#king of galicia

[jam-packed]

wdym he crashed again

[perdivel]

La ira que hay en mi

[English below]

Nunca me habían explicado por qué al ver a Carrie en su momento álgido, totalmente enajenada por la ira en una vorágine de violencia, yo sentía que presenciaba la pura belleza, la redención, un sueño de destrucción hecho realidad.

Carrie y esta escena son algo icónico. Interpretada por Sissy Spacek en la película homónima de 1976, dirigida por Brian De Palma (y basada en la primera novela de Stephen King), la protagonista es una adolescente que sufre acoso en la escuela y abuso por parte de su madre.

En su impactante escena final utiliza sus poderes telequinéticos para causar una masacre en su baile de graduación. Este momento representa la liberación de la rabia contenida y la venganza contra los opresores.

Una obra de arte perturbadora y violenta, que representa la adolescencia como un período difícil y traumático, la feminidad como una construcción social opresiva y la religión como una fuerza ambivalente. Su realismo es impresionante.

Esta ilustración la empecé hace bastante tiempo, y encaja a la perfección y mi serie de retratos de personajes oscuros y películas de terror. Así que por fin he tenido una excusa para terminarlo.

The anger within me

I had never been explained why, when witnessing Carrie in her climactic moment, completely deranged by anger in a whirlwind of violence, I felt like I was witnessing pure beauty, redemption, a dream of destruction come true.

Carrie and this scene are iconic. Portrayed by Sissy Spacek in the eponymous 1976 film directed by Brian De Palma (and based on Stephen King's first novel), the protagonist is a teenager who suffers bullying at school and abuse from her mother.

In her shocking final scene, she uses her telekinetic powers to cause a massacre at her prom. This moment represents the release of pent-up rage and revenge against oppressors.

A disturbing and violent work of art that portrays adolescence as a difficult and traumatic period, femininity as an oppressive social construct, and religion as an ambivalent force. Its realism is impressive.

I started this illustration a long time ago, and it fits perfectly into my series of portraits of dark characters and horror films. So I finally had an excuse to finish it.

[samdelurvanrafigon]

Ali ibn Simon "the Worthy" Ziyadid and the Malikate of Saraqustah before his passing...god I'll miss it

[cucullas]

Favorite list of royal women | Regnant queens (who crowed herself queen without her husbands)

Been a queen regnant is not always easy specially when you are married but mor common than one would think. Here four of my favorite queen that were married and despite what society, and often the husband himself, thought decided that her lands by heritage or conquest were only hers to rule. 

i. [1081-1116] Called The Reckless, Urraca was one of the most powerful reigning Queens of her time having inherithed the kingdom of León. Upon the death of her first husband she was convinced to marry Alfonso of Aragon the most successful warrior king of the Iberian Peninsula. It went horribly wrong. Personalities clashed and Alfonso emprisoned Urraca at one point. With Galicia rebelling and the Almoravides menace the spouses still went to war againts each other. Finally they separate and while Urraca still has a long way ahead and could keep most of her lands for herself.

ii. [1697-1731] Louise Hyppolite was at her time of birth the last Grimaldi. Monaco was under French control and it was decided that man from the French King family will be Louise’s husband and rule along with her. She was married and had to leave her land with her husband. Described as shy and submissive she did not enjoy her time at Versailles. When her father was ill she came back alone to Monaco and when he died she crowned herself Princess of Monaco with the people enthusiastic support naming her firstborn heir. There is no much her husband could do and though she ruled fr a short time she did it as the sole Princess.

iii. [1717-1780] Maria Theresia’s father Emperor Charles VI of the Roman Empire, did not prepared her to rule as he was convinced that her husband would rule for her. However, she had other plans and when her father died Maria Theresa, a 23 years old set to stablish her right as a moanrch against Prussia and most of Europe. She manage to gain ruling experience and be a monarch for 40 years. Though she deeply loved her husband she did not let him rule in her name and even refused to kneel in front of him when he was elected Holy Roman Emperor as she was of highest ruler. She was Sovereign of Hungary and Bohemia and Archduchess of Austria on her own right her husband being the consort. 

iv. [1583-1663] Njinga was Queen of Ndongo after her father and brother. At the time with the Portuguese slave trade Njinga became a symbol of resistance to the Europeans. In order to gain power in the center of the region she married an Imbangala leader and learned the techniques and strategies of his people. However when she set to conquer the kingdom of Matamba and ruled there as the Queen as Matamba had tradition of female rulers. As she gained influence she was recognized as one of the great queens of the region at the time. 

[josefavomjaaga]

Another letter from Duroc to Murat

This time from 1809.

This letter was taken from the publication of Murat’s correspondence by Paul Le Brethon, so I’m unsure wether it’s been translated before. If so, sorry for the doublette.

