#wilhelm duke in bavaria

[archduchessofnowhere]

Hi! I’m one of your mutuals, but I’m asking this question anonymously because I believe it’s the epitome of dumbnesses 😂 Why the title “in Bavaria” and not “of Bavaria”? This “in” is having me all sorts of confused

Hello! JKSDKFJKGD it's not a dumb question at all! It can be quite confusing, especially because most Sisi biographies just don't explain what the difference is. Or worse, mistranslate the title (this happens almost always in Spanish translations sigh).

I'd be lying if I said that I understand this in detail, but basically the title dates back to the 16th century, however it only started to have relevance after the death of Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria, in 1799. Since he had no legitimate children his heir was his first cousin once removed Max Joseph, the future first King of Bavaria. At the time of the elector's death, there were only two surviving branches of the House of Wittelsbach: the Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken, headed by future King Max, and the Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen, headed by Max's distant cousin and also brother-in-law Wilhelm.

So when Max became Elector in 1799 he recognized Wilhelm as the head of the only branch of the family and they agreed that the Wittelsbach lands would be indivisible. As Elector, Max was the Duke of Bavaria (Herzog von Bayern), and since there could be only one Duke of Bavaria at a time, he gave Wilhelm the title of Duke in Bavaria (Herzog in Bayern). Basically what this distinction denotes is that this branch doesn't rule over any territory, they're dukes and duchesses in Bavaria, not of Bavaria. Duke Wilhelm was Duke of Berg for three years until Napoleon gave the duchy to Joachim Murat and that's it, that's the only territory he was ever in charge of. When Wilhelm died he left his only son and heir Pius August no land to rule over.

But no need to get sad about our territory-less side branch: they were loaded. According to historian Martina Winkelhofer, the Dukes in Bavaria actually had more money than the King. This is why King Max thought it would be great to marry one of his daughters to Wilhelm's grandson Max: so the money stayed in the family. Princess Ludovika married down in title, true, but up in fortune.

In the Wikipedia article of the Dukes in Bavaria it says that King Max gave them the title of Royal Highnesses after 1799, which isn't correct. The agreement was that they would receive the title after Duke Max and Ludovika's wedding. But when they married King Max had already died and the new king, Ludovika's half-brother Ludwig backed down and just… not gave him the title (the reason seems to be that Ludwig just freaking hated his brother-in-law lol). Duke Max and his children only became Royal Highnesses in 1845, when Elisabeth was already eight-years-old.

So Elisabeth's position when she became empress was special, because her title itself was special. On the one hand it was a minor title that basically meant "these guys don't rule anywhere", on the other hand the title also meant that they were closely related to the royal branch. She wasn't a nobody: she was the granddaughter, niece, and cousin of the king of Bavaria, and she grew up in close contact with her royal relatives. But the position of her family was special: they had no territory to rule over, and because Duke Max retired from the Munich society to live a bohemian life, his family had nothing to do on an official level.

In a way, Elisabeth's situation reminds me a bit to her Leuchtenberg cousins, who were also in a limbo of "we are from the ancient house of Wittelsbach but our dad's title is weird and technically doesn't mean anything" (though Elisabeth and her siblings' position was far more stable and secure than their Beauharnais cousins). Ludovika and her sister Auguste in fact were close despite their twenty-years age gap, so I wonder if "our children are royalty but in a strange way" was one of the things they bonded over.

To finish this ask, a trivia: the dukes in Bavaria branch became extinct in 1973, and today's living Wittelsbachs all descend from the royal branch. The last Duke in Bavaria was Ludwig Wilhelm, son of Karl Theodor "Gackl", Elisabeth's favorite brother. He had no children so in 1965 he adopted his grand-nephew Max Emanuel (grandson of his sister Duchess Marie Gabrielle in Bavaria and Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria), who uses the title of Duke in Bavaria as his last name ever since.

I hope you find my answer helpful (and that I didn't confuse more)!

[venicepearl]

Countess Palatine Maria Anna of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler (18 July 1753 – 4 February 1824) was Countess Palatine of Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen and Duchess in Bavaria, through her marriage to Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria. Maria Anna was a great-grandmother of Empress Elisabeth of Austria through her son Duke Pius August in Bavaria.

[graceofromanovs]

GODPARENTS OF EMPEROR ALEXANDER III

Emperor Alexander III (then Grand Duke) was born as the second son of Emperor Alexander II (then Tsesarevich) on 10 March 1845, during the reign of his grandfather Emperor Nicholas I. He was christened a week later at 10 am in the Winter Palace Church, St. Petersburg, by the Confessor of Their Imperial Highnesses. He had six listed godparents:

NICHOLAS I, EMPEROR OF RUSSIA - his paternal grandfather was one of his godparents present at his christening. Mainly remembered in history as a reactionary whose controversial reign was marked by geographical expansion, centralisation of administrative policies and repression of dissent. He died in 1855, when the Alexander was only 9 years-old, just a week shy from his 10th birthday.

LOUIS II, GRAND DUKE OF HESSE AND BY RHINE - his maternal grandfather was another of his godparents, but was absent at the christening. The hessian grand duke, like his paternal grandfather, was also considered a reactionary leader, he was in conflict with parliament almost his entire reign. The German revolution in 1848-49 proved his inability to govern. On March 5, 1848 he named his son Louis III as co-regent, and a year later he died.

