1930. With 10 illustrations from contemporary paintings. The story of Marguerite Valois, the book describes her unhappy relationships with her mother, her brothers (Charles XI and Henri III of France) and her husband (Henri III of Navarre / Henri IV of France). At times she took refuge in remote strongholds while in fear of her life. The book also goes into some detail about her lengthy list of lovers and the violent ends, with which many of them met. Contents: Birth; Girlhood; The Wedding; La Molle; Bussy d'Amboise; Four Years as Wife in Gascony; The Rue Culture Ste. Catherine; The Revolt; Eighteen Years at Usson; and the Return to Paris, and the End.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Born to Isabel and Ferdinand, the Catholic Monarchs whose marriage united the realms of Castile and Aragon, Juana "the Mad" (1479-1555) is one of the most infamous but least studied monarchs of the Renaissance. Conventional accounts of Juana portray her as a sullen woman prone to depression, a jealous wife insanely in love with her husband, and an incompetent queen who was deemed by her father, husband, and son, unable to govern herself much less her kingdoms.

But was Juana truly mad or the victim of manipulative family members who desired to rule in her stead? Drawing upon recent scholarship and years of archival research, author Bethany Aram offers a new vision of Juana's life. After the deaths of three relatives directly in line for the throne, Juana became heir to her parents' realms. As queen, Juana worked tirelessly to assure the succession of her son Charles V to the throne and thereby to establish the Habsburg dynasty in the kingdoms that others managed to govern in her name.

In this part biography, part study of royal authority, Aram rightly asserts that Juana was more complicated than her contemporaries and biographers have portrayed her. Not the frail and unstable woman usually depicted, Juana employed pious practices to defend her own interests as well as those of her children. She emerges as a woman of immense importance in Spanish and European history.

1901. Part One of Three. With a special introduction by Leon Vallee. The memoirs of the Sun King, one of the most powerful rulers in Western history, written by the Duc de Saint-Simon who was at the very center of Louis XIV's court at Versailles. A genuinely pious and honest man, Saint-Simon's unblinking, eyewitness account of the intrigue, passion, jealousy, and political skullduggery that were part of Louis XIV's rule makes this a supreme work of art. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

1917. Contents: Youth; Father and Son; The Young Ruler; Journeys and Intrigues; The Breach with Bismarck; The New Master; An Enlightened Policy; Political Chess; The Jubilee Year; A Future on the Seas; The End of the First Ten Years; Theory and Fact; The Triumph of Caesarism; Disappointments; The Meteor and Others; Nervous Symptoms; An Interview and Its Consequences; Before the Great War; and William the Problem.

Princess Dar Ling's chronicle of life at court.

The King's studies with his preceptor, Perefixe, had been of only a superficial sort, as, in accordance with the express order of the Queen- mother, this prelate had been mainly concerned about the health of his pupil, the Queen being, above all, desirous that he should have a good constitution. "The rest comes easily enough, if a prince have but nobility of soul and a sense of duty," as the Queen often used to say. Her words came true.

Let Rumbold's declaration, then, be examined upon these principles, and we shall find that it has every character of truth, without a single circumstance to discredit it. He was so far from entertaining any hope of pardon, that he did not seem even to wish it; and indeed if he had had any such chimerical object in view, he must have known that to have supplied the government with a proof of the Rye House assassination plot, would be a more likely road at least, than a steady denial, to obtain it.

I admit, Sire, I answered him, "that I am not the person required for affairs of that sort. Your cousin is proud and cutting; I would not endure what she has made others endure. I cannot accept such a commission. But Madame de Maintenon, who is gentleness itself, is suitable--no one more so for this mission; she is at once insinuating and respectful; she is attached to the Duc du Maine. The interests of my son could not be in better hands."

She quietly persevered in the "progresses" which annoyed the irascible and unreasonable old King, even visiting the Isle of Wight, though the royal big guns were forbidden to "pop" at sight of the royal standard, which waved over her, and the young hope of England. Perhaps recollections of those pleasant visits with her mother at Norris Castle have helped to render so dear the Queen's own beautiful sea-side home, Osborne House. I remember a pretty little story, told by a tourist, who happened to be stopping at the village of Brading during one of those visits to the lovely island.

