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An ancient warrior queen of the Iceni, a Celtic tribe in Britain during the time of Emperor Nero. When her husband died, the Romans ignored his will, which stated that his daughters and Rome were to rule his kingdom jointly; Boudica was flogged while her daughters were raped. Infuriated, Boudica rallied her people and neighboring tribes in a violent campaign against Roman occupation.
Boudica's people sacked many Roman forts, including London and Colchester, slaughtering their inhabitants and sending the survivors running... until Suetonius regrouped his army in the Midlands and defeated the indigenous army. Boudica poisoned herself to avoid capture.
Boudica's people sacked many Roman forts, including London and Colchester, slaughtering their inhabitants and sending the survivors running... until Suetonius regrouped his army in the Midlands and defeated the indigenous army. Boudica poisoned herself to avoid capture.
Boudica, refusing to let her Roman attackers wrong not only herself and her daughters but their people, showed the Roman Empire that women could kick ass as well as any man.
by Lorelili January 24, 2011
Get the Boudica mug.Catherine II of Russia (1729-1796), also known as Catherine the Great, was one of the best leaders in Russian history, ruling from 1762 to her death. A princess from an obscure but well-connected royal family, Catherine was chosen by Empress Elizabeth of Russia as a bride for her nephew and heir, Peter III.
Catherine and Peter were horribly mismatched; she was intellectual, ambitious, pensive, witty, and eager to become the Empress; Peter was pockmarked, immature, boorish, lacked common sense, scorned Russia, and adored Prussia (which earned him many detractors). Catherine, neglected by Peter, studied politics and philosophy while gaining allies for herself. In 1762, she led a coup d'état against Peter, who had become Emperor and was thoroughly disdained.
With Peter out of the way, Catherine set to work on improving and modernizing Russia. Under her, the empire expanded, improved administration, and was revitalized with her humanitarian ideals, although she was ruthless when threatened.
In July 1796, she suffered a stroke in her powder room and died in bed the following day.
Catherine and Peter were horribly mismatched; she was intellectual, ambitious, pensive, witty, and eager to become the Empress; Peter was pockmarked, immature, boorish, lacked common sense, scorned Russia, and adored Prussia (which earned him many detractors). Catherine, neglected by Peter, studied politics and philosophy while gaining allies for herself. In 1762, she led a coup d'état against Peter, who had become Emperor and was thoroughly disdained.
With Peter out of the way, Catherine set to work on improving and modernizing Russia. Under her, the empire expanded, improved administration, and was revitalized with her humanitarian ideals, although she was ruthless when threatened.
In July 1796, she suffered a stroke in her powder room and died in bed the following day.
Catherine the Great, while known for her romances, did not die during intercourse with a stallion; the French made this up to discredit a woman of power.
While Catherine had twelve lovers in her lifetime, this was tame for an aristocrat of that time.
The great love of Catherine's life was Prince Grigory Potemkin (1739-1791); he was her military leader and her equal intellectually, politically, and socially. She called him "My Tiger", "My Cossack", "My Golden Pheasant".
While Catherine had twelve lovers in her lifetime, this was tame for an aristocrat of that time.
The great love of Catherine's life was Prince Grigory Potemkin (1739-1791); he was her military leader and her equal intellectually, politically, and socially. She called him "My Tiger", "My Cossack", "My Golden Pheasant".
by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Get the Catherine the Great mug.A quote that has long been attributed to Marie Antoinette, although historians have generally concluded that she never said that.
Rousseau published in his work "Confessions" (1770) a story of a "great princess" who asked why the peasants were so upset; when told that they had no bread, the princess flippantly said "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche". Marie Antoinette was only fourteen at the time, unknown to the world, and was not even in France at the time.
Rousseau published in his work "Confessions" (1770) a story of a "great princess" who asked why the peasants were so upset; when told that they had no bread, the princess flippantly said "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche". Marie Antoinette was only fourteen at the time, unknown to the world, and was not even in France at the time.
The story of the ignorant, callous princess uttering "Let them eat cake" was around for a century before Marie Antoinette was even born. Contrary to saying such a statement, Marie Antoinette once wrote to her family: "It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness. The King seems to understand this truth."
by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Get the Let them eat cake mug.1. (1509-1537) The third wife of Henry VIII, his favorite wife since she gave him a healthy son. Henry had Anne Boleyn beheaded on false charges of adultery, witchcraft, and incest so he could marry Jane, who had refused to be his concubine and would only give herself to him as his wife.
Jane Seymour was never crowned as queen since Henry wanted her to do her duty first: produce a son.
Jane advocated on behalf of Mary Tudor, to whom she was politically and personally loyal, and for the protesting English Catholics, but Henry would hear none of it, saying only "Remember Anne".
Jane died two weeks after giving birth to Edward VI, Henry's longed-for heir. Elated to finally have a healthy son, Henry soon began mourning, giving her a queen's funeral.
2. A British actress (1951-present) known for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Jane Seymour was never crowned as queen since Henry wanted her to do her duty first: produce a son.
