#House of Welf

[nanshe-of-nina]

Women’s History Meme || Scandals (big or small) (4/5) ↬ Sophie Dorothea von Braunschweig & the Königsmarck Affair

When Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck wrote those lines to his lover, Sophia Dorothea, Electoral Princess of Hanover, they were just one stitch in a patchwork of romance, intrigue and, ultimately, catastrophe. From her spoiled girlhood in Celle to her lonely incarceration at Ahlden, her life truly ran the gamut from charmed to cursed. Confined to her genteel prison, Sophia Dorothea was supposed to vanish like a conjurer’s assistant. Yet she never quite disappeared and as the mother of George II, she played a vital role not only in the history of the United Kingdom, but of Europe. Without her the world would have been a different place and though she may have been locked away, her memory has persisted. Today Sophia Dorothea’s fate continues to fascinate as a grim fairy tale that was all too real. No matter how much her husband hoped that she would be forgotten, she lives on, as vibrant today as she was more than three centuries ago when she took up her pen and wrote, ‘My only pleasure is to make you remember me’. And to this day, we do. — The Imprisoned Princess: The Scandalous Life of Sophia Dorothea of Celle by Catherine Curzon

[dreamconsumer]

St. Adelaide of Italy (931-999).

[venicepearl]

Anna of Brunswick-Luneburg (d. 1432)

[elwynten]

Chapter 66

Girls in a Dungeon

Taking the Familia to the Monster Musume Universe

I've taken my Team along with Fia, Wiene, Sky and a few others from the Familia to Pern. But I haven't taken any of them to Monster Musume's Japan yet. I think it is about time I took them there, especially Fia, Sky and Wiene. This way they will get to see another Universe as well as learn why I'm not afraid and why I believe there intelligent monsters.

I have told the monster girls as well as everyone in my Hold about what was happening in Orario. So, they already knew about the Xenos.

Papi and Cerea wanted to go with me to Orario, but I told them it would not be safe for them to go there. So, bringing my Familia members to 'Japan' was the next best thing to do, as well as letting my Familia know why I believed in intelligent monsters.

After I gathered everyone in the Familia that wanted to go with me. I opened a portal to the patio in the PD in Japan. Fia, Wiene, Sky, Mikoto, Haruhime, Cindy, Iris, Kimmy, Rosni, Welf, Horn, Lili walked through the portal, I was the last person through. I shut the portal behind me.

"This looks like our PD at Hearthstone Manor." Kimmy stated.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Basically, it is. I can create as many PD's as I want to, so unless I change how the house or environment looks, they all look about the same." I told her.

"I didn't know you could make more than one PD." Kimmy replied. "It's good to know you can make more than one at a time."

"Let's go inside. Papi, Suu and Curie are usually in the living room." I suggested and started leading everyone into the house.

"Sky, there aren't any sirens here, so they will probably put you into a sub-group of harpies." I told Sky as we walked through the kitchen.

"But I am a siren. I'm not a harpy. We are different." Sky told me.

"I understand that. You and Fia understand that, but like I said there aren't any sirens here so they will presume you are a different kind of harpy. Here they don't understand the difference." I explained.

Sky frowned but nodded her head in understanding.

"Oh, and don't take most of what Papi says seriously. Harpies here are what they call birdbrained, which means they aren't that smart. Papi is more intelligent than most harpies but she can still be a birdbrain at times. She doesn't mean to be mean or insulting. She calls Centorea, Horsey Lady because she is a centaur. That is Centorea has the back half of a horse and the front half of a human girl. But then Centorea sometimes calls Papi, Chicken Wing." I tried to explain to Sky and Fia. "And Papi sometimes calls Curie, Cucumber Girl, because in the local language Curie is really close to the word for cucumber."

I opened the front door and walked in. Papi and Suu were playing tennis on the gaming system.

"Hi girls." I said to get their attention.

Both Papi and Suu stopped playing their game and looked over at me.

"MASTER!" Papi yelled, tossed down her controller and ran over to me. She flung her arms around my neck and gave me a big hug. Then she kissed me on the lips.

I put my arms around Papi and gave her a big hug as well, and I returned the kiss.

"Master." Suu said and ran over to me as well. She waited until Papi released me, then Suu gave me a hug as well.

"Why are they calling you master?" Lili asked suspiciously. There were several head nods in agreement from the others.

I chuckled. "That is Ms. Smith's fault. Ms. Smith is in charge of the monster girls in this area, and when Papi started living here, Smith told Papi that I was the 'master' of the house. The PD that is. And because of that, Papi started calling me master. Suu is learning human society so she copies a lot of what others do, so she started calling me master, because Papi does." I told Lili and the others. I also explained that Cerea and Curie call me master as well and why.

"Oh, okay. That seems resendable, I guess." Lili replied.

Before we left Orario, I had sat everyone down and had a long discussion about some of the things they would see in Japan. TV's, gaming systems, cars, trains, planes and other things they have never seen or even heard of before now. Although they have seen a form of TV, like the ones we are selling in the Hestia store.

Fia and Sky walked over to Papi, so I made introduction.

"We can play games together and we can go flying together. Master and Taima like to fly with Papi." Papi told them.

"Papi is like Iris, she's full of energy." I informed Sky, Fia and the others.

"Where are Cerea and Curie?" I asked Papi.

"Horsey Lady is in her room and Cucumber Girl is out on the patio." Papi replied.

"Would you go and see if Cerea would join me out on the patio, please?" I asked Papi.

"You really live with all of these monsters?" Bell asked me.

"I will go get Horsey Lady." Suu said.