GRAND DUCHESS ELENA PAVLOVNA OF RUSSIA - his great-aunt, the wife of Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich, stood as one of his godparents. Born as Princess Charlotte of Württemberg, she became a close friend of Alexander's mother the Empress Maria Alexandrovna, and was known as an intellectual. She was also considered the most exceptional woman in the imperial family since Catherine the Great.

GRAND DUCHESS OLGA NIKOLAEVNA OF RUSSIA, QUEEN CONSORT OF WÜRTTEMBERG - his aunt was one of his godparents present at the christening. She was the younger sister of his father. Attractive, cultured and intelligent, she was considered to be one of the most eligible princesses in Europe. Just three years after her nephew was born, in 1846, she married Crown Prince Karl of Württemberg. Alexander's older brother the heir apparent Nicholas died just two months before their aunt Queen consort of Württemberg. With his death, he became the next heir apparent, the 'Tsesarevich'.

GRAND DUCHESS MARIA PAVLOVNA OF RUSSIA, GRAND DUCHESS CONSORT OF SAXE-WEIMAR-EISENACH - his great-aunt was another of his godparents. One of the daughters of Emperor Paul I, the grand duchess married a German prince Karl Friedrich, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in 1804. She was an intellect, interested in both arts and sciences. German poet and novelist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe hailed her as one of the worthiest women of his time. She was the great-grandmother of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and Queen Victoria of Sweden.

PRINCESS MATHILDE CAROLINE OF BAVARIA, GRAND DUCHESS OF HESSE AND BY RHINE - his aunt, the wife of his uncle Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, was listed as one of the future emperor's godparents. She was the eldest daughter of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Her marriage to Louis III was childless. She died of cancer in 1862 at the age of 48.

Source

[julianpeterscomics]

"The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot, page 4

Every week on this site, I will be publishing a new page from my ongoing comics adaptation of “The Burial of the Dead,” the first section of T. S. Eliot’s epochal poem “The Waste Land.” (The main references in this section are to the reminiscences of Countess Marie Larisch, illegitimate daughter of Duke Ludwig Wilhelm in Bavaria. Her cousin is Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, who later took his…

[arthistoryanimalia]

For #ManuscriptMonday:

Gallican Psalter with Canticles, Augsburg, Germany, c.1520, f.115v, border decoration: medallion w/ King David brought before Saul; panel w/ donkey, stag, lion, bear, ram, rodents, lizard (or salamander?)...and a BIG snail:

look at its face 😂

More info on the manuscript:

"This luxury Psalter appears to have been created for Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria (1493-1550), as suggested by the depiction of the arms of Bavaria on folio 32r. It contains the major Psalm groupings at Psalms 1, 26, 38, 52, 68, 80, 97, and 109, but also contains additional subdivisions for Sunday Vespers, and for Ferial Vespers. The Psalter is accompanied by the Canticles, Litany, and Collect (fols. 130r-146r). Appended in a slightly later hand are Musical notation for the Kyrie and other prayers, dated 1540 (fols. 146v-152v). Illuminated roundels depicting episodes from the life of King David mark the beginning of each Psalm division. These scenes and the associated illuminated borders, which contain numerous depictions of animals, have been attributed to the Swiss illuminator Nikolaus Bertschi."

Library Company of Philadelphia MS 4.

[jackhkeynes]

Bavarn

Bavarn (Bóarn /ˈpoː.ɑːn/) [~Bavaria] is a centrally-located German polity of Europe. Among others, it borders Bohemia, Burgundy, Friule, Saxony, and Willemy.

History

During the Second Tetrarchy, the Kingdom of Bavarn was one of the two main players in the German Empire; the Empire was for some time ruled jointly by the Houghbrocken and Andex dynasties of Saxony and Bavarn respectively.

Thirteenth-century Bavarn was the epicentre of the Pauline Denunciations and the German Secession, leading to the establishment of the Augsburg See. The concomitant strife saw each vassal in Bavarn declare either for Rome or for Augsburg, in a powderkeg patchwork of allegiances that would collapse the Empire entirely. Bavarn itself would never regain as much Adriatic coast as it had enjoyed just prior to these events.

In the fifteenth century, Bavarn was embroiled in an extended series of conflicts with Burgundy. By this time it had also become a technological centre, with workshops developing entirely new glassmaking techniques.

Following the Blue Trans-Willem War of the late nineteenth century, Bavarn gained significant territory from the Kingdom of Burgundy, which subsequently dissolved. As result, then-king Frederick created the Duchy of Far Suebia, ruled from Burgundy's former capital Geneva.

In the eighteenth century, famine and a shortage of grain led to popular unrest that threatened to destabilise the state; the examples of Venise and Crovatia to the south demonstrated how badly things could go for the current regime.

The Second German War embroiled Bavarn, allied with (among others) Borland and the Northern Concert; a particularly significant event during this war was the disastrously mismanaged Battle of Hulm in 1821.

