martedì 10 maggio 2016

May 10th, 1881: 135 years ago they were celebrated the nuptials of Prince Rudolph of Habsburg and Princess Stéfanie of Belgium.





Era risaputa la puntigliosità del Principe Ereditario d'Asburgo, a cui nulla, in realtà, faceva difetto: 



Heinrich von Angeli, Crown Prince Rudolf in naval uniform with the Order of the Golden Fleece,
dipinto ad olio, 1885




Rudolph era prestante, colto, amato dal suo popolo e soprattutto erede al trono della dinastia più prestigiosa d'Europa che stava vivendo proprio sotto la guida dell'accorto governo del Kaiser Franz Joseph il suo periodo di maggior splendore, decoro e valore.
Era perciò egli un partito ambito da molte case regnanti e quando il 10 maggio del 1880 rese noto come ufficiale il suo fidanzamento con la principessa Stéphanie del Belgio (nome completo Stéphanie Clotilde Louise Herminie Marie Charlotte de Saxe-Cobourg et Gotha), 


figlia del re dei belgi Leopoldo II e della regina consorte Marie Henriette nata arciduchessa d'Asburgo Lorena, lo stupore dilagò e tra il popolo e tra i diplomatici: all'età di 22 anni Rudolph aveva dichiarato di essere alla ricerca di una consorte che non avesse più di 20 anni e Stéphanie allora ne aveva 16, perciò rientrava nei canoni stabiliti dal principe, ma per molti poteva puntare decisamente più in alto. 
Scarsamente dotata dalla natura che di lei aveva fatto una fanciulla non molto graziosa, fin troppo alta al punto da risultare sgraziata e talvolta goffa, impacciata negli atteggiamenti e decisamente poco colta, a detta di molti era del tutto inadeguata a vestire il ruolo di futura Imperatrice, ma la volontà dell'Imperatore era ferrea 


Fotografia ufficiale del fidanzamento di Stéphanie e Rudolph, 10 maggio 1880.




Painting Allegory on the betrothal of Crown Prince Rudolf and Stephanie of Belgium by Sophia and Marie Görlich, 1881.




Prima pagina dell'ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG che rende noto il fidanzamento dei due principi



- fu infatti il Kaiser, interessato solo a salvaguardare il futuro della dinastia degli Asburgo, a condurre direttamente le trattative per questo matrimonio - ed acconsentendo a sposare la principessa Stéphanie Rudolph sembrò quasi voler conquistare definitivamente il cuore del padre, superando così le varie e nette divergenze politiche che da tempo li stavano allontanando, raffreddando il loro legame, già piuttosto flebile ed intriso di incomprensioni.
Inutile dire che l'Imperatrice Elisabeth avrebbe preferito per il figlio un matrimonio d'amore ed il trascorrere del tempo non farà che darle ragione, ahimè !



Wedding Crown Prince Rudolph & Stéphanie, foto montaggio pubblicato come stampa datato 1881




La data del matrimonio venne fissata per il 10 di maggio dell'anno successivo, nell'attesa che la futura sposa raggiungesse la pubertà, e, con il passare dei mesi, fu sempre più chiaro a tutti che si trattava di un'ennesima unione sancita da volontà dinastica, ovvero da ragion di stato, che nessuno spazio concede ai sentimenti.

Già il matrimonio dei genitori di Stéphanie era stato governato da un siffatto interesse: 
era il 22 agosto del 1853 quando Marie Henriette, di soli 16 anni, convolò a nozze con il diciottenne principe Leopoldo del Belgio, erede al trono: egli era il secondogenito superstite di Leopoldo I del Belgio e il sua moglie Louise d'Orléans e Marie Henriette, già cognata di Carlotta del Belgio, futura imperatrice del Messico, divenne con il matrimonio cugina di Victoria del Regno Unito; tale unione fu organizzata per rafforzare lo stato della monarchia belga poiché il re del Belgio, di religione protestante, a capo, inoltre, di una monarchia di nuova costituzione, volle che il figlio sposasse un membro di una prestigiosa dinastia cattolica ed il nome Asburgo ( anche se era Asburgo Lorena ) conservava in essa una delle sue qualità più importanti.



Il sontuoso ingresso del corteo nuziale a Vienna accolto trionfalmente dal popolo.




L'imperatrice accompagna lo sposo all'altare.