"I live with four monster 'girls' and Kim has four monster girls living with him. These girls don't have a magic stone in their chests. None of them were spawned in a Dungeon, and they can freely walk down the street and they don't have to worry about being attacked." I corrected Bell.

Papi and Suu left the room to get Cerea.

"Now I will tell y'all that Curie doesn't like people knowing what kind of monster girl she is, because 'she' doesn't like what kind of monster girl she is. But I trust y'all to not go saying anything about what she is. "Curie is a vampire, and before anyone says anything. Curie doesn't drink blood; she doesn't turn into a bat, and she hates everything about being a vampire. So just be friendly with her and nice to her like you are with Wiene, Fia and Sky, and everything will be fine." I told everyone.

"You mean she is a blood sucking vampire!?" Mikoto exclaimed.

"As I said, Curie is a vampire. BUT she does not drink blood because she does not like drinking blood. She hates everything about being a vampire. And I've helped her with that. I gave her a Companion, so she doesn't need to eat, drink, sleep or breath. So, she doesn't have to or need to drink blood. Curies is a sweet girl that just wants to be like everyone else. And she is getting that chance with me and with the other monster girls that live here with me and Kim.

I took everyone out to the patio.

"Hi Curie. I brought some of my friends from Orario here so they could meet my housemates." I told Curie.

"Hi Master." Curie replied. She stood up and walked over to me and gave me a hug and a kiss. Then she turned to everyone with me. "Hello." She said to them.

I returned the hug and kiss them I made introductions.

That's when Cerea came out of the house and out onto the patio. While Papi was bouncing around Cerea, Suu was following behind them swaying her head back and forth with a big smile on her face.

"Papi found Horsey Lady." Papi declared.

"Thank you Papi." I told Papi and took my arms from around Curie.

"Wow! That's a new one on me. I've never seen a monster like that before." Lili said indicating Cerea.

I chuckled. "Centorea is a centaur." I told Lili and the others.

"Cen-taur. Lili has never heard of a cen-taur before." Lili said.

"I haven't heard of there being centaurs in the Dungeon. Unless they are below the 60th to the 65th floors. Even the Zeus and Hera Familia's never mentioned centaurs." I replied.

"That sounds right. Eina hasn't said anything about half human, half horse monsters, or centaurs in the Dungeon." Bell acknowledged.

Cerea walked over beside me. I put an arm around Cerea's waist. Her human waist that is.

"Do you keep them in the PD so no one here will know about them. Kind of like you do at Hearthstone Manor?" Mikoto asked me.

I shook my head in the negative. "Oh, no. They are free to go out in public as much as they want to. It is nothing like Orario, here. Most of the humans know about liminals or Monster Girls. Although most people haven't' seen Monster Girls in person." I explained. "I've taken Centorea, Papi, Suu and Curie out shopping and out to eat." I added.

"That must be nice for them to be able to go out in their natural forms." Fia said with a little jealousy.

"Well, here, the three of you," I pointed to Fia, Wiene, and Sky. "Can go out in public in your natural forms and no one would think anything about it. You might get some looks because as I said, many people haven't seen Monster Girls in person. So, you wouldn't be an oddity, but you would be a novelty for them to see." I told Fia and the others.

Wiene's face lit up. "If we can go outside in our natural forms here. Could we move here and live here?" She said excitedly.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I guess that is a possibility. But you remember how difficult it was adjusting to living on the surface in Orario?" I asked Wiene. Wiene nodded her head, yes. "Adjusting to living here will be a lot harder and probably take longer." I told her.

"Can I try?" Wiene asked me.

I smiled at Wiene. "I'll think about it. I'll have to talk to Smith and see if she can get the paperwork filled out for you to live here." I told Wiene.

"If Wiene can live here, can I?" Sky asked.

I chuckled and looked over at Fia. "You too?" I asked her.

"If we don't have to worry about being attacked because we're monsters, and we can go out in public in our natural forms. Yes, I would like to live here, too." Fia replied.

I looked at all three, Wiene, Sky and Fia. "Do you want too just live here? Or would you like to do what I do and live here for a week then go to Orario and live there for a week?" I asked them.

"How can you do that? You are always at Orario." Fia asked.

I chuckled. "It's because of a time distortion. When I go to a different universe I can go there any time I want. That means, when I'm in Orario and I come here. I've only been gone from here for one minute. And when I return to Orario from here. I've only been gone from Orario for one minute. That is why you don't notice that I'm gone, even though I've been her for a week." I tried to explain.

All three of them had confused expressions on their faces, which was no surprise. "I know it's a bit confusing, but it's true. You can ask Welf. I take him to Pern so he can use the forge in the Lab, and we are there for a week. When we go back to Orario we have been gone for only one minute, Orario time." I added.

"Sooo, if we are here for hours or days, and we return to Orario. We will have only been gone from Orario for… One… Minute?" Fia asked. It sounded like she was trying to clarify it in her own mind.

I nodded my head in agreement. "That's it." I assured her. "I don't really know how it works; all I know is that it does work." I told Fia and the others.

"WOW!" Wiene exclaimed.

Horn had been listening to what I had been telling Wiene, Fia and Sky.

"If you go back and forth and you are at each place one week. does that mean you age faster than normal?" Horn asked me.

I shook my head from side to side. "No, I don't. Normally if someone did that, yes, they would age two or three times faster than someone that stayed in one universe. But I'm immortal and my Team is immortal as well. So, even though we travel to different universes and we are at each universe for a week. We don't age." I told Horn them I looked at Sky, Fia and Wiene. "And if you remember, I gave all of you immortality as well. Which means if you go with me to any of the other universes and back to Orario. You won't age either." I reminded them.

