidesaddles, "(...) seats made of wood strapped to the horse's back with a pommel for a hand grip, and a wooden plank, wide enough to accomodate both feet, hung along the left side of the animal."

As for the nature of their relationship, it was said to be successful and loving since the start. Richard did dote on Anne, and so did she on him. When "in a letter to his mother-in-law, Elizabeth of Pomerania, he refers to her as "mater nostra carissima", which translates to 'mother of my beloved'", it is perceptible how much he loved her, and how faithful he was towards her, just by the fact he had not taken any mistress, rarely leaving Anne's side. With the death of Richard's mother, the Princess Dowager of Wales, he relied heavily on his wife. It is also presumed that she was the one who calmed his temper and, even when she rarely meddled in politics, he gave her ears as when she intercepted on the behalf of people with rebellions happening, as well as happened in other causes.

In the following excerpt, we can understand better the feelings Richard had for Anne when the plague put her life to a sad end. "For twelve years they lived together, deeply in love and seeing each other through several crises. In 1394, however, the plague struck again, taking with it Queen Anne, aged only 27. "On 7 Junae Anne, Queen of England, and daughter of the Emperor, died at the manor of Sheen;..." [10] Richard has variously been described as "wild with grief", "utterly inconsolable" and "distraught in the aftermath". [11] When the Earl of Arundel was late arriving at the funeral, Richard struck him for showing such disrespect to the queen's memory. [12] Saul mentions that for a year after her death he refused to go into any room she'd been in [13]. The following spring, John Gedney, Clerk of the Works, received a writ, ordering him to destroy the Manor of Sheen including "the houses and buildings within the moat..." and "the houses and buildings in la Neyt" [14] Sheen itself was a sprawling collection of buildings, it was in Neyt that Anne had died. Richard had spent time expanding Sheen earlier in his reign and la Neyt had been among the favourite residences of the royal couple."

This devotion we see in the couple has even more a romantic ideal, especially if we consider the love stories as a social product, a consequence of the Victorian period. Richard was not a charming prince, but the deep affection he had for Anne and his grief for her when she died shows us another side, softer but at the same time more intense of arranged marriages that grew to love. It cannot be compared to a more modern example, as happened to Queen Victoria, but the feeling was there. Also, it is not possible to mistake duty with lack of feelings by any part of the couple, remembering that marrying for affection was not the main cause for arrangements to be done, as said before.

Finally, this story that many has forgotten probably because the fame of bad tempered the Plantagenets carried with themselves until the last one, Richard III, to rule England and through the many Civil Wars they engaged to, whether failing or not in another several wars, should not be put aside by merely faults of others or because we have more wide known monarchs. Every one had its part in History and this is not different. Although it's rather easier to question ourselves about possibilities that clearly never happened.

What makes us look up at Richard II and Anne is that both were humans and how they loved each other, regardless each other's faults. They supported each other in difficult times, enjoyed each one's company... That being said, I'll finish this post with a poem that very likely was written by Richard himself.

"The dust of Anne, the second Richard's queen,
  Lies now entombed beneath this spacious stone;
  Her lovely form enchained wherever seen,
  Her face with meek and radiant beauty shone.
  Dear was her Saviour to her loving heart;
  Her love and gentleness to all she showed;
  In healing strifes she ever did her part;
  To her the poor, with want and care oppressed,
  Could look with hope for pity and relief;
  With heart and hand she succoured the distressed,
  Nor grudged to cost of want and pain and grief.
  The lonely widow's tears she wiped away,
  And to the sick the healing draught she brought,
  Whoever suffered found in her a stay;
  To live for others--this she daily sought."

Sources: http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/a-royal-love-story-richard-ii-and-anne.html
http://www.triviumpublishing.com/articles/richard_ii_anne_bohemia.html
http://www.leben.us/volume-7-volume-7-issue-3/355-the-royal-wedding-1382-anne-of-bohemia-and-richard-ii
http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_61.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Bohemia

Princess Alice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Grand Duchess of Hesse: The Forgotten Daughter of Queen Victoria.

On the day of April 25th 1843, Her Royal Highness Princess Alice Maud Mary of United Kingdom, of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was born. Being the second daughter and third child of the infamous Queen Victoria and her husband, the Prince Consort Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Alice would be known to History as only the daughter of one of the longest rulers of Britain and as the mother of Empress Alexandra,  who was unfortunately murdered at the Russian Revolution in 1818.