Jane advocated on behalf of Mary Tudor, to whom she was politically and personally loyal, and for the protesting English Catholics, but Henry would hear none of it, saying only "Remember Anne".
Jane died two weeks after giving birth to Edward VI, Henry's longed-for heir. Elated to finally have a healthy son, Henry soon began mourning, giving her a queen's funeral.
2. A British actress (1951-present) known for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Jane Seymour, like Anne Boleyn, was not a great beauty, but there was a stark contrast between them; Anne was an olive-skinned brunette with piercing dark eyes while Jane was almost pallid with pale blue eyes, mousy blonde hair, and a little receding chin; Anne was dramatic and sharp-tongued while Jane was demure and yielding; Anne was a Protestant while Jane was Catholic; where Anne was cruel to her stepdaughter Mary, Jane had personal loyalty to Mary and her mother, Katherine. Jane banned the flashy French styles that Anne introduced to court.
by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Get the Jane Seymour mug.(1485-1536) Katherine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Mary Tudor, also known as "Bloody Mary".
Katherine and Henry were married for 24 years until Henry divorced her for Anne Boleyn; Henry's desire for an heir had led him to defy the Catholic church and would lead to the English Reformation.
However much prowess that Katherine showed as a ruler, however humanitarian that she was, however popular that she was among her people, it all came to nothing as her six pregnancies produced only one surviving child, a daughter, and her looks were ravaged by time, stress, and constant pregnancy.
Katherine and Henry were married for 24 years until Henry divorced her for Anne Boleyn; Henry's desire for an heir had led him to defy the Catholic church and would lead to the English Reformation.
However much prowess that Katherine showed as a ruler, however humanitarian that she was, however popular that she was among her people, it all came to nothing as her six pregnancies produced only one surviving child, a daughter, and her looks were ravaged by time, stress, and constant pregnancy.
"...For my part, I pardon thou everything, and I desire to devoutly pray God that He will pardon thou also. For the rest, I commend unto thou our doughtere Mary, beseeching thou to be a good father unto her... Lastly, I makest this vouge (vow), that mine eyes desire thou aboufe all things."
-from Katherine of Aragon's deathbed letter to Henry VIII
A petite, buxom redhead and the daughter of warrior monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Katherine of Aragon would have ended very differently had her sons survived. The love of her people, her own determination, and the support of foreign allies could not stop Henry from banishing her. Even her daughter was prevented from seeing her.
-from Katherine of Aragon's deathbed letter to Henry VIII
A petite, buxom redhead and the daughter of warrior monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Katherine of Aragon would have ended very differently had her sons survived. The love of her people, her own determination, and the support of foreign allies could not stop Henry from banishing her. Even her daughter was prevented from seeing her.
by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Get the Katherine of Aragon mug.From the medieval European belief that royalty and nobility had blue blood; the elite had enough power and wealth that they could afford to have peasants and the urban poor do their dirty work for them- since the aristocrats were able to stay inside and avoid long hours in the fields (and the sunlight), they were often so pale that their blue veins showed under their translucent skin, thus leading people to believe that their blood was blue.
Now it generally refers to people from old money: families who have been wealthy aristocrats for generations on generations.
Now it generally refers to people from old money: families who have been wealthy aristocrats for generations on generations.
The blue blood elite have long been discouraged from intermarrying with commoners, lest their pure bloodlines be contaminated, ignoring the degenerative effects of inbreeding.
by Lorelili February 18, 2011
Get the blue blood mug.The highest social class in pre-modern societies and even in a few contemporary societies, and the status and title of a noble are usually inherited; basically another term for aristocrats, a tiny group of elite people who are omnipotent over the common people.
Nobles are born into wealth and power and often into politics, regardless of their merit to these privileges; peerage is the legal system to constitute the various hereditary titles.
From highest to lowest rank, the most common peerage titles are:
-duke and duchess
-marquis and marquise
-earl/count and countess
-viscount and viscountess
-baron and baroness
Under a feudal system, the nobility earned property from the monarch through military service.
Nobles are born into wealth and power and often into politics, regardless of their merit to these privileges; peerage is the legal system to constitute the various hereditary titles.
From highest to lowest rank, the most common peerage titles are:
-duke and duchess
-marquis and marquise
-earl/count and countess
-viscount and viscountess
-baron and baroness
Under a feudal system, the nobility earned property from the monarch through military service.
The peasants resented the nobility for their frivolity, but at least these farmers had little to lose; the courts of the elite were swarming with ruthless intrigue, often with plots of overthrowing the royal family. Noblewomen were married off young, had little real power, and just served to manage households and produce many children (who were raised by nannies) to continue the family dynasty, never free to live or choose as they wanted.
Nobility had/have everything to lose: wealth, reputation, position, allies, public support, political influence, and life. A very public life with numerous people breathing down one's neck and threats on one's person did not help matters, either.
Nobility had/have everything to lose: wealth, reputation, position, allies, public support, political influence, and life. A very public life with numerous people breathing down one's neck and threats on one's person did not help matters, either.
by Lorelili February 20, 2011
Get the nobility mug.