People

Monarchs

Conrad II (fl. 1120), who ruled from Regensburg

Adalmar (fl. c13), who was succeeded by Empress Katharina of Germany, the last ruler of a united Germany for over five hundred years

Frederick (fl. c17), who created the Duchy of Far Suebia

Nobility

Elias Villingen, second Duke of Far Suebia

Others

Wilhelm Bruez (fl. 1225), mayor of Augsburg

Paul von Burchardt (fl. 1225), writer of the Pauline Denunciations and instigator of the German Secession

Marian Siegert ~ Miller (1725-1756), illegitimate daughter of Elias Villingen

[jepsolell]

🐚Under renaissance spell - 📌The Grottenhof of the Residenz of Munich. Ordered between 1581 and 1589 by the duke of Bavaria Wilhelm V, this construction was made with marine shells. The purpose? enjoy fresh atmosphere in summer days. @schloesserverwaltung.bayern (en Royal Residenz Munich) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClmOlA1g2_X/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[die-greifen]

what: queen's tiaras

(All italicised text in this post is made up for the sake of this story)

THE ALEXANDRA FABERGÉ TIARA

Shown worn by Alexandra, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Princess of Hannover and Cumberland). Alexandra is a granddaughter of Christian IX of Denmark and was a first cousin to Christian X of Denmark, Haakon VII of Norway (and his wife Maud of Wales), Nicholas II of Russia, George V of the United Kingdom and Constantine I of Greece. Alexandra married Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1904. They had five children. Alexandra is the great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I.

Named for its first owner, the Alexandra Fabergé Tiara was created by Fabergé in 1904 as a wedding present from her new husband, Friedrich Franz. It is made of diamonds and aquamarines, with forget-me-nots, bows and Cupid arrows worked into the design.

The tiara was inherited by her eldest surviving daughter, Thyra, upon Alexandra’s death in 1963. The tiara then passed to Thyra’s eldest son, Wilhelm Franz I, it was inherited by his daughter upon his death in 1992.

The tiara is generally reserved for use by the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Since 2006, Karolina Augusta has been the only person to wear the tiara. She wears it with regularly frequency (once or twice a year).

THE ALEXANDRA FRINGE TIARA

Shown above worn by Alexandra, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Princess of Hannover and Cumberland).

Named for its first owner, The Alexandra Fringe Tiara was created for Alexandra in the popular fringe style that imitated Russian Kokoshniks. The tiara was gifted to Alexandra following her marriage to Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1904.

Alexandra gave the tiara to her eldest surviving daughter, Thyra, in 1945.

The tiara is made of upright rows of diamonds. While the tiara is generally reserved for the monarch and the monarch’s spouse, it is the traditional bridal tiara of the descendants of Thyra, Queen of Mecklenburg. The tiara is regularly worn by the current monarch and her mother, but continues to be lent to members of the family for weddings.

THE ALEXANDRA SCROLL TIARA

Alexandra received this tiara in 1904 as a wedding gift from her parents The Crown Prince and Princess of Hannover. The tiara is made of diamond scroll patterns and creates a circlet (it goes all the way around in a circle).

The tiara is generally reserved for use by the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, the tiara is only worn by Eleonora, the mother of the current monarch. Karolina Augusta I has chosen not to wear the tiara as of yet.

THE AMALIE AMETHYST TIARA

The Amalie Amethyst Tiara is made of pear-shaped amethysts in a fringe design and is named for its original own, Duchess Amalie in Bavaria. The tiara was inherited by her second daughter, Karola of Urach. The tiara is accompanied by a pair of drop earrings. Duchess Amalie in Bavaria is the great-great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I.

The Amalie Amethyst Tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Since 2006, Karolina Augusta, who is a big fan of amethysts, has been the only person to wear the tiara.

THE AMALIE FLORAL TIARA

The Amalie Floral Tiara is made of diamonds and is named for its original owner, Duchess Amalie in Bavaria. The tiara was inherited by her second daughter, Karola of Urach. Karola had the tiara refashioned to be worn as a bandeau across the forehead. The tiara has not been refitted to be worn atop the head, but is instead normally nestled amongst the hair or still worn across the forehead. Duchess Amalie in Bavaria is the great-great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I.

The Amalie Floral Tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, the tiara is worn by the current monarch and her mother, although its setting means the tiara is not worn often.

THE ELISABETH PEARL TIARA

Shown above worn by Elisabeth, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Princess of Stolberg-Rossla). The Elisabeth Pearl Tiara is named for its original owner. Elisabeth was the second wife of Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, they were married in 1909. Elisabeth was the stepmother of Heinrich Ludwig I of Mecklenburg. After the death of her husband in 1920, Elisabeth married his younger half-brother, Adolf Friedrich. Elisabeth died in 1969.

The Elisabeth Pearl Tiara is made of diamonds and pearls. The tiara was inherited by Elisabeth’s step-grandson upon her death. This tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse, and is currently worn by Karolina Augusta I and her mother, Eleonora.

THE ELISABETH SYBILLE GARRARD & CO TIARA

The Elisabeth Sybille Garrard & Co Tiara was purchased for Elisabeth Sybille,   Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Princess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach) from the British jewellery house by her husband, Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin during his tenure as regent for the Duchy of Brunswick. The tiara was created by Garrard & Co in the 1880s and is made of diamonds and upright and suspended pearls.