Fotografia ufficiale dello sposalizio dei principi Stéphanie e Rudolph





Gli sposi durante la funzione





La principessa Stéphanie del Belgio in Neue Illustrierte Zeitung -  edizione speciale pubblicata in occasione del matrimonio del Principe Ereditario Rudolph con Stéphanie. No. 33. 10.5. 1881



Tornando al nostro sposalizio, se esso ebbe luogo il 10 maggio presso la sontuosa Augustinerkirche a Vienna, il banchetto nuziale, come da protocollo, si tenne la sera precedente al Palazzo della Hofburg, ospitato dai genitori dello sposo, l'Imperatore e l'Imperatrice in persona, con la partecipazione dei genitori della sposa che aveva raggiunta Vienna proprio quella stessa mattina, ma vi erano anche altri ospiti illustri quali il principe ereditario e la principessa ereditaria di Germania (il futuro Imperatore Federico III e l'Imperatrice Viktoria), il Principe di Galles (il futuro Re Edoardo VII del Regno Unito) e il principe Guglielmo di Prussia (il futuro Imperatore Guglielmo II di Germania).


Dalla collezione privata Royal Menu Collection di © Jake Smith



Per la prima volta gli ospiti di questa prestigiosa cena furono intrattenuti dalle note del valzer Viennese composto per l'occasione da Eduard Strauss intitolato 'Schleier und Krone' (velo e corona); e pensando a quanto fosse intriso di fascino e di splendore il banchetto tenutosi al palazzo imperiale di Vienna, gli ospiti dell'imperatore mai avrebbero potuto immaginare di essere testimoni di un matrimonio imperiale che sarebbe finito tragicamente con il 'suicidio' (?) dell'impetuoso sposo, erede al possente trono austro-ungarico, occorso il 30 gennaio di otto anni dopo.

Uno dei più stretti confidenti dell'imperatore Francesco Giuseppe, il Barone von Margutti ricordava: 

'Il matrimonio era stato covato dai diplomatici e l'Imperatore era tutto fuoco e fiamme per esso. Per lui, un fanatico legittimista, significava splendori freschi per la sua gloriosa dinastia. Nella sua casa stava arrivando la figlia di un re che era legato a quasi tutte le famiglie reali del tempo'. 1

Ma l'imperatrice la pensava in altro modo tanto da negare, e per un tempo abbastanza lungo, il proprio consenso.

'Odiava apertamente il Re dei Belgi,' ricorda Margutti 'e non aveva nessun tipo di simpatia per la moglie, l'insignificante e incolore regina Henriette - ricordiamo che era un'Asburgo ! ( N.d.A.) -. Né pensava diversamente della Principessa Stéphanie. Considerava la sua formazione troppo poco profonda e la sua natura troppo frivola '. 2


Mi piace concludere questo post celebrativo di un evento che segnò la storia, non solo quella degli Asburgo, ma dell'intera Europa tardo vittoriana, con una citazione che non solo compendia i festeggiamenti di quei solenni giorni, ma ben rende l'idea di quali furono i prodromi ed i primi passi mossi da questa coppia, che dapprincipio, a dispetto di quanto è risaputo, visse momenti di serenità: 

La Principessa Stéphanie trascorse la sua prima notte sul suolo austriaco a Salisburgo e giunse a Vienna il 6 Maggio 1881, quattro giorni prima del matrimonio. I festeggiamenti popolari seguirono un modello ormai familiare, culminando con la cerimonia di matrimonio nella Augustinerkirche, anche se la lista degli invitati fu decisamente ben più sorprendente: vi era incluso sia il futuro re Edoardo VII che il suo nipote prussiano, il futuro Kaiser Guglielmo II. Il nemico personale di Rudolph, il cardinale principe Schwarzenberg, officiò il matrimonio affiancato da più di venti altri prelati. Johann Strauss dedicò il suo Myrthenblüthenwaltzer a Stéphanie, mentre Eduard Strauss compose un altro valzer, Schleier und Krone (Velo e Corona). Come fecero i suoi genitori, anche il principe ereditario trascorse con la sua novella sposa i propri primi giorni di vita coniugale a Laxenburg. L'imperatrice cercò di non interferire, probabilmente per il più delicato dei Motivi, poiché Elisabeth conservava vividi ricordi del vecchio imbarazzo causato dalla propria suocera, ma se ella li lasciò indisturbati, nessun'altro interferì, anzi. Secondo le memorie di Stéphanie, un'abbondante nevicata fuori stagione li accolse quando raggiunsero Laxenburg: fu decisamente demoralizzante uscire dalla carrozza ed essere avvolti 'da un soffio di aria fredda come il ghiaccio di una cantina', mentre l'odore predominante degli interni era 'di muffa': 'non ci sono piante, nessun fiore per festeggiare il mio arrivo ... nessun tappeto, nessuna toilette, nessuna stanza da bagno, nient'altro che una toilette a tre piedi con brocca e catino per lavarsi '. Lei e suo marito avevano 'poco di cui parlare: eravamo praticamente degli estranei'. Il principe ereditario, loquace fino ad essere incauto in compagnia familiare, non riusciva a trovare nulla che potesse interessare una principessa goffa di sei anni più giovane di lui. Sapeva che la madre aveva già soprannominato la propria nuora 'l'insipida sempliciotta' (Das hässliche Trampeltier)?
Troppo spesso storie di discordie familiari nascono da incidenti gonfiati dai ricordi e richiamati alla mente nelle avversità. Così accadde con le leggende tradizionali sui primi anni di vita insieme di Rudolph e Stéphanie. Ciò che si evince dalle lettere di quest'ultima suggerisce un'unione ben più che felice. Dopo una settimana a Laxenburg, costoro si diressero a Budapest, dove la Principessa Ereditaria fu festeggiata come la nipote del più popolare dei Palatini*. Poi fu d'obbligo tornare ai doveri di guarnigione a Praga, dove Rudolph trovò Stéphanie pronta a condividere i suoi interessi. Ello lo accompagnava nelle visite ufficiali e di tanto in tanto anche alle spedizioni di caccia. Il suo spirito guadagnò in vitalità trovando un punto di appoggio nella vita tumultuosa di Rudolph, quale ufficiale dell'esercito ed erede al trono. 3