But this princess was more than that. She received this name because her mother's Minister at the time, Lord Melbourne, commented with the Queen how fond he was of this name, Maud was chosen after Alice's godmother, Sophia Matilda, and Mary was chosen in the honour of the Queen's aunt who was the last of King George III's daughters to die. 

As said in memoirs written by her sister, Helena, "Her childhood was, like that of all her brothers and sisters, a very happy one. Indeed, few children can ever have been more blessed in their home life. When she was a year old, her father mentions her as the "beauty of the family, and an extraordinarily good and merry child" and her mother adds, "she was a very vain little person".

Contact with her parents was, as was common with royals and back to the nineteenth century, not often but Prince Albert often took care of his children's education, choosing himself the tutors to his children with the Queen. In matters of education, Victoria and her husband wanted Alice and her siblings to be brought as "simply and domestic as possible". Following this, when " (...) leaving the nursery the children were entrusted to the care of an English governess and of a German and a French governess. These again were under a lady superintendent."

Alice would develop skills on music and drawing subjects, and no single detail of her education was passed to her parents without supervision of the ladies that she was under the care. Her character was a cheerful, kind one, and full of mischief. Often seen at the side of her oldest siblings, Alice was not rare caught in playful activities with her oldest sister, princess royal Vicky, and her favourite brother, Prince of Wales Albert Edward, nicknamed as Bertie. Another of Alice's habits were gymnastics, skating and horse-back riding. 

Alice's character is often remembered as being a kind, good one; she had full consideration with others around her and for this she was called as the peacemaker of the family: she was the one who aparted fights in the family and was always trying to be just to all.  

After her sister Vicky was married to the Crown Prince of Prussia, Alice was the oldest daughter at Buckingham Palace and, as such, she had her sister's previous domestic roles. With her parents, she developed a more intimate relationship: for example, with her father, to whom she grew closer, she shared a common passion for arts. But then it was also time to choose a husband for her. Although Queen Victoria insisted her children should marry for affection, this feeling should be found amongst the royal houses of Europe. On Alice's case, she found herself very attracted to the heir of the duchy of Hesse and Rhine, Louis. As her father recalled of the occasion in letters sent to Vicky, now Crown Princess of Prussia: "Alice and Louis are as happy as mortals can be, and I need scarcely say this makes my heart as a father glad"

It must be remembered of another trace of Princess Alice. Her sweet nature was very characteristical of her so when the Dowager Duchess of Kent, her grandmother, to whom she was very close, died, it was Alice who her father sent to be at her mother's side to give Queen Victoria comfort, as her grief was very intense. When Prince Albert was very ill, Alice "devoted her entire time to nursing her father in order to allow the Queen to attend to the business of the monarchy. Everything in Alice's life was put on hold, and she spent endless days and nights reading to her father and trying to ease his pain".

But her father did not resist it and on December 14th, 1861, he came to die, changing drastically Alice's life. Her mother came to grief deeply, but even so, the marriage of her daughter was not cancelled. In fact, it occurred seven months later and Queen Victoria stated on her journal that it looked more like a funeral than a wedding festivity. 

Having moved to Hesse, Alice established a life that came to disappoint her. Often she complained of poverty and how small it was the duchy was, but, nevertheless, she was happy still. Not much later, she gave birth to her oldest daughter Victoria (who was the current Prince Consort of United Kingdom's grandmother, making Alice, thus, as his great-grandmother). The breast feeding, amongst other feminine rights, turned the princess into a patron of the women's cause. Upon becoming Grand Duchess of Hesse, she also started exchanging letters with Florence Nightingale about nursery, another cause she was very fond in defending.

In domestic life, Alice grew a bit more disappointed with her husband, whose intelectual did not correspond hers. Nevertheless, they remained closed still. She gave Louis six children: Victoria, Elisabeth, Irene, Ernest Louis, Friedrich, Alix and May. Of these, two would die in infancy: Friedrich, who was born hemophiliac, suffered an accident by falling from a widow; and May, this latter having died when diphteria fell upon Alice and Louis's household. 

Alice too would be affected from this disease: she spent night and day devouting herself in the care of her family, but she caught the disease and had little time to take care of herself. She would die in December 14th, 1868, the anniversary of her father's death. She was the first children of Queen Victoria's to die and her favourite brother, the Prince of Wales, in a letter said that "Alice was my favourite sister. So good, so kind, so clever! We had gone through so much together..."

The legacy she left for her children was not only her character and consideration for others, but religious views and the causes her daughters would defend (for example, Elisabeth, later know as Grand Duchess Ella, and Alix, later Empress Alexandra of Russia, would practice charity always). As a matter of a fact, Alice's death would leave in her youngest surviving daughter, Alix, a great impact.

