Definitions by Lorelili
Katherine of Aragon
(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.
Katherine of Aragon by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Boudica
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.
royalty
1. Holding the power, status, and authority of a monarch: a hereditary leader of a country.
2. Of or relating to people of royal rank and their families, collectively.
3. Informally used to describe entertainers whose offspring at least try to follow in their parents' footsteps; some succeed and some don't, but this "royalty" is merely entertainment and they generally bear little political power outside of voicing their own opinions.
2. Of or relating to people of royal rank and their families, collectively.
3. Informally used to describe entertainers whose offspring at least try to follow in their parents' footsteps; some succeed and some don't, but this "royalty" is merely entertainment and they generally bear little political power outside of voicing their own opinions.
Many nobles across the land were related by blood or marriage to royalty... and many of them wanted the crown, ready to walk over anybody to capture it.
Many peasant women cunningly sought flings with the king, establishing a link with royalty through their children... and very well could have kept the royal family healthier by giving them a more diverse genepool.
Liza Minnelli, Janet Jackson, Moon Unit Zappa, Drew Barrymore, and Miley Cyrus are a few members of entertainment royalty.
Many peasant women cunningly sought flings with the king, establishing a link with royalty through their children... and very well could have kept the royal family healthier by giving them a more diverse genepool.
Liza Minnelli, Janet Jackson, Moon Unit Zappa, Drew Barrymore, and Miley Cyrus are a few members of entertainment royalty.
intrigue
A complicated plot or scheme, often secret, intended for a purpose by some form of deception; a conspiracy.
The intrigue was heavy in the court as the various politicians and aristocrats plotted to kill the king and his two sons, leaving the throne empty.
inbreeding
The breeding of people/ animals/ plants that are closely related to each other (first cousins or even closer), thus keeping the genepool weak and leaving them vulnerable to various health problems, mentally and emotionally as well as physically.
Purebred dogs and royalty are notorious for inbreeding; to keep the line "pure" then they are only allowed to procreate with their "own kind", even when offspring are stupid, sickly, deranged, ugly or any number of things.
Carlos II of Spain was the end result of the Spanish Hapsburgs; his parents were uncle and niece and both were highly inbred. Carlos was deformed, retarded, delicate, and had an extended infancy and premature senility. He was married twice, but he was impotent and sex was beyond his abilities.
Plants can be inbred, too; bananas of today are very different from those of three generations ago and often lack the genetic diversity which would keep them healthy.
Carlos II of Spain was the end result of the Spanish Hapsburgs; his parents were uncle and niece and both were highly inbred. Carlos was deformed, retarded, delicate, and had an extended infancy and premature senility. He was married twice, but he was impotent and sex was beyond his abilities.
Plants can be inbred, too; bananas of today are very different from those of three generations ago and often lack the genetic diversity which would keep them healthy.
inbreeding by Lorelili January 17, 2011
courtesan
Originally meant a female courtier, a woman of a royal or noble court. By the Renaissance, the connotations of the word had acquired that of the mistress or concubine of a king or a noble.
Now it generally means a high-class prostitute whose clients are wealthy men.
Now it generally means a high-class prostitute whose clients are wealthy men.
"Christian, I'm a courtesan; I'm paid to make men believe what they want to believe." -Satine, Moulin Rouge
Thaïs, Empress Theodora, Diane de Poitiers, Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn, Madame du Pompadour, Marie Duplessis, and Mata Hari are but a few of many famous courtesans.
Thaïs, Empress Theodora, Diane de Poitiers, Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn, Madame du Pompadour, Marie Duplessis, and Mata Hari are but a few of many famous courtesans.