tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27163236559835453632024-02-20T11:50:59.947+08:00History with HerstoryCeline Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-63842060228061765982020-05-17T11:40:00.000+08:002020-05-23T16:07:31.517+08:00Serenade of Peace and Joy: A Glimpse into the Song Dynasty <div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="0 0 []">
There has been a wave of interest in the Song dynasty following the popularity of "Serenade of Peaceful Joy" (清平乐). </div>
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Set in the era of Emperor Renzong, this series has been praised for its beautiful sets and historically-accurate costumes. </div>
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The Song dynasty lasted between 960-1279. It did not have the military prowess of its forerunners, the Han and the Tang. Its territory was limited compared to the Ming and the Qing. But it made up for what it lacked in imperial power by a vibrant cultural environment and an unrivaled taste for beauty. <br />
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For starters, let us take a nice, long look at this piece. </div>
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The Ru Ware was produced for a short period of time during the Song dynasty exclusively for Imperial use. After the fall of the Northern Song dynasty, the production was discontinued as the kilns fell to the invaders. The scarcity of existing pieces (only less than a hundred remain) made them a highly sought-after collectible. </div>
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This particular shade of blue is soothing to the eye. One might hold up a Pantone chart and attempt to call it by some name or other.</div>
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The ancient Chinese did have their own Pantone chart of sorts. Emperor Huizong found it apt to name this colour "<span style="color: #202122;">like the blue of the sky in a clearing amongst the clouds after rain". </span><span style="color: #202122;">It is quite a mouthful, but the naming of colours is as much an art as it is a science.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A colour chart labelled with the traditional Chinese naming scheme</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The Song prized these ceramics highly. Even more prized is this fine crackle pattern which creates this illusion of overlapping shards of translucent ice. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The simple aesthetics of the Song dynasty is also apparent in their paintings. Under the Song, Chinese brush painting reached a pinnacle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">These paintings were often created, not by paid artisans, but by the literati (士大夫) who valued intellect and restraint. The ability to paint and to appreciate fine paintings were qualities expected of a gentleman.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The paintings often revolved around natural scenes with little emphasis on portraiture. Behind it was a tradition that associated natural objects with a certain state of mind or personal characteristics. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">This particular tradition did not begin with the Song. A thousand years earlier, the patriot-poet Qu Yuan was likening orchids and sweet clover to his personal integrity. Enter the Song dynasty, and this idea would be embraced by Neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi with his famous adage, “obtain knowledge by investigation of things" (格物致知). </span><span style="color: #202122;">In other words, the true nature of things can be discovered by single-minded contemplation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">In this cultural milieu, the literati were readily directing their inner contemplation to an external canvas via expressive brushstrokes. It was a statement of one's inner self as much as it was a display of skill.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">True to their minimalistic tastes, the Song painters also chose to embrace a technique known as 'leaving out empty spaces' (留白). Juxtaposed against their rugged landscapes were swathes of untouched canvas to suggest a patch of sky or a body of water. </span><span style="color: #202122;">As any public speaker would know, a pregnant pause could be more efficient than a thousand empty words. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The Song were as restrained in their dress as they were in their art. It was fashionable for women to don a long, narrow-sleeved jacket over their dress. </span><span style="color: #202122;">Unlike the figure-hugging aesthetic of modern fashion, or the layered, almost bulky Ming and Qing styles, the Song silhouette tended towards straight, simple lines. These garments were adorned only on the lapels and edges, leaving much of the main body blank. </span></div>
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Garment excavated from the tomb of Huang Sheng, a noblewoman who died at the age of 17</div>
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<span style="color: #202122; text-align: center;">There were exceptions to the rule. A notable example would be the </span><i style="color: #202122; text-align: center;">diyi </i><span style="color: #202122; text-align: center;">(翟衣), the formal wear of the court ladies. It was broad-sleeved and decorated with repeating motifs of long-tailed pheasants. Known as the pheasant-dress, the</span><i style="color: #202122; text-align: center;"> diyi</i><span style="color: #202122; text-align: center;"> is the most formal piece in the empress' wardrobe. It was adopted by Korea and Ryuku as their formal wear as well.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Empress Cao with two attendants wearing crowns of flowers. It was common for women and men alike to adorn their headwear with flowers. </td></tr>
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Royal wedding scene in Korean drama 'Princess Hours'. The protagonist is shown wearing a<i> diyi</i> as her wedding regalia. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #202122;"><br />The Song ladies also had beauty trends that may seem extremely baffling to us. One of which is the habit of adorning their faces with strands of pearls. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The ancient Chinese ladies have a long history of decorating their faces with gold leaf, painted motifs, and even fish scales. The pearls were but a passing trend in a long trend that began in the Wei-Jin era and culminated during the Tang. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;"><br />Interestingly, the pearls seem to have made a comeback, at least among China's hanfu wearers in the wake of "Serenade"'s popularity. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">Despite the Song's minimalistic tendencies, let us not imagine them as an uptight, prudish bunch who did not know how to have fun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">Returning to the area of paintings, we find evidence of the economic prosperity the capital of Northern Song, Kaifeng once enjoyed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The painting, "Along the River during the Qing Ming festival" is a documentary of sorts. It features a variety of scenes, from bustling city life to bucolic countrysides. </span><span style="color: #202122;">We see ordinary citizens going about their daily life. A range of shops and services are to be found in this scene: the brewery, apothecary, eateries, and even a fortune-teller. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">It is also worth noting that the Song was the first dynasty to abolish the night curfew. Contemporary records describe brightly lit streets and restaurants packed with merrymakers. The night markets sold a variety of mouth-watering street food, from smoked meats to an array of fruits. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">In a sense, it was a forerunner of the famous night markets of modern Asian countries. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoVzUHGZyskDi9-8LHOJktc7FwPRdzqaK1XmFlm6JYb4mLueCVVQOf8Hh8D6RDrs4Q12tLyPlIZaL4GB8hNRsXWOBRoIVpS41jVDw5b6-cY5qe4jVpeBPlBTdXIg4BKjfRXP4QR4DTYA/s1600/night+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1506" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoVzUHGZyskDi9-8LHOJktc7FwPRdzqaK1XmFlm6JYb4mLueCVVQOf8Hh8D6RDrs4Q12tLyPlIZaL4GB8hNRsXWOBRoIVpS41jVDw5b6-cY5qe4jVpeBPlBTdXIg4BKjfRXP4QR4DTYA/s320/night+market.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern night market in Taiwan</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #202122;"><br />The crowds would only begin to disperse around midnight, giving space to a few hours of quietude before the shops reopened in the wee hours of the morning. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">Central to this were the pleasure houses housing beautiful and skilled courtesans. In fact, courtesan culture gave rise to a famous fixture of Song culture, namely the Song verse. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The verse, a form of poetry that was associated to a known tune, had been around as a form of art since the Sui and Tang dynasty. However, it was considered a low form of art as opposed to the more 'proper' poetry. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The poetry was traditionally considered the highbrow medium in which the literati wrote political commentaries and shared their aspirations. On the other hand, the verse was written to be sung by entertainers, and commonly dealt with topics beyond the constraints of traditional Confucian propriety. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">This, in turn, was liberating for the literati. The verse became a medium where they could voice their inner sentiments freely, unconstrained by the rigid demands of other mediums. </span><span style="color: #202122;">In other words, think of the poem as your LinkedIn profile and the verse as your Instagram page.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">The distinction between the poem and the verse began to dissolve as the scope of Song verses broadened. It became common for poets to write about their patriotic sentiments and their desire to recapture territory lost to invaders. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">I have included here link to a Youtube video featuring a famous Song dynasty verse, "Song of Yangchou", set to the tune it was originally sung to. <a href="spotify:track:0lEz9z2zBtCTg6o68BBGaN">A HD version</a>, along with other verses, is available on Spotify in the compilation "Ancient Classics of the Song Dynasty 960-1279 AD". </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">I find the themes of the Song verses relevant even in our times. So is the case for the other aspects of Song life. As we enter an era where minimalism has made a comeback, we can truly begin to appreciate the simplicity of Ru ware, or the monochromaticity of an ancient Song scroll. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">References:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">叶嘉莹 《人间词话七讲》 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202122;">吴钩. (2015, November 17). 宋朝人的夜生活. Retrieved from </span><a href="https://cul.qq.com/a/20151117/032079.htm">https://cul.qq.com/a/20151117/032079.htm</a></div>
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xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-45312600593260171242018-08-19T17:36:00.002+08:002020-05-23T16:07:45.548+08:00The Three Empresses of Emperor QianlongEmperor Qianlong's harem has been cast into the spotlight recently––with a hit<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Yanxi_Palace" target="_blank"> tv show</a> airing at the moment and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruyi%27s_Royal_Love_in_the_Palace" target="_blank">another</a> to come. Coincidentally, the same three women, namely the three empresses of Qianlong, are heavily featured in the two dramas, albeit in entirely different lights.<br />
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It occurred to me that a side-by-side comparison between Emperor's Qianlong three Empresses and King Henry VIII's first three wives could be interesting. Of course, given the largely discrepant cultures and historical factors, such a comparison is only superficial at best. Bear in mind that this post by no means suggests that the women were by any means similar in temperament, or shared the exact same motivations and life trajectories.<br />
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For a full biography of Henry VIII's first two queens, read Celine's post <a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.com/2013/04/king-henry-viii-and-his-six-wives-part-i.html#more">here.</a><span id="goog_674418082"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_674418083"></span><br />
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In the following sections, I will simply refer to the empresses by their family names/more familiar titles for easier identification. (Like honestly who's gonna remember a title like Empress Xiaoxian Chengzheng Dunmu Renhui Weigong Kangshun Futian Changsheng Chun. No, I didn't make this <a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AD%9D%E8%B3%A2%E7%B4%94%E7%9A%87%E5%90%8E" target="_blank">title</a> up.)<br />
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<u>Empress Fucha--Katherine of Aragon</u><br />
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Like Katherine of Aragon, Empress Fucha was high-born and brought up accordingly. Though not a member of royalty per se, her family, the Fucha clan, was a member of the "Bordered Yellow Banner", one of the top three banners among the eight Manchurian banners. The Empress' family welded immense power and authority and had matrimonial ties with the royal family.<br />
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Katherine of Aragon was known to have been highly educated. The scholar Erasmus noted that the queen was "<i>well instructed</i>"––not just in comparison to other women––and "<i>is no less to be respected for her piety than her erudition". </i>She also ensured her daughter Mary would receive the same comprehensive education as she had.<br />
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Similarly, Empress Fucha was well taught and known for her calligraphy skills. According to the memoirs[1] of a descendant of her clan, the Emperor Yongzheng (then still a prince) chanced upon their family home and caught her in the middle of calligraphy practice. He was greatly impressed by her calligraphy skills and by her knowledge of the classics. As he returned home later that day, he summoned his sons (including Fucha's future husband) and admonished them, "You'd better be diligent, else you'd lose out in comparison to a nine-year-old girl!"<br />
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Empress Fucha was personally picked out by the Emperor Yongzheng to be the primary wife of his fourth son, Hongli, later crowned as the Emperor Qianlong. Empress Fucha had two sons and two daughters in her marriage. Like Queen Katherine, whose only surviving child was the Princess Mary, Empress Fucha was rather unlucky in this respect: both of her sons and a daughter died in childhood. Her only surviving child was a daughter who lived to the relatively ripe old age of 61 years.<br />
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Unlike Queen Katherine, Empress Fucha never lost her husband's favour. Her conduct as queen was blameless; she fitted the archetype of the ideal Confucian wife perfectly. But the death of her only remaining son at the age of two proved too much for her. The Emperor, determined to cheer her up, took her on an excursion to Shantong. The royal couple visited several famous sites and even presided over a grand ceremony at the Confucius temple. All seemed well until they embarked on their return journey to the capital. Empress Fucha had fallen ill. The Emperor wanted to put off their return trip until her recovery; however, the Empress urged the Emperor to proceed with their journey back as scheduled. The journey, compounded by her grief, took its toll on her. She passed away on the boat, aged only 37.<br />
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The Emperor never got over his grief. His political style took a sharp turn after the Empress' demise; he admonished two of his sons for 'not displaying the appropriate amount of emotion' and even excluded them from his list of heirs apparent. Nor were his officials exempt from his bad temper. He found fault with the ceremonial offerings, was unhappy with the lack of attendance at the Empress' funeral, and even punished officials for shaving their heads within a hundred days of the Empress' death. In retrospect, this series of incidents could have been a long-awaited-for moment to punish offending officials; though several sources do agree that Qianlong was never the same again.<br />
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<u>Empress Nala--Anne Boleyn</u><br />
The aftermath of Empress Fucha's death was felt strongly by the entire court; no one was to bear the brunt more so than her ill-fated successor, Empress Nala.<br />
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At the time of Empress Fucha's death, Empress Nala was the "Noble Consort Xian", two ranks below the Empress. Her title, 'Xian', (娴), meaning "refined and demure", was supposed to be a reflection of her general character. She had been in attendance at the emperor's court ever since she was a girl of sixteen. Her rank and seniority were the highest among the palace ladies; her family background, though less prestigious than the late Empress, was high enough; her character, if official records were anything to go by, was blameless. In other words, she was perfect to assume the role of the new Empress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3NyXpmn0MP8h6WHqFMJ1Zh4YayU_gtCQjG0EBT52TJgkX-c4MBFcj8CHop_7cprvTbpV3nVPlCUZk5iEcChu9ozdOqWgdk_aMkaSpnXsel25BXAguvHCt-MxQNF4lsZ-GtXvZQ_ZNB4/s1600/d81b150b87a34ba8aff3cb0e6fc6d1fe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="455" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3NyXpmn0MP8h6WHqFMJ1Zh4YayU_gtCQjG0EBT52TJgkX-c4MBFcj8CHop_7cprvTbpV3nVPlCUZk5iEcChu9ozdOqWgdk_aMkaSpnXsel25BXAguvHCt-MxQNF4lsZ-GtXvZQ_ZNB4/s320/d81b150b87a34ba8aff3cb0e6fc6d1fe.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No portrait of the empress survives. Perhaps<br />
Qianlong had them destroyed. </td></tr>
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That was what the Empress Dowager had in mind as well. The Emperor, however, was not too eager to have her assume the role. As a compromise, he made her the "Imperial Noble Consort"––a sort of probationary position for her to carry out the responsibilities of an empress without the actual title. Lady Xian passed her probation without event. She was then coronated after the country's official mourning period was over.<br />
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At first glance, it would seem that Empress Nala and Anne Boleyn shared no similarities. While Anne Boleyn was witty, vivacious and determined, Empress Nala was set out to be another version of Empress Fucha. She toed the line cautiously, played by the rules, and never gave anyone any reason to doubt the legitimacy of her succession.<br />
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Nor was the Emperor ever infatuated with her the way King Henry was with Anne Boleyn; Empress Nala only began to bear children after her coronation as Empress. In other words, the relationship between the Emperor and his new Empress was respectful, proper, and fully fitted the official expectations of a royal couple who were bound together not by passion, but by duty.<br />
