(no subject)

3rd August (yesterday, oops; also the entry for 1st August was a)mangled and b)a bit wrong and has been edited).

Died on this day in 1568 aged 23 Elizabeth of Valois (my toy,wikipedia). Married Philip II of Spain as his third wife (Mary I was his second), she was 14 and he was much older. Elizabeth was an amateur painter of some skill.

Born on this day in 1491 to William Julich-Heimbach IV, Duke of Julich-Berg and Sibylle of Brandenburg, Maria of Julich-Berg (my toy,wikipedia). Mother of Anne of Cleves. Maria inherited the duchy of Julich-Berg which was merged with Cleves on her marriage. She was a strict Catholic, unlike her husband who tried to find a middle path between Protestant and Catholic during the reformation.

(no subject)

Died on this day in 1265 aged 57 Simon de Montfort (my toy,wikipedia). Married Eleanor, daughter of King John. Lead the revolt against Henry III in the second barons war, and was for a year de-facto King before forces loyal to the King killed him and took the country back. During this time he called two famous parliaments. The first stripped the King of unlimited authority, the second included ordinary citizens from the towns; which leads him to be regarded as the father of parliamentary democracy although this was a long way from what we have now.

Born on this day in 1713 to Ernest Saxe-Hildburghausen I, Duke of Saxe-Hildhurghausen and Sophia ? , Countess of Erbach-Erbach, Princess Elizabeth-Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen (my toy,wikipedia). Mother of Charlotte who married George III.