The Elisabeth Sybille Garrard & Co Tiara was inherited by her son, Heinrich Ludwig I, eventually being inherited by the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I. The tiara is typically reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse, and is a popular choice for Karolina Augusta and her mother.

THE ELISABETH SYBILLE SUNBURST TIARA

Shown above worn by Elisabeth Sybille, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Princess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach). The Elisabeth Sybille Sunburst Tiara is named for its original owner. Elisabeth Sybille is the granddaughter of William II of the Netherlands. She was a first cousin to Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Friedrich III of the German Empire. Elisabeth Sybille was the first wife of Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, they were married in 1886. Elisabeth Sybille died in 1908. They had one son, Heinrich Ludwig, who would later become the first King of Mecklenburg. Elisabeth Sybille is the great-great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I.

The tiara was made as a wedding gift from jewels provided by her mother, Princess Sophie of the Netherlands. The tiara is made of diamonds and rubies, though the rubies can be swapped out for diamonds and pearls (along the top sunburst section).

This tiara is also generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. The tiara is an unusual design that does not always work in a modern setting. However, the tiara is still worn by Karolina Augusta I and her mother every couple of years.

THE KAROLA EMERALD GARLAND TIARA

Named for its first owner, the Karola Emerald Garland Tiara is composed of a foliate, floral and garland design made up of diamonds and emeralds. It was purchased for Princess Karola of Urach as a wedding present by her husband-to-be, Heinrich Ludwig I of Mecklenburg. Karola is the great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I.

The Karola Emerald Garland Tiara, along with the matching necklace and brooch, are generally reserved for use by the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, it is worn by the current monarch and her mother.

THE KAROLA BELLE ÉPOQUE TIARA

Named for its first owner, the Karola Belle Époque Tiara is a garland styled diamond and pearl tiara by the Dutch jewellery designers, J.C. Burnier & Zoon. Heinrich Ludwig I bought the piece for his wife as an engagement gift in 1918.

The Karola Belle Époque Tiara is generally reserved for use by the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, it is worn by the current monarch and her mother.

THE KAROLA CARTIER STEEL TIARA

The Karola Cartier Steel Tiara is named for Queen Karola of Mecklenburg (nee Duchess of Urach) and was bought by her husband as a wedding present in 1918. The tiara was created by Cartier a few years earlier and is made of diamonds and blackened steel.

The Karola Cartier Steel Tiara was inherited by Queen Karola’s son, Paul Friedrich, upon her death in 1980. It is now owned by the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I, and this unusual, but striking, tiara is among the monarch’s favourite pieces. It has typically been worn by the monarch or the monarch’s spouse, but Eleonora has chosen not to wear it since the end of her daughter’s regency in 2006.

THE KAROLA CHEVRON TIARA

The Karola Chevron Tiara, named for its original owner, Queen Karola of Mecklenburg, and the diamond chevrons prominent in its design, was gifted to Karola by the noble houses of Mecklenburg following the birth of her son, Paul Friedrich in 1919.

The tiara is made of diamonds and is designed to be worn as a bandeau across the forehead. Its design does not allow it to be easily converted into a typical tiara and requires specific hairstyles to sit properly atop the wearer’s head.

The Karola Chevron Tiara was inherited by her son, Paul Friedrich, upon her death in 1980. It is currently owned by the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I. Typically worn by the monarch or the monarch’s spouse, The Karola Chevron Tiara is not frequently worn by Karolina Augusta I or her mother, but makes occasional appearances.

THE KAROLA ART DECO NECKLACE TIARA

The Karola Art Deco Tiara was designed by Boucheron and purchased for Queen Karola of Mecklenburg in 1936 as a 40th birthday gift by her husband. The tiara can be converted into a necklace.

The Karola Art Deco Necklace Tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, it is worn by the current monarch more frequently as a necklace, but has been worn as a tiara with some regularity.

THE REUSS-KÖSTRITZ TIARA

Shown above worn by Augusta, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Princess Reuss of Köstritz). Augusta was the first wife of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They were married in 1849 and had six children. Augusta died aged 39 in 1862. Augusta is the great-great-great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I, who bears her name in her honour.

The Reuss-Köstritz was created prior to 1856 and is one of the oldest tiaras in the family’s collection.

Shown above worn by Anastasia Mikhailovna, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Grand Duchess of Russia). Anastasia Mikhailovna was the granddaughter of Nicholas I of Russia. She was the first cousin to Alexander III of Russia, Queen Victoria of Sweden and Queen Olga of Greece. She was the mother-in-law to Christian X of Denmark and to Wilhelm, Crown Prince of Germany. Anastasia Mikhailovna is the great-great-grandmother of the current monarch, Karolina Augusta I.

The Reuss-Köstritz Tiara is made of diamonds with three coloured stones. Originally emeralds, the stones can now be swapped out for rubies or amethysts. The tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, it is worn by the current monarch and her mother.

THE RUSSIAN PALMETTE TIARA

Shown worn above again by Anastasia Mikhailovna, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Grand Duchess of Russia). This time partially closed without the kokoshnik backing.

Shown above on the left worn by Anastasia Mikhailovna, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Grand Duchess of Russia). The tiara has been opened up and placed in front of a kokoshnik.

The tiara is made of seven palmettes and six spikes between each palmette. Palmettes get their name from their resemblance to palm tree leaves. 