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It was only after a striking turn of events when Empress Nala's fate converged with that of Anne Boleyn's.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCiYNcNPU-1IoDxU2lX_aZazIDMMTggoormnkiq9uEHGj4_rBT-w6_qxtj8DDdsxSevhrWoBADUMbkHs0WHvIsFNgYi0_IzxMrY76FregnGclo91bjTNgwKuiu69BcQb1MKiRoCE4idY/s1600/220px-Anne_boleyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCiYNcNPU-1IoDxU2lX_aZazIDMMTggoormnkiq9uEHGj4_rBT-w6_qxtj8DDdsxSevhrWoBADUMbkHs0WHvIsFNgYi0_IzxMrY76FregnGclo91bjTNgwKuiu69BcQb1MKiRoCE4idY/s200/220px-Anne_boleyn.jpg" width="151" /></a>The brewing of the storm, for both Empress Nala and Anne Boleyn, was preceded by a period of apparent normalcy. Anne Boleyn was watching a game of tennis, carrying out her official duties as queen, when she was disturbed by messengers who ordered her to present herself before the privy council. A day before, her husband had left his seat abruptly at the May Day jousts. As argued by the historian Alison Weir, Anne probably had enough time to realize the gravity of her situation. Her situation had been highly precarious ever since her two miscarriages. Jane Seymour's ascension at court was also a threat to Anne, as King Henry began to openly flaunt his affection for her.<br />
<br />
The disgrace of Empress Nala was, on the contrary, less obvious. The Emperor and his favourites were on an excursion to Hangzhou. Everything went fine at first with the Emperor celebrated the Empress' birthday <i>en route. </i>They arrived at Hangzhou and breakfasted together; the Emperor even bequeathed her with delicacies from his royal table––a sign of his favor. However, the Empress did not show up for dinner that night. It was soon apparent that she had been sent back to the palace in disgrace on that day itself.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOxQ51NVXNQkj6Fnvwa7dCkQ3zyYWl_oTXppcne0oiNUCx83nZ0Z5HzzGAMQLcNeOi6dglIdtzVnY2mW95v8JCWwyUkiDNHfIH8Y1ku0B0WBVZW45y_yYBrG4spbZ1u-a7evSUAPXfM4/s1600/0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="592" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOxQ51NVXNQkj6Fnvwa7dCkQ3zyYWl_oTXppcne0oiNUCx83nZ0Z5HzzGAMQLcNeOi6dglIdtzVnY2mW95v8JCWwyUkiDNHfIH8Y1ku0B0WBVZW45y_yYBrG4spbZ1u-a7evSUAPXfM4/s320/0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empress Nala played by Charmaine Seah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What triggered this chain of events is unknown. By the emperor's own admission, the Empress had willfully cut her own hair––a big no-no for Manchurian women. It was akin to cursing the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, for the Empress was only allowed to cut her hair as a sign of mourning at their deaths. Since there were no eyewitness accounts to support or counteract that claim, we have no choice but to take the Emperor at his word.<br />
<br />
<br />
The reason behind Empress Nala's impulsiveness, given her clean record, is unknown and extremely baffling. There are many speculative theories circulating the net; one of which involves Noble Consort Ling, the "Jane Seymour" of this story. In this narrative, the Empress was greatly threatened by Noble Consort Ling's rapid ascension in the ranks of the Imperial Harem. The decision of the Emperor to promote her to the position of "Imperial Noble Consort" was the last straw that broke the camel's back––Empress Nala's action was, therefore, a desperate defiant act against the Emperor's plans. Though appealing in terms of its dramatic nature, this claim is highly speculative.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAwnuZ_bI2_6VCSzvz8YEkXCTZw1YDUHES1_GZfeSu8ZAQRlu9tufKBqyw0mMq0igNHoa7fovg2XT1NHsANJDsvqOPpGxbcT7JIuj29ugZsgzFqSGPHoJzCH_PdCK16cQHvxTnRaxTFc/s1600/adaymag-reason-to-follow-ruyi-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAwnuZ_bI2_6VCSzvz8YEkXCTZw1YDUHES1_GZfeSu8ZAQRlu9tufKBqyw0mMq0igNHoa7fovg2XT1NHsANJDsvqOPpGxbcT7JIuj29ugZsgzFqSGPHoJzCH_PdCK16cQHvxTnRaxTFc/s320/adaymag-reason-to-follow-ruyi-02.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empress Nala as depicted in the TV series<br />
"Ruyi's Royal Love"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unlike Anne Boleyn, Empress Nala was not put to death. Nor did she lose her position as Empress. However, her treatment was equivalent to demotion. The Emperor confiscated the ceremonial artefacts which marked her four promotions to the positions of Consort, Noble Consort, Imperial Noble Consort and Empress respectively; he also reduced the number of her servants to two, which was the equivalent of the lowest-ranking consort in the palace.<br />
<br />
Empress Nala died a year later. Her funeral was simply-done and did not befit her rank. Her coffin was then stuffed into a corner of the tomb of another concubine. No ceremonial plaque was erected in her honor nor were any posthumous titles awarded. The Emperor never showed any sign of grief at the news of his death. In fact, he exiled a hapless officer who was undiscerning enough to propose a proper funeral befitting her rank.<br />
<br />
<u><br /></u> <u><br /></u> <u><br /></u> <u>Consort Ling--Jane Seymour</u><br />
Jane Seymour was arguably King Henry's favorite. She was, after all, the one who begot him his long-wished-for son. King Henry had their family portrait painted together long after her death, effectively leaving the then-reigning queen Katherine Parr out. He even joined her in death, while his other wives, some without their heads, had to content themselves with singlehood for eternity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaqAzk8uUDbzk3zBNnMx8HlPUqF87Zz-L0R0yuxq7uEZ5VVB24GXR4dE8iBZwleGtyJVqJHjhky56WrZTar-TU_Y5RZjzhaM_-NuIHbvN_GZ8qYkekXMzzinAI1Yssaw_lnQsTzKdi8Y/s1600/henry8familydetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaqAzk8uUDbzk3zBNnMx8HlPUqF87Zz-L0R0yuxq7uEZ5VVB24GXR4dE8iBZwleGtyJVqJHjhky56WrZTar-TU_Y5RZjzhaM_-NuIHbvN_GZ8qYkekXMzzinAI1Yssaw_lnQsTzKdi8Y/s320/henry8familydetail.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
<br />
Jane Seymour was lady-in-waiting to King Henry's first two wives. As for Consort Ling, the details of her life prior to her ascension as the consort is unknown. The tv series Story of Yanxi Palace, (延禧攻略) portray her as the maid-in-waiting to Empress Fucha. This is not without historical basis. In an elegy to the Empress, Emperor Qianlong mentioned that the Consort had benefitted from the 'education' offered by the Empress. The exact meaning of this is unknown. The tv series take it literally to the extent of having Empress Fucha teach Consort Ling calligraphy and literacy skills.<br />
<br />
Others have speculated that Consort Ling had not begun her career as a palace maid, but was immediately promoted to the position of <i>guiren, </i>or 'Noble Person', five ranks below the Empress. That would still place her under the guidance of the Empress who was in charge of overseeing the discipline and character of the imperial concubines.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf2qHmcAI-QirUmMHSB0MCNXa60k_f6HZiezoF5SyDyGV_bXAnrKjMG3J6twgZ9wcbl5ZcxXDTDJqPckfb_wKm-LpcxHD8ssKQALvmXOG5aSDMBwuhCQLLAVdJyAfB0DJuUzRq-NFjpA/s1600/9afe-hamfahw5504332.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="870" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf2qHmcAI-QirUmMHSB0MCNXa60k_f6HZiezoF5SyDyGV_bXAnrKjMG3J6twgZ9wcbl5ZcxXDTDJqPckfb_wKm-LpcxHD8ssKQALvmXOG5aSDMBwuhCQLLAVdJyAfB0DJuUzRq-NFjpA/s320/9afe-hamfahw5504332.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Consort Ling, depicted as the maid-in-waiting to Empress Fucha<br />
in "The Story of Yanxi Palace"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Jane Seymour, though of noble birth, started out from a considerably lower station in life as compared to Katherine of Aragon. In a similar vein, Consort Ling's background was considerably weaker than Empress Fucha, Empress Nala, or many of the other imperial consorts for that matter. Her rapid ascension across the ranks is therefore remarkable. She rose from the fifth rank to the second rank of Noble Consort within fourteen years. After the unexpected fall of Empress Nala, she was made the Imperial Noble Consort, a rare honor commonly reserved for concubines of prominent families.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGs9pNa3yZokjs0AwsAN-Bfy1Q0z2aSOoRYwUT1VhhpTVFs6lAYCeOBUh-6Ozmtjo6P1Qke5N6E8DKfHipzvNDCcO3suC4OtBH08G4iIOkOLIn9d7YfzIB5C9H52aHnILV9vsK7OdzBQ/s1600/1497256978963433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="605" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGs9pNa3yZokjs0AwsAN-Bfy1Q0z2aSOoRYwUT1VhhpTVFs6lAYCeOBUh-6Ozmtjo6P1Qke5N6E8DKfHipzvNDCcO3suC4OtBH08G4iIOkOLIn9d7YfzIB5C9H52aHnILV9vsK7OdzBQ/s320/1497256978963433.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Consort Ling, as depicted in the 90s TV Series "Princess Returning Pearl".<br />
In this series, she is depicted as a kindly figure who is symphathetic to<br />
the main characters and often intercedes on their behalf.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was not that easy to be promoted in the Qing imperial harem. For starters, Manchurian women of the foremost banners were more likely to be promoted. The ability to give birth to sons was also a chief determining factor; though the Emperor could promote childless favorites as well. Like Jane Seymour, Consort Ling was the birth mother of the Emperor's immediate successor, though it wasn't entirely evident at that point. As dictated by custom, the Emperor would write his successor's name in a will hidden behind the plaque in his throne room. It was only at the point of the Emperor's death (or abdication) when the will would be retrieved and revealed.<br />
<br />
Jane Seymour died shortly after her son's birth. Consort Ling was more fortunate; she lived for quite a long while until her death at 47. Like Jane, she did not live long enough to see her son ascend the throne. In a final display of favor, Emperor Qianlong awarded her the title of 'Empress' posthumously.<br />
<br />
<u>Depictions in Popular Culture</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX67zwR0Ts0aP7y2xfcOg2oH7wzHVOo8CPXU0LKs_yDTgKHj4Kbb6QArdOvyQZd54WV2JGvgD5KVOh_ENizHKbet8XDFzvdEm9lDR-QesLI91kPrVjD5ldTeCBGCvBCQ9MTM-hC6Zo7Y/s1600/tudors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="500" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX67zwR0Ts0aP7y2xfcOg2oH7wzHVOo8CPXU0LKs_yDTgKHj4Kbb6QArdOvyQZd54WV2JGvgD5KVOh_ENizHKbet8XDFzvdEm9lDR-QesLI91kPrVjD5ldTeCBGCvBCQ9MTM-hC6Zo7Y/s320/tudors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<u><br /></u> The Tudors have long been the favorites of historical fiction and tv series. The same can be said of Emperor Qianlong, though historical dramas in the past had focused solely on his role as emperor and his doings in the politcal scope.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NZMKmybfsmT2RMPjqfMNsYpz1vL5qv7DUru9riKg-S3FAYZ0X2N0MtSfyA_VucW7W9qGuceXfZfpb9_jiXDm_xFQPUS0b1MV-cydSyo2j_ucNMdrjN0nVkQ5hACppSJlbUBCg4jG2AQ/s1600/%25E3%2580%258A%25E4%25B9%25BE%25E9%259A%2586%25E7%258E%258B%25E6%259C%259D%25E3%2580%258B%25E5%25B0%2581%25E9%259D%25A2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NZMKmybfsmT2RMPjqfMNsYpz1vL5qv7DUru9riKg-S3FAYZ0X2N0MtSfyA_VucW7W9qGuceXfZfpb9_jiXDm_xFQPUS0b1MV-cydSyo2j_ucNMdrjN0nVkQ5hACppSJlbUBCg4jG2AQ/s320/%25E3%2580%258A%25E4%25B9%25BE%25E9%259A%2586%25E7%258E%258B%25E6%259C%259D%25E3%2580%258B%25E5%25B0%2581%25E9%259D%25A2.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qianglong's Empire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unlike Western history, I find that Chinese history has been more secretive about the doings of the Imperial family. Reading the obituaries and biographies of the Qing empresses and concubines brings to mind images of virtuous women, whose sole purpose in life was to serve the king and follow rules. It is hard to guess at their personalities or motivations.<br />
<br />
Though frustrating for historians, this lack of information has provided novelists and filmmakers with a blank canvas on which imaginations run wild. And we now find ourselves at this interesting point in Chinese popular culture where not one, but two historically-inspired tv series are being aired/to-be-aired at the point of writing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGCFddO9_ufSzbDHx1ISzxxsgXs9rgbKT8AJI4hi8EgcvKdZrqu6PdG9BNJaKt83aOnJ5TW6yl7o6SMENcwu8-Fw88Q2sna6a-Q3TyuWoKnG33c4PJF1sLzDkLBSqkJE22l7Fwhybegc/s1600/8478-1G212112454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGCFddO9_ufSzbDHx1ISzxxsgXs9rgbKT8AJI4hi8EgcvKdZrqu6PdG9BNJaKt83aOnJ5TW6yl7o6SMENcwu8-Fw88Q2sna6a-Q3TyuWoKnG33c4PJF1sLzDkLBSqkJE22l7Fwhybegc/s320/8478-1G212112454.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yingluo (Consort Ling) vs Ruyi (Empress Nala).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of this, Yanxi Gonglue, or "The Story of Yanxi Palace"[2] (延禧攻略) has been taking over the Chinese internet by storm. In this version, Consort Ling is the central character, an ally of Empress Fucha, and the deadly opponent of Empress Nala. In the second version, "Ru Yi's Royal Love in the Palace" (如懿传), Empress Nala, reimagined as Ulanala Ruyi[3], is the central character, while Consort Ling is the main villain. In this retelling of events, Empress Nala is the Emperor's true love, and the couple became estranged after a series of misunderstandings. (which I find really unconvincing)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARnwTj1eHukBH5BcInMK8LCAUs5QXGcUdf1igmZQTAla7glRZSSB8jZ5SYH4ZbVFixqmMKLNzU8Tx13P-b9TLmHqYfCUhLCTTL0L3B_9dwO5D_b9u6zbuV_4ZLVe0QCstlY1W2wswKCQ/s1600/de4539f8376e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARnwTj1eHukBH5BcInMK8LCAUs5QXGcUdf1igmZQTAla7glRZSSB8jZ5SYH4ZbVFixqmMKLNzU8Tx13P-b9TLmHqYfCUhLCTTL0L3B_9dwO5D_b9u6zbuV_4ZLVe0QCstlY1W2wswKCQ/s320/de4539f8376e.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promo poster for Ruyi's Royal Love</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Better than the power struggle between Empress Nala and Consort Ling is the real-life power struggle between the two tv series, its producers, and fans to emerge as the ultimate winner of the day. While Yanxi promotes itself as an accurate representation of historical dress and accessories, (read a full discussion <a href="https://hanfugirl.blog/2018/08/16/qing-dynasty-show-styling-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-hierarchy-of-dresses/">here</a> and <a href="https://hanfugirl.blog/2018/08/10/qing-dynasty-show-styling-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-hair-episode/">here</a>), Ruyi's crew promotes itself as a faithful reconstruction of the elaborate Qing dynasty palace rituals. (video below)<br />
<br />
At the time of writing, things seem a little more challenging for Ruyi, given that the audiences have been won over by Yanxi's depiction of Consort Ling as a fearless, quick-witted and capable young lady.<br />
<br />
Watch the promotional videos below and decide for yourself. Who is the ultimate winner of this 21st-century palace power struggle?<br />
<br />
1) Promotional Video for Yanxi Palace<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bWYcedNL49c/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bWYcedNL49c?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
2) Promotional video for Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1AajwNQVDgg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1AajwNQVDgg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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[1]: I am unable to find citations or the original source for this anecdote. This information is lifted from baidu and is uncited. It would be wise to treat this as just a story.<br />
<br />
[2]: In my opinion, "A Survival Guide to Yanxi Palace" would be a better translation<br />
<br />
[3]: In history, Empress Nala's family name is ‘Hoifa Nala', not 'Ula Nala'. The TV series' version is a common misconception.<br />
<div>
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xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-74124672149583454052018-05-29T17:00:00.001+08:002020-05-23T16:08:23.390+08:00Historical Cooking with Mrs CrocombeIf you were an English lord or lady living in the late 19th-century in need of a cook, you'd probably want to hire Mrs Crocombe.<br />
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<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI-mvKLWAAAF6Ey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for mrs crocombe" border="0" height="225" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI-mvKLWAAAF6Ey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
However, we 21-st century avocado toast-chomping and frappucino-sipping viewers can still get a peek into her cookbook via this<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx2QMoA1Th9deXXbo7htq21CUPqEPPGuc" target="_blank"> Youtube series.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAx8ZGNy9LFy8H_BpBkmKN7sPvciD0XG1-g2RmXb_8gxJNIqa8GHHI-oWULiz_dPThb052ZeF6NpNjy7Z8KIeaPqrdcwiWW8WMHq2KiGoeohqALZyLlVSOMrQeAE3168zDRCiC20CoUM/s1600/mrs+crocombe2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="808" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAx8ZGNy9LFy8H_BpBkmKN7sPvciD0XG1-g2RmXb_8gxJNIqa8GHHI-oWULiz_dPThb052ZeF6NpNjy7Z8KIeaPqrdcwiWW8WMHq2KiGoeohqALZyLlVSOMrQeAE3168zDRCiC20CoUM/s400/mrs+crocombe2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=2716323655983545363" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=2716323655983545363" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=2716323655983545363" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>These videos are published under the English Heritage Youtube channel, a foundation that safeguards England's heritage structures, including Stonehedge and <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/audley-end-house-and-gardens/" target="_blank">Audley End House </a>where the Victorian Way series is filmed.<br />
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(I feel the need to insert a short personal ramble here. Having been at Cambridge for over three years I have passed Audley End numerous times on train rides to and from London. It has never occurred to me to visit the Audley End House, having heard of it only after I left England for good! Regrets abound.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXa6qo-jEZTzzyKXPM4ivklmXURWqELBEoxKsBpluvlejFwiu2jyVHezg4mquFQZNkdc9hdNWtStP3k8a86tdohl9AcxX2aU-OOxM7XTGDkHGdpNk8lqg3dbgG27lRhAiOkj9CsLuw1Q/s1600/map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="605" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXa6qo-jEZTzzyKXPM4ivklmXURWqELBEoxKsBpluvlejFwiu2jyVHezg4mquFQZNkdc9hdNWtStP3k8a86tdohl9AcxX2aU-OOxM7XTGDkHGdpNk8lqg3dbgG27lRhAiOkj9CsLuw1Q/s400/map.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See?! I regret my youthful ignorance. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You know that dopamine rush you get when your favourite Youtube channel releases a new video? YES. That is the feeling I get when Mrs Crocombe appears in my feed.<br />