Sources: https://archive.org/stream/alicegrandduches04alic/alicegrandduches04alic_djvu.txt

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/alicehessebio.html

http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/princess-alice-of-the-united-kingdom-grand-duchess-of-hesse-and-by-rhine/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Alice_of_the_United_Kingdom

Anne Boleyn: Innocent, Guilty or a Product of Society?

There has been some discussion until present days about this woman who left her mark in the History of England. Her name was Anne Boleyn and she was the mother of one of the most popular queens Europe has ever known: Queen Elizabeth I.

Although the dynasty Lady Anne Boleyn was married into, the Tudors, had already a whole story before its ascension in 1485 and towards its end in 1603, her death would forever associate her to it, making it known just as famous as it happened to be with the Plantagenets.

The question that remains unanswered is: why are there people until nowadays who worship her? How her figure exerces influence outside England and why is she so famous?

There are many reasons that we could use in trying to explain this fascination many has with the first Queen of England to be judged as a traitor and receive beheading as punishment for such crime. 

For many accounts, her story is already controversial: born into a middle class family who raised into Henry VIII's favour, the Boleyns set their only daughters, Anne and Mary, to serve the Queen of France where the reputations of both sisters had their start, though whilst Anne was regarded as a woman of virtue, Mary unfortunately was associated with a whore for supposedly being King Francis I's mistress.

At their return to England, it was Mary who captured Henry VIII's attention, not Anne. It was not unusual that Kings had their mistresses, as marriage was seen as a duty towards the kingdom- which explains the arranged marriages done between many related royals- and love was a matter they could leave to their lovers, when the match failed in producing such affection. On the case of King Henry VIII, it is known that he was frustrated by lacking male heirs with his then beloved Katherine of Aragon. The supposedly love he had for her apparently diminished with time and the birth of Henry Fitzroy, possibly the only bastard he officially recognized, only increased the distance between them and the ideas to a divorce had already started to built inside the monarch's mind.

Once Mary was replaced by Anne mainly because Henry was more interested in how Anne was not as his previous mistresses, always aware to hold virtue in matters of marriage, the story of her rise to the throne is very known and with such myths that for a time had managed to create an ideal of the woman she was, as daughter, wife, mother and Queen.

What is possible to say about one of the most infamous Queens of History is that her personality and looks were not as expected when we come to analyze the standards of the time. Regarding Queen Elizabeth of York, who died in 1503, the idea of how a woman should be and look became a social rule that Anne eventually would break. It was common sense that to be beautiful, one should bear blonde hair, pale skin and very light eyes; to be regarded as a good wife, one should be obedient, humble and never voicing one's opinions.

If we compare the portraits of Anne Boleyn and her successor's Jane Seymour, it is most evident how these differences spoke louder back then. Anne is often portrayed as a brunette with dark eyes, though her skin is pale and her hair is straight. But Jane was possibly one of light hair, humble in her looks (and motto), quiet and barely defying. In Anne's portraits, those done after her, it is not the characteristics of a submissive woman we see, but rather a strong one. Is it possible her nature left Jane Seymour in obscurity? Perhaps.

The main reason why Anne Boleyn had her fate was the lack of any sons, the same fault committed by her predecessor, Katherine of Aragon. But why did she have to die? Why did King Henry VIII pushed to social acceptable limits to execute a woman who herself was crowned under a new Church in difficult religious times?

As said before, the role Elizabeth of York, the first Tudor Queen, did much influenced her son and the social imagination of people in England. Many men feared what a powerful woman with decisive mind could do. Back then, the kingdom was not ready to have someone with such skills in a sex that was not male. Socially speaking, it was common sense that men should have not be questioned.

With Anne's execution, Henry VIII thought he destroyed the popular imagination of her. Bad things were spread on her behalf, as the fact she had six fingers, she was in fact a witch who cast a spell on him to do what he did and, finally, but not uncommonly, how she was raised to be a prostitute. Naturally, that would be the view of a monarch whose reign was marked mostly by his bad political views and his egotistic desire of bearing a male heir, doing whatever should be done until he achieved his main goal. But with Elizabeth becoming Queen in 1558, after Mary's death, much was changed. In fact, it was with Queen Mary that feminine role was finally being associated to others that not necessarily the domestic ones, though Protestant education would have its peck under the reign of Edward VI with Katherine Brandon, Dowager Duchess of Suffolk, managing it fiercely, helping ladies to improve their studies and thus developing a bigger participation at England's church.