This tiara is also generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Since 2006, the tiara has been solely worn by Karolina Augusta I. It is her favourite of the historical tiaras, being lighter and easier to wear for long periods of time.

THE THYRA CORAL TIARA

The Thyra Coral Tiara was created by Cartier and purchased by Crown Princess Thyra due to her love of, and large collection of, jewellery created with coral. The bright colour of the coral and the whimsy of the star diamonds made for a perfect tiara for the slightly eccentric Crown Princess.

The Thyra Coral Tiara is generally reserved for use by the monarch or monarch’s spouse. Presently, it is worn by the current monarch and her mother, though being a colourful piece means it is worn less than the other tiaras in the monarch’s collection.

THE THYRA DAVID WEBB NECKLACE TIARA

The Thyra David Webb Necklace Tiara was designed by American jewellery designer, David Webb, and purchased by Queen Thyra in 1973. David Webb was one of Thyra’s favourite designers and would purchase many of his pieces up until his death in 1975. The flowering vine with acorns is made of diamonds and gold, and can be converted into a bib-style necklace.

The Thyra David Webb Necklace Tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, the tiara is only worn by Eleonora, the mother of the current monarch. Karolina Augusta I has chosen not to wear the tiara as of yet.

THE THYRA IVY CIRCLET TIARA

The Thyra Ivy Circlet Tiara was made by the British jewellery house, Garrard & Co around 1900 using ivy leaves from the 1860s. Then Crown Prince Paul Friedrich bought the tiara for his wife, Thyra, in 1946 as a belated wedding gift. The tiara was chosen especially because of the couple’s time spent in Britain during the Second World War. Under the Language of Flowers, ivy has a number of meanings, including friendship in adversity, constancy and lifelong love.

The Thyra Ivy Circlet Tiara is generally reserved for the monarch or the monarch’s spouse. Presently, the tiara is only worn by Eleonora, the mother of the current monarch. Karolina Augusta I has chosen not to wear the tiara as of yet.

Note: most of the other jewellery in the photos, the necklaces, earrings and brooches are also currently owned by the family and worn by various members of the family.

photos taken from pinterest. (Further pictures of the tiaras can be found in the Pinterest board),  sotheby’s, or christie’s.

[jaxbeerguy]

Reinheitsgebot: A Celebration of Brewing Purity

On April 23, 1516, Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria enacted a decree that would shape the course of brewing history. This historic legislation, known as the Reinheitsgebot or Bavarian Beer Purity Law, established strict standards for brewing, setting forth principles of purity, quality, and craftsmanship that have endured for centuries. Let us delve into its origins, impact, and enduring legacy in the…

[archduchessofnowhere]

Letter from Duchess Ludovika in Bavaria to her niece, Countess Théodolinde of Württenberg (née Princess of Leuchtenberg):

Munich, 20 April, 1846

... I would not have thought of taking on a sub-governess, as I have an excellent nanny for the younger girls, with whom my Charles [Karl Theodor] is still with; but Hélène's character makes me wish to separate her from her sister Elise [Elisabeth]; without being mean, she has nevertheless influenced her sister, who is much gentler and of a very conscientious nature, but the elder one undermines her, and I am convinced that it is necessary to separate them as much as possible. My intention is: that the governess should manage the education, but so that she can take care of each one separately, I would like to take Mlle Richelle for fear of detouring from one to the other during this time. Also to take charge of French entirely, and to convey the lessons of M Zesage [?]. These are my intentions, but I can't make up my mind until I've heard back from the lady to whom I'd like to entrust my daughters. In the meantime I forgot to mention the reason for all these changes, which is that Miss Nembald is marrying Count Spreti, and will be leaving my daughters in the course of the summer! Thank God I always have good news from Louis [Ludwig Wilhelm], who is in such good hands! It's a great reassurance, and the 5 [children] I have left give me, as you can see, no shortage of work. For my Charles, I have the good fortune to have an excellent nanny capable of teaching him German, French, arithmetic etc. like a man, and who imposes more on him than a governor ever did on his brother, because he loves her very much - but it is not a small thing to rule this world! because other than that I have 2 teachers attached to our house who follow us on the campaign, one teacher of religion and the other, universal, for everything, because he teaches everything we can ask including Greek and Latin, for the boys and music. I kept him when Louis left, as he had only been with us for a few years. If he had had him earlier, he would have taken his education in a different direction, which would undoubtedly have been more successful...

[greekroyalfamily]

208 years ago today was born HM Vasilias Othon I of Greece Prince of Bavaria, (June 1, 1815 - July 26, 1867) was a Bavarian prince of the House of Wittelsbach, first king of the Greek state. He was the only monarch of Greece who brought the title of King of Greece, since the next ones, of the House of Glücksburg, had the title of King of the Greeks.