Sappiamo che li attendeva un destino tragico e crudele che cominciò a prender forma dopo che la Principessa Stéphanie diede alla luce la piccola Elisabeth Marie detta Erzsi ( diminutivo dall'ungherese Erzebet ) il 2 settembre del 1883, nipote prediletta del Kaiser, unica figlia della coppia ( Stéphanie non poté più concepire ), che mai avrebbe potuto dare un erede legittimo alla corona asburgica, ma questa è un'altra storia, che già vi raccontai tempo fa ...


E dopo aver partecipato virtualmente a questi fasti nuziali, vi giunga colmo di affetto e di riconoscenza il mio saluto, carissimi lettori che passate di qui per la prima volta e voi, amici fedeli che sempre mi seguite, accettate il mio più caloroso ringraziamento !

A presto 










FONTI BIBLIOGRAFICHE:


Sigrid-Maria Grössing (Autore), C. Giovanella (a cura di), F. Foradini (Traduttore), Rodolfo d'Asburgo. Libero pensatore, rubacuori, psicopatico,  Mgs Press,  2006;

Brigitte Hamann, Kronprinz Rudolf. Ein Leben. Amalthea, Wien 2005;

Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph,
Faber & Faber, 1994; 

Royal Menus ... a history of Royal dinings - Franz Joseph & 'Sissi' Host Wedding Banquet at Hofburg Palace;

John T. Salvendy (Autore), S. Melani (Traduttore), Ribelle reale. Ritratto psicologico di Rodolfo, Ugo Mursia Editore, 1995. 




CITAZIONI E NOTE:

* il nonno paterno di Stéphanie, Erzherzog Joseph von Österreich-Lothringen fu Palatino d'Ungheria dal 1796 al 1847.

1, 2 - Royal Menus ... a history of Royal dinings - Franz Joseph & 'Sissi' Host Wedding Banquet at Hofburg Palace

3 - Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis JosephFaber & Faber, 1994, Chapter 14 - FATHER AND SON.












- picture 1




It was common knowledge Crown Prince of Austria's meticulousness, to whom nothing, really, was lacking:




- picture 2 - Heinrich von Angeli, Crown Prince Rudolf in naval uniform with the Order of the Golden Fleeceoil painting, 1885




Rudolph was handsome, learned, loved by his people and especially the heir to the throne of Europe's premier dynasty that was living right under the guidance of Kaiser Franz Joseph's government his heyday, his period of most decor and value.
Therefore he was a good match coveted by many ruling houses and when on May 10th, 1880 became known as official his engagement to the Princess Stéphanie of Belgium (full name Stéphanie Clotilde Louise Herminie Marie Charlotte of Saxe-Cobourg et Gotha)




- picture 3




daughter of King Leopold II of the Belgians and of Queen Consort Marie Henriette, born Archduchess of Habsburg-Lorraine, the astonishment spread both amongst the people and the diplomats: at the age of 22 Rudolph claimed to be looking for a wife who hadn't to be more than 20 years old and Stéphanie,  then 16, fell within the rules established by the prince, but for many he could focus decisively higher: poorly endowed by Nature that made of her a girl not very pretty, too tall to the point of being ungraceful and sometimes awkward, ill at ease in her attitudes and definitely not very cultured, according to many was completely inadequate to dress the role of the future Empress but the Emperor's will was adamant




- picture 4 - Official photograph of the betrothal of Stéphanie and Rudolf, May 10th, 1880


- picture 5 - Painting Allegory on the betrothal of Crown Prince Rudolf and Stephanie of Belgium by Sophia and Marie Görlich dated 1881


- picture 6 - Front page of the Allgemeine Zeitung announcing the engagement of Princess Stéphanie and Prince Rudolph




- actually it was the Kaiser, only interested about safeguarding the future of the Habsburg dynasty, to lead directly the negotiations leading to this marriage - and agreeing to marry the Princess Stéphanie Rudolph seemed almost wanting to conquer definitely his father's heart, so overcoming the various and net political divergences that for so long  time were moving them apart, cooling their bond, already rather weak and steeped in misunderstandings.