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On a fine day, you might just catch Mrs Crocombe writing in her room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ3FZa496XYfKGcK5e8bmb3X1nhCzDbkxXk-NgzZvookpSZqGWAY9xz3lK89bxP7uehFurnLT4RtNYtRsclP712fJPH4zlFg95ZNTJqbvg_v0OxYKby36WMmMvbnUg4AroYp0ijMg8Qg/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="804" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ3FZa496XYfKGcK5e8bmb3X1nhCzDbkxXk-NgzZvookpSZqGWAY9xz3lK89bxP7uehFurnLT4RtNYtRsclP712fJPH4zlFg95ZNTJqbvg_v0OxYKby36WMmMvbnUg4AroYp0ijMg8Qg/s400/download.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Or picking fruits in the garden.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO0g-OgbWEeHrRm81n9LytgsKr16WPLASO5Ci8Kn8imKWdt8Qi6zBza-FB_JtQk0U2XxKvCye6T5lafDlnHDwfnZmctHEJH6Gk0Y8ydxdKRkbW-gepPPOqg7WMhL39Mr1Zp4mrRNLOMo/s1600/mrs+crocombe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="878" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO0g-OgbWEeHrRm81n9LytgsKr16WPLASO5Ci8Kn8imKWdt8Qi6zBza-FB_JtQk0U2XxKvCye6T5lafDlnHDwfnZmctHEJH6Gk0Y8ydxdKRkbW-gepPPOqg7WMhL39Mr1Zp4mrRNLOMo/s400/mrs+crocombe.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Her face lights up at the sight of a visitor.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_HP22RS6J2EamNI9kfVqCFvFLQsI5W47npEOq86iF5dTVzc2kX0CiD95T9I-AYhGFLlpvJ0vQJWrUSr6a83o9WAycqn9pecjdepdrva0Frufs0HXqM7lKca944TmLu5Q0sWrjB24EjA/s1600/tea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="876" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_HP22RS6J2EamNI9kfVqCFvFLQsI5W47npEOq86iF5dTVzc2kX0CiD95T9I-AYhGFLlpvJ0vQJWrUSr6a83o9WAycqn9pecjdepdrva0Frufs0HXqM7lKca944TmLu5Q0sWrjB24EjA/s400/tea.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From something as simple as a cup of tea to an intricate cake, Mrs Crocombe is the one you go to for Victorian know-hows. Here are a few of my favourites:<br />
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1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0B9qkeq4g" target="_blank">Cucumber ice-cream</a><br />
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Who would have thought cucumber and ice-cream could go together? I didn't.<br />
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From hauling a bucketful of ice from the ice-house to manually stirring the ice-cream, it sounds like a lot of work to us modern viewers, especially on a hot summers' day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCOGzzKlbTpr0wVDqQm0P6BIyYQaDMjimGw_xNGZpiVoF1OhzgG1A57Fr86U-tLkQPwwQvUrIhUjI5k2ZPmwk8vPQEeW_iEG2MXswemgjHjv4r6D9EZgsMxOby1bBqZOzdPYRtApLmbY/s1600/cucumber.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="916" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCOGzzKlbTpr0wVDqQm0P6BIyYQaDMjimGw_xNGZpiVoF1OhzgG1A57Fr86U-tLkQPwwQvUrIhUjI5k2ZPmwk8vPQEeW_iEG2MXswemgjHjv4r6D9EZgsMxOby1bBqZOzdPYRtApLmbY/s400/cucumber.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But the end result is definitely worth it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbS841kK0H1pkpOd1VOc-BV59nk2-gMOknw4YUSuXGHHNZG_gMi1Ol4BI9nN4iMs-yyAx7zCcEo9tBF0buPA01nGaXjTKpj4w_aiuN9il1bthIOS2LdUMmxg6ZIG61tca85TVwqJTPZ8/s1600/ice+cream.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="880" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbS841kK0H1pkpOd1VOc-BV59nk2-gMOknw4YUSuXGHHNZG_gMi1Ol4BI9nN4iMs-yyAx7zCcEo9tBF0buPA01nGaXjTKpj4w_aiuN9il1bthIOS2LdUMmxg6ZIG61tca85TVwqJTPZ8/s400/ice+cream.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOTBAkCfMh4" target="_blank">Mrs Crocombe's "Taste of England" food parcel </a><br />
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This episode is basically a collaboration between the English Heritage youtube channel and the Townsends' channel. Mrs Crocombe puts together a delightful package of cake and loose tea leaves for the Townsends on the other side of the ocean.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CICgidsFynmBr7RWQGPTsRBov_IhUmu8uQumdkE1oiohN05ZHn8YqnKQs_KvaZsNq0MZ4t8kdK4agoCQXvppAxwzhMkKTTMHCDveut9JSUqk4Bv8zpVtj8VvZDgXrUucPBrCyTuwtIg/s1600/parcel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="874" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CICgidsFynmBr7RWQGPTsRBov_IhUmu8uQumdkE1oiohN05ZHn8YqnKQs_KvaZsNq0MZ4t8kdK4agoCQXvppAxwzhMkKTTMHCDveut9JSUqk4Bv8zpVtj8VvZDgXrUucPBrCyTuwtIg/s400/parcel.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the catch: The Townsends supposedly lives a century before Mrs Crocombe. But with Youtube's time-travel courier service anything is possible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgUdjG32PTBlEA-uh9kxNbQSkUfjaFQAt1vT78I4iJ1RWvbF9h5SiNwmGuHGs1_FNaUSj9JpE7W9FMIzXRntShznrH8inx1e_H2OlLjf0TLLwnYwO66WiFWttbDp3Ipn2ZHLKQ2VklzE/s1600/cake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="873" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgUdjG32PTBlEA-uh9kxNbQSkUfjaFQAt1vT78I4iJ1RWvbF9h5SiNwmGuHGs1_FNaUSj9JpE7W9FMIzXRntShznrH8inx1e_H2OlLjf0TLLwnYwO66WiFWttbDp3Ipn2ZHLKQ2VklzE/s400/cake.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you please send me a cake too? *puppy eyes*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Double the fun with the Townsends' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-x9ZxpPvG0" target="_blank">companion video</a> which is a 18th-century equivalent of an unboxing video.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6KMb1PyY-3LyeTkZSnZD-YoC2pNqKaJLj55qkXRPXjJoSV6-SJ44yeg8bLwJ_7jyVIPzoRecb4sN4LHancZvDz3IRquukMZ1ZFem_wvrv9KsyFOUo_DsjjWdkid-IT4h4RtLB8oxp5o/s1600/townsends.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="873" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6KMb1PyY-3LyeTkZSnZD-YoC2pNqKaJLj55qkXRPXjJoSV6-SJ44yeg8bLwJ_7jyVIPzoRecb4sN4LHancZvDz3IRquukMZ1ZFem_wvrv9KsyFOUo_DsjjWdkid-IT4h4RtLB8oxp5o/s400/townsends.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't you wish you were the one receiving the parcel from Mrs Crocombe?<br />
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3. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD9j-Xka6sA" target="_blank">How to make breakfast</a><br />
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This particular dish, kedgeree, is a mixed rice dish consisting of flaked fish, vegetables and spices, fried in butter and served with eggs. It resonates with me because we have a similar dish in Malaysia too, which we call 'nasi goreng'. (nasi=rice, goreng=fried)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN0MgSN6rdnu4cwA3vc_JLYc2z8pCXJwkfqEZ7kY9iAY404QKiKLTYuFplOqywIGjCJmLmQcOXCBJXey5o4ggBFZIPk0U14R7M24aZmdixnQXb2JtLWkv-oUj4WtSHQTBf_BW0OFbHX4/s1600/pexels-photo-723198.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyN0MgSN6rdnu4cwA3vc_JLYc2z8pCXJwkfqEZ7kY9iAY404QKiKLTYuFplOqywIGjCJmLmQcOXCBJXey5o4ggBFZIPk0U14R7M24aZmdixnQXb2JtLWkv-oUj4WtSHQTBf_BW0OFbHX4/s400/pexels-photo-723198.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unlike the Malaysian version, Mrs Crocombe uses butter to fry the rice and adds cream to it. I might try this version out next time I make fried rice!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsLLYsTNXmK6ULVOPTuX7U5c7Cz9chy1HlWKaOxDwF_QEtLngDhsKtGflAZlZrn4J08Ak4Y195Qzs1NPMnDsVCf0DF0dg1fI8NroP5MBnXjh0dDuadJ-A8UOrBP4n8W7vcqwBkVC3n_Q/s1600/add+cream.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="879" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsLLYsTNXmK6ULVOPTuX7U5c7Cz9chy1HlWKaOxDwF_QEtLngDhsKtGflAZlZrn4J08Ak4Y195Qzs1NPMnDsVCf0DF0dg1fI8NroP5MBnXjh0dDuadJ-A8UOrBP4n8W7vcqwBkVC3n_Q/s400/add+cream.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Did I mention how soothing it is to listen to the butter sizzling in the pan? Very ASMR)<br />
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With garnishing, this simple meal becomes fit for a lord's table.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUvkSg0wbXifRbZHh4cDC2XN8biy-unOQ-4OP1iA7EZZ3yapF9Bdu-arusYYx-hBDneOFBv9WAcSrX0ecvTCwiYlHd2BECGM-SEuIKzUkW3V7U8Hbme216Qu2ap9n9Lxf32bA_eqBfh0/s1600/kedgeree2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="876" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUvkSg0wbXifRbZHh4cDC2XN8biy-unOQ-4OP1iA7EZZ3yapF9Bdu-arusYYx-hBDneOFBv9WAcSrX0ecvTCwiYlHd2BECGM-SEuIKzUkW3V7U8Hbme216Qu2ap9n9Lxf32bA_eqBfh0/s400/kedgeree2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOlZrbLjNQi9d0wTvsvCYVytOsSx7HbiMxBQO-aveyQoX6rn3-Y-LrLchLn-SPY_hveCAn054LCrSp6CJGxfmPRPE3BJ3R-FFFKDMu1T0vZWPNCYhjcCadGWqQ3m3MzCgThMztnaKaSc/s1600/kedgeree.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="877" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOlZrbLjNQi9d0wTvsvCYVytOsSx7HbiMxBQO-aveyQoX6rn3-Y-LrLchLn-SPY_hveCAn054LCrSp6CJGxfmPRPE3BJ3R-FFFKDMu1T0vZWPNCYhjcCadGWqQ3m3MzCgThMztnaKaSc/s400/kedgeree.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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4. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9xvCuO33Ao" target="_blank">Apple hedgehog</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb43_r8SEPhu1Dx6NRJkj81HbZexGcZwNIaFw0YKuHdoVyQviAn5xopEbt1aqv-K4F5QJ0YzkqGieVVLdlL6BqvMSDBlAOMW4C4DQaEW2TZYyzAk7fMzYbWmAW4NchX5VD5tDjagApt0/s1600/apple+hedgehog+recipe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="873" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb43_r8SEPhu1Dx6NRJkj81HbZexGcZwNIaFw0YKuHdoVyQviAn5xopEbt1aqv-K4F5QJ0YzkqGieVVLdlL6BqvMSDBlAOMW4C4DQaEW2TZYyzAk7fMzYbWmAW4NchX5VD5tDjagApt0/s400/apple+hedgehog+recipe.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The end result is an adorable white thing with a cherry for its nose, raisins for its eyes and hazelnut flakes for its spines.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0oTZ9YF6OL3sx86OnYBhJCsUtCUCZUuF1pyZjdgxU7w2oWwWeZKCDAOzg7sy0FGG22GlVMLVmkfNpn1MvEeEH8jACyKOB8jLQN8AFIWPT5pAKd3cRTtyPtHJByJ5veTWdFmGs3jM6H0/s1600/apple+hedgehog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="873" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0oTZ9YF6OL3sx86OnYBhJCsUtCUCZUuF1pyZjdgxU7w2oWwWeZKCDAOzg7sy0FGG22GlVMLVmkfNpn1MvEeEH8jACyKOB8jLQN8AFIWPT5pAKd3cRTtyPtHJByJ5veTWdFmGs3jM6H0/s400/apple+hedgehog.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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What's not to love about this dish?<br />
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Everything else to love about this video series:<br />
-The background music<br />
-The actress playing Mrs Crocombe<br />
-The shiny copper pots and pans hanging in the background<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkPQuSwTpkxX7Z1y54fO22dWVR-lZgCzSOQ8nUmbw8SXBb_ztsJJwaEH_vWCfCa3ubXNtik31v5y8mzbWYTgeaGTDJZ8ar2GquhNFyKolPRMAujelZV9wvjWV4cYaPfUVuzBwsIcJACU/s1600/copper+pans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="878" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkPQuSwTpkxX7Z1y54fO22dWVR-lZgCzSOQ8nUmbw8SXBb_ztsJJwaEH_vWCfCa3ubXNtik31v5y8mzbWYTgeaGTDJZ8ar2GquhNFyKolPRMAujelZV9wvjWV4cYaPfUVuzBwsIcJACU/s400/copper+pans.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dream kitchen<br />
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</tbody></table>
-Everything else down to Mrs Crocombe's accent, the simple plots that go with the videos, and her simple look of surprise and 'oh, hello there!' as the camera pans onto her.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=2716323655983545363" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=2716323655983545363" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=2716323655983545363" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The channel also runs a series of videos on the real Mrs Crocombe. She rose in the ranks to become the head cook in a time when male cooks were more widely sought after and received better paid than their female counterparts. [0:40-1:00 in the third video]<br />
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To quote historian Dr Anne Gray in the third video,<br />
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<i>"To me it is impossible to think about studying the history of women without looking in-depth at servant life. Avis Crocombe and the other cooks like her who reached the pinnacle of their profession in a time when it was unthinkable to get any further, are incredibly important figures to consider and to look at. They're people that fought the gender battle in their own way. They didn't put on sashes and go out on the streets or throw themselves under horses, but in their own way they nevertheless fought for women to be recognised as professionals doing a professional job in an incredibly male-dominated profession."</i></blockquote>
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For more videos on historical food and dining habits (mostly British), I'd recommend The Supersizers series. Each episode is for an hour or so and is an enjoyable and light-hearted take on the eating habits of a specific historical period, going as far back as Ancient Rome to as recent as the seventies. Some of the videos are on Youtube.<br />
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I'd also recommend Future Learn's <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/royal-food" target="_blank">"A History of Royal Food and Feasting"</a>. Did not manage to complete the course myself, but it was fun to see other dedicated and talented learners share their recreations of historical dishes.<br />
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For information on the actual working conditions of domestic servants, watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqiMASk5MIU" target="_blank">Life Below Stairs</a> series. The tone of the videos is pretty depressing, but I picked up a couple of interesting facts along the way.<br />
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For a more comprehensive account on Victorian domestic life in general, Judith Flanders' <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Making-Home-500-Year-Houses-Became/dp/1250096111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527583813&sr=1-1&keywords=the+making+of+home" target="_blank">"The Making of Home"</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Victorian-Home-Portrait-Domestic/dp/0393327639" target="_blank">"Inside the Victorian Home"</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Victorian-House-Domestic-Childbirth-Deathbed/dp/0007131895/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FQCDHK7HZSVPA8H9HM4R" target="_blank">"The Victorian House"</a> are good reads.<br />
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xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-73658876417093946302018-02-10T00:11:00.004+08:002018-02-10T00:13:37.491+08:00Four Greatest Beauties of China: Diao ChanIt has been so long since I last wrote on this blog. In this span of four years (or more), so much has changed in my personal life. I have attended and graduated from university, found a job, and found a lot of topics that interest me other than history. Yup, history is still fascinating. But I have gained a new outlook on things. Citations, for one. I noticed how my previous posts contained no citations at all. Citations are everything in university. My supervisors would flip if I were to hand in a dissertation full of allegations and with absolutely no citations at all.<br />
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But I digress. Enough about me and my personal life. Time to end the 'Four Beauties' series with Diao Chan, the only one who is purely fictional.<br />
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(On that note, a reader asked in a comment if <a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.my/2012/09/four-greatest-beauties-of-china-xi-shi.html" target="_blank">Xi Shi </a>is fictional. I will look into that. Anyway, a lot of Chinese history is so mixed up with myths and folklore it sometimes is hard to distinguish fact from fiction. I promise to be more careful on that point in the future, and include references and disclaimers when necessary)<br />
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Also, before I begin, a shoutout to fellow blogger and friend Hanfugirl who is the impetus behind this post. She runs a lovely blog centred around 'Hanfu', i.e. Han Chinese traditional dress, and I cannot recommend it enough! <a href="https://hanfugirl.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Check it out</a>.<br />
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One thing to keep in mind about Diao Chan: she is fictional, invented by the author of 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms' to add some drama to the story. Like Xi Shi, she is a spy of sorts, used as a pawn to wreck havoc in the relationship of two powerful men. In order to fully understand her story, I will give a brief account of the historical background. Again, these are events lifted from the novel, based on history but also fictionalised to an extent.<br />
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The Han Dynasty was near its end. There was chaos everywhere, as everyone tried to exert their influence over the emperor, who was reduced to a dummy figure essentially controlled by anyone cunning or powerful enough. (He was eventually displaced by Dong Zhuo, who is one of the main players in this story)<br />
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Among these people was Dong Zhuo. He had an 'adopted son', Lu Bu whose martial prowess was legendary. He was so good at combat no one could defeat him single-handedly. Even the three protagonists of the novel, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei could not defeat him in a three-to-one match.<br />
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Lu Bu acted as Dong Zhuo's bodyguard. As a result, no one dared cross Dong Zhuo, for they knew Lu Bu would cut them down instantly. And everyone hated Dong Zhuo, for he was cruel and power-hungry, displacing the emperor and installing another (a mere boy) in his place, tightening his control over the new emperor and moving the capital from Luoyang to Xi'an. He plundered and pillaged, robbed some innocent villagers of their families and possessions, built a pleasure palace and filled it with treasures (while everyone else was starving to death), killed and tortured people in sadistic ways, including two ministers who tried to speak out against him.<br />
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A minister, Wang Yun, was concerned over the state of things. His worry did not go unnoticed by a member of his household, Diao Chan. Diao Chan was a songstress, but was regarded by Wang Yun as his own daughter. She had been raised in the household since her childhood, where she was taught many skills such as singing and dancing.<br />
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Diao Chan swore to Wang Yun she would do anything to lighten his burden. Moved by her sincerity, Wang Yun hatched a plan with her, a plan that, if successfully executed, would turn Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu against each other.<br />
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A couple of days later, Wang Yun had Lu Bu over for a meal. Wang Yun began to flatter Lu Bu with good food and wine. Now, Lu Bu was a skilled warrior, but he had neither brains nor integrity. He was easily moved by flattery, material goods, and beautiful women.<br />
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That was when Diao Chan entered the scene. Lu Bu could not keep his eyes off her, as she poured wine and sat down at the table. Wang Yun, noticing Lu Bu's reaction, promised to give her to him as a concubine. All he had to do is to wait for an auspicious date. Lu Bu went home a happy man.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wang Yun promises Diao Chan to Lu Bu</td></tr>
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Wang Yun then invited Dong Zhuo to his place. Again, more food, wine and song, with flattery thrown in as well. Dong Zhuo was beginning to trust Wang Yun when Diao Chan made her entrance again, this time displaying her superb dancing skills. Dong Zhuo's reaction was to be expected. Like Lu Bu, he was transfixed. When the feast was over, Wang Yun presented Diao Chan as a concubine to Dong Zhuo, who accepted happily. He took Diao Chan home with him in a covered carriage.<br />
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Wang Yun sent them off and was intercepted by an angry Lu Bu on the way back.<br />