Putting the letter into context: Murat has been made King of Naples, obviously. Napoleon has just returned to France from Spain, where he had put Joseph back on the throne. Soult has been busy chasing Moore’s British troops back to La Coruna and is now on his way into Portugal. Ney is in Galicia, freeing nuns. Lannes and Junot are at the siege of Saragossa, Mortier and Victor are also in Spain while Bessières is back in Paris, I think. Marmont is in Dalmatia. Eugène is in Italy and already sends alarmed letters to Napoleon because the Austrians prepare for war, the Fifth Coalition War is about to begin (even if Duroc seems to not believe in it yet):

Paris, 15 February 1809 Sire, Your Majesty should not be in any doubt as to how grateful I am for the fond memories he is willing to preserve for me; he would do me a great disservice if he thought I had forgotten his kindnesses to me. Nobody forgets that here.

Your Majesty asks me for news of the Emperor. On his return from Spain, where he has always enjoyed the best of health, His Majesty came down with a fairly bad cold.This cold and some dissatisfaction that His Majesty had with the chatter in Paris during his absence had made him ill, so to speak, although his work and ordinary exercises had never suffered. His Majesty is perfectly well again and has enjoyed the pleasures of Carnival and hunting.

Our carnival was short but very cheerful. We first had at Monsieur Marescalchi's and yesterday at Monsieur l'Archichancelier's two masked balls. His Majesty went there and seemed to enjoy himself. They turned out very well. The Court has its circles and concerts as usual and the Princesses, balls as in other years. Although we are as good Catholics as in Italy, we will be extending our Carnival pleasures during Lent.

As in Paris one thing quickly follows another, there is already no more talk of what displeased the Emperor on his return and of the disgrace suffered by a great personage, especially as His Majesty is treating him better now. Your Majesty knows as well as I do what is going on. The Emperor was told that during his absence the Prince of Benevento had expressed his disapproval of the affairs in Spain, that there had been some cackling between him, the Minister of Police and Remusat; something was also said about the Minister of the Navy. All were rebuked and the Prince was disgraced by losing his position as Grand Chamberlain. There is now talk of a forthcoming appointment of senators and, as Your Majesty is well aware, this is causing quite a stir.

Business in Spain is going very well, even better than expected. The expedition to Portugal will be easy. Only the siege of Saragossa is being prolonged, but it is being conducted vigorously. They are madmen who have to be attacked house by house, and they are blown up by mines one after the other. We lost General Lacoste, the Emperor's aide-de-camp, who was in command of the engineers; he was hit in the head by a bullet.

Austria's armaments are causing a lot of talk about war being imminent; however, there is reason to believe that she will not start it and that she is arming out of fear. There is no bad rumour that is not being spread over there: according to them, we no longer have any troops left in Germany; the Emperor only left Spain because he was put off by the difficulties, and they deny all our successes.

Monsieur de Romansoff, who was here, is returning to Petersburg. It had been thought that as the correspondence started with England had always been continued, it could be resumed in these circumstances, especially since the disasters suffered by their army in Spain. With profound respect, Sire, I am Your Majesty's most humble and obedient servant. The Duke of Frioul.

[P.S.:] The notes which the Queen had sent to the Emperor in Spain have arrived here. When she left, Her Majesty gave me a commission which I am fulfilling, but I do not know whether I should continue or to whom I should go afterwards to be reimbursed.

[ifreakingloveroyals]

Through the Years → Queen Letizia of Spain (2,426/∞) 27 September 2024 | King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia leaving the restaurant O'Peirao, in Combarro, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. King Felipe and Queen Letizia have visited Princess Leonor at the Naval School of Marin, where she has been attending military studies for a few weeks. The three have had a 'brief family meeting' with Juan Carlos I, who is spending a few days in Sanxenxo, as confirmed by sources of the Royal Household. Zarzuela has pointed out that the King and Queen have traveled to Galicia to celebrate a private dinner to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the swearing in of the flag of King Felipe VI's graduating class of the Navy. (Photo By Elena Fernandez/Europa Press via Getty Images)

[fumblingmusings]

give us some Francex Spain headcanons please

This is so long and unorganised, apologies. TL;DR - Francis is lucky Antonio is so placid, because the moments he bites back genuinely frighten him, but the status quo of him sitting neatly on top of Spain always seems to swing back around. Again, Francis is lucky Toni's life ambition is to own a cafe...

For proper context - I imagine Antonio as Castille first, then comes to represent Spain as a whole, though I imagine there will be representations of Galicia, Catalonia/Aragon etc. just like there's the regions of Japan or Picardy for France or indeed how Arthur represents the UK internationally, but of course his brothers are still very much around. So, just for why I think Francis and Antonio have a relationship which goes way back.

Francis and Antonio I imagine as a sin/cos curve... like when Francis is up high, above Toni, things are 'correct' and in their natural place. They're friendly as Antonio is such a mild mannered friendly kid he's quite content to sit and listen to Francis crow about his amazing Kings and fancy court and so on. Francis loves to brag about how it's him that's the true heir to Rome, not the Germans. Spain nods, thinking about other more important things back home.

