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![Elizabeth of Russia
Elizaveta Petrovna (Russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т) Петро́вна) (29 December [O.S. 18 December] 1709 – 5 January 1762 [O.S. 25 December 1761]), also known as Yelisavet and Elizabeth, was the Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death. She led the country into the two major European conflicts of her time: the War of Austrian Succession (1740–8) and the Seven Years’ War (1756–63). On the eve of her death, Russia spanned almost 4,000,000,000 acres (16,000,000 km2)[citation needed].
Her domestic policies allowed the nobles to gain dominance in local government while shortening their terms of service to the state. She encouraged Mikhail Lomonosov’s establishment of the University of Moscow and Ivan Shuvalov foundation of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. She also spent exorbitant sums of money on the grandiose baroque projects of her favourite architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli, particularly in Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo. The Winter Palace and the Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg remain the chief monuments of her reign. She remains one of the most popular Russian monarchs due to her strong opposition to Prussian policies and her abstinence from executing a single person during her reign.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](http://25.media.tumblr.com/ad8ed4a048b9b32315af94de3f6c8276/tumblr_mge8evycZS1ryuawho1_400.jpg)
Elizabeth of Russia
Elizaveta Petrovna (Russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т) Петро́вна) (29 December [O.S. 18 December] 1709 – 5 January 1762 [O.S. 25 December 1761]), also known as Yelisavet and Elizabeth, was the Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death. She led the country into the two major European conflicts of her time: the War of Austrian Succession (1740–8) and the Seven Years’ War (1756–63). On the eve of her death, Russia spanned almost 4,000,000,000 acres (16,000,000 km2)[citation needed].
Her domestic policies allowed the nobles to gain dominance in local government while shortening their terms of service to the state. She encouraged Mikhail Lomonosov’s establishment of the University of Moscow and Ivan Shuvalov foundation of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. She also spent exorbitant sums of money on the grandiose baroque projects of her favourite architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli, particularly in Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo. The Winter Palace and the Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg remain the chief monuments of her reign. She remains one of the most popular Russian monarchs due to her strong opposition to Prussian policies and her abstinence from executing a single person during her reign.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
![Catherine the Great
Yekaterina Alexeevna or Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great (Russian: Екатерина II Великая, Yekaterina II Velikaya), Empress of Russia (May 2 [O.S. April 21] 1729 – November 17 [O.S. November 6] 1796), was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from July 9 [O.S. June 28] 1762 until her death at the age of sixty-seven. She was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, and came to power following a coup d’état and the assassination of her husband, Peter III, at the end of the Seven Years’ War. Russia was revitalized under her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognized as one of the great powers of Europe.
In both her accession to power and in rule of her empire, Catherine often relied on her noble favourites, most notably Grigory Orlov and Grigory Potemkin. Assisted by highly successful generals such as Pyotr Rumyantsev and Alexander Suvorov, and admirals such as Fyodor Ushakov, she governed at a time when the Russian Empire was expanding rapidly by conquest and diplomacy. In the south, the Crimean Khanate was crushed following victories over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish wars, and Russia colonised the vast territories of Novorossiya along the coasts of the Black and Azov Seas. In the west, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ruled by Catherine’s former lover, king Stanisław August Poniatowski, was eventually partitioned, with the Russian Empire gaining the largest share. In the east, Russia started to colonise Alaska, establishing Russian America.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](http://25.media.tumblr.com/237e25d2234b2a67b924344db850ee9a/tumblr_mge89mjjE41ryuawho1_500.jpg)
Catherine the Great
Yekaterina Alexeevna or Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great (Russian: Екатерина II Великая, Yekaterina II Velikaya), Empress of Russia (May 2 [O.S. April 21] 1729 – November 17 [O.S. November 6] 1796), was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from July 9 [O.S. June 28] 1762 until her death at the age of sixty-seven. She was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, and came to power following a coup d’état and the assassination of her husband, Peter III, at the end of the Seven Years’ War. Russia was revitalized under her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognized as one of the great powers of Europe.
In both her accession to power and in rule of her empire, Catherine often relied on her noble favourites, most notably Grigory Orlov and Grigory Potemkin. Assisted by highly successful generals such as Pyotr Rumyantsev and Alexander Suvorov, and admirals such as Fyodor Ushakov, she governed at a time when the Russian Empire was expanding rapidly by conquest and diplomacy. In the south, the Crimean Khanate was crushed following victories over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish wars, and Russia colonised the vast territories of Novorossiya along the coasts of the Black and Azov Seas. In the west, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ruled by Catherine’s former lover, king Stanisław August Poniatowski, was eventually partitioned, with the Russian Empire gaining the largest share. In the east, Russia started to colonise Alaska, establishing Russian America.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Tomasa Palafox y Portocarrero, Marchioness of Villafranca, painting her husband (1804). Francisco de Goya y Lucientes. Oil on canvas. Musea National Del Prado.
Palafox (1780-1835), dressed in a white empire style robe style, paints a portrait of her husband, the Marquis of Villafranca XI.
The Marquis looks to his wife from his own portrait, in a game that Goya used consciously, perhaps reflecting the great love that professed marriage.