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"How dare you! You promised Diao Chan to me!" He huffed.<br />
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Wang Yun feigned complacence. "Your father wanted to have a look at his future daughter-in-law. He has taken her home and will present her to you shortly." Lu Bu, not being particularly discerning, was placated and went home.<br />
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Of course, he found out soon enough that Dong Zhuo had no intentions of this sort. Instead of confronting Dong Zhuo directly, he snuck into Dong Zhuo's back garden where he saw Diao Chan, applying her makeup by the window. Diao Chan noticed him. She pretended to look very upset, in a way that broke Lu Bu's heart. He could do nothing but leave.<br />
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One day, when Dong Zhuo was not around, Lu Bu snuck into the gardens again, and found Diaochan.<br />
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"Meet me at the Phoenix Pavilion," She whispered to him urgently, before slipping away.<br />
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Lu Bu made his way there. And she came soon enough, brushing aside leaves and flowers, looking like a goddess of the moon.<br />
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She began a tirade, lamenting and weeping about her fate. "I forced myself to live in shame, just so I could see you again," she sobbed. "Now that I have seen you, my wish is fulfilled! I'd die before you as an expression of my will." With that, she prepared to launch herself into the lotus pond.<br />
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Lu Bu caught hold of her and held her in his arms. He promised to free her from Dong Zhuo, swearing he was no man if he could not perform this task.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tryst between Diao Chan and Lu Bu</td></tr>
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Dong Zhuo arrived at the scene just as they were in the midst of it. He had been in the presence of the emperor; he grew suspicious as Lu Bu was nowhere to be seen. Enraged, he flung a sphere at Lu Bu; Lu Bu managed to fend it off. Dong Zhuo was severely overweight and was no match for the younger man. As he ran huffing and puffing out of the garden, he slammed into another man. It was his loyal friend and advisor, Li Ru.<br />
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After hearing all that had happened, Li Ru attempted to talk some sense into Dong Zhuo. "Look, if you were to give Diao Chan to your son, he will be ever so loyal to you!" Dong Zhuo deliberated it. It seemed to make sense. He decided to speak to Diao Chan first.<br />
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When confronted, Diao Chan put up a firm and cold stance. She accused Lu Bu of forcing himself on her. "I'd rather die than submit myself to that man!" She screeched as Dong Zhuo offered to send her over to Lu Bu. And she grabbed a sword, placed it against her neck, to prove her point.<br />
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Naturally, Dong Zhuo's heart melted and he decided to abandon the plan. Li Ru, the loyal advisor, was dismayed when he heard the news. In the meantime, Dong Zhuo took Diao Chan together with him to his pleasure palace away from his residence. As the household was beginning their journey, Lu Bu caught a glimpse of Diao Chan. She noticed him and covered her face with her sleeve, as though she were weeping. This broke Lu Bu's heart again.<br />
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Wang Yun, the mastermind of it all, noticed this and decided it was time to give the flames a little fanning. He invited Lu Bu to his home, where he began to provoke Lu Bu's sentiments. "Dong Zhuo has sullied my daughter and robbed you of your rightful wife. The whole world is laughing! Not at Dong Zhuo, but at you, general! I am but an old and useless man of no consequence. But you! A famed hero like none other, yet you are insulted as such!" Lu Bu was inflamed by Wang Yun's words. Together, they hatched a plan that would end in Dong Zhuo's death.<br />
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They faked a royal decree by the emperor. Dong Zhuo's presence was requested, for the emperor wished to abdicate his throne. Dong Zhuo would be appointed in his place.<br />
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Dong Zhuo fell for the trap. He bade Diao Chan and his mother goodbye, before hastening on his trip. Along the way, bad omens kept happening. A wheel fell off, forcing him to get off his carriage and ride his horse instead. The horse began neighing wildly. The sky grew dark, as clouds gathered and a fog settled upon the land. The official escorting Dong Zhuo, who was in the plan, manage to assuage his apprehensions by conjuring all kinds of counter-explanations.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dong Zhuo arriving in style</td></tr>
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Eventually, Dong Zhuo reached the palace, where he was escorted in by officials all dressed according to their rank. He noticed something amiss when he saw Wang Yun and the others standing guard, swords in hand. By then, only twenty or so of his followers were allowed in; the rest were barricaded outside by armed guards.<br />
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"Here comes the bandit! Warriors, show yourselves!" Wang Yun cried out. A hundred or so men closed upon Dong Zhuo. He called out for his son, Lu Bu, who emerged from the crowd. Instead of rescuing his adoptive father, he drew a sword and lopped Dong Zhuo's head off.<br />
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The story is now over for Dong Zhuo, but what about Diao Chan?<br />
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Well, Dong Zhuo's pleasure palace was ransacked, its goods stripped, its enslaved occupants returned to their respective families. Dong Zhuo's entire family, including his old mother, were implicated and sentenced to death. Diao Chan, however, was whisked away by Lu Bu to relative safety.<br />
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For the time being.<br />
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Both Wang Yun and Lu Bu eventually met with untimely deaths. It was a time of violence and turbulence after all, and peace was not magically restored with the death of Dong Zhuo. Diao Chan's eventual fate is unknown, just like Xi Shi. Without a protector, we can only guess that she was either enslaved by another warlord or killed in the chaos, as it was for many women of the time.<br />
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Diao Chan may be fictional, but her courage and cool-headedness even in the face of extreme danger (like when she was found out by Dong Zhuo) is striking. There is a strong sense of self-sacrificial spirit here. She must have known that, it was unlikely Wang Yun take her back even if she succeeded her mission, for Lu Bu would claim her as his own.<br />
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Disclaimer #1: I'm sorry it sounds like Diao Chan is some kind of thing to be possessed what with all the "give her to him", "take her back", "claim her as his own". Yup, I'm cringing at those phrases too. But it is just how things were at that time.<br />
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Fact #1: The name "Diao Chan", if broken down into its constituent words, means "mink" and "cricket" respectively. Legend (or rather, ancient Chinese fanfiction) claims Diao Chan was named such as she was found by Wang Yun as an abandoned orphan wrapped in mink. with a voice as clear as the crickets in summer. A more historical explanation would be this: her name derives from a kind of headdress worn by Han dynasty officials. The headdress were adorned by the wings of crickets and the tail of a mink. Perhaps the author chose this name to symbolise the force that orchestrated Dong Zhuo's fall: namely, the loyalty Wang Yun has to the Han dynasty.<br />
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Fact #2: While Diao Chan is fictional, Wang Yun is most certainly a historical figure. He got rid of Dong Zhuo by faking loyalty in his face while forming alliances in secret. Lu Bu already had the intention to get rid of Dong Zhuo; Wang Yun did fan the flames by assuring Lu Bu it was not immoral to kill Dong Zhuo, as Lu Bu is not his biological son. The whole process is recorded in 'The Book of the Latter Han'.<br />
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Fact #3: According to the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms' (do not confuse it with 'Romance'), There was a concubine/mistress of Dong Zhuo whom Lu Bu was involved with. The fate of the concubine is unknown. She might have been the inspiration for Diao Chan's character.<br />
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Fact #4: Diao Chan is often associated with the moon. In Chinese paintings of the four beauties, she is often seen praying to the moon. This image probably stems from a scene in the book when Diao Chan was introduced: it was a moonlit night, and Diao Chan was heard sighing all by herself in the garden.<br />
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<br />xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-55199345617357520632014-07-23T15:33:00.002+08:002014-07-23T15:33:24.292+08:00Women in Wars of The Roses Part I: Books and Overview Finally, I’m going back to writing about History! It has been a while since I last blogged about it. <br /><br />I don’t really know how accurate my sources are but I’m purely going to write this post based on these references below and on memory. In case you don’t know, I’ve read all of these books right before I sleep and every time I’m free in Cambridge, even if it’s just for 15 minutes because reading is my sole entertainment. So writing this is just recounting my thoughts on what I’ve been reading for leisure when in UK:<br /><br />Based on these references, written mostly based on memory:-<br /><br />1. White Queen Series (drama) by Phillipa Gregory<br /><br />2. Documentary of the 4 White Queen women figureheads also by Phillipa Gregory<br /><br />3. Books by Phillipa Gregory featuring<br /><br />a. Queen Elizabeth Woodville, by The White Queen<br /><br />b. Jacquetta Woodville, by The Lady of The Rivers<br /><br />c. Anne Neville, by The Kingmaker’s Daughter<br /><br />d. Queen Elizabeth of York, by The White Princess<br /><br />e. Lady Margaret Beaufort, by The Red Queen<br /><br />4. YouTube videos, Wikipedia, and random sessions of getting lost in the internet<br /><a name='more'></a><br />The historical accuracy in some aspects are questionable and since my knowledge in most of these historical stories are based on such soaps, I will only claim that I am historically correct (at least what the general public accepts to be a historical fact) in a pretty basic to intermediate level. This is because I did check on Wikipedia to verify its historical accuracy and was rather amazed by the level of detail that is actually correct. It is only the unsolved mysteries that were claimed as possible true alternatives for the sake of completing a book. For example, the Princes in the Tower and some other stuff to bring characters to life. However even minute details are sometimes historically in sync with academic journals.<br /><br /><b>Prologue</b><br /><br />I’ve been obsessed with the Tudor Era of England for a good period of time, sporadically a fanatic for a span of a few months per session. After a few years of reading countless of books such as <br /><br />1. Queen’s Gambit, based on Queen Katherine sixth wife of Henry VIII<br /><br />2. Constant Princess, based on Queen Catharine of Aragon first wife of Henry VIII<br /><br />3. Another Boleyn Girl, based on Queen Anne Boleyn second wife of Henry VIII<br /><br />4. The White Princess, based on Queen Elizabeth of York mother of Henry VIII<br /><br />5. The Queen’s Fool, based on Queen Mary I daughter of Henry VIII<br /><br />6. The Boleyn Inheritance, based on Queen Katherine Howard fourth wife of Henry VIII<br /><br />I realized that there was a good deal of drama during the Wars of the Roses, leading to the fall of the House of Plantagenet, ruling family of England for centuries. So after reading about the three generations of House Tudor, it was time for me to take two generation steps back to what happened before the surprising flourish of the Tudor Dynasty, and the fall of what was once the strongest households in Plantagenet England. In essence, the fall was due to a Cousins’ War between House of York and the ruling House of Lancaster. The Game of Thrones is partly inspired by this war, as you can tell by the somewhat similar name of House Lannister. This war was sparked by a Mad King (just like GoT) Henry VI with his cousin planning to overthrow him and his tyrannical wife Queen Margaret of Anjou and his murderous “claimed-to-be-son-but-may-be-a-Duke’s” Prince Edward of Wales, sole heir to the House of Lancaster, before his distant relative Henry Tudor become claimant to the Lancastrian inheritance. The citizens did not like the French Queen partly because of the royal family’s poor governance and loss of control in the Hundred Years of War. Which cousin would like to have a Mad King with his enemy wife who may have not have given the king a true heir to rule the country when he has a good claim to the throne of England? <br /><br />Above are the books I’ve read during my second gap year. Since I’m currently into books, below is the list of books I am yet to read:-<br /><br />1. The Virgin’s Lover, based on Queen Elizabeth I<br /><br />2. The Other Queen, based on Mary Queen of Scots<br /><br />3. The King’s Curse, based on Lady Margaret Pole<br /><br />As you can see I am a die-hard fan of Phillipa Gregory for the past 3-4 years because I’ve also read her Wideacre Trilogy (which was a bit gory). I am yet to read her other book series but we all know that History is my favourite genre, and her books, fiction or no fiction, are all based around the same sort of theme. I hope to meet her one day in the UK and hope to read many more books from various other historical novelists (doesn’t mean they depict absolute historical accuracy by the way, I believe that you can never know the absolute minuscule truth unless you were there). <br /><br />And wow! Have I read a lot of books about this! Only noticed this after listing down the books based on this era. Well you won’t really realize it if you’re enjoying the activity anyway. No wonder I no longer have any more space to keep my books in the UK and need to get a Kindle Paperwhite to save space and money. I was so obsessed that I would just walk into Oxfam to check whichever books I haven’t read. I would then re-donate it back to them after I’m done reading, also because I really do not have any more keeping space. <br /><br /><b>Overview: Women in Wars of the Roses</b><br /><br />My following post on the Wars of the Roses series will be based on these women<br /><br />1. Jacquetta of Luxemborg, mother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville<br /><br />2. Queen Elizabeth Woodville, mother of the Princes in the Tower<br /><br />3. Queen Elizabeth of York, heiress of House of York<br /><br />4. Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII <br /><br />5. Anne Neville, wife of King Richard IIICeline Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-69121146689502042142013-10-13T00:51:00.003+08:002013-10-13T00:51:57.504+08:00On HiatusThe writers have just started university. Updates here will be more sporadic. Thank you!Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-64000683650791350602013-05-27T17:58:00.001+08:002013-05-27T18:37:13.177+08:00Europe TimelineDisclaimer: Brief history and overview of the European Time Period, written in chronological order and in layman language. Whatever that is written below is to the best of the author's knowledge and interpretation; hence this post may be updated from time to time, with corrections and whatnot. Magnification of events-- mostly in Britain-- in a certain age is through the author's limited perspective, thus she only highlights what she deems eventful-- to her at least-- at that time. Insights into certain time periods may be written on separate posts, since dynasties and eras are magnificently intricate and the author has no heart to discount them all. The author also acknowledges that the magnification of events are highly biased, but since the post is still under construction, magnification and addition of events will be improved over time. She may also reduce redundant information to prevent this post from becoming a bit too voluble; voluble information will be replaced with external links<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HuWWsdGLAGlADaFgBbnOQnLnmwTtLqIYgnemEfUAySG_Ja4m0RUyRe2vh8Ouc0oFU3z47EZMiOxsNgO-rOZf2eCqiCIW4pyr0pp0JBIxwXPFhuqMU-fjU6PFF1HJArSqJq1iG6Pfa8O9/s1600/europe_814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HuWWsdGLAGlADaFgBbnOQnLnmwTtLqIYgnemEfUAySG_Ja4m0RUyRe2vh8Ouc0oFU3z47EZMiOxsNgO-rOZf2eCqiCIW4pyr0pp0JBIxwXPFhuqMU-fjU6PFF1HJArSqJq1iG6Pfa8O9/s400/europe_814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>"Prehistoric"</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Bronze Age was the time of Trojan War, and Sparta. Britain was named after a Trojan-descent, Brutus</li>
<li>Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome overlapped with Iron Age</li>
</ul>
<b><u>Archaic Time (app<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.987499237060547px;">rox 700BC - 100AD)</span></span></u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Ancient Greece (time of Alexander the Great) and then Roman Empire. </li>
<ul>
<li>After the rule of Cleopatra VII (a Greek by the way, the Ptolemy Dynasty was thanks to Alexander the Great) was the fall of Egypt, into the hands of Rome. </li>
<li>Before Cleopatra's fall, the great Julius Caesar was murdered by his comrades. </li>
<li>The infamous story between Cleopatra and Mark Antony then came about. </li>
<li>The Roman Republic was formed, with Augustus Caesar as the first Roman Emperor.</li>
<li>Jesus Christ was born around this time.</li>
<li>The story of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra & Mark Antony was written and adapted in many books, plays, movies, dramas, including two of William Shakespeare plays centuries later</li>
<li><a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Cleopatra%20VII">http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Cleopatra%20VII</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Celtic Gaul taken over by Julius Caesar. From then on there has always been rebellions (such as the time when Queen Boudica of Iceni rebelled) </li>
<li>During the Roman Empire, Emperor Constantine became Christian and the head-cutting ways of the Celtic Druids eventually died out</li>
<li>After the fall of the Roman Empire, came the Anglo-Saxon conquest (people from neighbouring countries)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<u><b>Middle Ages/ Medieval Age (approx 400AD - 1500AD)</b></u></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAgl9f50q_pacuXGbohbzPScGSgYLSM8EGhb2ora_dFIVGvfOQxZrqpL_CVSON56wcx1WPzIKS_f4FTAvgMyiCFyZWg8OFDlSPBzjlgs4iVarfftgqETjHFpDnaDrD2AEnWXVzBQxwXcY/s1600/norman-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAgl9f50q_pacuXGbohbzPScGSgYLSM8EGhb2ora_dFIVGvfOQxZrqpL_CVSON56wcx1WPzIKS_f4FTAvgMyiCFyZWg8OFDlSPBzjlgs4iVarfftgqETjHFpDnaDrD2AEnWXVzBQxwXcY/s200/norman-1.JPG" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normans. Time of dragons and all. I think dinosaur bones<br />
