Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena was born on 24 October 1887 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland to Princess Beatrice, the the youngest child of Queen Victoria, and Prince Henry of Battenburg, the fourth child of Prince Alexander of Hesse and his morganatic wife Julia von Hauke; for this reason Victoria Eugenie was on a lower social level than other royals. Victoria Eugenie was named firstly in honour of her grandmother Queen Victoria; the name Eugenie came from her godmother the Spanish born Empress Eugenie of France, who was living in exile in Great Brtain after the fall of the second French Empire. Victoria Eugenie grew up in the court of Queen Victoria, because of the promise Beatrice made to Queen Victoria that she would remain her full time companion and personal secretary if she was allowed to marry. Victoria Eugenie grew to become a lovey and good natured young lady, however she was also quite distant, but nevertheless, Queen Victoria was very protective of her. Her father died after contracting fever while on active military service in Africa in 1896. After the death of Queen Victoria, the Bettenburgs took up residence in Kensington Palace. In 1905 Edward VII, Victoria Eugenie's uncle, hosted a dinner in honour of the official visit of the king of Spain, Alfonso XIII, in Buckingham Palace. Alfonso sat between The Queen and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, her aunt. He noticed Victoria Eugenie and Princess Patricia of Connaught, however Patricia had very little interest in the king, so consequently Alfonso indulged in his interest in Victoria Eugenie and their courtship began. Despite Alfonso's intrest, the couple faced much opposition, the first being the king's mother, who was not in favour because she considerd the Battenburgs non-royal because of Victoria Eugenie's paternal grandmother. Other obstacles that hinderd the couple going any farther was Victoria Eugenie's Protestantism, which clashes with Alfonso's Catholicism; also hemmophilla ran in Victoria Eugenie's family, for her own brother suffered from it. In spite of all of these obstacles, Alfonso was still taken by Victoria Eugenie. In January 1906, Alfonso's mother finally accepted her sons choice and wrote a letter to Victoria Eugenie's mother telling her of the love her son felt for her daughter and requesting an unofficial visit. During their visit, Alfonso and Victoria Eugenie had a three day chaperoned romance. After this, Victoria Eugenie and her mother went to Versailles where she would be instructed in the catholic faith, since she would have to convert. She officially became a member of the Catholic Church on 5 March 1906. After many legal dealings and obstacles, the couple we finally married on 31 May 1906 at the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo in Madrid. After the wedding, during the procession back to the Royal Palace, there was an assassination attempt made against the King and Queen. The assassins name was Mateu Morral, an anarchist; he threw a bomb from a balcony at the royal carriage. Victoria Eugenie's life was saved when she turned her head to see St. Mary's Church which Alfonso was showing her at the moment the bomb was thrown. After the unsuccessful start to her time as Queen, Victoria Eugenie isolated herself from the Spanish people, however, despite her struggles with the public side of being Queen, her marriage was still going well. Victoria Eugenie gave birth to a son, Alfonso, Prince of Austrias, and Spain had an heir to their throne. However, while the Prince was being circumcised, he didn't stop bleeding; the inability for blood to clot properly is the first sign of hemophilia. This dreadful disease was inherited by all of her sons, and it is said that Alfonso never forgave his wife. Alfonso and Victoria Eugenie altogether had five sons and two daughters. Victoria Eugenie and Alfonso's relationship deteriorated drastically after the birth of their children, and Alfonso began to have numerous affairs. He even had six illegitimate children, With her marriage on the rocks, Victoria Eugenie devoted herself to her work for hospitals, education, and service for the poor. She also was involved in the reorganisation of the Spanish Red Cross, which resulted in her being honoured with a statue in Barcelona. Victoria Eugenie was even awarded the prestigious Golden Rose in 1923 by Pope Pius XI. The Spanish royal family went into exile on 14 April 1931 after local elections brought republicans to power in most of Spain's major cities. This led to the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic. The royal family lived in France and then Italy, however after this, Victoria Eugenie separated from Aplfonso, and she lived, most of the time, in Great Britain. She also lived on Switzerland at one point where she purchased a chateau, the Vieille Fontaine. Alfonso, sensing his death was near, transferred his rights to the Throne of Spain to his son, The Count of Barcelona. Alfonso died on 28 Febuary 1941 of a heart attack. Victoria Eugenie died in Lausanne in Switzerland on 15 April 1969 at the age of 81. Her remains were carried back to Spain and were re-interred in the Royal Vault in the Escoria outside Madrid. She is buried next to her husband Alfonso XIII, and also next to her sons. Victoria Eugenie's great-grandson Felipe VI is now the present King of Spain.
0 Comments
|
AuthorHello All! My name is Blake Johnson and I am a passionate royalist and Monarchist. It would be my pleasure to entertain and inform you with all things royal, weather it be history or royal news. I now invite you all to be members of La Cour Royale. Categories
All
|