Othon Frederick Louis was born on June 1, 1815 at the Mirabell Palace in Salzburg. He was the second son of the Philhellenic King of Bavaria Ludwig I and Theresia, daughter of Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. He was educated as a prince, destined for a secondary position within the state. In fact, his father wanted him to follow an ecclesiastical career and assigned his studies to the fanatical Catholic priest, Eitel, who later became the Bishop of Eichstedt

Because Othon was a minor, a Regency committee was formed. This organ consisted of

* Count Joseph Ludwig Armansberg - President

* Georg Ludwig von Maurer

* Major General Carl Wilhelm von Heideck

Some historians say that Othon loved Greece more than anything else, but not the Greeks. He died on July 26, 1867 in Bamberg. He himself wanted to be buried in the traditional clothing of Greece, the foustanella. He is buried next to Amalia, in the crypt of the family tombs of the Bavarian dynasty, in the Church of the Theatines, in the center of Munich.

Πριν 208 χρόνια σαν σήμερα γεννήθηκε Η ΑΜ Βασιλιας Όθων Α΄ της Ελλάδας Πρίγκιπας της Βαυαρίας ,( 1 Ιουνίου 1815 - 26 Ιουλίου 1867) ήταν Βαυαρός πρίγκιπας του Οίκου των Βίττελσμπαχ, πρώτος βασιλιάς του ελληνικού κράτους.Ήταν ο μοναδικός μονάρχης της Ελλάδος που έφερε τον τίτλο Βασιλεύς της Ελλάδος, δεδομένου ότι οι επόμενοι, του Οίκου των Γκλύξμπουργκ, είχαν τον τίτλο Βασιλεύς των Ελλήνων.

Ο Όθων Φρειδερίκος Λουδοβίκος γεννήθηκε την 1η Ιουνίου 1815 στο Παλάτι Μιραμπέλ του Σάλτσμπουργκ. Ήταν ο δευτερότοκος γιος του φιλέλληνα βασιλιά της Βαυαρίας Λουδοβίκου Α΄ και της Θηρεσίας, κόρης του Φρειδερίκου, Δούκα της Σαξονίας-Αλτεμβούργου. Έλαβε εκπαίδευση πρίγκηπα, που προοριζόταν για δευτερεύουσα θέση μέσα στο κράτος. Μάλιστα, ο πατέρας του ήθελε να ακολουθήσει εκκλησιαστική σταδιοδρομία και ανέθεσε τις σπουδές του στο φανατικό καθολικό ιερέα, Αίτελ, που αργότερα έγινε Επίσκοπος του Άιχστετ

Επειδή ο Όθων ήταν ανήλικος, σχηματίστηκε επιτροπή Αντιβασιλείας. Το όργανο αυτό αποτελούσαν οι

* Κόμης Γιόζεφ Λούντβιγκ Άρμανσπεργκ - Πρόεδρος

* Γκέοργκ Λούντβιγκ φον Μάουρερ

* Υποστράτηγος Καρλ Βίλχελμ φον Χάιντεκ

Κάποιοι ιστορικοί αναφέρουν ότι ο Όθων αγάπησε την Ελλάδα όσο τίποτε άλλο, όχι όμως και τους Έλληνες. Απεβίωσε στις 26 Ιουλίου 1867 στη Βαμβέργη. Ο ίδιος θέλησε να θαφτεί με την παραδοσιακή ενδυμασία της Ελλάδας, τη φουστανέλα. Είναι θαμμένος δίπλα στην Αμαλία, στην κρύπτη των οικογενειακών τάφων της βαυαρικής δυναστείας, στην Εκκλησία των Θεατινών, στο κέντρο του Μονάχου.

[myshadesofwrong]

As a historian, who has a literal degree in this (primarily British monarchy with some French so a lot of my examples will come from them), I am begging you if you’re going to be anti-monarchy, at least know the facts so you’re no sprouting the same tired rhetoric over and over.

Or in other words, OP is right (about the fandom and the monarchy)

Rants like the reblog from hotaurea make me so mad because the world and institutions are not black and white. The world, people, and the things we create like institutions have both good and bad and most everybody exists in gray. That’s just a fact.

I agree with the OP. No institution is perfect and evolve. Wilhelm could have been the lynchpin to help his institution evolve. Because, believe it or not, the monarchy does do some good. First, hotaurea is right in a way., Anybody can advocate for issues and charities but the monarchy has something you and I don’t. A platform. Their tags about correctly exposing that particular part as ‘bullshit’ is quite literally wrong. Every royal has a cause. Whatever you think of King Charles of England, he has for years been a champion of the environment, highlighting farmers and natural causes. Do you honestly think that the reporters and press would give a shit if he didn’t show up. Same with Queen Camilla of England. She champions and works quite a lot with domestic abuse charities. Prince William, Princess Catherine, and Prince Harry all constantly give attention to mental health issues. And Prince Harry has his veterans work. Now, we all can go and help each of these very important issues but our impact is going to be nil to theirs. Why? The same reason everyone demands celebrities speak up about issues. Platform. People listen. Now we can have a debate on ‘worthiness’ certainly. That’s a fair debate. But the truth of the matter is as the royal family, they have the reach and the interest from the press to bring more attention to the issue. Please no not negate that impact.

As for the ‘homophobic’ accusation, tell me you’ve never done actual research on the monarchy, any monarchy. I can name FIVE LGBTQIA+ monarchs or members of their family right off the top of my head:

Queen Anne of Great Britain (1700s)

Philippe I, Duke of Orleans, brother of King Louis XIV (a known cross dresser as well, actually openly wore women’s clothing at Versailles)

Edward II of England

Ludwig II of Bavaria

And my personal fav:

James VI of Scotland and I of England.