Pere de Latour, going further, wished to impose hard, not to say murderous, penances on me; I begged him to keep within bounds, and not to make me impatient. This Oratorian and his admirers have stated that I wore a hair shirt and shroud. Pious slanders, every word of them! I give many pensions and alms, that is to say, I do good to several families; the good that I bestow about me will be more agreeable to God than any harm I could do myself, and that I maintain.

As Madame de Maintenon's character happened to please the King, as I have already stated, he allotted her handsome apartments at Court while waiting until he could keep her there as a fixture, by conferring upon her some important appointment. She had the honour of being presented to the Queen, who paid her a thousand compliments respecting the Duc du Maine's perfections

Though written in popular style, this book is intended as the real verified history and complete biography of the Lost Little King, uncrowned Louis XVII, of France; the thrilling story of a real life, that seems almost unreal enough for a romance. It has been a sad tale of two continents for a century. Sample contents: The Prince is Born; Marie Antoinette Appears for the Last Time in Regal Magnificence; Storming of the Bastille; Wit and Wisdom of the Baby Dauphin. Handsomely illustrated with 25 plates.

An account of the Empress of Russia who expanded her vast country's borders south to the Black Sea and west into Europe while continuing the Westernization begun by Peter the Great. Catherine's love affairs with different officers and politicians were widely publicized, though much of what was published was not true. Nevertheless, most of her lovers were promoted to the highest ranks and some of them proved to be extremely talented people (for instance prince Patiomkin, a very prominent general and politician). Contents: Catherine's Girlhood; The Grand Duchess; The Revolution of 1762; The Orlof Ascendancy; Patiomkin and the Minor Favorites; The Crimean Journey; The Death of Patiomkin; The Last Years; and Catherine the Great. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

1912. With photogravure frontispiece and 33 other illustrations in halftone mostly from original photographs by Otto Holbach. The author recounts the history of Richard the Lionhearted with the perspective of having literally traced the footsteps he took on his travels to the Holy Land. Renowned as a Crusader and gallant knight, he spent all but six months of his reign outside of England campaigning or in captivity. Battle leader of the Third Crusade, Richard was shipwrecked near Venice on his return in 1192 and imprisoned by Duke Leopold of Austria.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

1924. With 16 Illustrations. The biography of Anne Boleyn attracted the attention of King Henry VIII, who at that point had been married to Catherine of Aragon for decades. In the hopes that a new marriage would bring him a son, Henry sought a divorce from Catherine so that he could marry Anne, and set into motion a chain of events that would irrevocably break the Church of England from the Catholic Church. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

CONTENTS Family - Birth - Education - Early Life General and Minister - Second Marriage - In Loyal Opposition The Protestant Revolution Sedition - Rebellion - War Alva - Terror - Defeat In Exile and Affliction - The Nassau Family Beggars of the Sea - Brill - St. Bartholomew - Defeat The Death Grapple - Negotiations - Abandonment Requesens - Leyden - Charlotte de Bourbon Don John - General Union - Apogee Discord - Ban - Apology United States - Anjou - Assassins Louise de Coligny - Death - Conclusion

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

In this biography of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales it is the authors' aim to not add more gilt to the already glistening halo of romance which an entranced world has placed around the head of the heir to the British throne, nor to present His Royal Highness as a prince charming, but as a very human young man, not more perfect than his fellows or possessed of more than the average number of virtues to be found in any other clean living, sport loving young Englishman.

Some of the royal ladies found in this volume were more sinned against than sinning. As to others, there is no doubt as to the category in which they belong. Catherine de Medici ranks as one of the great villains of history, but the author contends she was innocent of most of the crimes of which she has been accused. Catherine the Great has little to commend her, especially in the line of private morals, but it must be admitted she left a profound impression upon her times. Other subjects discussed are: Mary, Queen of Scots, a subject of endless controversy; Louise de la Valliere, mistress of that gay monarch, Louis XIV; Maria Theresa; Marie Antoinette; Josephine; Bloody Mary of England; Sophia of Hanover; Christina of Sweden; and Caroline of Brunswick.

CONTENTSThe King of Sweden's Visit to St. PetersburgCatherine II.Of the FavouritesAccession of PaulHas Paul Reason to Fear the Fate of Peter III.?Revolutions May Be ExpectedNational CharacterReligionOn Female GovernmentEducationSupplementAppendix

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.