Needless to say, that Empress Elizabeth would have preferred for his son a love marriage and the passage of time couldn't hep but give reason to her, alas!




- picture 7 - Wedding Crown Prince Rudolf & Stéphanie, photomontage published as a print dated 1881




The wedding date was set for May 10th of the following year, for the bride hadn't still reached her puberty, and, with each passing month, it was increasingly clear that this was yet another union sanctioned by dynastic will, that is by reasons of state, that no space allow to sentiments.

Already the marriage of Stéphanie's parents was ruled by such interest: it was August 22nd, 1853 when Marie Henriette, aged only 16 years, wed the 18 years old Prince Leopold of Belgium, heir to the throne: he was the second surviving son of Leopold I of Belgium and his wife Louise d'Orléans and Marie Henriette, already sister-in- law of Charlotte of Belgium, future empress of Mexico, became  cousin with Victoria of the United Kingdom by marriage; this union was organized to strengthen the status of the Belgian monarchy since the King of Belgium, protestant, head also of a new monarchy, wanted his son to marry a member of a prestigious catholic dynasty and the name Habsburg kept in it one of its most important qualities.




- picture 8 - The sumptuous arrival of the wedding procession in Vienna triumphantly welcomed by the people.


- picture 9 - The Empress accompanies the groom to the altar.


- picture 10 - Official photograph of the wedding of Princess Stephanie and Prince Rudolph.


- picture 11 - The bride and groom during the function.


- picture 12 - Princess Stephanie of Belgium in Neue Illustrierte Zeitung - Special edition on the occasion of the wedding of crown prince Rudolf with Stephanie. No. 33. 10.5. 1881



Returning to our marriage, if it took place on May 10th in the sumptuous Augustinerkirche in Vienna, the wedding banquet, as per protocol, was held the night before at the Hofburg Palace, hosted by the groom's parents, the Emperor and Empress in person, with the participation of the bride's parents who had reached Vienna that very same morning, but there were also other distinguished guests such as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Germany (future Emperor Frederick III and future Empress Viktoria), the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom) and Prince William of Prussia (future Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany).




- picture 13 - From the private Royal Menu Collection of © Jake Smith



For the first time, the guests at this prestigious dinner were entertained by the Viennese waltz composed for the occasion by Eduard Strauss entitled 'Schleier und Krone' (veil and crown) and thinking of how the banquet held at the Imperial Palace in Vienna was filled with charm and splendor, the guests of the Emperor never would have imagined to be witnesses of an imperial wedding that would tragically end with the 'suicide' (?) of the impetuous groom, heir to the throne of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire, which occurred on January 30th, eight years later.

One of the closest confidants of the Emperor Francis Joseph, Baron von Margutti, remembered:

‘This marriage was hatched by the diplomats and the Emperor was all fire and flame for it. To him, a legitimist fanatic, it meant fresh splendors for his glorious dynasty.  Into his House came a King's daughter who was related to nearly all the royal families of the day.’1

But the Empress was thinking otherwise and for quite a long time she denied  her consent for this marriage.

'She positively hated the King of the Belgians,’ recalled Margutti ‘and had no sort of liking for his wife, the insignificant and colorless Queen Henriette. Nor did [Empress] Elisabeth think much of Princess Stéphanie. She considered her education too shallow and her nature too frivolous.’2

I like to end this post of mine celebrating the event which marked History, not only that of the Habsburgs, but of the whole late Victorian Europe, with a quote that sums up not only the celebration of those solemn days, but well makes the idea of how they were the first warnings and the first steps taken by this couple, which at first, in spite of what is known, lived moments of serenity:

Princess Stephanie spent her first night on Austrian soil at Salzburg and arrived in Vienna on 6 May 1881, four days before the wedding. The popular festivities followed as familiar a pattern as the marriage ceremony in the Augustinerkirche, though the guest list was even more striking: it included both the future King Edward VII and his Prussian nephew, the future Kaiser William II. Rudolph's personal enemy, Cardinal Prince Schwarzenberg, officiated at the wedding with more than twenty other prelates to assist him. Johann Strauss dedicated his Myrthenblüthenwaltzer to Stephanie, while Eduard Strauss composed another waltz, Schleier und Krone ( Veil and Crown ). Like his parents, the Crown Prince and his bride spent their first days of married life at Laxenburg. The Empress did not seek to interfere, probably for the kindest of motivs, for Elizabeth had vivid recollections of old embarassement caused by her mother-in-law. But if the Empress did not fuss around them, nobody else did, either. According to Stephanie's memoirs, unseasonal snow was falling when they reached Laxenburg: it was dispiriting to step out of the carriage and be met ' by a breath of air as cold as ice in a cellar', while the predominant smell was 'of mould' : ' No plants, no flowers to celebrate my arrival ... no carpets, no dressing-table, no bathroom, nothing but a wash handstand on a three-legged framework'. She and her husband had 'little to say to each other; we were virtual strangers'. The Crown Prince, recklessly loquacious in familiar company, could think of nothing to interest a gauche princess six years his junior. Did he know that his mother had already dubbed her daughter-in-law 'the plain bumpkin' ( das hässliche Trampeltier )?
All too often, tales of marital discord spring from incidents inflated in reminiscence and recollected in adversity. So it is with the traditional legends of Rudolph and Stephanie's early life together. The evidence of his letters suggest a far happier association. After a week in Laxenburg, they travelled to Budapest, where the Crown Princess was fêted as a grandaughter of the most popular of the Palatines. Then back to garrison duties in Prague, where he found Stephanie ready to share his interests. She accompanied him on official visits and occasionally on hunting expeditions and shoots, too. Her vitality of spirit quickened once she gained a solid foothold in Rudolph's topsy-turvy life, as army officer and heir apparent. 3


We know that was waiting for them a tragic and cruel fate that began to take shape after that Princess Stephanie gave birth to the little Elisabeth Marie said Erzsi (diminutive of the Hungarian Erzebet) on September 2nd, 1883, the Emperor's favourite  granddaughter and the couple's only daughter (Stéphanie couldn't conceive anymore ), which never could give a rightful heir to the Habsburg crown, but that's another story that I already told you long ago ...

And after participating virtually to these sumptuous wedding celebrations, I hope will reach you full of affection and gratitude my greeting, dear readers who pass here for the first time and you, faithful friends who always follow me, please accept my warmest thanks!

See you soon 











BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES:

Sigrid-Maria Grössing (Autore), C. Giovanella (a cura di), F. Foradini (Traduttore), Rodolfo d'Asburgo. Libero pensatore, rubacuori, psicopatico,  Mgs Press,  2006;

Brigitte Hamann, Kronprinz Rudolf. Ein Leben. Amalthea, Wien 2005;

Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph,
Faber & Faber, 1994; 

Royal Menus ... a history of Royal dinings - Franz Joseph & 'Sissi' Host Wedding Banquet at Hofburg Palace;

John T. Salvendy (Autore), S. Melani (Traduttore), Ribelle reale. Ritratto psicologico di Rodolfo, Ugo Mursia Editore, 1995. 




QUOTATIONS AND NOTES:

* Stéphanie paternal grandfather, Erzherzog Joseph von Österreich-Lothringen was Palatine of Hungary from 1796 to 1847.

1, 2 - Royal Menus ... a history of Royal dinings - Franz Joseph & 'Sissi' Host Wedding Banquet at Hofburg Palace

3 - Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis JosephFaber & Faber, 1994, Chapter 14 - FATHER AND SON.


60 commenti:

  1. Che belli che sono questi tuoi post, un tuffo nel passato!
    Grazie e buona giornata

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Manu
      grazie carissima, le tue parole mi colmano il cuore di gioia !

      Che la tua giornata sia serena, te lo auguro con un forte, sincero abbraccio, ringraziandoti ancora ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  2. Hello Dany, it looks like a beautiful royal wedding. Thanks for sharing their story and beautiful photos. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your week ahead!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ eileen
      I'm always so overjoyed by having you here, sweetest friend of mine, and I'm so grateful to you for your words of appreciation meaning so much to me, I wholeheartedly thank you !

      Hope you're having a lovely week, I wish you most beautiful days to come, sending love and blessings of joy to you ❥

      Elimina
  3. Carissima Dany...leggendo ho immaginato d' esser una delle eleganti aristocratiche invitate al matrimonio!!
    Descrivi tutto così bene,fai realmente vivere l'atmosfera del momento!!
    grazie sempre!un bacio
    Anto

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Antonella
      le tue parole mi danno una tale gioia, carissima, mi caricano di entusiasmo e di allegrezza, grazie di cuore !