France used Spain very much as a bulwark against the al-Andalus parts of the Iberian Peninsula - as Francis at the time of Charlemagne and thereafter loved to see himself as the saviour of Europe, so as time goes by and we zip by the occasional Castille/France team up versus England/Portugal you start to get an increasingly influential Spain by the late 15th century, and the trouble is... Toni wants the same thing as Francis. And oddly enough, he's better at getting what he wants, despite seemingly not really trying. Maybe because he is honest to goodness just a little bit less... smug? But sometimes reading Spanish history in the 1500s is going like: Oh. Well that was convenient. It's not the reality of course, but it must have been very frustrating.

Antonio also dislikes the same things as Francis. So it's interesting. When they're fighting my God do they go at it. When they're on the same side their a pretty solid duo. But I love the idea of Antonio just pissing Francis off at times, and like... sometimes just by vibing. The man's vibes are zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. And Francis - depending on his ego that day - finds it rancid. I know a lot of people don't like the way Antonio is characterised, but I love him as he is so shh. He's so disconnected at times from the reality going on around him. Only his immediate circle matters. He doesn't seem to really understand his Civil War. I think compared to Francis, who is much more in tune with his people... it gets messy.

The trouble comes because Francis is jealous, and likes his standing as number one in Europe. No-one can challenge that. But Antonio does, for a good century or even two, and maybe Antonio doesn't necessarily mean to, but his King and Queens do, or maybe Antonio finds that ambition suits him. The 15th through to mid 17th century gives him the ability to out class Francis. Maybe it's not intentional at first, but once Antonio finally grasps what he may be about to lose during the Thirty Years War and then the failing of his line of the Habsburgs... the ugliness comes out full force.

But... Like to show the overlap once Spain starts to really assert themselves in the late 15th Century, and how truly infuriated Francis must have been at points. They both have a vested interest in Italy - Antonio wins that one. Francis has a stake in Barcelona - Antonio wins that one. They both want the Low Countries. Antonio wins that one. Antonio gets Holy Roman Empire. And the actual creme de la creme... Antonio has divided the world in two with that blooming Treaty of Tordesillas. And the Pope was the one to approve that one. The Pope! The guy who says France is the most important nation for Christianity in Europe (save HRE but... oh look Spain is now Holy Roman Emperor too Jesus Christ).

Needless to say, Francis feels the universe is conspiring against him. God's not still mad about that Avignon Pope... is he?

So Francis is forever looking for ways to kick Antonio in the shins - to go back to him being the main guy in Europe, the guy who wants it and works for it and you know Francis more than anything wants to admired. Antonio... oh. Not sure what he wants more than anything really. A peaceful life. Which he did not get to have for most of his existence really. Arthur and Sadık are handy for Francis to use from time to time to deal a smack to Antonio, but otherwise it's him looking at this guy who - let's be generous - is not the most ambitious man going, who seems to just grow more and more powerful, more and more influential and it eaaaaaaaaats at Francis.

But you know. Habsburgs. Religion. War. Antonio finally understands what he stands to loose, and ah. There's the ambition and drive. But he still looses, and now there's a Bourbon in charge and he is unable to ever fully get back up to that the ascent that the Trastámaras started. Pacte de Famille pops up again and again in the 18th Century, and I like the idea of it being characterised as Francis using Antonio's love of the Italies, and the fact that Arthur is increasingly a pain in the fucking arse for the both of them. Again, both Francis and Antonio love the same things. They also hate the same things. Sometimes that thing is a god awful English dude and sometimes love and hate are indistinguishable.

Like, Francis can loathe Arthur at points, but at least Arthur works to be a pain in the arse. Toni... wants to own a cafe. And he isn't even that good at it.

[rulers-of-hungary-tournament]

ROUND 1B, MATCH 7

***

WHAT MY PROFESSOR OF MEDIEVAL HISTORY SAID ABOUT THEM

III.Béla (Belo III.) 1172-1196

made a peace deal with the Byzantine Empire, which isn't surprising considering he seemed to be awfully fond of the Byzantines, the Byzantine emperor even wanted him to make him his successor, untill his son was born

instituted "credible locations" - don't know how exactly to translate that into English, basically monasteries and other church institutions that had the right to issue (as in, physically write out) charters, which in the Middle Ages, where there weren't that many ways to authenticate legal documents, was a big honking deal, and if you ever studied medieval history of Hungary, you must've heard about them - A LOT

also founded the royal chancellory, which was the most important administrative organ in medieval Hungary

on the other hand, he not only sired II.András, which would be bad enough on its own, but he also wanted to conquer Galicia and make András its king, an endeavour which ultimately failed

I.Mátyás (Matej I.); also known as Hunyadi Mátyás (Matej Korvín) 1458-1490

I mean, do I even have to say anything??? you know who this guy is right.

fought the Ottomans. supported arts and sciences. instituted important reforms. founded Academia Istropolitana. made Buda the capital and built the Buda Castle. gained the crown of Bohemia and stole territory from Austria. the man. the myth. the legend.

seriously he's going to win this round and it's not even going to be even close. sorry Béla.

