just a blog to keep my research organized.(‘all spoke to her, and she answered.’ —anne morrow lindbergh)
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In A Letter To Her Father In March [of 1509], Catherine Broke Down And Told Him She Could No Longer Combat
In a letter to her father in March [of 1509], Catherine broke down and told him she could no longer combat the petty persecutions of Henry VII. Only recently he had told her he was under no obligation to feed either her or her attendants; he added spitefully that her food was being given to her as alms.
Antonia Fraser
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Princess Alix and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia preparing for a ball, 1888.
Among the little crowd that watched her go on board stood Eustace Chapuys, but she did not recognise him; it must have been some years since they had met, and besides he was in disguise; one would be glad to know what disguise. But he saw her, and reported in demure diplomatic style to the Emperor that it had been “a pleasure to see such excellent beauty and heroic bearing. Behind the words, and behind his daily cheering letters to her, behind all his passionate labours in her behalf, there was perhaps more than political feeling. It almost seems as if the Savoyard was the only man who ever felt for Mary a touch of romantic devotion, half for her royalty, half for her womanhood.
Prescott- Spanish Tudor (via lovelyladymarycrawley)
“I am your Queen, to whom at my coronation, when I was wedded to the realm and laws of the same (the spousal ring whereof I have on my finger, which never hitherto was, not hereafter shall be, left off), you promised your allegiance and obedience to me…. And I say to you, on the word of a Prince, I cannot tell how naturally the mother loveth the child, for I was never the mother of any; but certainly, if a Prince and Governor may as naturally and earnestly love her subjects as the mother doth love the child, then assure yourselves that I, being your lady and mistress, do as earnestly and tenderly love and favour you. And I, thus loving you, cannot but think that ye as heartily and faithfully love me; and then I doubt not but we shall give these rebels a short and speedy overthrow’.”
Queen Mary I’s speech at the Guildhall, 1554
Queen Nzinga of Ndongo (Angola)
Why she kicks ass:
Nzingha a Mbande (also known as Ana de Sousa Nzingha Mbande) was a 17th century queen (muchino a muhatu) of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms of the Mbundu people in southwestern Africa.
She has been called the “greatest military strategist that ever confronted the armed forces of Portugal.” Her military campaigns kept the Portuguese in Africa at bay for more than four decades.
Her objective was nothing less than the complete and total destruction of the African slave trade.
She sent ambassadors throughout West and Central Africa with the intent of enlisting a huge coalition of African armies to eject the Portuguese.
Queen Nzingha died fighting for her people in 1663 at the ripe old age of eighty-one. Africa has known no greater patriot.
Nzinga left an impression after making a fool of Portuguese Governor, Correa de Souza.