were discovered then, so the people deemed it to be<br />
"dragons." This is my own assumption.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>When the Ancient Roman Empire collapsed, barbarian tribes began rushing around Europe. During this turbulent period of the early Middle Ages entered the Dark Ages, as described by Wikipedia: <span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><i>the concept of a period of intellectual darkness and economic regression that supposedly occurred in Europe</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Ruling period of the mythical King Arthur</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the Dark Ages people were pessimistic about living, and usually look forward to entering heaven, hence making sure they have not sinned.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Viking Age then the Norman Age instigated by William the Conquerer (or William of Normandy)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the Normans was the House of the Plantagenets, longest ruling Dynasty before it ended by the War of the Roses</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before the Plantagenets, the king often ruled France and England together, until the struggle between King Stephen and Queen Matilda. So many generations later the King of England wanted France back, then came the Hundred Years of War (116 years actually). </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Read about Joan of Arc here: <a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/2011/11/joan-of-arc.html">http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/2011/11/joan-of-arc.html</a></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><i>Medieval clothing during the hundred years of war involved pointed hats and shoes. At least this is what I observe from the French (Robin Hood and Joan of Arc)</i></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Black Death</span></span></li>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rZy6XilXDZQ" width="640"></iframe>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">War of the Roses (Lancaster family is Red Rose and York family is White Rose) and Tudor Era was found. There's a movie called White Queen coming out soon! Excerpt from Wikipedia regarding an awesome historical novel by Phillipa Gregory:-</span></span></li>
<li><h3 style="background-color: white; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16.799999237060547px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="The_Cousins.27_War">The Cousins' War</span> <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; display: inline-block; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippa_Gregory&action=edit&section=12&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Edit section: The Cousins' War">edit</a>]</span></h3>
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; list-style-image: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Queen_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The White Queen (novel)">The White Queen</a></i> (2009) - The story of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Woodville" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Elizabeth Woodville">Elizabeth Woodville</a>, the queen consort of King <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_IV_of_England" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Edward IV of England">Edward IV of England</a> and mother of the Princes in the Tower.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Red Queen</i> (2010) - The story of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Margaret_Beaufort" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Lady Margaret Beaufort">Lady Margaret Beaufort</a> and her quest to place her son <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Henry VII of England">Henry Tudor</a> on the English throne.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Lady of the Rivers</i> (2011) - The story of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquetta_of_Luxembourg" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Jacquetta of Luxembourg">Jacquetta of Luxembourg</a>, the mother of Elizabeth Woodville.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Kingmaker's Daughter</i> (2012) - The story of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Neville" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Anne Neville">Anne Neville</a>, daughter of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Neville,_16th_Earl_of_Warwick" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick">Warwick "the Kingmaker"</a> and wife of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_of_Westminster,_Prince_of_Wales" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales">Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales</a>, and later of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_of_England" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Richard III of England">Richard III of England</a>, and of Anne's elder sister <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_Neville" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Isabel Neville">Isabel Neville</a>, wife of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Duke_of_Clarence" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="George Duke of Clarence">George Duke of Clarence</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The White Princess</i> (2013) - The story of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_York" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Elizabeth of York">Elizabeth of York</a>, daughter of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV. Wife of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Henry VII of England">Henry VII</a> and mother of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Henry VIII of England">Henry VIII of England</a>.</li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
(Also, <i>The Last Rose</i> (TBA) - Protagonist unknown; possibly Mary I or Margaret, Queen of Scotland)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
Currently, the chronological order that these books should be read in is 1) <b>The Lady of the Rivers</b> 2) <b>The White Queen</b> 3) <b>The Red Queen</b> 4) <b>The Kingmaker's Daughters</b> 5)<b>The White Princess</b> (not yet released); where <b>The Last Rose</b> fits on this list is currently unknown.</div>
</li>
<ul>
</ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christopher Columbus discovers America, New World and New Age started</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><b><u>Renaissance + Late Middle Ages (1300 - 1600)</u></b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rule of King Henry VIII (his six wives), Bloody Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I: <a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Tudor%20England">http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Tudor%20England</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Religious war and upheaval in England, between the Catholics and Protestants (16th Century England/1500s to be specific)</span></span></li>
<li>Elizabethan Era, England's Golden Age</li>
<li>William Shakespeare lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I</li>
<li>Unlike the medieval period, there was a real spirit of enquiry: science, history, art, nature to name a few</li>
<li>Leornado Da Vinci lived during the Renaissance Era, worked in Florence and Milan a lot: one of the really prosperous places then</li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">House of Stuarts, Guy Fawkes incident during the coronation of King James I, successor of Queen Elizabeth II</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">English Civil War (Roundheads vs Cavaliers); Puritans and Oliver Cromwell. After the death of Oliver Cromwell was the Restoration period (still under House of Stuarts) <a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/2013/01/oliver-cromwell.html">http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/2013/01/oliver-cromwell.html</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Witch fanaticism during the reign of Oliver Cromwell and mostly throughout the Stuart Period</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><u>Industrial Revolution (17th to 19th Century)</u></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Coffee was introduced after the 1600s, people replaced alcohol (depressants) with coffee and tea (stimulants)</li>
<li>Isaac Newton lived during the 17th Century, and as mentioned above, coffee was the hub those days-- not that it still isn't today. People started going to coffee shops for social gatherings and meeting places at that time. Thus it was not surprising that this time was also an intellectual boom compared to earlier centuries</li>
<li>During the Georgian Era (e.g time of Marie Antoinette) was the French Revolution and then the Napoleon War. </li>
<ul>
<li>Good read <a href="http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/2007/10/misunderstood-queen-marie-antoinette.html">http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/2007/10/misunderstood-queen-marie-antoinette.html</a></li>
<li>Time coincides with Horatio Nelson, on battle with Napoleon Bonaparte: <a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/horatio-nelson-love-story.html">http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/horatio-nelson-love-story.html</a> </li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wXsZbkt0yqo" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Regency Era (like those described in Jane Austen's books)</li>
<li>Victorian Era</li>
</ul>
<b><u>20th Century</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>World War I</li>
<li>World War II (a lot of good reads and movies such as Diary of Anne Frank and Pearl Harbour) </li>
<li>Cold War</li>
<li>Albert Einstein! Marie Curie! They both lived during the World War (Albert lived through the Second World War as well, it was quite a turbulent time for him)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>Note: page still under construction</i></div>
Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-23447765839633827442013-04-14T16:20:00.003+08:002013-05-23T14:54:09.881+08:00King Henry VIII and His Six Wives Part IThis wouldn't be considered a history blog if there isn't a post about King Henry VIII! Hence, I shall make a short write up about Henry VIII and each of Henry's wives. I will write a more detailed one about them later in separate posts.<br />
<br />
The Tudor Dynasty has been one of my favourites in History. Actually the 16th century is probably one of the best historical era everywhere in the world (e.g Joseon Dynasty in Korea). There is a saying that in Henry VIII and Elizabeth I (Henry VIII's daughter), the Tudor Dynasty produced the two most famous monarchs in English History. The ironic twist is this: Henry VIII was infamously known as the tyrant yet his daughter made her ruling era (the Elizabethan Era) known as England's Golden Age. Another fun fact is Henry's eldest daughter, Queen Mary I (also known as Bloody Mary), is the most hated Queen in British History! All in all, 16th century England has been one of the most dramatic periods in History<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Queen%20Elizabeth%20I">To read more about Queen Elizabeth I click here</a></i><br />
<br />
Here is a summarised version of Henry VIII's six wives in a form of a song:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3EGzHsye71c" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><u>Wife 1: Catherine of Aragon</u><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrbZ4_ib8Ye7btMBiHpn6C-dyk6xxRZhL51mm4ezAbMxm6z41IDUTamCAz2FhJNky8b4uSyz_oPIgxbG9ogWXLE5XAHdeaiw_v-ImAH8X_scf25MquDIjCXvcerDjWKdvZR5USjGWwW66/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrbZ4_ib8Ye7btMBiHpn6C-dyk6xxRZhL51mm4ezAbMxm6z41IDUTamCAz2FhJNky8b4uSyz_oPIgxbG9ogWXLE5XAHdeaiw_v-ImAH8X_scf25MquDIjCXvcerDjWKdvZR5USjGWwW66/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">young Catherine/ Catalina of Spain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first wife of Henry VIII was initially betrothed to Henry's elder brother, Prince Arthur. However, Prince Arthur died before he could be king. Henry VIII later fell in love with the Spanish Infanta/Princess who was the descendent of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon (really powerful and most feared monarchs at that time); hence, Henry had decided to marry his brother's widow. Everyone thought Henry's reign would be a very promising one indeed, with a merry court and a young monarch. This was very much different from his father's court which mostly consisted of old and dull men, battered from the War of the Roses. According to historical records, even Prince Arthur was considered a rather dull and uptight boy. It was no wonder everyone believed Princess Catherine when she claimed her marriage with Prince Arthur was not consummated due to his impotency; hence she was allowed to marry Arthur's younger brother, the next Prince of Wales. The bright and merry Henry was said to be very much in love with Catherine then, maybe because he was always regarded as a shadow of his brother thus wanting everything that belonged to Arthur. It may also be due to Catherine's beauty since she was highly regarded for her looks-- even Henry's father once considered to marry her after his son's death! Whether Catherine was indeed Arthur's lover, no one knows.<br />
<br />
Their marriage was a happy one in the early years. However when years have passed the only surviving child in their marriage was Princess Mary Tudor. With the Queen unable to bear a surviving heir and the King in his prime age, Henry VIII lead on a prodigal lifestyle with many mistresses. One of his mistresses, Lady Elizabeth Blount, who was the Queen's lady in waiting was able to bear him a son, and that made Henry VIII believe that the reason why he was unable to bear a male heir is his sin to marry his brother's wife. He excused himself by claiming that Catherine's marriage with Arthur was indeed consummated, and he had been living in deception.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAvlZQBMaR94CWTShQKgQ0X71PpwKEGIbpyPplVffXiqRTGkn6FLTCgsRhhgFsYA8eYNjSGAKjm7-dlVbWGXFl8K4y9rP3hvfBO5jKw54518-NPtXq2hVGMT0TCKJymf7FdXPVRzXsC3t/s1600/Mary-tudor-history-32425186-500-500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAvlZQBMaR94CWTShQKgQ0X71PpwKEGIbpyPplVffXiqRTGkn6FLTCgsRhhgFsYA8eYNjSGAKjm7-dlVbWGXFl8K4y9rP3hvfBO5jKw54518-NPtXq2hVGMT0TCKJymf7FdXPVRzXsC3t/s320/Mary-tudor-history-32425186-500-500.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry's eldest child, Princess Mary (later known as Bloody Mary). She had lived in mockery and was justifiably one of<br />
the unhappiest lady in Christendom. She was considered the King's bastard and had to serve her step-sister as a maidservant. Sometimes her life was threatened by the King. She was a pious Catholic and was against religious reform</td></tr>
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Queen Catherine was no longer remembered as a great beauty nor a daughter of one of the most powerful monarchs in Christendom. After being a neglected Princess Dowager and then a Queen Dowager, people viewed her as a fat, quiet, solemn, helpless lady who was way older than her "husband" the King of England. Even though she had won the hearts of the citizens and had the Emperor of Spain and Rome's backing, the King had decided that he should be the supreme head of the Church of England, with the support of his lover, Lady Anne Boleyn. Thus, England broke all ties with Rome and King Henry VIII was made the head of the Church of England.<br />
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Queen Catherine died alone, in an outcasted place. Her death was probably due to depression and isolation, since she was not allowed to see her daughter for years; she will not submit that her marriage with Henry was indeed annulled and invalid. While her deathbed wishes and prayers were about Henry's well-being, King Henry celebrated upon knowing that his stubborn wife was no longer able to oppose him with his marriage with Anne Boleyn.<br />
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<i>Note: Modern medical experts are in agreement that Catherine's cause of death was poisoning. Catherine's heart had also blackened during her embalming. Of course, Henry and/or Anne was accused of murdering her</i><br />
<br />
Henry VIII caused a religious upheaval in England just so he could be married to Anne Boleyn. The change of religion from Roman Catholic to Protestant to rid Queen Catherine and his marriage changed the lives of many in England. During the Tudor Era, the "right" religion is highly dependent on who was the ruling monarch. The cost of not obeying the Monarch's religion and not repenting to their "sins" was to be burnt to death<br />
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<u>Wife 2: Anne Boleyn</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwRfZ0BhOWeiVhqMb8YCJyLXmiDYRo8upn7wMQDNm48bIqb1DudJ9ViwfnHPn9pcDsf3Sde6k5sf5_RtoyuMWtvUcKz3sKlJAWklfiRZ50uH5gcDcRD2_0ACzhyWAiXW7ufN2tMlqEWkI/s1600/anne-boleyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwRfZ0BhOWeiVhqMb8YCJyLXmiDYRo8upn7wMQDNm48bIqb1DudJ9ViwfnHPn9pcDsf3Sde6k5sf5_RtoyuMWtvUcKz3sKlJAWklfiRZ50uH5gcDcRD2_0ACzhyWAiXW7ufN2tMlqEWkI/s320/anne-boleyn.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always seen with the Pearl necklace "B"</td></tr>
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The most infamous Queen of all time. I have been hearing a lot about her since I was a child. Mostly because people like to describe her as the most travelled ghost in Britain. There have been a lot of "sightings" of her unrest spirit especially in the Tower of London.<br />
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Anne was the sister of King Henry's favourite mistress at one point of time. After growing tired of Mary Boleyn, King Henry fell madly in love with Mary's sister, Anne Boleyn (some have claimed that Anne Boleyn was the reason King Henry grew tired of Mary Boleyn; Anne flirted with Henry while Mary was pregnant). He probably fell in love with Anne the longest and deepest in his entire lifetime (longest marriage would be with his first wife though). Causing a chaos in his country just so he could be with her was just one measure of how much he loved her, because if there is any woman he must have hated most in his life, it would also be Anne Boleyn. He had accused her of witchcraft, adultery (one account said she had 100 lovers, one of it her own brother), incest, heresy, treason, and cursed, before he had her beheaded in the Tower of London, only to celebrate and marry his next wife a day after.<br />
<br />
<i>Note: One or both of Mary Boleyn's child(ren) might be offspring(s) of the King. Mary was already the King's mistress when she just got married to William Carey. Her eldest daughter Catherine Carey accompanied Queen Anne to her execution, then became lady in waiting to Queen Anne of Cleves (after the third Queen Jane Seymour), Queen Katherine Howard, Queen Catherine Parr, and ultimately QUEEN ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND*. Mary Boleyn's second child Henry Carey was said to strongly resemble Henry VIII of England. Henry VIII did not formally acknowledge them as his child(ren); he was already besotted by Anne when he abandoned Mary. Both of Mary's children played significant roles in Queen Elizabeth I's Golden Age.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Might seem like Catherine Carrey lived for a long time, but really, the Queens all died/stepped down very fast.</i><br />