"I remember that. You told the Familia about giving everyone immortality, then you gave it to all of us." Wiene stated.

I nodded my head in agreement. "That's it. But with this immortality you can be killed, but you will never grow old or age." I said.

"How could you give everyone immortality? You didn't give me or the others from the Freya Famiia, immortality!" Horn said accusingly.

I chuckled. "You and the other new members haven't been in the Familia very long. I was in the Familia for four months before I brought up the subject of immortality to Hestia and the others." I informed Horn.

"Since I've been in the Familia for over three months. Could You give me immortality?" Horn asked me.

"If you want it, yes I could. But if you would, I would rather wait until later. It takes several minutes to do. And the immortality has a kill switch, which means if you ever get tired of living, you can cancel your immortality and you will grow old and die normally." I offered.

"I can wait." Horn replied.

"Okay. I'll get it done before we go back to Hearthstone Manor." I assured Horn. "But don't tell anyone else about it. I don't want any of the new members to know about the possibility of them getting immortality until I think they are ready to know about it.

"Thank you. I won't tell anyone."

"And this little cutie is Suu, and as you can see, she is a slime girl." I introduced Suu to the group. I leaned down and kissed Suu on the cheek.

Suu put her hair tentacles around my neck and held me to her. Then she kissed me on the cheek. "Master's little cutie." Suu said.

"Is she safe to be around?" Haruhime asked me.

"All of the monster girls here are safe to be around. The only way Suu might hurt anyone is if your head got pushed into her body. But that's not really a problem because y'all have Sustenance from your Companions so you don't need to breath, so you won't suffocate. And your head getting into Suu would only happen by accident." I explained.

"That is good to know." Haruhime replied looking at Suu.

Looking around at Cerea, Curie, Suu and Papi. "How long have you lived with these…?" Mikoto started to ask and trailed off.

I chuckled. "How long have I been living with these… Girls?" I finished Mikoto's question for her. "Actually, they have been living with me. But that is neither here nor there. The amount of time we have been living together varies. But we have been living together for around a year now. Maybe a little more." I told Mikoto. "Papi was the first, then Centorea moved in, after that Suu showed up and Smith let her live with me. And last but definitely not least, Curie moved in just a few months ago." I told Mikoto and the rest. "Because of the laws, a liminal has to have a host family, and I'm the host family to all four girls." I added.

"And that is not counting Rachnera, Mero, Miia and Lala, who are living with Kim in his house. They don't live with me directly, but I interact with them almost on a daily basis. And to add to that, I also know a group of monster girls known as the MON Squad that works with Smith. The MON Squad includes a cyclops named Monako, a doppelganger named Doppel, a zombie named Zombina and an ogre named Tionishia. But I only see them maybe once a week." I added to how many monster girls I knew.

"Now some of the liminals do cause trouble. But that is no different than the kind of trouble human's cause. But the MON Squad is there to help deal with the rouge liminals." I assured the group.

By this time Sky, Fia and Wiene were learning how to play games on the gaming system. Papi was having fun teaching them how to play tennis.

"How many universes do you go to?" Welf asked me. "You live on the lower world in Orario, you come here, and I know you go to Pern because I go with you. How many other places do you go to or live at?"

I chuckled. "At the moment I go to one other universe. And that is my original universe, where all of this started." I told Welf and anyone else that was listening.

"You lived with these monsters before you lived in Orario?" Lili asked.

I shook my head from side to side. "No, I knew about the liminals or monster girls, before I moved to Orario. Although there are some monsters here that are male, but most are female. I did live with the monster girls here, before I found and rescued Wiene, though." I replied.

"That means you knew about intelligent monsters before you went into the Dungeon?" Lili said more than asked.

"I knew about these intelligent monster girls before I went into the Dungeon. And Because I know some of the future, I knew about Wiene, Sky, Fia and the other Xenos, before I went into the Dungeon, as well." I admitted. Although Lili and the others from Orario had already been told that I know some of the future.

"That is why you weren't afraid of Wiene and the Xenos, because you already had known about and lived with monsters." Welf stated.

I nodded my head in agreement. "Also, most of the girls living with me on Pern are also monster girls. There are two automatons, two Holstaurus, Gnomes, but they are not like the gnomes in the lower world, a cyclops, dwarf, a couple trolls and a Shoggoth. And one of the girls was a ghost when she moved in, and once she was able to live there for a while and call the place home, she was able to become a living person again. That is another reason I believe in and wasn't afraid of intelligent monsters." I added to my story.

"Wow! "Welf and Mikoto exclaimed.

"No wonder you didn't have a problem taking in Wiene, Sky and Fia. You've been around intelligent monsters and lived with monsters for a long time already." Welf stated.

"That's about it." I admitted.

"Is Mercedes a monster?" Welf asked me.

I shook my head from side to side. "No, Mercedes is human. And before you ask. I have given all the monster girls on Pern Normalization. So, you won't see them any different than anyone else. Although the only one that would really look different if you saw her in her natural form, is Opal. She is a Shoggoth." I told the group.

"That is why I have never seen any monsters around the… Hold, on Pern. They all have Normalization." Wolf said nodding his head in understanding.

I nodded my head in agreement. "Yes, that is pretty much it." I said.

"That makes since then." Welf stated with a nod of his head.

I went and got my phone and called Smith.

"Hello Eilwyn. what do you need?" Smith asked me.