[spanishskulduggery]

You know possibly the funniest/most chaotic thing about the time of El Cid was the Battle of Cabra

Okay so during the time of taifas (Muslim spheres of influence in Spain), the taifas would at some points be paying tribute to the more Catholic north... these were called parias and it's not a constant thing but there were certain treaties in place between cities and city-states between the north of Spain and Al-Andalus which is the south

But make no mistake, El Cid (and many others in this time) were essentially mercenaries and would fight for the Muslims against Christians, or against the Muslims for the Christians depending on the situation even though at this point El Cid was a favorite of Alfonso VI

In fact, El Cid [whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz] got the nickname El Cid from the Muslims where it meant something like "the Lord", and the other term associated with him Campeador from the Christians which meant something like "Battlemaster"

El Cid used to serve Muslim Zaragoza against Aragon, but he also at one point besieges Muslim Valencia and takes it for Christendom

I have to mention this because some people use El Cid as like "the Christian Knight of the Reconquista" like that's a goal to have but he was a mercenary and served with Muslims, under Muslims, and had no problem attacking a Christian or Muslim city if it was his orders/if he was getting paid

So this one time King Alfonso VI of Castile/León/Galicia sends two people out to collect the parias

He sends El Cid to Seville to collect money. And he sends this other dude Count García Ordóñez (who haaaaaates El Cid) off to Granada to get money

While they're out there getting money, it turns out that Seville and Granada are about to fight each other - because the taifas, like the Christian city-states, fight with each other sometimes even though they're both Muslim taifas

So what happens is that El Cid sees it as his right to be protecting the tribute that Granada is probably going to steal if they take the city. And Count García Ordóñez joins with the Granada forces because the whole point of this money is that it's a military contract so he's upholding his end of the military treaty to help them in exchange for money

...In other words, Alfonso VI SOMEHOW sent his own men out to two different places and they end up fighting each other

Seville wins over Granada in the Battle of Cabra, and El Cid captures the Count and ransoms him along with the Christian knights because that's what mercenaries do

And Count García Ordóñez is (perhaps rightfully?) pissed that he got beaten by El Cid but also the situation was messy - and the Count complains to Alfonso VI and that's part of what leads to El Cid being exiled....... The other part being that El Cid ended up in (Mulsim) Toledo which was a vassal state of Alfonso VI which he had no real right to be there doing what he was doing, which is fair because it looks like El Cid was working both sides and possibly acting like a bandit for some of his time because, again, mercenary

But can you imagine sending two of your trusted vassals to two separate places and they end up fighting each other (in your name)? What a shit show

[smudgingpumpkins]

LITHA

Also known as Midsummer

When is Litha?

It is celebrated on the summer solstice, which is the 20th of June in 2024. However, it can be celebrated between June 20th-24th, depending on when the solstice is or how it may have traditionally been celebrated.

What does Litha mean?

“Litha” is the celebration of the longest day and the shortest night of the year, welcoming the light, warmth, vitality, and power of the summer sun. The summer solstice offers the longest amount of daylight hours of any day in the calendar year.

Who does Litha celebrate?

Any gods and goddesses in relation to fertility, beauty, and the sun are worshipped, including Lugh, Celtic God of sun and light, Helios, Greek God of the sun, and Freya, Norse Goddess of summer, love, and fertility. Modern pagan practices include honoring the “Oat King” or the personification of summer, who is said to be at his peak strength around Midsummer.

—————

LITHA TRADITIONS

Work with stones that inspire creativity, abundance, and renewed strength, like citrine, sunstone, tiger’s eye, amber, and carnelian.

Utilize mood-boosting, aromatic herbs and flowers such as orange blossoms, sunflowers, ferns, thyme, sage, and St. John’s wart. These plants blossom beautifully in the summertime and symbolize vigor, love, and happiness. The herbs may ease stress, and reduce inflammation; St. John’s wart has been traditionally consumed for relieving symptoms of depression.

Eat an assortment of fruits, like early summer peaches, plums, cherries, and blackberries. These fruits are round like the sun, and are plump and plentiful, symbolizing the wish for abundance and fertility.

Decorate and dress yourself with bright, summery yellows, oranges, golds, and whites.

Incorporate animal imagery (e.g., figurines, photographs, drawings, et cetera) of eagles, sparrows, horses, and bulls, all magnificently free-spirited, powerful, and protective animals.

LITHA ACTIVITIES

Cleanse your face and body. Fill a water basin and leave it under the summer moonlight, mixed with at least one of the seven herbs of St. John (fern, rose, fennel, lemon verbena, rosemary, mallow, gorse, or whatever is available to use). Use this holy water to cleanse yourself.

Write a letter to the fairies. It is said that the veil between the human world and the world of the fae remains thin at this time. Ask for a wish and add gemstones and plants as an offering, and hope that the fairies will grant your wish true.

Take a ritual bath. Add sea salt, sugar, citrus slices and/or essential oils for a calm, refreshing bath time.

Drink refreshing beverages. Lemonade of any flavor, like raspberry or lavender, is a great summer-inspired choice. A traditional Litha tea recipe includes brewed black tea, fresh raspberries, sugar, and mint leaves.