In truth, Anne Boleyn's figure was turned into a sort of feminist resistance to male's control, though in the centuries after her death, especially at the Victorian Era, her character was softened. She became a victim, no longer being a heroine, of the mistreats she suffered with the relationship she had with Henry VIII. She was pure and innocent, almost a lamb herself. But in the 19th century, we must regard that the ideals were another. It was not a matter of beauty or colour hair, though it was still praised the pale skin, but to keep the temper under profile. Obedience was extremely appealing, but not entirely submission. It was an advance in between 1536 to 1848: many revolutions crossed Europe and England was no exception, having gone previously to two Civil Wars. 

Social character was, thus, remodeled according to religious views of the monarch, good manners always observed. Tradition, a word that marked English's society, was the link that connected 19th century to Middle Ages, which was brought back by the historians to praise England's empire. Nationalism was raising and with that, humanist images of characters in past. Anne Boleyn was not an exception to suffer these changes in England's society.

Her death seemed to redeem her from the faults she previously committed, at the same time that these were forgotten: the bad relationship and possibly trauma she caused Princess Mary (Queen Mary I) in her teenage days and how influenced the King to forbid a meeting between Katherine of Aragon and her daughter are rarely mentioned. Was Anne Boleyn then a victim or guilty of her accusations? Is she a Queen still worthy of such praise?

In the 21st century, the idea we have of Lady Anne is more sexualized, producing in social imaginary the concept that mistresses used sex to hold a man to themselves or, in another interpretations, that this sex appeal is nothing but the strength of the female sex, that there's nothing wrong with it, regardless were the opinions of those who lived in 16th century. 

With all that being said, we can say that Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, has become more a product of society with so many views concerning how she really was. That opened a concerning social construction of historical characters: many praise monarchs, heroes or not as victors who are guilty or not of their deeds. But there is more than that: these were humans beings whose actions entered to History for running from the common sense. Anne Boleyn was not an exception. Though we have the mystery surrounding her figure and we might never know who really she was, it is important to state that history figures were humans and both flaws and qualities should not be ignored or praised but remembered they are part of the individual who left its contribution to the society they lived.

Margaret of Anjou (Marguerite d'Anjou), Queen of England: the Red Rose of Lancaster.

Margaret of Anjou (french: Marguerite d'Anjou) is one of the most controversial figures the History of England has seen. Often known as "She-Wolf", this french Queen of England has been unfairly portrayed as an evil, heartless woman throughout the centuries after her death. But that is not the truth.

Born March 23rd 1430, in Lorraine, Margaret of Anjou's parents were René, Count of Anjou, Duke of Bar, Duke of Lorraine and King of Naples & Sicily and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine. Her father was the son of the famous Yolande de Aragon and her husband, Louis II of Anjou. Her mother was the daughter of Margaret of the Palatinate and Charles II, duke of Lorraine. Margaret also had seven siblings, being the second oldest daughter born into the House of Valois- Anjou.

Raised in Capua in her early childhood, a region close to Naples, which was part of the kingdom of Sicily, Margaret's mother had an important role in her daughter's education: the Duchess of Lorraine certified she would be well instructed and hired Antonio de La Sale to educate her. As Margaret grew, the habits she kept throughout her life were hunting and reading. She was also known by her kindness: even in the worst days of war, "(...) her career in England, whose rights and whose fortunes she was ready to sell to anyone who would help her cause (...)".

At the age of 13, she was betrothed to the King of England, Henry VI; one year later, she married him by proxy with the consent of the King of France, her uncle, Charles VII. In 1445, in Hampshire, after having crossed the channel, Margaret of Anjou was finally married to King Henry VI. 

The nature of their relationship is often discussed due to the extreme religiousness nature of Henry, but it is stated and believed they were devoted to each other and had a very happy relationship.

But the marriage of an English King, whose father was the lion who destroyed France and returned lands who King John had lost, to a French princess was not seen with good eyes... because these same lands (such as Anjou and Maine, for example) were returned to the hands of the French. The faction leaded by the Earl of Suffolk, William Pole, was very unpopular, especially with Margaret favouring him and the Duke of Somerset. Her enmity with the Duke of York and the Duke of Gloucester did not favour her popularity at the eyes of the English people.