I have three monster girls here that would like to have me as their host family. Could you get the paperwork filled out so they can live with me?" I asked Smith.

"Three more girls that want to live with you?" Smith asked rhetorically. "Ya, okay. What are their names and what species are they?" She continued.

"There is Fia, and she is a harpy. Then there is Sky, she is a siren, I guess you could say she is a sub-species of harpy. And last is Wiene and she is a dragon girl." I told Smith along with spelling out each girl's name.

"Okay two harpies and a dragon. I'll get the paperwork filled out and bring it over later this afternoon. Could you take pictures of each girl and send them to me? I will need them for their I.D.'s? That would make it a lot easier for me." Smith asked me.

I nodded my head in agreement even though Smith couldn't see me. "I can do that. I'll take the pictures and send them to you in a few minutes." I informed Smith.

"Okay, I will see you this afternoon them." Smith said and hung up.

I turned and looked at Fia, Sky and Wiene. "Smith will have the paperwork filled out and she will bring it over this afternoon. When I have the paperwork in hand, you will be able to live here with me and the other monster girls." I informed them.

Wiene ran over to me and gave me a hug. "I love you, Eilwyn." She exclaimed.

I chuckled and returned Wiene's hug, and I kissed her on the top of her head. "I love you too, Sweetheart." I told her.

When Wiene released my and stepped back, Sky stepped up and gave me a hug too. "Thank you, I love you too." Sky told me.

I smiled at Sky. "You are welcome. I love you, too."

When Sky stepped away from me, I looked at Fia. "I love you too, Fia." I said and held out my arms to give Fia a hug.

Fia grinned from ear to ear and stepped into my arms as she put her Extra Arms around me and hugged me in return. "I love you too, Eilwyn. Or if I'm going to live here, should I call you Master?" Fia asked me.

"Ha ha ha." I chuckled. "You can call me Master, or you can keep calling me Eilwyn. It doesn't matter to me." I told Fia and the others.

I stepped back from Fia. "You will have to remember to use your demi-human forms when you are in Oririo." I reminded them.

All three nodded their heads in agreement.

I pulled out my cell phone. "Okay, I need to get a picture of each of you so Smith can use them on your ID's." I told them.

"You can draw our pictures?" Fia asked.

I shook my head from side to side. "No, I will use this." I said and held up my cell phone. To take your picture or an image of each of you, and I can send that image to Smith." I told Fia and the other two along with everyone else that was from Orario.

Fia looked confuses as well and the others.

I chuckled. "This is one of the things I was talking about that it will take some time for y'all will have to learn about for living here." I said and went on to tell all of them about cell phones, cameras and taking pictures.

I placed each girl in front of a bare wall and took a picture of their head and shoulders. Then I sent the pictures to Smith. I also showed Wiene, Fia and Sky their pictures. I also showed everyone else the pictures I took of the three girls so they could see what i was talking about.

Because I couldn't really take Fia, Sky and Wiene out in public yet. We all spent the time in the PD talking and getting to know each other. I showed them the TV, the gaming system and a few other 'modern' things the girls would need to learn about living with me in Monster Musume's Japan. Although all three have Normalization, I still didn't want to take the chance.

Smith showed up at lunch time. Not real surprise because she always shows up around mealtime so she can get a free meal.

"Here are the girl's ID's." Smith told me as she handed me the ID's and the paperwork for me to sign.

I signed the paperwork and handed it back to Smith. Then I gave each girl their ID.

"Keep your ID with you at all times. You can keep them in your closet PD so you will have them with you whenever you need them.

All three looked at their ID's before they put them up.

Wiene looked at me. "Does this mean we can live here with you now?" She asked me.

I chuckled and nodded my head in agreement. "Yes, all three of you can now live here with me.

I was in the middle of a four-way hug. All three girls grabbed me in a big hug. I did my best to hug all three girls in return.

We spent a few hours talking with Centorea, Papi, Suu and Curie.

"I believe I understand why you wasn't afraid of Wiene or the Xenos. You have lived with intelligent monsters for a long time and they don't try to attack you." Lili admitted.

Later that evening I opened a portal and took Bell, Welf, Wiene, Fia and the others back to Orario.

[long-kwang]

Memmingen(Germany)梅明根(德國)美麗的老城.Beautiful Ancent city- Q. Overview  它於 1128 年首次被提及，並於 1160 年由韋爾夫六世公爵建立為城鎮；First mentioned in 1128, it was founded as a town by Duke Welf VI in 1160; 市區有許多老房子，本影片收錄有4個古蹟城門。There are many old houses in the urban area, and this video includes 4 historic city gates.搭火車或開車從慕尼黑到此，約需1個多小時。It takes about an hour to get here from Munich by train or car. 

[tiny-librarian]

A portrait of  Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, wife of Charles VI and longest serving Holy Roman Empress.

Source

[salvadorbonaparte]

I hope one day there's going to be a George V of Hannover biopic because that man might not even have been the best King (but honestly is any king a good king?) but he was certainly the most interesting

Blind since childhood but lost his eyesight on two separate occasions

Super big daddy issues probably from the fact everyone except for his father, Ernst August of Hannover, thought he shouldn't be next in line for the throne

He was a skilled composer which would have probably been a better job for him

Ridiculously against modernity and democracy to the point where Hannover went from "respectable kingdom still remembered for ruling England" to "totally insignificant backwards kingdom lucky to be taken over by Prussia" within his rule

Died in exile

[germanaustriannoblesandroyals]

House of Hohenzollern & Welf: Princess Elisabeth of Brandenburg

Elisabeth was born as the third child and second daughter to Elector Joachim I Nestor of Brandenburg and his wife Princess Elisabeth of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Her siblings were Elector Joachim II Hektor of Brandenburg, Duchess Anna of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. Margrave of Brunswick-Küstrin and Margareta who was Duchess of Pomerania by her first marriage and Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst by her second one.