      Che la tua giornata sia colma di sole e di fiori,
      ti abbraccio forte forte ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  4. adoro leggere i tuoi post, così belli e coinvolgenti che mi pare di essere lì a guardare rapita tutti gli invitati a queste regali nozze! Persino il menù sei riuscita a trovare, sei davvero unica! ti abbraccio forte forte e ti auguro una magifica serata Lory

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ lory
      proprio tu dici a me che sono unica, mia dolce !!!

      Ti mando un grande bacio colmo di gratitudine con cui ti auguro una giornata colma di gioia e di spensieratezza ⊰✽*♡*✽⊱

      Elimina
  5. I find tragic and sad these arranged royal marriages. The poor bride and groom didn't have much to say to the matter. I see the point in these however, power and economic matters. Sometimes the marriage was a happy one, sometimes not. In this sad case it ended in the Meyerling double suicide.

    Thank you my dear Dany for another interesting post. May the sun shine in your life 💕

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ riitta
      it's always a delight to welcome you here, to read your comment always put a smile on my face and fill my day, it is I thanking you for this, dearie !

      Sending my dearest love, hugs and more hugs for wishing you a most joyful remainder of your week, with much, oh so much thankfulness •♥•♥•♥•

      Elimina
  6. Although I don't like the idea of arranged marriages, your posts always inspire me, dear Daniela, and I so enjoy the photos and music that you share here. Thank you so much for taking me back in time! Hugs and much love to you.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Linda
      arranged marriages were very often surce of sadness and unhappiness, love is the first thing on which a marriage has to be built on, without any doubt, my lovely !

      Having you here always blesses me, sweetest one, sending love and gentle hugs to you across the many miles, with such a lot of joy ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  7. O, dear..I couldn't read a word but it is a pretty post..
    I think he was much more handsome than she....:)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ bj
      you're so right, he was truly pretty, but she wasn't pretty at all, poor darling !
      You always enrich ~ My little old world ~ with cheerfulness and joy, my darling, I sincerely thank you !

      Hope you're enjoying your week with gladness, I'm sending you love, hugs and smiles ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  8. Thank you, Dany, for being such a wonderful historian. These are beautiful stories and lives that we most likely would never know about. Happy Week to you..Judy

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Judy
      you're so generous with me, my adorable friend, thank you for your words of appreciation and of amusement !

      Sending blessings of joy on the remainder of your week,
      with heartfelt gratitude ♡∗ஐ∗♡

      Elimina
  9. Love the pictures in your posts... especially the ones of the beautiful dresses they wore, all the layers is so pretty, they really designed those dresses so pretty! Wow that was some kind of wedding, those royal weddings are just amazing. I can't get over how long her name was, can you imagine having to write all that down on a form or wedding license :) It is nice to hear that some of the arranged marriages worked out and they end up enjoying the company of those they married. I wonder how I would feel knowing I was marrying someone to further my families status. Very interesting once again my friend.
    Hope you are having a good week so far, sending (((hugs)))

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Connie
      thank your for gracing my blog today with the kindness of your soul and your words of interest and of enjoyment sincerely blessing my heart, wonderful friend of mine !

      Wishing you all the love and the joy you deserve for your days to come,
      thinking of you with so much love ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  10. Ecco vedi Daniela carissima? Sono riuscita a leggere questo tuo bel post proprio nell'anniversario del matrimonio fiabesco di cui ci hai narrato. Interessante coincidenza :)
    Un abbraccio, grazie!
    Susanna

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Susanna
      ne sono davvero felice, e lo sono altresì nel leggere nelle tue parole dell'averti donato qualche attimo di piacevole svago ... grazie di cuore, mia dolce amica !

      Che il prosieguo della tua settimana ti sorrida di gioia ღ❀ღ

      Elimina
  11. Amazing, the events, they put on, back then!!!!!

    Tessa,
    who is off with the faeries...

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Tessa
      my darling, thank you for taking the time for visiting, I trulky appreciate it so much !!!

      Look after yourself, dearie, thank you again and again ❥

      Elimina
  12. Cara Daniela, che matrimonio!Epoche lontane che tu ci fai vivere e sognare!Un abbraccio, cara amica gentile!Baci,Rosetta

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Rosetta
      con il cuore colmo di gioia per le tue parole ti abbraccio forte forte augurandoti una giornata prodiga di serenità, dolcissima amica mia !

      Con affetto ed ammirazione ♥∗✿≫♡≪✿∗♥

      Elimina
  13. Grazie a te è come se fossi tornata indietro nel tempo ed avessi partecipato a queste nozze reali. Come sempre mi congratulo con te per la tua grande bravura e ti ringrazio per condividere la tua romantica passione
    Bacioni
    Alessandra

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Alessandra
      carissima, le tue parole mi onorano e sono tanto, tanto felice di leggere che ti ho fatto vivere un piccolo sogno, grazie a te, immensamente, con la tua ammirazione mi fai davvero un grande dono !