James is a particular favorite because the man was at least bi-sexual and literally commissioned the fucking King James Bible. You know, the one that all the homophobes use as “proof” of homosexuality being a sin. Pull that out at your next party/family gathering. I love seeing people’s expressions when they learn that.

Anyway, if you think monarchies are homophobic, you have no idea of the history. Y’all, historically, royals are fucking wild. Many straight monarchs actually had lovers both male and female. Some did marry and have children while others never did. But here’s my point, they NEVER hid them. These affairs or favorites were paraded with pride throughout courts. Lovers were given prominent roles in households, on councils, were advisors. It is a very modern assumption or concept really that monarchies must be straight and private. Did some hide them, yes. But go back through history and you’ll find countless stories of favorites being paraded around in from of wives, husbands, and courts. And by repeating that concept, you’re propogating conservative rhetoric is trying to hide LGBTQIA+ history. It’s that simple. And let’s not even talk about sex parties and the actual proclavities of some of these royals. Seriously, look them up. You’ll find out the true meaning of truth is stranger than fiction.

Now we can have debates over finances (reminder royals are not actual leeching off of citizens. They do have their own inheritance wealth, as well as I believe real estate is a big one. Again, the origin of the that is certainly cause for criticism but they’re not getting paid by your taxes) and actual worthiness as hotaurea put it but can we please have a non-extremist discussion on monarchy. It’s not either/or. There are good sides and bad sides to it, even in modern times. Actually, I would say modern monarchies are actually more relevant than their colonizer and blood thirsty ancestors. Modern monarch/royals devote their lives to charities and causes. They have no say in most governments and are definitely not sending troops out to war. But I digress.

Anyway, this is getting too long. I just wanted to point out the flaws in hotaurea’s little rant and add that OP was right. Wille could have been the son of a CEO of a big corporation and the story wouldn’t have changed one bit. It made his decision less impactful because we are never shown the actual struggle Wille could have had. Because you will never convince me, a good PR person would not have seen the potential in Wille after his speech and would not have let him champion a LGBTQIA+ cause. Imagine if Fatima would have been like okay, but Wille chose to go the safe route? That makes Simon’s reaction and his own work more impactful in the series. He even tried to tell Wille but it was WILLE who did not want to listen. In the end, maybe if they had shown the good side of the monarchy, it would have made Wille’s decision even more impactful instead of it looking selfish and impulsive. Or he could have stayed and shown what having a platform for good actually is but OP is right. And believe it or not, there is such a thing as IVF where Wille could have had a biological child. Shocking I know. Or a surrogate. Stop ignoring these possibilities.

Lisa was too stuck on the same rhetoric above instead of creating an institution that would have been nuanced and more realistic instead of a one-dimensional villain twirling their mustache.

Too busy to write a 5k essay it deserves but neither the audience nor Wilhelm saw the actual monarchy as an institution worth fighting for or at least worth considering it.

The monarchy was completely absent from the show. You could replace it with a billion-dollar publicly traded company and it wouldn't change the plot. Concerns about public image? Check. Out of control sense of privilege? Check. Spoiled children of rich parents? Check.

No one from the unrealistically small royal family was given a chance to demonstrate or explore the gravity and the positive influence a thousand-year-old institution can have. Does the queen have causes she particularly cares about? Does she invest her time into fundraising for them? Does she think certain problems are overlooked by the society and does she use her celebrity status to draw attention to them? We have no idea, we only have been shown her caring about the public image of the institution she represents.

Same with Wille: in the show he was never given a chance to explore how his status could be used for good. Were there young people for whom his coming out meant a lot? Definitely, but we never heard about them. Would it be equally important for others if the crown prince started openly talking about his struggles with anxiety? For sure. This list is potentially endless but the creators were never interested in showing anything positive about the monarchy.

[princessvictoriamelita]

Royal Wedding on 26 November 1924.

Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach (60) and Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria (40).

The bridegroom was the eldest son of Wilhelm, Duke of Urach and his second wife, Princess Florestine of Monaco. He was previously married to Duchess Amalie of Bavaria who died in 1912.

The bride was the sixth daughter of King Ludwig III of Bavaria and his wife, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este.

The bridal couple with Princess Wiltrud's niece and nephew, Countess Maria Theresia and Count Johann Kaspar von Preysing-Lichtenegg-Moos.

The wedding guests

Back row: Prince Eberhard of Urach, Prince Wilhelm of Urach, Prince Karl Aloys of Liechtenstein, Prince Karl Gero of Urach and Prince Albrecht of Urach.

Front row: Princess Margarete of Urach, Princess Karl Aloys of Liechtenstein, Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria, Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach, Princess Karola of Urach and Princess Mechthilde of Urach.

[widvile-blog]

Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria, Princess of Wagram and Neuchâtel (5 May 1784 - 1 June 1849)

[josefavomjaaga]

Murat as grand duke of Berg

It’s probably not very polite towards Eugène to post something for his arch-rival Murat on Eugène’s birthday. But I had been looking for something about Murat’s time as grand-duke of Berg for what feels like an eternity for @joachimnapoleon , had been excited to find the text below, had not immediately translated and posted it, had forgotten about it, could not find it anymore, and now that I’ve come across it again I’ll post it, period.