Elisabeth was educated in a humanist but also strictly religious fashion and had come into contact with Protestantism when her mother celebrated a mass in the protestant fashion. Elisabeth’s father was enraged that his wife might convert to the Protestant faith which got to no one less than Martin Luther himself who spoke in favour of the Electress. Some scholars think this might have impressed the young Elisabeth.

At the age of 14, Elisabeth was married to Erich I of Brunswick-Calenberg-Göttingen who was already 54 at the time. They mostly lived apart but did provide heirs for the duchy. In 1528 Elisabeth was pregnant again and there were complications. The young duchess blamed her husband’s mistress of witchcraft and demanded she shall be burned. Despite Elisabeth’s best efforts to capture the mistress she escaped. Only by the promise of a greater dower than had been promised to her in her marriage contract, Erich was able to calm his wife down. In the end, the birth of the heir Erich II went down as smoothly as it could for the time. The marriage resulted in a total of four children. Next to Erich, there were his older sister Countess Elisabeth of Henneberg and his two younger sisters Duchess Anna Maria of Prussia and High Burgravine Katharina of Bohemia.

Elisabeth met Martin Luther in 1534 when she visited her mother. Four years later a regular letter exchange began and she sent him chesse and wine regularly. He thanked her by sending mulberries, fig tree seedlings and his translation of the bible into German with a dedication to her. Elisabeth officially converted to Protestantism on April 7th, 1538. She informed Landgrave Philip I of Hesse, the husband of Christina of Saxony, in October about her conversion. Philip who was a champion of the reformation helped her to bring reformator Antonius Corvinus to her court in Münden. Elisabeth’s husband tolerated his wife’s conversion. While it was against his political alignment with the catholic Emperor, he admired the reformators boldness.

Erich died in 1540. Elisabeth, who found an ally in Elector Johann Friedrich of Saxony, a distant cousin of Christina of Saxony (they shared a great-grandfather), was able to cease the regency together with Philip of Hesse for her son. Heinrich of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, her late husband’s nephew, protested without success. Elisabeth’s regency lasted for five years in which is implemented the reformation in the principality. During this time, she wrote a book for a son in which she gave him guidance on how to rule in the future.

Elisabeth’s son Erich had originally been promised to Princess Anna of Hesse since they were children. But Erich fell in love with the protestant Princess Sidonie of Saxony, the sister of the future Electors Maurice and Augustus of Saxony. A year later, Elisabeth agreed to anull the engagement to Anna and allow her son to marry Sidonie, who was ten years his senior. The same year, Erich’s rule began and Elisabeth’s regency ended.

In 1546, Elisabeth married Count Poppo XII of Henneberg who was her son-in-law’s younger brother. In the following years, Elisabeth’s son turned his favor away from Protestantism and towards Catholicism again what worried her. The last ten years of her life were dominated by her fight for Protestantism. She succeeded in marrying her daughter Anna Maria to the 40 years older but protestant Duke Albrecht of Prussia. But her son married his youngest sister Katharina to the catholic Wilhelm of Rosenberg, High Burgrave of Bohemia. He gave his mother the wrong date so she arrived to late. Later Elisabeth got to know that Katharina was allowed to keep her faith and to bring a protestant priest with her. After the Battle of Sievershausen four years earlier, Heinrich of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel had chased Elisabeth out of Münden to Hanover. In the end, she settled in her husband’s county and wrote one last book. This time it was for widows to help them deal with their grief.

Elisabeth died on May 25th, 1558, in Illmenau. It is said that she died of a broken heart. Her children honored her by ordering an epitaph to be created which was erected in 1566 in the St. Giles Chapel of the St. John's Church in Schleusingen. 

// Emma Hamilton in The Tudors (2007-10)

[nanshe-of-nina]

Matilda was the Duchess of Saxony, not Savoy.

The Children of Eleanor of Acquatine 

[tototavros]

“so the staufers (hohenstaufens) were called ghibellines after “ghibbilino” from “wibellingen” (now waiblingen)"

[neo--queen--serenity]

VC Characters & Their Hogwarts Houses

Here we fucking go:

-

Lestat: Gryffindor

Louis: Ravenclaw

Claudia: Slytherin

Marius: Ravenclaw

Armand: Slytherin

Daniel: Slytherin

David: Ravenclaw

Gabrielle: Slytherin

Benji: Gryffindor

Sybell: Hufflepuff

Nicolas: Ravenclaw

Gregory: Gryffindor

Gundesanth: Gryffindor

Seth: Slytherin

Fareed: Ravenclaw

Pandora: Ravenclaw

Bianca: Gryffindor

Khayman: Hufflepuff

Jesse: Ravenclaw

Merrick: Slytherin

Tarquin: Hufflepuff

Mona: Slytherin

Benedict: Hufflepuff

Rhoshamandes: Slytherin

Amel: Gryffindor

Kapetria: Ravenclaw

Derek: Hufflepuff

Garekyn: Gryffindor

Welf: Hufflepuff

-

If I’ve left characters out, it was primarily due to not having enough context on their actual personality to be able to distinguish between real character traits and what is simply their “vampire nature,” which often dominates the personalities of many of the ancients.

