Definitions by Lorelili
Katherine Howard
(1521-1542) The fifth wife of Henry VIII and first-cousin of Anne Boleyn. Katherine "Kitty" Howard was just 18 when she arrived at court. A diminutive, pretty redhead with a great joie de vivre but little formal education, Kitty was the daughter of impoverished nobles. Motherless by age 10, Kitty lived in dormitories at her step-grandmother's mansion with her numerous cousins and other noble wards. Largely neglected in a huge family, Kitty was seduced by her music teacher at age 15 and soon became romantically involved with courtier Francis Dereham, even promised to marry him. Always eager to please, she agreed to go to Henry's court as a lady-in-waiting for Anne of Cleves.
Henry was instantly smitten with her, although he was nearly fifty and obese, three times her size. Seeing a chance to seize power, the powerful Howard clan nudged Kitty into marrying Henry, who was assured of her chastity. Although accommodating, Kitty was disappointed by her old, fat husband and soon found herself enchanted by a young favorite of Henry, bad boy Thomas Culpeper.
Betrayed by a spiteful friend, Kitty's cover was blown; Henry had Dereham and Culpeper killed and Kitty's family imprisoned. Initially terrified, Kitty resigned herself to her fate and even had the chopping block brought to her before execution so that she could practice.
Henry was instantly smitten with her, although he was nearly fifty and obese, three times her size. Seeing a chance to seize power, the powerful Howard clan nudged Kitty into marrying Henry, who was assured of her chastity. Although accommodating, Kitty was disappointed by her old, fat husband and soon found herself enchanted by a young favorite of Henry, bad boy Thomas Culpeper.
Betrayed by a spiteful friend, Kitty's cover was blown; Henry had Dereham and Culpeper killed and Kitty's family imprisoned. Initially terrified, Kitty resigned herself to her fate and even had the chopping block brought to her before execution so that she could practice.
Anne of Cleves, already familiar with Katherine Howard as a maidservant, maintained their friendship. Kitty had also grown attached to her stepdaughter, Elizabeth I, although Mary Tudor resented her "stepmother", who was five years younger than her.
Katherine Howard, the least educated of Henry's wives and thoroughly spoiled by him, was not the woman for the office of queen. Still, Katherine's ambitious, heavily Catholic family knew that the teenager was reckless and too naive to handle the ruthless intrigue of the court, but they cared more for Henry's favor than about her safety; she was just another mouth to feed. In her hour of need, Kitty's family abandoned her to fend for herself.
In the end, Henry refused to be made to look like a fool and even thought of killing Katherine himself.
Katherine Howard, the least educated of Henry's wives and thoroughly spoiled by him, was not the woman for the office of queen. Still, Katherine's ambitious, heavily Catholic family knew that the teenager was reckless and too naive to handle the ruthless intrigue of the court, but they cared more for Henry's favor than about her safety; she was just another mouth to feed. In her hour of need, Kitty's family abandoned her to fend for herself.
In the end, Henry refused to be made to look like a fool and even thought of killing Katherine himself.
Katherine Howard by Lorelili January 16, 2011
Disney princess
Created by Disney, a highly unrealistic interpretation of royalty which involves a cookie cutter adolescent heroine, usually with Barbie doll physique, who may or may not be of royal ancestry.
The main Disney Princesses to date are Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Ariel, Princess Jasmine, Belle, Pocahontas, Mulan, Giselle, Tiana, and Rapunzel; Cinderella is actually nobility or gentry while Belle, Tiana, Mulan, and Giselle are actually commoners but the first two married into royalty, Giselle came close, and Mulan marries a general.
A fancy dress and tiara does not a princess make.
The main Disney Princesses to date are Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Ariel, Princess Jasmine, Belle, Pocahontas, Mulan, Giselle, Tiana, and Rapunzel; Cinderella is actually nobility or gentry while Belle, Tiana, Mulan, and Giselle are actually commoners but the first two married into royalty, Giselle came close, and Mulan marries a general.
A fancy dress and tiara does not a princess make.
The Disney Princesses, despite differing personalities, often have strong similarities: animal companions/comic relief, befriending commoners (discouraged among nobles), an adventure, searching for love and pushing the envelope, all the while as perfect as can be... and are often depicted as free of royal duties or enjoying them like it's a game, informal rather than like an ultra-formal aristocrat.
Real princesses, at least historically, have, with a few exceptions, enjoyed little political influence; their brother(s) usually inherit the property while they are married off as pawns in a big political game, existing only as managers of the castles and breeding-mares for their husbands, their freedom sacrificed for the dynasty and the people; Princess Jasmine represented this pressure. Not all princesses are beautiful or intelligent, let alone nice; because marriage below the nobility was forbidden, inbreeding ran rampant, and royals live a *very* public life, complete with prying eyes and intrigue.