Said to have been inspired by her mother, who fought hardly for the claim of Count René to the Kingdom of Naples and Jerusalem, and her grandmother, a woman who ruled Anjou bravely and defied Isabeau of Bavaria and Charles VI of France when she educated future Charles VII herself; Margaret, even at the age of 15, was seen as the strong willed woman she'd grow to be, one who knew how to protect the interests of the crown, adopting the kingdom she moved permanently. With the time, and with her husband proving to be unfit to rule, she'd govern England herself.

These enmities with the Duke of York would make the conflicts and endless deals that'd go to nowhere bring another civil war to England. Known as the Wars of the Roses or the Cousins's Wars due to the opposition of two Houses of the dynasty of Plantagenet fighting for the crown of England, Margaret and Henry, representing the House of Lancaster, would fight Richard Plantagenet, who was representing the House of York. In fact, it was this latter who, after a period of regency which he served the then young Henry VI, would claim to be the rightful king than his cousin's on the throne.

However, from the moment the battles divided the kingdom in supporters of Henry VI and Richard of York, Margaret's image would be damaged forever. By leading her army and defending herself the interests of her new kingdom, she would actually prove to be the woman every man at that time feared: an independent of the female sex, who would cry out that she could do as much as any other man. In those days, men expected their wives to look submissive and quiet. And the Queen was always the role model to behaviours the men wanted them to achieve. Socially speaking, this was more than mere politics talk: Margaret, as Matilda once was, was not well acceptable because she did not bow her head. She fought for her family, her title and, mostly important, to the kingdom her son would inherite.

Edward of Westminster was born on October 13th 1453. Before his birth, the Duke of York wanted to force the King to acknowledge his own sons to inherit the crown after his death, something Margaret refused to obey. In Greenwich, Margaret would raise Edward herself and also be the patron of the university she inaugurated: the Queen's College, proving she shared the passion for studies with her husband, the King.

In the meantime some social developments are made, as mentioned before with the opening of Queen's College, battles are happening. We have the Battle of Wakefield, a very important Lancastrian victory after the defeat in Northampton; the Second Battle of St. Albans, given another good victory to the King and Queen, though they were forced back then to flee straight to Scotland and then to France.

In exile, Margaret went to Wales, Scotland and France more than accountable times. There, she managed to gain support from King James III of Scotland and King Louis XI of France, having both at the side of the Lancastrians. But, by the second time she is forced to flee away, she stays with her son in Lorraine, waiting for an opportunity to regain her throne.

Many seem to forget that, like Henry IV was before his time, Edward IV was an usurper too. Although a man of peace as he'd prove by the second (and last) time he held his throne, Edward was the main character who helped to destroy any good image Margaret could have had. If nowadays, her reputation was recently blackened by fictional novels such as it was in "The White Queen", in the centuries before ours, she is not understood as a woman who did anything for her kingdom, husband and son: but a foreigner queen who wished to cast England into a bloody civil war, for revenge, creating, thus, an image she never fit in.

In popular culture, Margaret was the main inspiration, along Elizabeth Woodville, to the manipulative, selfish and heartless, but very motherly, Cersei Lannister in the tv show "Game of Thrones". But will there ever be a tv show or a novel that'll portray Margaret as the woman she was?

However was the case, our Queen Margaret, who was arrested for five long years in England, was finally sent back to France after the request of King Louis XI. There, she died in poverty, a widow and motherless, for she lost her only son and her beloved husband to the Yorkists she tried to battle against. 

Sources: http://www.britannia.com/bios/manjou.html

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_of_Anjou

              http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/margaretanjou.htm

Introduction

Greetings, everyone!

This is not the first blog I'm creating, but I thought a proper introduction about how things will be working out from now on would be nice.

First: I'm a Brazilian girl, age 22 and am at a period of my life where I must focus in my studies, which means I will not be here all the time however hard I'll try to post often.

Second: unlike my other blogs, this one is going to have a different focus. I'll post informations about different monarchs (not going to lie, the focus is going to be more about the Tudors & the Plantagenets, the most famous dynasties that ruled England and Scotland, but of course I'll post about the monarchs that ruled Brazil as well), writing about their personalities and their contributions to the societies they ruled.

That being said, I can only but pray you'll enjoy yourselves here and that, of course, suggestions, critics and advises are open.

In case any of you are interested to know what else I write about, well... Here are the addresses where else I can be found in social media:

1- Tumblr: www.maryrosetudor.tumblr.com
2- Twitter: www.twitter.com/LariTudor
3- Blogger (if you can read in portuguese); www.innocenceandhopes.blogspot.com

Hope you find all this entertaining and very helpful by any chance.
Sending you all my regards,
~Alice.