Light a bonfire. Assist the sun with its offerings of warmth and light and safely dance and sing around the fire.

Prepare a Queimada. There is a popular tradition from Galicia where participants would read an incantation whilst preparing the alcoholic "Galicia Fire Drink": made with aguardiente or orujo (or any brandy you can obtain), coffee beans, sugar, and lemon and orange peels. The drink is mixed and prepared in an earthenware pot or hollowed-out pumpkin, kind of like a cauldron.

Here is a link for more information on the Conxuro da Queimada, as well as the English translation for the incantation:

Make a Litha altar. Add an icon or figurine of your preferred Litha God/Goddess in the center of your altar, and surround it with white and yellow candles, abundance crystals, herbs and sunflowers, bird feathers, and gold-colored decorations.

Get creative with recipes! Carlota Santos, who is the author of Magicka, recommends a savory vegetable coca. Here is the recipe below!

[therealestwizard]

Everybody wants to talk about the Gaels when referencing Pan-Celtic cultures (a categorical term to group a large swath of historical ethnic groups with ties to each other genealogically and culturally) still they don't want to mention Celtiberians/Generally Continental Celts.

You guys want to post about Cernunnos and your pseudo-Wiccan pantheons? Don't look to Insular Celts. Portugal, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, etc. have so many interesting cultures to examine! Not to mention you can look as far east as the Galatian Speakers in Anatolia? (And don't forget Italy...Slovenia...Austria...)

Celts were all over! That's why they are not One Thing at all. I see a lot of posts on here calling deities "Celtic". While this can be true (perhaps they share a lot of common roots in different historical Celtic groups) it's more accurate to assign them to the actual ethnic group(s) they originated from.

i.e: "Arwan is the King of the Otherworld in Welsh Mythology. He can be considered a Welsh and Brythonic Celtic figure."

Or consider: "Epona is an equine diety of Gallo-Roman origin that was worshiped by Celts as far west as Wales. She can be considered a Gallo-Celtic, Brythonic Celtic, Roman, and possibly Iberian Celtic deity."

[jasmineleeplays]

It is the end of Winter, at the beginning of February 1067, when Captain Rodrigo/ El Cid builds his first Camp Building besides the Pavilion - the Proving Grounds. It will be ready in 5 months.

Currently, El Cid is in Zamora planning a complex Contract Scheme for the benefit of Infanta Urraca Fernandez of Castille, the sister of King Sancho "the Strong" of Castille, King Alphonso "the Brave" of Leon and King Garcia II of Galicia. The scheme is to Rescue a Fair Subject of hers, and we employ 2 Muscles, an Outcast, a Thug and a Lookout. We need to accumulate 5 Advantages to Execute the Scheme, and we have a potential success rate of up to 84% if we plan this right.

We come across one of the first events that tests El Cid's loyalty to King Sancho II "the Strong" of Castille. Here, El Cid is trying to find shelter from the rain, but no Zamora folk dares to open their homes and extend their hospitality to El Cid because of an order by King Sancho forbidding them. El Cid decides not to press the people and rely on his stash of provisions instead.

El Cid manages to successfully rescue the Fair Subject, and the Fair Subject in question turns out to be a Beautiful woman named Guiomar whom El Cid invites to join his camp The Loyal Vassals.

With Infanta Urraca added to The Loyal Vassals' Roll of Patrons, El Cid proceeds to request 1 Men-at-Arms Regiment from her which turns out to be a regiment of 100 Caballeros, bringing El Cid's total military might to 300 Caballeros.

It is July 1067, and El Cid finally decides that it is time to follow the exile order from King Sancho and move to al-Magrit (Madrid). Unlike being a ruler, there is far more danger traveling as a Landless Adventurer and little ways to combat them. Not to mention, it costs a lot of Provisions to move Camp - 599 to be exact.

As El Cid's party travels, his Bodyguard Vela and the Beautiful Guiomar hit it off, becoming lovebirds. Unfortunately, this developing relationship is cut short, when on a treacherous mountain path, Guiomar falls to her death. El Cid was intending to marry Guiomar off to his nephew Pedro, but seems that plan got shafted by this new development.

It is Septemeber 1067, and The Loyal Vassals' Camp has arrived in Madrid with the Proving Grounds built.

At the Madrid tavern, El Cid comes across an enchantress - a Mozarabic Castilian woman by the name of Catalina. He flirts with her and convinces her to join The Loyal Vassals. She could be a good replacement wife for Pedro despite her age.

Wali Abd al-Rahman II ibn al-Zafir of al-Magrit requests El Cid's aid to patrol the bridge going through al-Magrit (Madrid) to dissuade bandits from appearing. El Cid take up the contract.

Soon, we are met with the dissertation of 3 of El Cid's followers - Pedro, his nephew, his friend Martin Antolinez, and Vela the Bodyguard. El Cid's Second and Best Friend, Alvar Fanez offers to pay and provide for the 3 men, but El Cid refuses because he cannot risk King Sancho's wrath.

