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theangryhistoriananna · 7 years ago

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Top 5 historical TVshows/movies

5. Borgia: Faith and Fear. Don’t ask me why but I legitimately enjoyed this show from start to finish a great deal better than The Borgias (though not as much as Los Borgia I’ll admit).

4. The Tudors. Listen, this show is trash, I willingly and openly admit it’s trash. But dammit there are so many wonderful portrayals in this piece of absolute garbage that I forgive it. James Frain’s Cromwell, Sam Niell’s Thomas Wolsey, Henry Cavill’s Charles Brandon, Natalie Dormer’s Anne Boleyn, Joss Stone’s Anne of Cleves, and Anthony Brophy’s Eustace Chapuys more than make up for Rhys Johnothan Meyer’s shitty acting, and the fact that underneath that trash that is it’s “drama” we are introduced to the much wider issues and changes taking place in England at the time is why I still use this show to introduce people to the time period before throwing academic works at them.

3. Listen.....this is the show I’ve been asking for all my life. This is a period drama that actually focuses on the period more than the drama.

A+ acting on everyone’s part. Great storytelling, great visuals, great music.....man I could go on. It’s not historically accurate but I ended up enjoying myself so much I didn’t nitpick to much about it and that shows quality.

2. Versailles. This is the French’s version of the Tudors i.e this show is absolute garbage but I’ll defend it with my life because of Lisolette Princess of Palatine and their portrayal of Henriette. Like with Medici I thoroughly enjoyed myself while watching both seasons (I actually started season one on a whim and ended up binge watching the entire season) and only had a few moments where I sighed at the inaccuracy of something.

1. The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1971). As I’ve stated before this show introduced me (along with Anne of a Thousand Days) to the Tudor time period and inspired my love for it when I was only a little girl and whenever I’m stressed out or had a rough day I tend to turn it on and watch an episode or two.

#And now a word from us kids!#Anonymous

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french-louis · 7 years ago

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Louis XII de Valois

*Above: Louis de Valois and his four children

“Europe is a masquerade, Louis, in which you must play the main part”- Charles VIII to Prince Louis, 1479

Name: Louis de Valois, Roi de France

Born: 27th November 1465

Reign: 5th January 1480-

Parents: Charles VIII de Valois (1439-1480, r.1459-1480), Roi de France et Maria de Cleves (1443-), Reine de France et Douairière reine de France

Spouse: Isabella de Trastámara (1465-1481), Reine de France et Princesse de Aragon

Siblings: Anne de Valois (1460-), Michelle de Valois (1462-1485), Catherine de Valois, (1478-) {all Princesses of France}

House: Valois

War has plagued Louis’ life from an early age. His mother birthed him during the Battle of Paris (1465) where the English had invaded as far as the Parisian border. The guards and Maria had smuggled him out of the Louvre, fearing for his life as the English troops advanced further. It is as though Louis’ birth gave the French hope, as following his arrival, the French troops pushed the English back further and further. Growing up in Paris, he had a life of luxury and opulence, despite the ever-present shadow of war. His father was distant, though his mother guarded him like a lioness. She gave him everything and told him he could have anything he wanted- and he believed her. He was spoiled by his sisters, Anne and Michelle, and in return he spoiled his younger sister, Catherine.

The young Prince discovered bodily pleasure at the young age of eight and upon hearing this, his uncle Francis, the Duke of Orleans, became the one who introduced him to the pleasures of women. Louis only had the chance to play with wooden soldiers for a short while before his adolescent mind became sadly preoccupied with something else. His first mistress was Madame Chevrolet, a woman twenty years his senior and only left his side when she became a victim of the plague in 1485.

When it become apparent that Queen Maria was struggling to birth sons, the King and his advisers rushed to secure the bloodline of the little heir. At the young age of nine, Louis was betrothed to the Princess Isabella of Aragon and married her a year later in 1475. The two had to wait a few years before they were allowed to produce heirs, and both proved very fertile. Isabella gave birth to twins, Jacques and Isabella, at the young age of 14 in 1479. The following year she birthed another son, Henri. However, in the same year, Louis’ father, Charles, died as a victim of the plague. His own sister, Michelle, succumbed to the same plague five years later. Her death broke Louis, as she had been his best friend for many years. Assuming the throne at the age of 15, the young King inherited his father’s debts and wars. Any remnants of a childhood vanished as Louis set to work, building one of the greatest kingdoms in Europe. In the mean time, Isabella’s terminal illness began to take its toll during her third pregnancy, resulting in her timely death following the birth of Henriette in 1481. It would be inaccurate to romanticise Louis and Isabella’s relationship; she may have been in love with him, though Louis, with his mind occupied with the new pleasures of women and wine, failed to love her. As Louis had two sons, a strong kingdom and was waging war instead of forging peace, he did not see the need for another wife and thus remained unmarried for another twenty years. Lady Marguerite d'Estrees, the French cousin to Isabella, arrived at court in 1479 at the young age of 12. Her attentiveness to Louis’ children following her cousin’s death caught his eye and in 1486, she officially became his Maitresse en titre.

Whilst it would be puzzling and seem impossible to those on the outside, Louis strongly believed in God. He confidently believed in his divine right and spoke with the Lord daily. Louis would tell his plans and intentions to Him, seeking his judgement and advice. He would dream, believing what he saw and heard were the guiding words of God.

Heeding his father’s words, which he had received during one of their few meaningful conversations, Louis has always masked his intentions and deeper parts of his personality. He aimed to control Europe’s perception of him, rather than allow them to invent it themselves. Those who glanced at him and his court would assume that he was a fool who simply loved women and wine. That is not to say, however, that Louis did not appreciate such wonders. They would believe that they could take advantage of the King and France’s might. King Louis played his part in the masquerade, and he played it very well. He concealed his intelligence and his passion beneath the mask of promiscuity and drunkenness, so that when he would strike his enemies, like he did with Austria in 1501, friend or foe would not have anticipated it.

*NOTE: This is a mostly fictitious biography, though it does bear some references to history. This is not a biography of the real king- Louis XII. Charles VIII was a real king, but he was not the father of the real Louis XII. Marie of Cleves was Louis XII’ true mother, who was married to the Duke of Orleans. All Houses mentioned are real, though the characters within this biography are fictitious.

{{ Characters who have been mentioned: @crownprincejacques @princess--isabelle @princexhenri @thefrenchrose @margueritelamaitresse }}

#Biography: Louis XII de Valois

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