Overall, I think that vampiric nature generally favors people of a Ravenclaw or Slytherin disposition, and/or generates such traits easily over the centuries, but it’s entirely possible for a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff to thrive as a vampire, we just don’t see them as often, or their defining traits aren’t as obvious when they���re now living as killers to survive—which is a counterintuitive lifestyle for those two houses in particular.

Feel free to discuss! I’ll back up my claims if you want them, but I know I’m not the only one who sorts all my favorite fandoms into Hogwarts houses. It’s just too much fun.

[nanshe-of-nina]

Women’s History Meme || Duchesses (or Archduchesses) (6/10) ↬ Renée de France

Duchessa di Ferrara 1534–75. The daughter of King Louis XII de France and Anne de Bretagne, in 1528 she married Ercole d'Este, who became the duca di Ferrara in 1534. Under her patronage the court of Ferrara became a centre for writers and humanists, and also for religious reformers (including John Calvin). She converted from Catholicism to Calvinism and as a result was briefly imprisoned by her husband in 1554. When he died in 1560 she returned to France.

Her chateau at Montargis in France became a centre of Protestantism and in 1563, during the French Wars of Religion, it was besieged by her son-in-law, the Marquis de Guise.

— The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide

[dreamconsumer]

St Adelaide of Burgundy (931-999). Unknown artist.

[venicepearl]

Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (28 August 1691 – 21 December 1750) was Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary; and Archduchess of Austria by her marriage to Emperor Charles VI. She was renowned for her delicate beauty and also for being the mother of Empress Maria Theresa. She was the longest serving Holy Roman Empress.

[elwynten]

Sword Oritoria, Chapter 11

After the Battle of Knossos

After fighting in Knossos and killing all of the demi-spirits. Things settled down for a while. We took a few days off to rest and relax. Well, actually we took a couple weeks off, because I took my Team along with Wiene, Sky, Fia and Ryu to Pern. Welf wanted to go as well so he could work on making more weapons and armor to sell in the Hestia Armory in Orario. Anyone else from the Hestia Familia that wanted to go, I took as well.

I opened a portal to Pern and as usual once everyone was through, I closed the portal behind us.

As we walked to the house, there was a person, other then Dawn, in the graveyard.

"Y'all go on in. I have something to take care of." I told everyone with me.

"Is it that person talking to Dawn?" Iris asked.

I nodded my head in agreement. "Yes, it is."

"Can I go with you?" Wiene asked.

"Can I go with you too?" Sky asked.

I nodded my head, yes. "Yes, you can, both of you." I replied.

"I'm going as well. I was there when it happened." Cindy told me.

I walked over to where Dawn and the other person were. Wiene, Cindy and Sky followed me along with our companions.

"Hello Dawn. Hello Filvis." I said.

"Where am I? Is this heaven?" Filvis asked with fear and confusion on her face and in her voice.

"You are not in heaven; you are on the planet Pern." I started.

Dawn gave me a dirty look. "Would you stop having me put names of people on the gravestones, that don't know where they are going!? She demanded.

"Sorry Dawn, but sometimes it can't be helped." I replied, then I turned back to Filvis.

"I remember you from Knossos. How did I get here? And where is P-Pern?" Filvis asked.

"Pern is a planet a very long ways from your Earth and Orario. I'm Eilwyn." I introduced myself. "I'm the one that killed you in Knossos. That is why I wanted to know if you would have done things differently. By having Dawn put your name on one of the gravestones, when you died you came here. You now have the opportunity to do something better with your life. I should add that you no longer have a magic stone in your chest." I told Filvis.

Filvis stood and stared at me for several moments. "Th-that's not possible. When we die, we go back up to heaven and the gods either send us back down to the lower world to be reborn or they send up to heaven." Filvis told me.

I nodded my head in agreement. "Yes, that is how it usually works. You die, your memory is wiped, and you are usually sent back down to be born and live as someone else. But, as I said, if Dawn puts someone's name on one of the tomb stones, that person when they die appears in front of their tomb stone whole and healthy. And that is what I did with you and a few other people." I explained.

Filvis's eyes lit up. "If you can come here, you can go back, right?" She asked me.

"That is correct, but to the rest of your question. No, you can't go back. You died in Orario. Many people saw you die, so you can't go back. You could say you are stuck here for the rest of your life. Your new life." I replied.

"How did you know I would ask about going back?"

I chuckled. "Because you're not the first person to come here that way. Lloyd and Leena from the Loki Familia were killed by Dix in Knossos as well. I had their names put on the tomb stones as well. So, when they were killed, they came here." I told Filvis.

"Is my name on one of the tomb stones?" Wiene asked me.

I chuckled. "Yes, your name as well and Sky's name and Fia's name are all on the tomb stones. And, Everyone else that lives here, has their names on the tomb stones as well." I informed Wiene.

"So if we die, we will come back here alive?" Wiene asked.

I nodded my head, yes. "That's correct, Sweetheart. If any of you die, you'll appear in front of the tomb stone with your name on it, whole and healthy." I told her as well as Cindy and Sky.

"Oh, good!" Wiene exclaimed. "I want to be with you forever. I love you, Eilwyn." With that Wiene put her arms around me and hugged me tight.

I chuckled again. "I love you to Sweetheart." I told Wiene and returned her hug. I didn't think it would be a good idea to remind her that she is immortal and she along with Sky and all of the others will live forever as long as they are not killed or until they don't want to live any more.

Sky put her arms around me and Wiene and hugged us both. "I love you too, Eilwyn. I'm happy I'll be with you forever." Sky admitted.

I took one arm from around Wiene and put it around Sky and gave her a one-armed hug. "I love you too, Sky."