Count Jourdain of Quercy, a vassal of Duke Guilhem V of Toulouse, is involved in a tyranny war against his liege, and offers to pay 30 gold to El Cid to come and assist him. El Cid raises his army of 300 and leads from the front as the Commander with 47 Advantage.

Finally, after months of planning, El Cid sneaks into King Sancho's castle and witnesses a shady intruder who tries to kill his Ximena and immediately takes action to subdue the intruder. Ximena in gratitude falls in love and becomes El Cid's Soulmate.

[lookingforhappy]

here's an absolutely ancient draft with explainations of each of the brellies' names and origins that i compiled millenia ago lmao

Luther -

Wikipedia:

As a German surname, Luther is derived from a Germanic personal name compounded from the words liut, "people", and heri, "army". As a rare English surname, it means "lute player". Luther is also derived from the Greek name Eleutherius. Eleutherius is a cognate of the Greek word eleutheros (έλεύθερος) which means "free".

Luther is a given name of various origins, it is derived from the same surname and became a first name mainly in tribute of Martin Luther.

Luther was ordained to the priesthood in 1507. He came to reject several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church; in particular, he disputed the view on indulgences. His refusal to renounce all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.

Lutheran theology differs from Reformed theology in Christology, divine grace, the purpose of God's Law, the concept of perseverance of the saints, and predestination.

Predestination, in Christian theology, is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul.

Diego -

Wikipedia:

The name has long been interpreted as reanalysis of Santiago, from older Sant Yago "Saint Jacob," in English known as Saint James, as San-Tiago.

One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to tradition, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to his Transfiguration. James and John (or, in another tradition, their mother) asked Jesus to grant them seats on his right and left in his glory. Jesus rebuked them, asking if they were ready to drink from the cup he was going to drink from and saying the honor was not even for him to grant. The other apostles were annoyed with them. James and his brother wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but were rebuked by Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles records that "Herod the king" (usually identified with Herod Agrippa I) had James executed by the sword. Nixon suggests that this may have been caused by James's fiery temper, in which he and his brother earned the nickname Boanerges or "Sons of Thunder". F. F. Bruce contrasts this story to that of the Liberation of Saint Peter, and notes that "James should die while Peter should escape" is a "mystery of divine providence".

Didacus is recorded in the forms Diaco, Diago in the 10th century. The form Diego is first recorded in the late 11th century. Its original derivation from Didacus is uncertain, among other things because the shift from -ía- to -ié- is unexplained.

familyeducation.com:

The name Diego is of Spanish origin and means "supplanter." It is believed to be derived from the name Santiago, and in medieval times, Diego was Latinized as Didacus. It is believed Didacus derives from the Greek word didache, meaning "teaching."

dictionary.com:

Supplanter: noun. someone or something taking the place of another, as through force, scheming, strategy, or the like.

Allison -

Wikipedia:

Alison is primarily a female given name in English-speaking countries. It was originally a medieval French nickname for Alis, an old form of Alice derived with the suffix -on or -son sometimes used in the former French nicknames such as Jeanson ("little Jean") or Pierson ("little Pierre").

The name is first recorded in Scotland in the 12th century. It was popular until the early 19th century and, spelled Allison, was the 45th most common name given to baby girls in the United States in 2005

Allison also has separate, disputed roots as a family name.

Allison is a surname of English and Scottish origin. It was a patronym, in most cases probably indicating son of Allen, but in other cases possibly from Ellis, Alexander, or the female given name Alice/Alise.

The surname was first recorded in England in 1248, when a "William Alisun" is recorded in the Documents of the Abbey of Bee in Buckinghamshire. In Scotland, the earliest record dates from 1296, when "Patrick Alissone, Count of Berwick" paid homage to the ruling council of Scotland in the absence of a proclaimed king.

behindthename.com:

Allison: From the middle of the 20th century this has primarily been used as a variant of the feminine name Alison.

Alison: Norman French diminutive of Aalis (see Alice). It was common in England, Scotland and France in the Middle Ages, and was later revived in England in the 20th century via Scotland.

Alice: From the Old French name Aalis, a short form of Adelais, itself a short form of the Germanic name Adalheidis (see Adelaide). This name became popular in France and England in the 12th century. It was among the most common names in England until the 16th century, when it began to decline. It was revived in the 19th century.

Adelaide: Means "noble type", from the French form of the Germanic name Adalheidis, which was composed of the elements adal "noble" and heid "kind, sort, type". It was borne in the 10th century by Saint Adelaide, the wife of the Holy Roman emperor Otto the Great.

Klaus -

Wikipedia:

Klaus is a German, Dutch and Scandinavian given name and surname. It originated as a short form of Nikolaus, a German form of the Greek given name Nicholas.

The name is derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), understood to mean 'victory of the people', being a compound of νίκη nikē 'victory' and λαός laos 'people'. An ancient paretymology of the latter is that originates from λᾶς las (contracted form of λᾶας laas) meaning 'stone' or 'rock', as in Greek mythology, Deucalion and Pyrrha recreated the people after they had vanished in a catastrophic deluge, by throwing stones behind their shoulders while they kept marching on.