Real princesses, at least historically, have, with a few exceptions, enjoyed little political influence; their brother(s) usually inherit the property while they are married off as pawns in a big political game, existing only as managers of the castles and breeding-mares for their husbands, their freedom sacrificed for the dynasty and the people; Princess Jasmine represented this pressure. Not all princesses are beautiful or intelligent, let alone nice; because marriage below the nobility was forbidden, inbreeding ran rampant, and royals live a *very* public life, complete with prying eyes and intrigue.
Disney princess by Lorelili January 12, 2011
princess
The daughter of a king and queen.
The wife of a prince or a woman who holds the office in her own right.
In England, before the Tudor era, there was no female equivalent to princes, dukes, earls, or barons; every female of royal or noble rank below the queen was simply known as "The Lady..."
The vast majority of the female population who is called "princess" is not of royal or noble ancestry... and they probably should count that as a blessing, since royal ancestry does not guarantee power, beauty, intelligence, or any gifts; as pawns in a big political chess game, princesses and queens and noblewomen in general usually had no real power. With a few exceptions, a noblewoman was usually just a manager for the estate and a baby machine for the family dynasty.
The wife of a prince or a woman who holds the office in her own right.
In England, before the Tudor era, there was no female equivalent to princes, dukes, earls, or barons; every female of royal or noble rank below the queen was simply known as "The Lady..."
The vast majority of the female population who is called "princess" is not of royal or noble ancestry... and they probably should count that as a blessing, since royal ancestry does not guarantee power, beauty, intelligence, or any gifts; as pawns in a big political chess game, princesses and queens and noblewomen in general usually had no real power. With a few exceptions, a noblewoman was usually just a manager for the estate and a baby machine for the family dynasty.
Katherine of Aragon was demoted from Queen to Dowager Princess of Wales when Henry VIII divorced her for Anne Boleyn. Katherine's daughter was demoted from "The Princess Mary" to "The Lady Mary".
The Disney Princess and media portrayals are often highly inaccurate portrayals of royalty; real princesses usually did not befriend commoners and were often married off into other royal families to act as clown cars for their in-laws. Contrary to Disney, any fun and games generally ended at an early age for noble children; they had jobs to do as heirs to family politics. Court intrigue was also a major threat to them and their families; they were never really sure of where their friends and families stood. And as long as she was of royal blood, it didn't matter whether a princess was ugly, stupid, deranged, or sickly; royals marry other royals or nobles, for commoners are generally discouraged (regardless of inbreeding).
Disney's only real princesses are Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, and Pocahontas; Cinderella was either nobility or gentry while the rest were commoners.
The giggly young woman with clothes scrawled with "Princess" in sparkly letters gave little thought to the actual significance of the word. She also had no idea that her Han zi tattoo actually said "prostitute" instead of "princess".
The Disney Princess and media portrayals are often highly inaccurate portrayals of royalty; real princesses usually did not befriend commoners and were often married off into other royal families to act as clown cars for their in-laws. Contrary to Disney, any fun and games generally ended at an early age for noble children; they had jobs to do as heirs to family politics. Court intrigue was also a major threat to them and their families; they were never really sure of where their friends and families stood. And as long as she was of royal blood, it didn't matter whether a princess was ugly, stupid, deranged, or sickly; royals marry other royals or nobles, for commoners are generally discouraged (regardless of inbreeding).
Disney's only real princesses are Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, and Pocahontas; Cinderella was either nobility or gentry while the rest were commoners.
The giggly young woman with clothes scrawled with "Princess" in sparkly letters gave little thought to the actual significance of the word. She also had no idea that her Han zi tattoo actually said "prostitute" instead of "princess".
Anne of Cleves
(1515-1558) The fourth wife of Henry VIII. After the death of Jane Seymour, a new wife was sought for Henry, but his reputation preceded him; his main choices rejected him, making Anne of Cleves the front runner. The daughter of a German Duke, Anne was 24 when she married Henry in early 1540 but, unknown to her until later, Henry was repulsed by her. Described as pretty by everyone else, Henry (who was nearly fifty, obese, and had leg ulcers by then) said of his first sight of her "I like her not". Their introduction was a disaster, owing to mutual misunderstanding, beginning the marriage on a tenuous note.
After six months of marriage, Henry had the marriage annulled and offered to Anne property and estates in exchange that she remain in England. Initially devastated, Anne accepted and lived her days in wealth, answering to no man but to Henry, now as his "dear sister".