Filvis watched our interaction play out. "What am I supposed to do here, then?" Filvis asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Just about anything you want to do. You can live here at my Hold. They use the word Hold to mean your house and also your land and house. So, You can live here for as long as you like, as long as you follow the laws and rules of my Hold. We own a restaurant and another store at The Market at Landing. Landing is a big settlement west of here." I pointed in the general direction. "You can learn to work with cattle or in the orchards. We also have a radio station that you can work at. Lloyd is learning to work in the radio station." I told Filvis then I explained what a radio station was.

"I would suggest you do everything you can to not act like an elf here. The people here have no clue what an elf is, and they will just assume you are rude and not friendly, if you keep your elven attitude. Besides you are the only permanent elf here. There are a couple other elves that come here but they live in Orario." I suggested.

I'll let Filvis get settled in and I will probably adjust her attitude a little bit so she won't want to keep her elven attitude of elves being superior to everyone else and so she will stop with the not being touched by anyone attitude.

"For now, you can take a few days to get settled in and used to being here. Then you can try out different jobs to see what you would like to do. You can leave and go to another big Hold but, since you don't have any skills other than being an adventurer, you will only get a job being a drudge. A drudge is someone that has little to no skills and they do lots of menial labore, or grunt work. They're not fun jobs to do." I continued.

"I still have my magic, so I could use that." Filvis told me.

I shook my head from side to side. "Sorry to tell you, but you no longer have a falna so you can't do any magic. Plus, you're no stronger than the average person." I replied.

"Oh… then there isn't much I can do…" Filvis lamented.

"There's a lot you can do here. You just have to learn what to do. As I said we have a couple shops at The Market. A restaurant and a store that sells jewelry, knives and other things. Leena from the Loki Familia is working at the Armory. She's also learning to make jewelry. Or you could help Opal clean the Hold. But as I said earlier, you can take a few days to get settled in and see what you might want to do." I informed Filvis.

Looking shocked. "There is someone from the Loki Familia here?" She asked surprised.

"Actually, there are two former Loki Familia members here. Leena and Lloyd. Lloyd is learning to work at the radio station." I told her.

"Two members of the Loki Familia are here." Filvis said more to herself than to me, as she looked around as if she was looking for them.

"Yes, Leena and Lloyd, were, members of the Loki Familia, but they live here now. They were killed by Dix the first time the Loki Familia want into Knossos. I had several of the Loki Familia members names put on the tomb stones, just in case. Leena and Lloyd were killed, so they appeared in the graveyard." I explained. "You'll meet them sooner or later. But I would suggest you don't mention that you were involved in any way with Knossos. I don't think I need to explain why." I added.

Filvis looked at the ground. "Yes, I know why I shouldn't mention that I was involved in Knossos. I don't want to die again." She admitted.

"You said, I can stay here?" Filvis asked me. I nodded my head, yes. "Where will I sleep then?" Filvis said dejectedly, having found out she can't use her magic anymore.

"I'll give you a tour of the house and you can pick out a room to stay in. But, after you decide what job, you want to do, you might move to a different location." I told her.

I turned to Dawn. "Thank you, Dawn. I'll try to let anyone else know that might come here that I had you put their name on a tomb stone and that they might show up here. But I'm sure there will be some that I won't have time to tell them what will happen. Sorry in advance." I told Dawn.

Dawn giggled. "It just get's tiring to have to explain to people that show up in front of one of the stones why they are here." She told me.

I nodded my head in agreement. "I can understand that. But as I said, I can't always tell people what will happen if they are killed. Plus, I don't want tons of people coming to me wanting me to have their names put on the tomb stones." I replied. "See you later."

"I see what you mean. Bye."

I turned to Filvis, Wiene, Sky and Cindy. "To the house." I said and indicated the direction with my hand.

I gave Filvis a tour of the house and showed her the apartments she could use to stay in. And while I was at it, I told her about the dangers of Thread and what to do when thread was expected to fall.

"We have calendars put up in the Cafe, the Bakery and beside both the front and back doors to let everyone know when Thread Fall is expected." I told Filvis and reminded Wiene, Sky and Cindy.

"Why would I have to move away from here?" Filvis asked.

I chuckled. "It's not that you have to move. It is just that depending on what job you choose; it would be easier if you lived closer to where the work is. If you work at the radio station, you would probably move close to the station so it is easier for you to get to work. If you work with the cattle, we have living quarters close to where the cattle are kept so you would probably move there. Besides we have a lot of living space here, but it is limited on how many people we can house here. Although we are thinking of putting up more housing close to the main Hold. But as long as you want to live here on my Hold, my land and you are willing to work, you will be able to stay and live on my land." I assured Filvis.

"I understand. Until I choose a job, where can I stay?" Filvis asked.

"That is what I was going to show you." I told Filvis and gave her a tour of the house, ending at the appartements.

"You can stay in one of the appartements. I would prefer if you took one with someone already using the other bedroom if one is available. Opal is our maid, but you need to keep everything picked up. Opal only does general cleaning." I informed Filvis.

"I think only one person is in that apparement at the moment." Cindy said pointing to the appartement with a sign over the door that read, "The Bunk House". "I'll let you get settled in. If anyone asked why you're here, just tell them what heppened and introduce yourself. They'll understand. Here at the Hold that is. If you go to Landing, just tell anyone that askes that you are from Tel Aviv Hold." I finished and headed down the hall with Cindy, Wiene, and Sky.

I gave Filvis Normalization before I left so no locals would think anything was odd about her being an elf.

