Posted on
Much like his contemporary Arthur Tudor, Prince Juan was considered to be a future King who would solve all problems. He would united a divided country, like his father and mother had done, his marriage would tie him to important European allies, and he would be raised with an education suitable to mould him into one of his countries greatest monarchs. Unfortunately, like Prince Arthur, it would fall apart all too soon.
Posted on
The death of an heir is always a tragedy. But when you’ve been so focused on your eldest that the younger son isn’t kept as a proper back up it can make things even more difficult.
Posted on
The arrival of a healthy male heir is an essential moment for any monarchy, but it's not always a guarantee. And for the Habsburgs it became a serious problem.
The birth of Balthasar Charles was particularly welcomed by his parents. King Philip IV of Spain had married Elisabeth of France, the daughter of King Henry IV and Marie de Medici, in 1615. Elisabeth had been just thirteen years old at the time, while Philip was 16, so the pair were probably forbidden from sleeping together until they had grown up a bit. Their first child, a daughter named Maria Margaret, was born in 1621. Sadly she died two days later.
Posted on
In a previous post I looked at Don Carlos was almost a king of Spain. But attention should also be paid to his maternal uncle, Joao Manuel of Portugal. Like Carlos, Joao was a victim of the royal families’ penchant for inter-family marriages.
Posted on
In the 17th century you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting a royal prince called “Louis”. As a result the figure in this blog post is going to be referred to by the name "Young Louis" or "Petite Dauphin", otherwise you’re going to get sick of the name while reading it and I’m going to get lost while I write it.
Posted on
I’ve previously written about an English “Almost King”, Prince Arthur Victor, whose early death led to his younger brother claiming both his crown and his pretty bride. The Romanov dynasty of Russia went through a similar situation a few decades earlier, although in their case the prince concerned was far more promising.
Posted on
Although many boys and young men from royal families have been felled by illness and bad luck there aren’t many who can be said to have been potentially murdered on their father’s orders.
Enter Don Carlos, Prince of Asturias.
Posted on
At the death of Queen Anne on 1 August 1714 the throne of Great Britain passed from the House of Stuart, to the House of Hanover. Despite multiple pregnancies Anne's only child to live past the age of three had been Prince William, Duke of Gloucester.
Posted on
After surviving the usual childhood illnesses, as well as a stint in the Royal Navy, Albert Victor was virtually a shoe-in to one day become King Albert I. Unfortunately a winter chill changed everything.
Posted on
Another one of those “could have changed the course of history” princes, Henry Stuart's arrival was greeted with immense relief by the Scottish court. But it wasn't long before his birth showed the stark division between his parents, which would set the scene for the rest of their marriage.