After six months of marriage, Henry had the marriage annulled and offered to Anne property and estates in exchange that she remain in England. Initially devastated, Anne accepted and lived her days in wealth, answering to no man but to Henry, now as his "dear sister".
Anne of Cleves was olive-skinned, unlike the pallid Jane Seymour, and lacked the sophistication of Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Her unfamiliar German manners, exotic clothes, and German speech did not help matters. Henry, put off by her body, whined incessantly about how "ugly" that she was, suspecting that she wasn't a virgin, disregarding her sheltered upbringing and overprotective mother; at 24, Anne believed that a kiss from a man would make her pregnant.
Anne of Cleves, humiliated and hurt by the king, outlived Henry and his other wives, enjoyed the love of her stepchildren and her people, and died a contented woman.
Anne of Cleves, humiliated and hurt by the king, outlived Henry and his other wives, enjoyed the love of her stepchildren and her people, and died a contented woman.
Anne of Cleves by Lorelili January 4, 2011
sickly
It didn't matter if a prince or princess was ugly or sickly or the village idiot; as long as they were of royal blood, uncontaminated with that of commoners, that was all that mattered.
Carlos II of Spain is a case point for that problem; in delicate health, retarded, impotent, and terribly ugly, Carlos was the end result of generations of inbreeding among the Spanish Habsburgs.
She was a sickly little girl; her nose was always running and she coughed a lot.
Carlos II of Spain is a case point for that problem; in delicate health, retarded, impotent, and terribly ugly, Carlos was the end result of generations of inbreeding among the Spanish Habsburgs.
She was a sickly little girl; her nose was always running and she coughed a lot.
Anne Boleyn
(1501-1536) The second wife of Henry VIII; she refused to be his mistress and would only give herself to him as his wife, never mind that Henry had been married to Katherine of Aragon for over twenty years.
Henry's efforts to discard Katherine, who had been able to produce one living child out of six, their daughter Mary, and Anne's determination to become the queen sparked the English Reformation.
Ultimately, Anne, like Katherine before her, was under enormous pressure to bear sons; she was only able to bear Henry a daughter, Elizabeth I, a stillborn son, and miscarried two other children. Impatient for a son and fed up by Anne's refusal to switch to the demure, submissive role of a wife, Henry had Anne arrested on fabricated charges of adultery, treason, and incest with her brother and had her beheaded.
Henry's efforts to discard Katherine, who had been able to produce one living child out of six, their daughter Mary, and Anne's determination to become the queen sparked the English Reformation.
Ultimately, Anne, like Katherine before her, was under enormous pressure to bear sons; she was only able to bear Henry a daughter, Elizabeth I, a stillborn son, and miscarried two other children. Impatient for a son and fed up by Anne's refusal to switch to the demure, submissive role of a wife, Henry had Anne arrested on fabricated charges of adultery, treason, and incest with her brother and had her beheaded.
An unremarkable brunette with piercing black eyes and olive skin, Anne Boleyn's charisma, wit, and charm, in addition to her sharp tongue and fiery temper, entranced Henry VIII... although the English people hated her, denouncing her as a whore, a heretic, and a witch.
Anne Boleyn, a complicated character, is admired for her bold, witty, outspoken nature and her stridently sexy allure, plus the fact that she bore Elizabeth I. Still, she was widely hated as a homewrecker and a Protestant. Katherine of Aragon was widely beloved by the people, especially among women, while Anne Boleyn was openly denounced and had only Henry's affections as defense.
Anne Boleyn, a complicated character, is admired for her bold, witty, outspoken nature and her stridently sexy allure, plus the fact that she bore Elizabeth I. Still, she was widely hated as a homewrecker and a Protestant. Katherine of Aragon was widely beloved by the people, especially among women, while Anne Boleyn was openly denounced and had only Henry's affections as defense.
Anne Boleyn by Lorelili January 1, 2011
tenderness
Of or relating to tender acts. Compassion, warmth, affection, gentleness.
Opposite of cruelty, violence, sadism, callousness, cynicism, bitterness.
Opposite of cruelty, violence, sadism, callousness, cynicism, bitterness.
"If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets a R-rating, but if, God forbid, a man is pictured kissing a woman's breast, it gets an X-rating. Why is violence more acceptable than tenderness?"
-Sally Struthers
Adam stroked Kevin's hair, holding him with infinite tenderness while Kevin sobbed from a horrible day.
Ellie's rigid expression melted into tenderness as she saw her daughter running toward her.
-Sally Struthers
Adam stroked Kevin's hair, holding him with infinite tenderness while Kevin sobbed from a horrible day.
Ellie's rigid expression melted into tenderness as she saw her daughter running toward her.
tenderness by Lorelili December 15, 2010