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Initially Queen Catherine's lady in waiting, Lady Anne Boleyn was from one of the most powerful and influential families in 16th century England, the Howards. She was raised and educated in France where she first served the Queen of France with her sister Mary Boleyn. It was said that her dull sister Mary was "the great prostitute" while Anne insisted that she herself was unlike Mary; she was pure and with honour, only fit to be a wife and not having a status of a mistress. On many accounts it was also said that there was a sister rivalry to compete for almost anything, including the King's favour. When Mary Boleyn (also the Queen's lady in waiting) was the King's favourite, the hard-headed and strong-willed Anne Boleyn secretly married Henry Percy just so she could be the wife of a Duke, outshining her sister who was married to a mere William Carey. Anne was later banished in Hever then France due to disgrace, but was later called back to seduce the King, backstabbing her sister since Mary was then the King's lover.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmigh65la102ac-5xQ3SyxyhozsJeND72BN-uMHLbe09QGfWqhPIhicIHuR8D0Vo3q1DWtjmOhRG4JTBcze9pDT_sQH85R9MIom6A9CCa7SXItj-XFfg2R8PcGaP1TELJ0W2WQPZkJngkP/s1600/Anne-and-Mary-anne-boleyn-8631086-600-383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmigh65la102ac-5xQ3SyxyhozsJeND72BN-uMHLbe09QGfWqhPIhicIHuR8D0Vo3q1DWtjmOhRG4JTBcze9pDT_sQH85R9MIom6A9CCa7SXItj-XFfg2R8PcGaP1TELJ0W2WQPZkJngkP/s400/Anne-and-Mary-anne-boleyn-8631086-600-383.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn. The beautiful, infamous sisters with their stories often told in novels, dramas, movies, etc</td></tr>
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King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn together would be one of the most selfish couples in the world. Anne Boleyn influenced King Henry into thinking that he is able to be the supreme head of the Church of England, and with the crown of England, he could do anything he pleases for his words are like God's alone. Flirtatious, intelligent, yet playing hard to get, Anne made everyone including King Henry extremely besotted. Unlike other women who would give the King anything he wishes, the Lady Anne Boleyn knew how to play the King's heart and mind. The "elusive femme fatale" was justifiably a whole lot more interesting hence Anne had kept the King's capricious affections for the longest period of time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemrLXuae61fzRrNYrRl2OkNEdzstoiAArFxYP6StKWYXk_WhqfCQP1rQluwp6CPla8YZjK4sTaQZ4-B1aIUioeeVVFyfIWeaMtSVmV-iHJfKxVDD2fW7y_oL6aWHfFSj3KjSAN4itf_Gv/s1600/ha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemrLXuae61fzRrNYrRl2OkNEdzstoiAArFxYP6StKWYXk_WhqfCQP1rQluwp6CPla8YZjK4sTaQZ4-B1aIUioeeVVFyfIWeaMtSVmV-iHJfKxVDD2fW7y_oL6aWHfFSj3KjSAN4itf_Gv/s320/ha.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: start;">Anne was considered the most stylish and accomplished woman at court. Some say that Anne resisted the King's attempts to seduce her, refusing to become his mistress, often leaving court for the seclusion of Hever Castle. But within a year, he proposed marriage to her, and she accepted. Both assumed an annulment could be obtained within a matter of months. There is no evidence to suggest that they engaged in a sexual relationship until very shortly before their marriage; Henry's love letters to Anne seem to suggest that their love affair remained unconsummated for much of their seven-year courtship. However, Anne was pregnant by the time of her marriage. -- Wikipedia</span></td></tr>
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Anne's only surviving child is her first born, a red-haired Elizabeth like her father. Anne's struggle to produce a male heir eventually lead to her downfall. The King was shifting his affection towards Anne's lady in waiting, Lady Jane Seymour. Anne had suffered a few miscarriages, all most likely to be a boy. Her miscarriage must have stemmed from depression and pressure: Henry was badly injured during a jousting event (this eventually caused him a severe leg ulcer and ultimately his cause of death); Anne was jealous of Jane Seymour who seemed to provoke Anne with the gifts Henry gave Jane; Anne witnessed Jane Seymour showing affection towards the King; etc. Her final miscarriage caused Henry's resentment towards Anne, which had also culminated from her tantrums and displayed jealousy. Queen Catherine of Aragon was nowhere like Anne: Catherine remained passive and silent when Henry flirted with her ladies in waiting and had multiple mistresses. Anne however, was naturally not submissive, and no longer with Henry's favour, she was bringing herself into great danger. Ever since the expulsion of Queen Catherine, Henry had transformed into a tyrant, where no one dared to challenge nor question his supreme authority. Even Henry's looks had transformed from the golden, much adored Prince Charming of Christendom to a fat, ostentatious old man (like how people often see him in his portraits, he was said to be extremely handsome during his young age). Anne was the main contributor towards his limitless authority, fiery temper, and unquestionable power. The fire she had played eventually burnt her metaphorically.<br />
<br />
Henry never said goodbye. Anne was captured and locked in the Tower of London. Anne's unborn child who was deformed was said to be the son of the devil, the son of her brother from the product of incest. Henry never believed for once that he is able to produce a deformed foetus; he was always deluded to be the eternally handsome young boy when in truth he turned into an ugly old man. Allegations were made by George Boleyn's wife, Lady Jane Parker/Boleyn/ Lady Rochford (also lady in waiting to Queen Catherine, Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen Jane, Queen Anne of Cleves, Queen Katherine). In truth, historians most likely suggest that George Boleyn was actually gay, and his unhappy marriage with Jane Parker made Jane a backstabber, in addition to her jealousy of Anne's beauty and influence. It was a known fact that George had always been with Anne, maybe because Anne couldn't trust anyone from the hate everyone had against her. Anne regarded George as her only sibling; she broke all ties with Mary Boleyn for marrying a nobody and Mary was banished from court. After all Anne was jealous that Mary had been pregnant many times while Anne was struggling to have a surviving child.<br />
<br />
Jane Parker being the only survivor from the Boleyn's disgrace made her a hated figure in history. In some books that depict Jane's point of view, it was due to pressure from their patriarch Sir Howard that caused her to turn against Anne and George Boleyn in order to guarantee her safety. After all Sir Howard and Anne Boleyn had a fall out after Anne had excessive power. Sir Howard felt that she had forgotten who placed her on the throne; he sentenced his niece to death.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__MzVLcnWzqgy8qdm5sZCGXPR12NNNphw-Dd0rp4onQrdBh16u0ai7ZlIGPGV2L3nF4xOx_6gN91tCpT7wPDj-cMMjRAmD0hYQrN7fyPUXr6BFz1iefGjn_ZDlwha2BmTbnvD8r5tAWar/s1600/Elizabeth-lady-elizabeth-tudor-25265843-229-320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__MzVLcnWzqgy8qdm5sZCGXPR12NNNphw-Dd0rp4onQrdBh16u0ai7ZlIGPGV2L3nF4xOx_6gN91tCpT7wPDj-cMMjRAmD0hYQrN7fyPUXr6BFz1iefGjn_ZDlwha2BmTbnvD8r5tAWar/s1600/Elizabeth-lady-elizabeth-tudor-25265843-229-320.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Elizabeth Tudor, especially hated by Mary Tudor.<br />
Said to be extremely beautiful and highly intelligent. <br />
A great monarch for sure</td></tr>
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<br />
Princess Elizabeth was named a bastard and lived in poverty during her youth. All her mother's expenses when locked in the dungeon had to be paid by Elizabeth as well. She had managed to escape death many times since many resented her mother, the "French slut". Her half sister even imprisoned Elizabeth in a tower once. When Elizabeth found out the cause of her mother's death and the hate people have on her mother, the distraught Princess Elizabeth swore to live and die a celibate. She was the last of the Tudor Queen and reigned the longest in the Tudor Dynasty. Her ruling era was named England's Golden Age. Queen Elizabeth I is the epitome of a female Monarch, she had made England rich again for the first time after the ruling of the first Tudor Monarch her grandfather. She had regained peace in the land after the religious upheaval and massacre. Even though many had questioned her parentage, her temper and red hair was a good proof that she was indeed the child of Henry VIII's. After all, it is now widely believed that Queen Anne was innocent. She might not had committed adultery nor incest but she may had lied about being unmarried to Henry Percy during the King's courting with her sister Mary.<br />
<br />
After Queen Anne's death, the King married Jane Seymour shortly after-- they were betrothed on the same day Anne lost her head! Queen Anne was raised in France and used to influence the court into a French Style. Her disgrace made anything seductive in nature depicted as "French". Anne was killed by a French sword.<br />
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To be continued...Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-7889814785580781952013-01-22T21:14:00.001+08:002013-01-22T22:58:27.610+08:00Political Bride: Princess Wen Cheng (文成公主)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7S-CeXtVomgJ_ZaYXCWrOnsy-PBrAllrJOSrCVcAnf6FSrmVcUS7z49cZvCHUuHtai21nb5AYmWR2PC_zJrLN4f6KDQmQr5KDxql_ukOzpfqfmBMMlYz3Fpm_NpJ4I1NMoAijVpPDUY/s1600/Princess+Wencheng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7S-CeXtVomgJ_ZaYXCWrOnsy-PBrAllrJOSrCVcAnf6FSrmVcUS7z49cZvCHUuHtai21nb5AYmWR2PC_zJrLN4f6KDQmQr5KDxql_ukOzpfqfmBMMlYz3Fpm_NpJ4I1NMoAijVpPDUY/s320/Princess+Wencheng.jpg" width="243" /></a>Politically-arranged marriages were very very common in the ancient world, be it China or other civilisations. Such is the fate of political brides to become the playthings of chance. To be sent off bearing a multitude of riches to a faraway land,a hostile court and perhaps, a ruthless husband is a nightmare that many had to endure. Some marriages might have been happy, but it is more likely that many suffered in obscurity and silence. Out of so many disastrous affairs, now and then there would be a bride whom, upon bringing upon lasting peace and prosperity to the nations,is granted eternal fame in historical texts and movie <a href="http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/16/soundnstage/12174946&sec=soundnstage">adaptations</a>.<br />
<br />
Like <a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/political-bride-wang-zhaojun.html">Wang Zhaojun</a>, Princess Wencheng was a political bride. Like <a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-story-of-lady-yang.html">Yang Guifei</a>, she was born during the Tang dynasty, albeit earlier. She is remembered for her contributions rather than her beauty, and her tale is as interesting as the aforementioned duo.<br />
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During that era, there were a couple of kingdoms which were established alongside the Chinese empire. One of those kingdoms was Tufan, led by the capable king Songzan Ganbu. He was made king while he was still a minor, at the age of 13. (12, by Western standards) During his reign, he conquered many minor kingdoms in the region and became the founder of the Tibetan empire.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155555_akD3zqwv_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155555_akD3zqwv_b.jpg" width="211" /></a>The king already had a couple of wives, but he wanted to form an alliance with the Tang dynasty. A matrimonial alliance, specifically. The lady of interest here is Princess Wencheng, who wasn't the emperor's daughter, but a close relation. When it comes to this matter, there are two versions of the story.<br />
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The Chinese Version: Songzan Ganbu attacked some lands belonging to the Tang dynasty, and was promptly put into his rightful place. Realising his error, he repented and begged forgiveness. He also voiced his wish of being accepted as a son-in-law of the Chinese Emperor Taizong, and his wish was granted.<br />
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The Tibetan Version: Songzan Ganbu managed to defeat the Chinese, and the Chinese were made to hand over the princess as a result.<br />
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There is also another uhm, neutral version that omits all the fighting, and jumps into the proposal scene directly. So there we go.<br />
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It is said that there was a number of other foreign suitors vying for the princess' hand in marriage. Each of them sent their envoys, and the Chinese emperor decided to test their abilities. A series of tests were set for them. (On a side note, wouldn't it be interesting if there were reality show 'Who Wants to Marry A Princess' back then?)<br />
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Test #1: The envoys were given a large pearl and a thread. Their task? Thread it through the pearl. There was a catch--the hole through the pearl is bended.<br />
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Solution: The Tufan envoy tied the thread to an ant, wiped some honey on the other side, and prompted the ant to walk through the tunnel by gently blowing on it. Round 1: Success.<br />
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Test #2: 100 mares and their ponies were prepared. The envoys were required to divide them into pairs based on parentage.<br />
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Solution: The other envoys tried to distinguish the mother-and-child pairs based on height, colour and so on. The Tufan envoy rounded up the ponies separately for a day without giving them anything to drink. The following day, upon their release back into the field where the mares were,the ponies immediately sought out their mothers for suckling. Round 2 was won, hands down.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155562_CmAuuMwu_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155562_CmAuuMwu_b.jpg" /></a>The remaining tests were successfully completed, with the clever Tufan envoy winning every time. In the end, when the envoys were told to identify Princess Wencheng from a group of women, the Tufan envoy obtained descriptions of her features from her nursemaid, and successfully pointed her out.<br />
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The emperor was impressed with his wisdom, and believed that his leader, Songzan Ganbu would be wiser still. He decided to agree upon the marriage proposal.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155560_xSr3Srd0_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155560_xSr3Srd0_b.jpg" /></a>The Princess was escorted from her homeland to the wilderness of Tibet. Her entourage included a number of musicians, scholars and farmers. Along with her enormous dowry, she brought along books, musical instruments, cloths and seeds. After a long and arduous journey, they arrived at the source of the Yellow River, where they were greeted by the bridegroom and his entourage. Songzan Ganbu was extremely glad to have his wish fulfilled, and a great wedding took place in accordance with the custom of the Han Chinese. To commemorate the event, the king commissioned the building of a palace for her. He also exchanged his outfit for a Chinese one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155582_mxavEXSz_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155582_mxavEXSz_b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A theatrical adaptation of the princess' story <br />
by a Malaysian musical production team.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When they returned to the capital, Lhasa, they received a warm welcome from the people, who celebrated by dancing and feasting. After everyone had settled down in their new home, the princess and her entourage began their mission of spreading the Chinese culture.<br />
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They taught the people various skills, including agriculture, architecture, weaving, papermaking, pottery, winemaking and so on. The musicians played courtly music in the Tufan palace, which was greatly appreciated by Songzan Ganbu. He commanded a couple of talented youths to learn from the Chinese musicians. The princess also introduced the Chinese classical works to Tufan. A number of scholars were sent to the Tang palace to study the classical books of China.<br />
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The people of Tufan had a habit of smearing their faces with a red substance as protection against the cold weather (Some say it's to ward off evil). They found it a mark of beauty, but the princess decided that it was unhygienic and non-beneficial. She talked to her husband about this matter, and he agreed to abolish the custom.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155556_4lOYpmlm_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155556_4lOYpmlm_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But perhaps her most memorable contribution is her success in introducing Buddhism to Tibet.The princess was a devout Buddhist before her marriage, and the Tang dynasty was a major adherent of Buddhism.The princess brought along with her a golden statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and various Buddhist sutras. A number of Tibetan temples were constructed, including the Jokhang temple which still stands this day as an amazing work of architecture. Some sources say that the famous Potala palace was also built during Songzan Ganbu's reign, but apparently it wasn't so. Instead it is constructed on the site where one of Songzan Ganbu's palaces used to stand.<br />
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Another wife of Songzan Ganbu, the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti Devi is also credited with the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet. During later times, another political bride Princess Jincheng also helped to strengthen the influence of Buddhism, and the entire history of Tibetan Buddhism is a long story that we shall not go into.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155573_BgqeJNTH_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155573_BgqeJNTH_b.jpg" /></a>Perhaps Princess Wencheng had been very happy in her marriage--many contemporary sources seem to think so. Assuming she was, her happiness was cut short after a mere nine years of marriage. Songzan Ganbu passed away, and the princess was widowed. She remained at Tufan until her death 30 years later, at the age of 56.<br />
<br />