(Plus, Eugène, you used to not celebrate your birthday anyway, and I would need to look up your sister’s letters to find out when your name day is. So there.)

There actually is quite a long and detailed accout of the grand-duchy that I came across, however, written in Cologne, 1877, six years after the Franco-Prussian war. The author didn’t have many nice things to say about Murat, let’s put it that way.

This brief passage however is taken from »Regenten und Volksgeschichte der Länder Cleve, Mark, Jülich, Berg und Ravensberg«, Volume 3, by Dr. J. F. Knapp. Published a lot earlier, in 1836, and in Krefeld, a city that had been under French rule for many years, before becoming Prussian (again) in 1814. And this author seems to look back with some nostalgia and to see the era and particularly Murat in a much more positive light:

By a proclamation of the Emperor Napoleon of 15 March, the two duchies of Cleve and Berg were granted in full sovereignty to Prince Joachim Murat and his natural lawful male heirs with hereditary succession in these lands, and at the same time the dignity of Grand Admiral of France was hereditarily conferred on the Prince and his descendants.

Actually, Murat had become Grand Admiral (and prince) in February 1804, afaik. But quite probably nobody in Berg had ever heard about it before.

The true meaning of these arrangements was expressed by the Prince-Archchancellor of the French Empire [...]

That would be Cambacérès, I presume.

[…] in the speech he gave in the Senate on 21 March: "Prince Murat has been entrusted with the guardianship of an important part of the Empire's borders. Could His Majesty entrust this to worthier hands?"

Awww.

On 20 March, the former governor of the Duchy of Berg, Duke Wilhelm von Baiern, left Düsseldorf with his family. This amiable prince, to whom the people of Berg were very devoted, took an affectionate farewell from the country by a decree dated 20 March 1806.

On a sidenote: This Duke Wilhelm is Berthier’s future father-in-law. The aforementioned family consisted of him, his wife (a sister to King Max Joseph of Bavaria), his daughter Elisabeth (future Madame Berthier) and his son Pius who, as an adult, by his violent conduct would manage to get himself into prison. In Bavaria. As a Wittelsbach. - Pius also is the paternal grandfather of future empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi).

While only a short time before, on 17 January, the elevation of Maximilian Joseph to the royal dignity on 1 January 1806 had been proclaimed in Düsseldorf and received with the sincere joy of loyal subjects and even celebrated with festivities, people now received with all the greater sadness the news that from now on the fate of the country was to be entrusted to an imposed foreigner instead of the established native prince.

I have a feeling that the last paragraph was necessary for the book to be allowed to be published in Prussian territory. Just to put things in perspective: The "established native prince" (Max Joseph of Bavaria) resided in Munich, had only inherited the duchy in 1799, had spent all his youth in France and, to my knowledge, had never even visited the region of Berg since he had become elector.

On to Joachim:

[...]

Joachim personally showed much inclination to win the trust of his subjects. He sought to alleviate their plight by importing a considerable amount of grain from the left bank of the Rhine. Even during his imminent departure, he did not forget his new duties. A deputation of merchants from the two duchies, which he had summoned to Paris, had to present their wishes and opinions to him in order to further improve trade and factories. Even when he was in Poland, he obtained favourable trade concessions for the Elberfelders from the Emperor in Warsaw. On 26 January 1807, he issued a detailed decree from Warsaw on the pension status of civil servants, their widows and children. After thirty years of service, every civil servant was to have the right to demand retirement; also, all pension payments were now firmly secured and accurately determined according to the ratio of salaries. He never denied his attitude of admitting in any case that his subjects should be regarded as French subjects, and often, in opposition to the Emperor's will, he openly expressed it and sought to assert it. Without scientific education, he nevertheless had proper tact, which replaced many a theoretical knowledge. He abhorred injustice, cunning and intrigues against everyone in his characteristic military straightforwardness. It is true that his minister Agar was a Frenchman, but he had not entrusted him with this important post for that reason, but because he held him in high esteem personally. On the contrary, he was averse to Frenchmen filling the posts of civil servants, however much he was approached by them. To several French military officers whom he employed in the contingent in 1807, he explicitly made it a duty to honour his choice and to never forget that they were now no longer in French but in German service, with a prince who was a member of the Confederation of the Rhine. Flattery was repugnant to him, and he was often heard to say in the course of the audiences he gave: People are not sincere, and seek to achieve their ends by fine phrases, because they think him weak enough to lend his ear to flattery. "For," he said, "it is impossible that I should be loved in this country, since I have not yet done anything for it; but they will love me, I assure you!"

I can’t help but think that some of this was written intentionally as a slight to the Prussians who ruled the region at the time, and who were very much disliked all throughout the country. "Remember when we had that ‘eeevil’ Frenchman here? Man, those were the days..."

[delicatuscii-wasbella102]

“The statuette was made to house a relic of St George that Archbishop Ernst of Cologne sent in 1586 to his brother Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria. In the seventeenth century, the statuette was displayed on important feast days on the altar of the Rich Chapel in the Munich Residence. The bearded face of the saint behind the movable visor is carved from boxwood and resembles that of the man who commissioned the statuette, Duke Wilhelm V.”