This is a beautiful painting!!!!! The next time I go to Spain I hope to have time to spend the whole day at the museum!!!!!
From the movie, The Duchess,
A chronicle of the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was reviled for her extravagant political and personal life.
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (née Spencer; /dʒɒrˈdʒeɪnə/ jor-jay-nə; 7 June 1757 – 30 March 1806) was the first wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and mother of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Her father, the 1st Earl Spencer, was a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her niece was Lady Caroline Lamb. She is an ancestor (via her illegitimate daughter Eliza Courtney) of Sarah, Duchess of York. She is also related to Diana, Princess of Wales, who was her great-great-grandniece.
Hortense Schneider
Hortense Catherine Schneider, La Snédèr, (30 April 1833 – 6 May 1920) was a French soprano, one of the greatest operetta stars of the 19th century, particularly associated with the works of composer Jacques Offenbach.
Biography
Born in Bordeaux, where she studied with Schaffner, she made her debut in Agen in 1853, as Inés in La favorite.
She came to Paris and was turned down by the director of the Théâtre des Variétés but was noticed by Jacques Offenbach who invited her to the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, where she made her debut in 1855 in Le violoneux. She enjoyed immediate success and created for Offenbach the role of Boulotte in Barbe-bleue and the title roles in La belle Hélène, La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein and La Périchole, all resounding triumphs. She also appeared in London and Saint Petersburg, to great acclaim.
An accomplished singer and actress, she was much admired for her brio and verve on stage, was the toast of the Second Empire and a favourite of royal visitors to Paris. La Snédèr was reputedly one of King Edward VII’s mistresses (because of the favours which she liberally granted to the members of the nobility, she was known as Le Passage des Princes.). She retired in 1878, after her marriage, and died in Paris over forty years later at age 87.
Schneider was the subject of the 1950 film La valse de Paris by Marcel Achard.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
![Giovanna d’Aragona
Family
Giovanna d’Aragona (1502–1575) was a patron of the arts,
printers and religious reform in Naples during the Renaissance.
She was the oldest daughter of Duke Ferdinando of Malteno and Castellana de Cardona. Her father was a younger son of Ferdinand I of Naples. After her marriage Vittoria Colonna became her sister-in-law.
Life
Her parents had fled to the island Ischia after French troups had overrun Naples. Constanza d’Avalos resided here as well and gathered a literary circle around her.[1] Amongst them was the poet Vittoria Colonna, the wife of Constanza’s nephew. In 1521, Giovanna married Vittoria’s brother Ascanio. On the marriage they became duke and duchess of Tagliacozzo. After giving birth to six children, she took them with her to Ischia and left her husband. Despite of this, she became close again to Vittoria and together with Giovanna’s sister Maria and Constanza d’Avalos, they supported Juan de Valdés.
She refused to return to her husband, but did try to intercede for him when he refused to pay salt tax to the pope. In spite of acting as a mediator, the pope’s forces attacked Ascanio’s lands and he was imprisoned by an envoy of Charles V.
When Pope Paul IV held her hostage in 1556, she escaped by wearing servants clothes and fled to Naples with her children and servants. Since she had long been a patron of writers, the pope’s treatment of her caused a lot of indignation, especially amongst printers and writers in Venice.. In 1560, after the death of Paul IV, she returned to Rome and became a prominent figure in Italy’s political and religious life.
The poet Girolamo Ruscelli paid tribute to her in an anthology with work from many contemporary Italian poets.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ydkxrUf41ryuawho1_500.jpg)
Giovanna d’Aragona
Family
Giovanna d’Aragona (1502–1575) was a patron of the arts,
printers and religious reform in Naples during the Renaissance.
She was the oldest daughter of Duke Ferdinando of Malteno and Castellana de Cardona. Her father was a younger son of Ferdinand I of Naples. After her marriage Vittoria Colonna became her sister-in-law.
Life
Her parents had fled to the island Ischia after French troups had overrun Naples. Constanza d’Avalos resided here as well and gathered a literary circle around her.[1] Amongst them was the poet Vittoria Colonna, the wife of Constanza’s nephew. In 1521, Giovanna married Vittoria’s brother Ascanio. On the marriage they became duke and duchess of Tagliacozzo. After giving birth to six children, she took them with her to Ischia and left her husband. Despite of this, she became close again to Vittoria and together with Giovanna’s sister Maria and Constanza d’Avalos, they supported Juan de Valdés.
She refused to return to her husband, but did try to intercede for him when he refused to pay salt tax to the pope. In spite of acting as a mediator, the pope’s forces attacked Ascanio’s lands and he was imprisoned by an envoy of Charles V.
When Pope Paul IV held her hostage in 1556, she escaped by wearing servants clothes and fled to Naples with her children and servants. Since she had long been a patron of writers, the pope’s treatment of her caused a lot of indignation, especially amongst printers and writers in Venice.. In 1560, after the death of Paul IV, she returned to Rome and became a prominent figure in Italy’s political and religious life.
The poet Girolamo Ruscelli paid tribute to her in an anthology with work from many contemporary Italian poets.
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