Like I did with Leena and Lloyd, I left Filvis alone for a few days to get settled in. By leaving them alone, I didn't ignore them or stay away from them. I just gave them a little space. If I saw them, I would talk to them and answer any questions they had. I just didn't want to push any of them to decide what they should do while they were settling in.

I also used Retore Mind on Filvis to before the nightmare on the 27th floor, so she would not have bad memories or bad feeling about being turned into a creature.

= = = = = = = = = =

A few days later Filvis walked up to me. "May I talk to you?" She asked me.

"You sure can. What do you want?" I asked.

Filvis bowed to me. "Thank you for bringing me here. I don't understand it, but I am happier here than I have been in many years." She told me.

"You're welcome. I'm glad to hear that." I replied.

"Also, I would like to see if I could work in the Landing Cafe." Filvis asked.

"As I told you before. You can work about anywhere you want. If you think you can work at the Landing Cafe, we'll give you a try. But, remember, you might not like working there or you might not work out at that kind of job. So, if it doesn't work out, you can try a different job." I reminded Filvis.

"I will do my best." Filvis told me.

I chuckled and nodded my head in understanding. "I'm sure you will. I'll talk to the girls that are already working there and see when you can start your new job." I told her.

"One thing I should warn you about. The money here is called 'Marks' and it will seem like you're not getting much money, but you'll be getting about the same as working at a restaurant in Orario. Here one Mark is work about 1,500 valis. It's not an exact conversion, but it's fairly close." I told her and explained the different values of Marks and the different pictures on them.

"So, 1 Mark is about 1,500 valis?" She asked to make sure.

I nodded my head in agreement. "That's it. You can do a little calculation, so you know what each denomination of Marks are worth in valis. Although after a while you should just go with Marks and try to not do any conversion to valis. It will be easier on you that way." I suggested.

Filvis nodded her head in understanding. "Yes, since I'm going to be living here the rest of my life. I should learn how they do things here and stop thinking about the differences between here and Orario." Filvis admitted.

"I should have given you this earlier." I said as I created and handed Filvis a book about Pern. It has maps of the world of Pern with the major holds including Tel Aviv hold. It also has the government of Pern, craft halls, and about anything else anyone would need to know about Pern in general. I had also given copies of the same book to Lloyd and Leena.

``````````

After Filvis has lived at Tel Aviv Hold for six months I will give her a Companion:

Name: Gioa/F (Pronounced, joe-a) Mythical (Copper Dragon) Size L2 Intelligence Level 2 Strength Level 1 Agility Level 1 Speed L1 Durability Level 1 Regeneration Level 2 Sustenance Level 2 Flight Teleportation Level 1 Elemental Attack L1 (Ice) Shapeshifting Level 1 (Forms: Lizard, Hawk, Horse (Percheron), Otter Magical Level 1 (Dancing Lights, Mend, Servant)

I will also give Lloyd and Leena their own Companions after they have lived on Pern for six months as well:

Leena: Name: Mox/F Mythical (Copper Dragon) Size L2 Intelligence Level 2 Strength Level 1 Agility Level 1 Speed L1 Durability Level 1 Regeneration Level 2 Sustenance Level 2 Flight Teleportation Level 1 Elemental Attack L1 (Electricity) Shapeshifting Level 1 (Forms: Lizard, Hawk, Horse (Percheron), Otter Magical Level 1 (Dancing Lights, Mend, Servant)

Lloyd: Name: Myca/M Mythical (Copper Dragon) Size L2 Intelligence Level 2 Strength Level 1 Agility Level 1 Speed L1 Durability Level 1 Regeneration Level 2 Sustenance Level 2 Flight Teleportation Level 1 Elemental Attack L1 (Earth/Rock) Shapeshifting Level 1 (Forms: Dragon, Lizard, Hawk, Tiger, Otter Magical Level 1 (Dancing Lights, Mend, Servant)

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (December 16)

Adelaide was born in 931 in Burgundy, France, as the daughter of King Rudolph II of Burgundy, a member of the Elder House of Welf, and Bertha of Swabia.

She was promised in marriage when she was only two years old to a man named Lothaire, the son and heir of his enemy, Hugh of Provence.

Adelaide and her first husband had one daughter, Emma, born in 948 when Adelaide was only seventeen.

Lothaire was killed when still young, and Adelaide was to have a tumultuous life that paralleled the struggle for political power of the times, something she had come to symbolize. She appealed to Otho the Great of Germany for help.

Having been sought after by various kings and nobles after Lothaire’s death, she was finally married by Otho the Great of Germany, who had invaded Italy.

After Otto’s death on 7 May 973, Adelaide exercised influence over her son Otto II until their estrangement in 978, when she left the court and lived in Burgundy with her brother King Conrad.

At Conrad’s urging, she became reconciled with her son. Before his death in 983, Otto appointed her his regent in Italy.

With her daughter-in-law, Empress Theophano, she upheld the right of her three-year-old grandson, Otto III, to the German throne.

She lived in Lombardy from 985 to 991, when she returned to Germany to serve as sole regent after Theophano’s death (991).

In 991, Adelaide was invested as the Regent of the Empire. She used her power as the effective empress to increase evangelization efforts, especially in northern Europe.

She built many monasteries and churches, and also gave much aid the poor. She governed until Otto III came of age in 994.

When he became Holy Roman emperor in 996, she retired from court life, devoting herself to founding churches, monasteries and convents.

She died in 999 at the monastery of Seltz, Alsace. She was canonized in 1097 by Pope Urban II.

She is the patron saint of abuse victims, second marriages, step-parents, and widows.

Some of her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.