The name became popular through Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, the inspiration for Santa Claus.

In one of the earliest attested and most famous incidents from his life, he is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them. Other early stories tell of him calming a storm at sea, saving three innocent soldiers from wrongful execution, and chopping down a tree possessed by a demon.

Another famous late legend tells how he resurrected three children, who had been murdered and pickled in brine by a butcher planning to sell them as pork during a famine.

Five -

Wikipedia:

5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on each hand.

Gerard Way's insta @/gerardway:

Maybe they'll learn the numbers don't matter, as Five did, which is why I feel he embraced his number as a name instead of a rank, and rejected an actual name (which I hope we see one day!).

Steve Blackman on Reddit Q&A:

Grace helped the kids choose names that were popular from their birth places. However, Five couldn't decide on one before getting lost in the apocalypse. Now, he just likes the name "Five".

Ben -

Wikipedia:

Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin, Benedict, or Benson, and is also a given name in its own right.

Ben (in Hebrew: בֶּן‎, Son of) forms part of surnames, e.g. Abraham ben Abraham (Hebrew: אברהם בן אברהם‎). Bar-, "son of" in Aramaic, is also seen, e.g. Simon bar Kokhba (Hebrew: שמעון בר כוכבא‎).

The Arabic "Bin" (بن) or "Ibn" (ابن) or "Ben" (dialectal Arabic) means "son of".

Benjamin is a popular given name for males, derived from Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין‎, Binyāmīn, translating as "son of the right [hand]", though in the Samaritan Pentateuch, the name appears as "Binyaamem": "son of my days".

Benjamin is often shortened to Ben, sometimes to Benny, Benj, or Benji. It is also a patronymic surname. Like many biblical names, it is popular in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths alike, having many variant forms in other languages.

The "Benjamin of the family" is a phrase used in several languages to refer to the youngest son—especially when he is much younger than his brothers. Sometimes the name is chosen for a son born to mature parents unlikely to have more children, especially if he has several older siblings. Both of these usages derive from the biblical son of Jacob of that name, who occupied that position in his family. In some languages, by extension, it is also applied to the runt of a litter of animals.

Vanya -

Wikipedia:

Ваня (Vanya), a male or female diminutive of the Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian and other Slavic given names Ivan or Ivana. It is the Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian and other Slavic form of John or Jane, itself derived from a Hebrew name, meaning "God is gracious" or "Gracious gift of God". An alternative spelling of the name is Vanja. In the Scandinavian countries and in Bulgaria, it is a female given name, in Bosnia and Herzegovina mainly a male given name, in Russia it is male given name, and in Serbia and Croatia it is a unisex name.

The play portrays the visit of an elderly professor and his glamorous, much younger second wife, Yelena, to the rural estate that supports their urban lifestyle. Two friends—Vanya, brother of the professor's late first wife, who has long managed the estate, and Astrov, the local doctor—both fall under Yelena's spell, while bemoaning the ennui of their provincial existence. Sonya, the professor's daughter by his first wife, who has worked with Vanya to keep the estate going, suffers from her unrequited feelings for Astrov. Matters are brought to a crisis when the professor announces his intention to sell the estate, Vanya and Sonya's home, with a view to investing the proceeds to achieve a higher income for himself and his wife.

Alone, Vanya wonders why he did not fall in love with Yelena when he first met her ten years before, when it would have been possible for the two to have married and had a happy life together. At that time, Vanya believed in Serebryakov's greatness and was happy that his efforts supported Serebryakov's work; now he has become disillusioned with the professor and his life feels empty.

Angrily, Vanya asks where he, Sonya, and his mother would live, protests that the estate rightly belongs to Sonya, and that Serebryakov has never appreciated his self-sacrifice in managing the property. As Vanya's anger mounts, he begins to rage against the professor, blaming him for the failure of his life, wildly claiming that, without Serebryakov to hold him back, he could have been a second Schopenhauer or Dostoevsky. In despair, he cries out to his mother, but instead of comforting her son, Maria insists that Vanya listen to the professor. Serebryakov insults Vanya, who storms out of the room. Yelena begs to be taken away from the country and Sonya pleads with her father on Vanya's behalf. Serebryakov exits to confront Vanya further. A shot is heard from offstage and Serebryakov returns, being chased by Vanya, wielding a loaded pistol. He fires the pistol again at the professor but misses. He throws the gun down in disgust and sinks into a chair.

The Tsar Bomba (Russian: Царь-бо́мба), (code name: Ivan or Vanya), also known by the alphanumerical designation AN602, was a hydrogen aerial bomb, and the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created and tested. Tsar Bomba was developed in the Soviet Union (USSR) by a group of nuclear physicists under the leadership of Igor Kurchatov, an academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union.

[regalfille]

King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Princess Leonor’s lunch in Galicia

Queen Letizia wore & Other Stories blouse, Burberry coat, blue jeans, Coreterno ring, Mango bag and Boss shoes for a lunch with husband and daughter in Galicia, Spain. More details on Regalfille. 