      Che la gioia sia sempre con te, preziosa amica mia, te lo auguro con un forte abbraccio colmo di stima, affetto e gratitudine •♥•*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*•♥•

      Elimina
  14. How interesting, Dany! Yet, they look more like brother and sister, don't they? They have the same eyes! How sad that he took his life, it seems like she tried to make him happy. So many of these aristocratic marriages end in tragedy. I'm behind on my reading, looking forward to catching up on your posts, my darling!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ June
      Marvellous Lady, I'm so late with so many posts of so many friends, I'm really overwhelmed during this period of the year for several reasons, and all the time I do spend here is never enough ... actually I'm sad to neglect my blogfriends, you don't really deserve it ... I simply do as I can, often arrive so much late with my comments, so don't be worry, dearie, you have all my understanding ... and never forget, I cherish you so much !

      Hope you're enjoying your week with gladness,
      I'm sending you love, hugs and smiles ~ஜ❀ஜ~

      Elimina
  15. How interesting the stories are behind these arranged marriages. Thank you for sharing!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ The Charm of Home
      it's my pleasure, dearie, thank you for enjoying, indeed !

      Sending blessings on your day, today, and on the remainder of your week, may it be filled with much love ༺✿*♥*✿༻

      Elimina
  16. que belas fotos !!!
    mais uma história para a gente sonhar !!
    lindo..
    :o)

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Eliane
      querida amiga !
      Estou aqui para dar os sonhos que não custam nada, e eu fazê-lo com paixão!

      Um abraço para você também,
      muito obrigada ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  17. Una storia che parla di un amore che non c'è, un matrimonio che chissà quanti vuoti e frasi non dette avrà avuto. Ci vedo tanta solitudine e cicatrici nel cuore nei protagonisti. Purtroppo questo tipo di unioni esistono ancora ai nostri tempi, in paesi non ricchi, ma anche in famiglie di tradizione aristocratica, per il prestigio e quant'altro. Grazie Daniela di raccontare questa storie veramente vissute e che fanno riflettere, e molto. Un abbraccio. Paola

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Paola
      la tua stima mi è talmente cara e preziosa, mia cara, mi illumina questo pomeriggio reso così buio da minacciose nubi cariche di pioggia !

      Contraccambio il tuo abbraccio, con il cuore colmo di gioia ❀⊱╮

      Elimina
  18. This was very interesting to read, Dany, as I did not know this history. It seemed like the royals always had arranged marriages--some were successful but I think most were not. I felt sad for Stephanie.

    We are finally having beautiful spring weather and I have been busy planting in my garden. Summer is short in these mountains so I try to enjoy it as much as I can.

    Have a wonderful week my friend!

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Pat
      during the last centuries political and economical reasons came before than the happiness of a young couple, alas !

      As for your Spring, I'm so glad that it has finally arrived, so enjoy your gardening and your good season, you really have such a long Winter, you're right, ... but what a charm !

      Enjoy your week you too, my lovely friend, sending blessings and so dear hugs across the many miles, with utmost thankfulness ⊰✽*♥*✽⊱

      Elimina
  19. Ciao Daniela, grazie per il tuo interessamento...

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Minù
      piccola mia, stavo giusto pensando di inviarti una mail prima di sera ...

      ஜ Ti abbraccio con tanto affetto ஜ

      Elimina
  20. Lovely old pictures; they are treasures, indeed. I loved the horse and carriage ride. I took one a few years ago, and it was delightful.

    ~Sheri

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Sheri
      oh I also so love to ride in carriages, especially if they're old, when I happen to travel in Austria, where it is still an ancient tradition to have a tour around the old centre of towns and cities with 'Fiackers', I don't miss the chance, I feel as if I were daydreaming !

      Enjoy your weekend ahead, sweet, darling friend of mine, sending you love and smiles ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  21. I learn so much when I visit here! I know a good deal about the Brits and some of the French but little on the German/Hapsburgs/Belgians. It's so sad, isn't it, arranged marriages? I guess I understand -- sort of. But not really. And so young. Your illustrations are terrific. Another marvelous post.

    Have a glorious weekend, my friend!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jeanie
      good morning sweetie !
      Your words of enjoyement make my day and fill both it and my heart, I thank you more and more !

