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Prince Henry of Battenberg; Credit – Wikipedia
October 5, 1658 – Birth of Maria Beatrice of Modena, Queen of England, second wife of King James II of England, at Ducal Palace in Modena, Duchy of Modena, now in Italy
Full name: Maria Beatrice Eleanor Anna Margherita Isabella
Maria Beatrice had a strict religious upbringing and wanted to be a nun, but those plans changed when she was suggested as a second wife for England’s James, Duke of York, the younger brother of King Charles II. Her priest told her the marriage would be an offering to the Roman Catholic Church because she would play a role in converting England to Catholicism. Fifteen-year-old Maria Beatrice was married by proxy to the forty-year-old Duke of York on September 30, 1673, in Modena. Maria Beatrice arrived in England on November 21, 1673, and first saw her husband two days later at their in-person wedding ceremony. Maria Beatrice had twelve pregnancies and gave birth to seven live children, five of whom died young. The birth in 1688 of a Catholic heir to the British throne, James Francis Edward, was a contributing factor to the “Glorious Revolution”, the revolution which deposed King James II and replaced him with his daughter from his first marriage Mary II and her husband and first cousin William III. James and Maria Beatrice were forced to flee to France where King Louis XIV, James’ first cousin, gave them refuge and where they spent the rest of their lives.
Unofficial Royalty: Maria Beatrice of Modena, Queen of England
October 5, 1640 – Birth of Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise de Montespan, better known as Madame de Montespan, mistress of King Louis XIV of France, at the Château of Lussac-les-Châteaux in France
A prominent figure in the French court, Madame de Montespan soon set out to become the primary mistress of King Louis XIV, replacing his current mistress, Louise de La Vallière. Before long, she developed an intimate relationship with the King and replaced Louise. By 1669, she had become his primary mistress and had given birth to her first child with the King. They would have seven children together.
Unofficial Royalty: Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise de Montespan
October 5, 1840 – Birth of Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein at Schloss Eisgrub, today called Schloss Lednice, in the Austrian Empire, now in the Czech Republic
Full name: Johann Maria Franz Placidus
Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein is one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs, reigning for 70 years, 91 days. He led a solitary life. He was unsocial, did not participate in social events, and never married. Some considered him pathologically shy. However, Johann did enact many initiatives in Liechtenstein including compulsory education until the age of 14, the first constitution in 1862, and another constitution in 1921, still in effect. Johann was an art connoisseur and added works to the princely collections but also donated artwork to museums.
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein
October 5, 1858 – Birth of Prince Henry of Battenberg, husband of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, in Milan, Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, now in Italy
Full name: Heinrich Moritz
Henry was the fourth of the five children of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Countess Julia Hauke. As his parents’ marriage was morganatic, Henry and his siblings took their titles from their mother, who had been created Countess of Battenberg and was later elevated to Princess of Battenberg in 1858. Henry and Beatrice met at the wedding of Henry’s brother Louis of Battenberg and Beatrice’s cousin Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. Queen Victoria expected that Beatrice would never marry and remain her personal assistant and secretary. However, during the wedding celebrations, Henry and Beatrice fell in love. When Beatrice told her mother of her desire to marry Henry, Queen Victoria did not speak to Beatrice for seven months. Eventually, the Queen realized that Beatrice would not back down and decided to allow the marriage with several conditions: Henry must renounce his career, nationality, and home and agree to live with Beatrice and the Queen. Henry and Beatrice are ancestors of the Spanish royal family.
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Henry of Battenberg
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