[josefavomjaaga]

Letter from Duroc to Eugène about events in Spain

Apologies, I’m lazy. This letter is a bit shorter than the one from 1805 that I actually wanted to translate. I’ll do this one first.

Historical context: This letter is written from Spain, a couple of weeks after the Spanish Bourbon double abdication at Bayonne and the Dos de Mayo uprisings. Joseph has already been made king of Spain, Murat king of Naples. For the moment, everything seems fine. Several marshals and generals, Soult among them, are still in Germany, administering the occupied Prussian provinces.

[Probably Marrac, ca. 17 – 21 July 1808] Monseigneur, the Emperor is about to leave on a tour of Pau, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rochefort, Nantes, Angers, Tours and Blois and if from there or on the way we are not recalled by the affairs of Spain, we can go hunting in Rambouillet or else we will return to Marrac.

The Empress is going to take the waters at Barège, and there has been fighting in Spain. Bessières, with 15,000 men against 35,000, had what can be called a battle and cut to pieces 35,000 men, half peasants, half troops of the line, from the garrisons of Galicia and Asturias. This was a very fortunate event because the forces gathered in the kingdom of Leon were at a point that was essential for army communications and for interesting outposts. Marshal Moncey, after defeating the insurgents in Valencia, has taken up a position closer to Madrid to obtain all that he needs from it.

Madrid is very quiet and the King will soon arrive there. The Grand Duke of Berg - King of Naples - is recovering at the spa. The Grand Duchess has gone to Paris from where she will set off for her kingdom. She is uncertain whether she will pass through Milan. It has occurred to me that there has been a lot of talk about you here and that the Emperor has expressed his satisfaction with you and the hopes he has placed in you. He made no secret of the fact that if circumstances forced him one day to return to the head of the armies, he would take you as his lieutenant in the same way as the Grand Duke. I'm sure that now you'll be making all sorts of wishes for war.

I thought you would be very pleased to know this and I am very happy to know it too. Please accept, Monseigneur, the assurance of my respect and attachment. Le duc de Frioul

[P.S.:] General Sorbier hopes to have returned to favour and to be able to continue as your aide-de-camp. He was very sad to think that he would have to give that up.

-

Events indeed soon would have recalled Napoleon to Spain, with the defeats of Baylén and Vimeiro and Joseph being chased from his throne. Except he didn’t go there because he chose to meet Alexander in Erfurt first and to let Joseph hang a little longer. He will only return late in the year.

Of course Duroc will praise Bessières’s victory to best buddy Eugène. 😁

There is indeed some indication that Eugène’s name was floated around during the discussion in Bayonne, at least such rumours were mentioned in newspapers. This may have been only to distract from Napoleon’s true plans, however. As far as I am aware, he only offered the crown of Spain to his brothers Louis, Jérôme and possibly Lucien (?) before giving it to Joseph and letting Murat choose between Portugal and Naples.

However, there must have been an earlier letter from Duroc to Eugène that is now lost, hinting at Eugène possibly being a candidate for the throne of Naples if Joseph left for Spain. We know this because Eugène, as a footnote states, mentions this letter from Duroc in a letter to his sister in June 1808. And his reaction to that veiled proposal was quite characteristic, too: Dieu me garde de cette galère! - God save me from this mess!

So, presumably, Eugène for once was grateful to Murat for picking Naples as his kingdom.

The passage in which Duroc gossips about Napoleon being satisfied with Eugène’s work reminds me a bit of the brief congratulation to Murat that I posted earlier. Napoleon was not in the habit of praising people to their face, so Duroc made sure they knew that the emperor thought they had done well.

General Sorbier by the way had been Eugène’s aide de camp since 1807 but had then received a promotion and had to move on to take a command in the army of Portugal. I’m not sure why he would have been in disgrace, maybe that’s just a figure of speech. In any case, he did return to Eugène’s side as his ADC, only to get mortally wounded during the battle of Caldiero in 1809. There’s a letter from Eugène to his wife mention that "poor Sorbier has been seriously wounded". Sorbier was transported back to Verona but died of his wounds some time later.

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

Royal Deaths, 24th September.

768 - Pippin III, the short, King of France.

911 - Louis the child, last Carolingian German King.

1120 - Welf II, Duke of Bavaria. 

1143 - Agnes of Germany, daughter of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor.

1180 - Manuel I Komnenos, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

1228 - Saint Stefan Nemanjic, Grand Prince of Serbia

1230 - Alfonso IX, King of León and Galicia.

1435 - Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen and wife of Charles VI of France, who ruled during her husband's periods of insanity.

1732 - Emperor Reigen, 112th Emperor of Japan.

1812 - Friedrich Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont.

1834 - Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil and King of Portugal.

1860 - Marie of Württemberg, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, second wife and niece of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

1891 - Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna of Russia, daughter of King George I of Greece, wife of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia.

1930 - Marie Juliette Louvet, mistress of Prince Louis Il of Monaco, mother of his only child Princess Charlotte of Monaco.

1950 - Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, Marchioness of Milford Haven, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.