During her life, the princess was successful in cementing ties between the Tufan kingdom and the Tang dynasty. However the hard-won peace was short-lived. After the death of Songzan Ganbu, his prime minister Lu Dongzan (the smart envoy who helped him win the princess' over) took over the affairs of the state as the crown prince was still very young. After the death of Lu Dongzan, his son took over and things began to go awry at that point. There was this neighbouring kingdom, 'Tu-Yu-Hun' (A-zha in Tibetan) which threatened Tufan's safety. Tufan consulted the Tang emperor, who was rather slow in deciding, and out of impatience they launched an attack on their pesky neighbour. The Tang emperor felt rather insulted that they did not consult his majesty's authority, and ordered an attack to be launched on Tufan. Tufan managed to counter the attack and started invading the Tang's borders. The relationship between the Tufan and Tang became strained from that point onwards.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155558_LHuHcbwo_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/423901383646155558_LHuHcbwo_b.jpg" width="175" /></a>Anyway Princess Wencheng wasn't forgotten by the people, even though the official Tibetan records did not credit her as the propagator of Chinese culture as the Chinese records did. (Note the disparity between the Chinese and Tibetan records)The people considered her as a incarnation of the White Tara, while the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti is considered an incarnation of the Green Tara. Temples were built to commemorate her, and her story is told by beautiful paintings on temple walls.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Crash course in Tibetan Buddhism:A 'Tara' is the female manifestation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Better known as 'Kwan-yin' to Chinese practitioners) </span></i><br />
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All in all, it is not to be denied that Princess Wencheng had played a major role in the history of the diplomatic relationship between ancient China and Tibet. We may never know her feelings about marrying a foreign king, but we can guess at the determination which fuelled her efforts of fulfilling her mission. She is indeed, a figure who stands out amidst the other political brides, whom, due to circumstances or other factors, never left a name or a mark in the historical books. Which reminds us--a thought should be given to the nameless and faceless many who had suffered her ordeals but never basked in the glory of fame or remembrance.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: After returning from another time travel trip to witness the allure and mystery of Ancient China, allow me to say a few words. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Supposing you have this historical celebrity whom you are absolutely smitten with. You do not know the exact details of your idol's life, but you simply cannot get enough of the news written in the tabloids. So some people resort to writing fanfiction. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The problem arises when these 'fanfictions' get handed down many generations until they become facts. In some cases, some imaginative playwrights may add certain scenes to liven up their dramas. Taking Wang Zhaojun as an example: a drama, 'Autumn at the Han Palace', ends with her drowning herself in a river, which is absolutely historically inaccurate, although it adds to the melodrama of the story. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>My point is that there are so little historical records of these ancient Chinese women that sometimes it is impossible to discern whether they are solid textbook facts or just myths. The life of Princess Wencheng is such a case, and there is even speculation about her existence! Historians also claim that the Nepalese princess, the other wife was also a fabrication of imaginations. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Well I guess it does not really matter, for her story is such a memorable one that will be passed on to future generations, whatever those historians might say. </i>xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-75003511737107669102013-01-01T22:09:00.000+08:002013-01-01T22:59:39.698+08:00Oliver Cromwell<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE0q2u5qDLtZTv9QDO8D_FBaMlprLTzM0DbY5cLURkoyR2bXQKIZ1x7NXzHLpkVobnBwZ5FBQD49S3Th2qx-Wstuu-ANL0-8FjiNTpO6a8kShX6nj0FykEwM86m1oHGI3yT40dXgRJjwn/s1600/cromwell-painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE0q2u5qDLtZTv9QDO8D_FBaMlprLTzM0DbY5cLURkoyR2bXQKIZ1x7NXzHLpkVobnBwZ5FBQD49S3Th2qx-Wstuu-ANL0-8FjiNTpO6a8kShX6nj0FykEwM86m1oHGI3yT40dXgRJjwn/s320/cromwell-painting.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contrasting opinions: Hero or Villain?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rich in its History of Royal Families, England has been well known for its Monarchs. If you're ever wondering if there's a point of time whereby England had not had a King, then yes, that once happened. There was one man who had ruled England for 5 years but he was no King. That man who ran the country was none other than Oliver Cromwell, 1st <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Protector">Lord Protector</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_England,_Scotland_and_Ireland">Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland</a>.<br />
<br />
There are many divided opinions about this man and one of them was whether he was a great despot or a great hero.<br />
<br />
Was he a tyrant? He was like a dictator.<br />
But he refused the English crown. So what do you think of him now?<br />
<br />
He certainly became infamous-- or famous-- when he got Charles I of England, the King at that time, to be executed. To hate him or not, Oliver Cromwell was indeed an admirable man. How many country farmers have risen to become a ruler of three countries (England, Scotland, and Ireland)?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Another ironic fact about Cromwell is nobody knew about him before the age of 40, and if you're at the age of 40 in the seventeenth century, you might as well arrange your own funeral arrangements already.<br />
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Oliver Cromwell was born on 25 April 1599. He was named after his rich Uncle but nobody expected much of Oliver, since he was just the fifth born child and was just one out of the 7 children in his family.<br />
<br />
Little is known about Oliver's childhood days. Reasons may be the lack of remarkable things that he did during the first 40 years of his life, so nobody took notice of him.<br />
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The college that Oliver attended was a place known for "Puritanism," which is a Christian religion. Oliver was a devout Puritan and you can say that religious conflicts played a role in inciting the English Civil War later on.<br />
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After a year of attending college, Oliver's father had passed away, and that meant that Oliver had to move back to his home, Huntingdon, to become the head of the Cromwell household (he was the only other male in the family for he had 6-7 sisters).<br />
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Oliver later got married to his wife Elizabeth at the age of 21. They had 9 children and on average Elizabeth got pregnant every year. They had a quiet, settled life in Huntingdon, but unfortunately as his family got bigger, his fortune had also gotten smaller.<br />
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<u>King Charles I VS Oliver Cromwell</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAscbRL78PV8fF2A0qsY62Y4NATaFL4zIQKn2vBvoxsdWDjF8Ir7nhbOuZuXcKQ_G4xcvkhRHFGTMYk-uj79pf3VoldhWCvtOJK9Q2NRbQSAgHI9pkkCmdbGbrK9WYSsBGMJ5iFw6T5EED/s1600/LL0051-005-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAscbRL78PV8fF2A0qsY62Y4NATaFL4zIQKn2vBvoxsdWDjF8Ir7nhbOuZuXcKQ_G4xcvkhRHFGTMYk-uj79pf3VoldhWCvtOJK9Q2NRbQSAgHI9pkkCmdbGbrK9WYSsBGMJ5iFw6T5EED/s320/LL0051-005-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<u><br /></u>
<b>King Charles I: </b><i>His father was King James I of Scotland. King James I of Scotland was the first King in the House of Stuarts, after the death of <a href="http://www.theirhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Queen%20Elizabeth%20I">Queen Elizabeth I from the House of Tudors</a>. People didn't like King James I for he fancied himself as God's favourite. They later hoped that his son King Charles I would be a better king but Charles I was even more of a big-head. Times have changed since the previous kings' ruling. In the Stuart Age the Parliament no longer wants to be treated as a pet dog. The struggle for power between the Parliament and the king led to the English Civil War and the rise of Oliver Cromwell.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXE9R2CWYKCsjKZunREOH9b_C71NQ8ygrgXt6wfiHXHKzjVNioYkuLW4vadu1Bg5aLD0fGr9iPA_mdWJvjroAI2Avw1s6TCdu2sMrayTRYTE8Zc80cdEAZ3ZEMwSyksUNXsiR-n6ZRtl8/s1600/elizabeth_cate_blanchett2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXE9R2CWYKCsjKZunREOH9b_C71NQ8ygrgXt6wfiHXHKzjVNioYkuLW4vadu1Bg5aLD0fGr9iPA_mdWJvjroAI2Avw1s6TCdu2sMrayTRYTE8Zc80cdEAZ3ZEMwSyksUNXsiR-n6ZRtl8/s320/elizabeth_cate_blanchett2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Elizabeth I, last monarch of the Tudor Era which would soon <br />
be followed by the Stuart Period</td></tr>
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<b>Oliver Cromwell: </b><i>Oliver joined the Parliament as a MP for Huntingdon. Around that period, King Charles I had only been king for less than five years when Charles I had decided to rule the country on his own. This was because the parliament refused to raise money for pointless wars. The next 11 years of King Charles I's ruling were known as the 11 years of tyranny. After coming up with many schemes to raise more money for his hedonistic lifestyle followed by endless wars, King Charles I went broke as usual and was forced to call Parliament again. During that 11 years when there was no parliament, Oliver Cromwell was struggling to support his growing family. The struggle soon came to an end when his rich uncle gave Oliver his house and estate in Cambridgeshire, as stated in Oliver's uncle's will as he had passed away.</i><br />
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Arguments between the Parliament and king weren't resolved and soon, came the English Civil War.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cavaliers VS Roundheads: Details of the Civil War are not included in this blog post.</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
For England, going on war with either France or Spain was nothing new, but this time England was tearing itself apart!<br />
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The English Civil War was divided into the First Civil War, the Second Civil War, and the Third Civil War-- which really isn't so civil. The ones who sided the king were known as the cavaliers whereas the ones who sided the parliament were called the roundheads. Choosing sides wasn't easy because the civil war tore friends and families apart. Many didn't even believe in the cause they were fighting for. For example, a cavalier may sometimes feel that it was wrong for King Charles I to fight. Simply put, religion was the main determinant in picking sides. The rich Cavaliers who consist of the Catholics and Anglicans often wore clothes very ostentatiously whereas the Roundheads consist of strict Puritans who believed that plain clothes showed a humble heart. Do you know what's very odd about this war? Both Oliver and Charles I believed that they were carrying out God's plan, yet they disagreed in almost everything.<br />
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During the English Civil War, Oliver started as a mere captain and no one paid much attention to him. The first big battle of the war was in Oxfordshire. As the war progresses, there was no doubt that Oliver Cromwell attracted attention and recognition by his invincibility.<br />
<br />
<b>Queen Henrietta Maria</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrSYUF1QJBnpNaNNuCutjdys1l5ssnUXAWO9ymzwMenWLiNJzCPINCErW3rTx0L4mScFSoqs96TSyEVdweP_VM3-9OtYv9C53ggeY6uXIBTok51vnP1bmlKFN7z0xunjqI4RHprYb4rKz/s1600/N-L0021-0068-henrietta-maria-of-france-queen-of-england.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrSYUF1QJBnpNaNNuCutjdys1l5ssnUXAWO9ymzwMenWLiNJzCPINCErW3rTx0L4mScFSoqs96TSyEVdweP_VM3-9OtYv9C53ggeY6uXIBTok51vnP1bmlKFN7z0xunjqI4RHprYb4rKz/s320/N-L0021-0068-henrietta-maria-of-france-queen-of-england.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wife of King Charles I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the many issues that the Parliament wasn't happy with was the king's marriage with a foreigner, Queen Henrietta Maria of France. This dissatisfaction was even stated in a document called the Grand Remonstrance: a list of no less than 200 complaints to the King over the past 16 years.<br />
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On a side note, here is a really funny video of the reenactment of King Charles I's wedding day.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?index=7&list=PL7BA1D872F754F530" width="425"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
During the English Civil War, Queen Henrietta rallied support for her husband. She was soon under sieged by the Roundheads. At that time she was about to give birth and thought that she would soon die. After the birth of princess Henrietta, Queen Henrietta then fled to France and never saw her husband alive again.<br />
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<i>Fun fact: A higher <b>percentage</b> of the population died in the Civil War than in either the First or Second World War! So even though Oliver Cromwell triumphantly won the war, it was a disaster for the country.</i><br />
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<u>England as a Commonwealth Country</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
After Oliver Cromwell had won the Civil War, King Charles I was beheaded. He was buried at Windsor Castle in the same vault as King Henry VIII. This was very ironic because fat Henry was once a big tyrant collecting heads of his wives. So who would knew that 100 years later, the King of England ended up headless himself-- and next to a tyrant for that matter!<br />
<br />
When King Charles I was overthrown and executed, England was the only country without a monarch. Around 1640 till 1650, killjoy laws were made as England was ruled by prim Puritans. They believed that fun was sinful. Below is a Youtube video that I found rather entertaining. It portrays the differences between the Royalists and the Puritans. However, the time period was after Oliver Cromwell's death, and when King Charles I's son, King Charles II, regained power over England.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bk0hE4IdVQs?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
Anyway back to the story.<br />
Oliver Cromwell was offered the crown on a silver platter. Yet, he had rejected the opportunity to become King Oliver I and carried on as Lord Protector. When Oliver Cromwell passed away, his useless son Richard took over his place as Lord Protector. Many have claimed that his second eldest son Henry could do a better job but well, Oliver chose his eldest son instead.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Posthumous Execution</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Oliver Cromwell ruled England as Lord Protector for 5 years. He was 59 years old when he passed on. When his successor Richard crumbled the entire Commonwealth within 8 months, King Charles II, son of King Charles I, was invited back by the Parliament to occupy the throne. That was when the Restoration period came about, as said in the previous video above. King Charles II couldn't forgive Oliver Cromwell for beheading his father so he ordered Oliver Cromwell to be dug up from Westminster Abbey and be beheaded posthumously. Now Oliver's head had an "interesting" journey. So interesting till Wikipedia has a page dedicated to his head alone: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell's_head">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell's_head</a><br />
<br />
Oliver's head was displayed on a spike on top of Westminster Hall. It was there for 24 years since his death until the spike broke after a violent storm, leaving the severed head to be blown down. His embalmed head went on a series of "adventures" as you can read via the link above, and after 300 years, his head was buried in his old alma mater in 1960. To avoid being pestered by head-hunters, the authorities of Sidney Sussex College placed his head in a biscuit tin and buried it somewhere in the grounds of that Cambridge college. The exact location of his head still remains a secret.Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-26447738182539378672012-09-19T14:24:00.000+08:002012-09-19T15:17:08.222+08:00Horatio Nelson: Love Story<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqoiF9rwatjnpVK1cWRhJeOxm3sd9A93Y2Fq306u4vCmK6D1t7iZ7lax-T-kVEHzb3hbQ90vT4-zCCEQbYa7ne5_wtMWUwZy6zwr9J1kr6cbRQxj5AJ2nkz6Uk6KpSPWmdcH2MxZr__sw/s1600/lord-horatio-nelson-and-lady-emma-hamilton-1343809741_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqoiF9rwatjnpVK1cWRhJeOxm3sd9A93Y2Fq306u4vCmK6D1t7iZ7lax-T-kVEHzb3hbQ90vT4-zCCEQbYa7ne5_wtMWUwZy6zwr9J1kr6cbRQxj5AJ2nkz6Uk6KpSPWmdcH2MxZr__sw/s400/lord-horatio-nelson-and-lady-emma-hamilton-1343809741_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Hamilton and Lord Horatio Nelson</td></tr>
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Almost everybody knows who Lord Horatio Nelson is: he won the Battle of Trafalgar; he lost an arm and an eye; and he said "kiss me Hardy" moments before his death. There is even a famous memorial of him in the streets of London. Yes, you are right, it's the monument in Trafalgar's Square, whereby perched on top of this column is a statue of Horatio, looking dead heroic as how people often portray him to be.<br />
<br />
But what about his scandalous relationship with Lady Hamilton?<br />
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His relationship with Emma, Lady Hamilton was a very infamous one when he was alive, and the British government tried to quell this issue, because back then, his affair with Lady Hamilton had made Lord Nelson a laughing stock. An extramarital affair is an embarrassment and the people wanted to remember Horatio winning battles, not running around after Lady Hamilton. You don't want the man who is the epitome of heroism to be remembered for his "silliness" too now do you?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u>First Love</u><br />
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On 29th September 1758, Horatio Nelson was born in a little village in Norfolk. Not coming from a wealthy family, it was unexpected of him to become one of England's most famous heroes. Horatio's father was just a rector, and he never traveled far from the village except for the few years he spent at Cambridge University. Horatio's mother on the other hand, Catherine Suckling, was related to a powerful Norfolk family called the Walpoles (Sir Robert Walpole was the first Prime Minister of England). The Nelsons were sycophantic to their rich relations, and that was how Horatio got his name: from Lord Walpole's father. Horatio Nelson also grew up with 7 other siblings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQprHSvccYZLpyOsFXyo-GUJYkrsN1SPFu0PLEnhM0ze8kMK6zlf53kM9JppDh62fkf93vw9nMbn3XI-0QLRhdEWTDjByDc0xPV6tKtB-m8rLKm4Anq-mR4IHQhN-me6iXHXeuxSCgFlj/s1600/Horatio_Nelson_War_Ency_Britt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQprHSvccYZLpyOsFXyo-GUJYkrsN1SPFu0PLEnhM0ze8kMK6zlf53kM9JppDh62fkf93vw9nMbn3XI-0QLRhdEWTDjByDc0xPV6tKtB-m8rLKm4Anq-mR4IHQhN-me6iXHXeuxSCgFlj/s200/Horatio_Nelson_War_Ency_Britt.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">young Horatio Nelson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When Horatio was 9 years old, his mother had passed away. He had a tough childhood, but he was never afraid of fear. In fact, it was through listening to one of his uncle's heroic, courageous tales in the sea that had made Horatio dream of becoming a sailor himself.<br />
<br />