      I wish you too a wonderful and joyous end of your week ahead, dearest friend, sending blessings to you ✿ღ✿

      Elimina
  22. Cara Daniela, leggendo questo tuo interessante post non posso che immaginare di quanta tristezza in queste vite da nobili... Uff, per fortuna i tempi sono cambiati almeno un pochino. Un abbraccio e buon wk con tutto il mio affetto. Woody

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Woody
      mia cara, possiamo dire che quello dei matrimoni sanciti per ragion di stato non faceva di certo parte dei loro privilegi, da quel punto di vista conducevano una vita ben più felice le classi meno agiate ... sicuramente !

      trascorri anche tu un sereno weekend di primavera, mia dolce,
      te lo auguro con tutto il cuore ༺❀༻

      Elimina
  23. I've not heard of these people, Dany, but what an elaborate event. It must have been wonderful.

    I thank you for sharing, sweet friend, and I hope you have a most wonderful weekend. xo.

    RispondiElimina
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    1. @ Lisa
      precious friend, probably you know Crown Prince Rudolph better as Sisi's only son, and this marriage of his, with the passing of the time, unhappy more and more, ended with the Mayerling accident, I'm sure you do remember such things, I already dealed with such topics I love so much ... of course, they belong to European History, and they are most known to us ...

      Glad you've enjoyed this post of mine, anyway, I wish you a lovely Sunday and all my best for the coming week ahead,
      with boundless gratitude ❥

      Elimina
  24. Dear Daniela,

    Always enjoy coming to visit you and see all the wonderful things you have to share. I really loved seeing all the old photographs, the clothing and reading the history.
    Thanks for sharing this with us.
    Happy weekend
    Sending love and hugs
    Carolyn

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Carolyn
      you're always so heartily welcome, my loving friend !

      Hope you're having a beautiful weekend, I'm sending blessings of joy on your new week ahead, sweetie,
      with my dearest love, hugs and more hugs ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  25. Another fascinating insight into a bygone era. I always find it so very interesting to read what you enlighten us with each week, Dany. Another aristocratic couple of whom I have not heard. Another post filled with lovely photos, lovely dresses, wonderful history. Wishing you a lovely weekend, Dany.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Kim
      your beautiful words of appreciation and amusement make my day, I'm so grateful to you for this, adorable friend of mine !

      May the remainder of your week be as joyous as you deserve, Dearest One, sending you gentle, big hugs and so much love ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  26. Good morning Daniela. May I call you Dany?

    I enjoyed another wonderful history lesson this morning with lovely music. Your Blog is charming and interesting. Thank you for your visit today.

    Have a happy week my new found friend.
    Hugs,
    Jeanne

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Jeanne
      of course you may, indeed, please, call me Dany !
      I'm always pleased to welcome you here and to read your lovely words, thank you, dear friend of mine !

      Enjoy your new week you too, may it be filled with love and serenity,
      ✿•• sending love across the many miles ••✿

      Elimina
  27. A beautiful wedding, but alas not such a beautiful life. You can't arrange love!! (Princess Stephanie looks quite lovely in these pictures -- it is hard to believe she was thought of as plain and awkward!)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Sallie
      how right you are, you cannot arrange love, that's why such marriages, when they weren't lived in sadness, were at least lived in friendship, but often led the spouses to live separate lives, with betrayals and misunderstanding of all sort .. of course, to live together without being driven by love makes every day of one's life at least very ... miserable and so hard to bear !

      May your day, today, be blessed with joy, my lovely, and have wonderful days to come, with all my love and thankfulness •♥*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*♥•

      Elimina
  28. Such a sad story but so very interesting. Of course I was caught by the date, May 10th, which is my birthday. I wish the bride could have been happier on that (for me!) auspicious date!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Pondside
      what a strange combination, dearie !
      Let me send you all my best belated wishes on your birthdady, with my dearest love and sincere gratitude, you're so precious to me ... I still have on my mind the wonderful series of photographs dating back to the day of your marriage, they've remained on my mind, for I was both so fascinated and touched by them ... I so love that last post of yours, blessed be !

      Hope you're having a great week so far, my lovable friend,
      with heartfelt gratitude ஐღஐ

      Elimina
  29. What a menu! All that wine and liquor too.
    Lovely post. I enjoy your blog so much.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ annie
      and I love you more and more, you're so precious to me, my Dearest One !

      May your day be as beautiful as you,
      thinking of you with dear love and thankfulness ༺♡❀♡༻

      Elimina
  30. Those were very different days. Arranged marriages sound so calculated. I can't imagine such demands in today's world but it certainly a very fancy and elegant wedding.

    Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos Dani.

    Hugs,

    Janet

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. @ Janet
      loving friend of mine, it is I who thank you, your words of appreciation bless my heart, I cherish you so much !

      Hope you're having a beautiful week, I'm sending blessings of joy on your days to come, may they be filled with much love ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.