After passing his Royal Navy exams with flying colours, Horatio went sailing as second lieutenant. At around that time was when Horatio met his future wife, Fanny Nisbet. Fanny Nisbet was a widow with a young son. She lived in her uncle's posh house and was in charge of managing it. Because Fanny reminded Horatio a lot of a lady he used to love, and that there is a good chance of her inheriting some of her uncle's fortune, Horatio had decided that he was in love, and asked for Fanny's hand in marriage.<br />
<br />
Horatio wasn't rich then, and Fanny must've really loved him because she'd rather live in a cheap flat in London in the middle of winter than a beautiful mansion her uncle owned on a Caribbean Island. When they just got married, days were quiet and everything was at peace. This meant no war and Horatio not needed in the navy. He eventually got quite tired of the good but boring Fanny and was annoyed by her perpetual complaints about simply anything.<br />
<br />
When the French Revolution began, Fanny couldn't share Horatio's excitement to go back to sea. The situation was exacerbated when Fanny's son followed Horatio to go on war. What Fanny didn't realise is her husband was going to meet the woman she hated most in her life-- Emma Hamilton.<br />
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<u>Story of Emma Hamilton's early life before meeting Horatio Nelson</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Emma was the daughter of a blacksmith, but her father died when she was a newborn. Emma then went on to live with her grandmother. When she got older, she became a housemaid who eventually attracted a rich man named Sir Harry. She lived in Sir Harry's estate in Sussex where she had his baby also named Emma. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Sir Harry soon grew tired of Emma and passed her on to his friend Charles, who isn't as wealthy as Sir Harry. After living with her for a few years, Charles decided that he would be marrying an heiress instead. Charles had decided to get rid of Emma by sending her off to his rich uncle's home, thinking that his uncle might fancy her since his uncle's wife had passed.</i><i> Not knowing that Charles was dumping her, she lived in Charles' uncle's home for a couple of months. It was only till then when she realised that Charles didn't want her anymore. But by that time was also when Charles' uncle, Sir William Hamilton, had fallen in love with her. Sir William married Emma after that.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Sir William and Emma Hamilton made an unlikely couple. Sir William was twice his age and was very reserved, as opposed to the boisterous, friendly Emma. Somewhere along the way Emma managed to abandon her own daughter, because a child might have looked bad for her lifestyle.</i><br />
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<i>Emma wasn't just a pretty face, for she soon became good friends with Queen Maria which greatly helped Sir William's influence in court. She had also became very famous in the community as a model in old times. </i><br />
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<i>Note: As you can see in her portraits, Emma Hamilton is a bit plump but people then find that more attractive than bamboo stick women. </i><br />
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<u>Emma Hamilton</u><br />
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Horatio Nelson had lost an arm in one of his battles and returned home to England after that. Oddly enough, the time spent for Fanny to nurse Horatio back to health turned out to be one of their happiest moments together. When Horatio went back to his job, he had won the Battle of the Nile. It was one of the biggest news in England and Horatio immediately rose to stardom. Even Fanny suddenly found that she was very popular with her wealthy neighbours when they previously didn't want to have anything to do with her. What annoyed Fanny the most was after some time away from Norfolk (Horatio's hometown and where Fanny was living), Horatio's letters were filled with abundant praises of one woman he had met a few times during his expedition-- Emma Hamilton.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Hamilton</td></tr>
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Emma Hamilton is the kind of woman who was very generous in praising Horatio. This pleased Horatio because Fanny's letters were nothing but filled with pleas for Horatio to give up his job and settle with her in their village. Rumours were soon spreading about their relationship, and people were teasing Lord Horatio for being crazy over his fat girlfriend. What they failed to notice was Emma was pregnant with Horatio's child, and she was never huge by normal standards.<br />
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<u>Horatia</u><br />
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When Horatio returned once again after a victorious battle, Fanny did not give Horatio a warm welcome. She had been upset by the stories she had heard, and even Horatio's father was disapproving his son's attitude towards Fanny. Horatio continued going out with Emma to theaters and balls, and this action was like an insult to his wife. Not long after, Horatio turned from a National Hero to a National Joke. So naturally, the married couple split on their separate ways, though Fanny never divorced Horatio.<br />
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When little Horatia was born, Horatio was elated to finally have a child. Unfortunately, he cannot share his joy with everyone else because it was an embarrassment to have a child out of wedlock, and this might tarnish Horatia's reputation and future to be seen as an illegitimate child. So nobody knew that Emma had a baby, and those who did pretended not to have noticed. Horatio too didn't have a lot of time to enjoy being a father, because he was ordered to sea again after spending a few days with his daughter. Horatia was then sent hidden away in London.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horatia Nelson<br />
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Upon returning home, Horatio had decided to move in to his new estate with Emma (and her old husband). Emma's husband had resigned to Emma's affair a long time ago and was even more aloof than ever before. He paid a third of the running costs in Horatio's home but was never treated like he was one of the owners.<br />
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Horatio's father was very fond of Fanny, and he was very disappointed in Horatio for dumping her. He didn't want to visit Horatio and his new home but resigned to do so after constant persuasion. Some time later, news came that Horatio's father was dying. Fanny rushed to be with him but Horatio wouldn't go because he was embarrassed of bumping into his wife. Horatio didn't attend his father's funeral for the same reason.<br />
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Since everything was at peace, Horatio and Emma went travelling together. Horatia was also made their "adopted daughter" but everyone pretty much knew who she really was. By the time the couple returned home, Emma's husband finally lost his patience with her affair. Emma didn't have to put up with Sir William Hamilton's dissatisfaction for long because he kicked the bucket in April 1803. Apparently, Emma then went into deep mourning to show how upset she was. That was just for a show really, because one of her friends said she later heard Emma playing the piano and singing a lively tune. Emma was probably looking forward to spending more time with Horatio. What she didn't know was Napolean was about the strike again and the legendary Battle of Trafalgar was about to began.<br />
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<u>Death</u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Hamilton</td></tr>
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Before getting ready to go back to sea, Horatio wanted to officially profess his <strike>love </strike> friendship with Emma Hamilton. Since Fanny was determined to never allow a divorce, he opted for a wedding substitute by exchanging "friendship rings" in the church.<br />
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In the legendary Battle of Trafalgar, Horatio Nelson had made one big mistake which had caused his life : he didn't want to wear a normal blue coat but his usual attire filled with medals and decorations. It was easy for the French to spot him and Horatio Nelson was shot. Despite England's big victory, the hero of the day was dead. Moments before Horatio died, he said to Captain Hardy, "kiss me Hardy." Contrary to popular belief, those WERE NOT his last words. He lived long enough to whisper "Remember that I leave Lady Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country. Never forget Horatia." A few moments later he murmured, "Thank God I have done my duty." <br />
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The Battle of Trafalgar had been a huge victory, but people don't know whether to jump for joy or mourn over the loss of Horatio. Napolean still continued battling at sea, but he would eventually be defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. Notwithstanding this, there was no other battle as big and great as the one Horatio Nelson had won and lost his life to. When travelling back on his legendary ship <i>Victory,</i> Horatio was not thrown into the sea as he wished but stored in a barrel of Brandy to preserve him. As a special honour, some of his sailors were allowed to drink the Brandy that preserved his body.<br />
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Emma was at home in bed when news came that her lover died in the battle of Trafalgar. Emma screamed and fell back-- she had not spoken and shed a tear for ten hours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Emma Hamilton</td></tr>
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Due to Horatio's valiant victory in the Battle of Trafalgar and his reputation as one of the best admirals in British history, the government had spent a fortune on his funeral. In a strange way, because Horatio died at the moment of his biggest success, people remember him mainly of his victories and lauded him as England's hero for years to come. After all, his battles had not all been triumphs. He used to be known as the man blinded by hubris and filled with recklessness-- his affair with Emma Hamilton had also reduced him to a laughing stock. Speaking of Emma Hamilton, the British government ignored Horatio's final request of taking care of her. All of Horatio's titles, pensions, rewards, assets, and whatnot were distributed to his siblings instead. Even Fanny was granted hefty sums of money as pensions for the rest of her life, but Emma and her daughter never got a sausage. The government thought that Emma should be content by what she has from Sir William Hamilton's possessions-- and she was an embarrassment in the eyes of the public. Emma was not even allowed to go to Horatio's funeral. Ironic how she is the most important person in Horatio's life.<br />
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<b>Note: Lord Horatio Nelson was buried in St Paul's Cathedral in London instead of Westminster Abbey because Horatio was afraid that Westminster Abbey might sink, since it's built on a marshy ground</b><br />
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In the end, Sir William Hamilton's money were not enough to sustain the kind of lifestyle Emma Hamilton was leading. She was even put to prison for her debt. She migrated with Horatia to Calais, where she started drinking heavily and died in 1815. At least she got a monument in the end. In 1994 an American arranged for an obelisk to be erected on the site of Emma's grave in Calais.<br />
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Horatio's only child named Horatia came back to England where she later married to a vicar, had nine children, and lived to the ripe old age of 81. She was proud to tell everyone that Lord Horatio Nelson was her father, but never admitted that Emma Hamilton was her mother.<br />
<br />
<u>Random</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Here's a recommendation to read.<br />
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Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-55393244372092890132012-09-13T13:25:00.003+08:002012-09-13T13:25:25.426+08:00Four Greatest Beauties of China: Xi Shi (西施) Two warring nations. Two ambitious arch-rivals. A resourceful military advisor. A beautiful female spy.<br />
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Add them all up together and you have the perfect plot for a drama. Throw in some special effects, some intrigue and romance, some snappy conversations, a Cold War background, and you have a Hollywood blockbuster.<br />
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But no, none of these happened in the West, nor did it happen in recent times. To appreciate this story fully, let us go back to the Dynasty of Warring States of China, around the years of 476BC-221BC.<br />
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The aforementioned female spy is Xi Shi, the first of the Four Greatest Beauties of Ancient China.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Back then, China wasn't the nation as we know it today. Instead, it was split between 7 major powers, that were constantly at war against each other. They would later be united by Emperor Shihuangti of the Qin dynasty, the same guy who was famous for the construction of the Great Wall.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan Li</td></tr>
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Around the year of 496 B.C., the king of the Wu nation (H<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 22.077775955200195px;">é Lǘ) </span>attacked the nation of Yue, but was defeated by them. The king of Wu died of major injuries, and his son Fu Chai decided to avenge his father's death. Two years later, Fu Chai launched an attack on the Yue nation. The king of Yue, Gou Jian, was surrounded by the enemy forces and under the advice of his loyal advisor Fan Li, he surrendered himself and his wife to Fu Chai.<br />
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Fu Chai enslaved the couple and Fan Li, giving them a shabby hut near a grave to live in. For three years, Gou Jian and his wife did menial work and helped Fu Chai to take care of his horses. They dressed in rags and obeyed Fu Chai without question. Fu Chai witnessed this and believed that they had no intention to rebel any more. He decided to set them free, despite the advice of his advisor.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766796_LsfczkOF_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766796_LsfczkOF_b.jpg" width="200" /></a>Gou Jian, upon returning to his native land, swore that he would never forget the shame and humiliation he had suffered in the past three years. He worked very hard to strengthen his country. As he feared that he might be accustomed to a life of luxury and forget his mission, he discarded his comfortable mats and slept on a bed of firewood instead. He hung a small slice of bitter bile above him, and tasted it now and then to remind himself of the suffering he had experienced. This later became a Chinese four-word idiom "Wuo Xin Chang Dan". (Reclining on firewood and tasting bile). It reflected his bitter determination to fulfil his plan of defeating the Wu nation.<br />
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But how does it relate to our main character, Xi Shi here? Well, Gou Jian wasn't going to burst into the Wu nation and risk another defeat and capture. He and Fan Li came up with a plan to weaken the might of the Wu nation before raging war.<br />
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The King of Wu, Fu Chai had a weakness for beautiful women. Gou Jian decided to send a few beautiful women to entice Fu Chai. Fan Li found the perfect candidate in the most unexpected place--at a remote village known as ‘Zhu Luo village'. And the lady concerned was a washer-girl by the banks of the Huan Sha river.<br />
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Xi Shi's actual name is 'Shi Yiguang'. Her surname is actually 'Shi', not 'Xi',‘Xi' meaning 'west' in mandarin. As her village was located in the western part, and her fellow villagers mostly carried the surname of Shi, later people referred her as 'Xi Shi'. Her father was a firewood seller and her mother a washerwoman (literally from Mandarin, 'a gauze-washing lady'). Xishi often washed gauze too, by the river now known as Huan Sha river.<br />
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An interesting story prevails to this day. It is said that Xi Shi had a rather weak constitution, and often suffered from chest pains. People sometimes found her clutching her chest with one hand, her brows furrowed. However, they still found her pretty charming. A girl from a village in the East, known otherwise as 'Dong Shi' ('Dong' meaning east) tried to imitate her too. But Dong Shi was ugly by nature. And when she imitated Xishi, everyone was scared by her looks and ran away or shut their doors!<br />
A Chinese idiom 'Dong Shi Xiao Pin' refers to this story, about how copying someone else wholly ends up with opposite effects.<br />
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Xishi had already enough natural beauty to charm anyone. What she lack were dancing skills and culture. She spend three years in the palace of Yue, rigorously learning skills that she could use to charm the king of Wu. She was also drilled about her mission to her country. Xi Shi did not disappoint and she emerged, well-prepared to shoulder her mission.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766747_qfTirQTA_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766747_qfTirQTA_f.jpg" width="224" /></a>Along with a couple of other beauties, including one whose name was Zheng Dan, Xi Shi was sent to the Wu nation as a tribute. The king of Wu, Fu Chai was extremely pleased. However his wise advisor Wu Zixi wasn't and saw through the ploy. He tried to alert the king. The king was too smitten to think rationally. He ordered Wu Zixi to be killed instead.<br />
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Xi Shi managed to capture the king's heart and lured him away from his state affairs. The king, eager to please her, commissioned the building of a palace and a large lake, where green dragon boats could be rowed. He and Xi Shi enjoyed themselves rowing on the lake. He also built palaces to showcase performances, dances and plays, and for feasts and banquets. Xi Shi was skilled at dancing with clogs. The king specially built a corridor using hundreds of large vats, with wooden planks laid on top. For this dance, Xi Shi wore little bells fastened to her dress. The sound of clogs clicking on the tanks, resounding with the clear chiming of the bells, was more than enough to send the king into a drunken stupor.<br />
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The days passed in this manner. As expected, the power of the once mighty country weakened, and finally the time had come.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766744_wZkSvRnx_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766744_wZkSvRnx_b.jpg" width="180" /></a>The king of Yue raised an army and launched an attack on the Wu nation. The king of Wu was powerless to defend his own country. In the end, he realised that he had been wrong all the while--for not listening to the advice of his advisor Wu Zixi. With shame, he committed suicide by cutting his throat with his sword.<br />
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So now, the nation of Yue had triumphed, and no doubt Fan Li and Xi Shi would be rewarded greatly for their service to the country. Things weren't as simple as that. We shall read on and see.<br />
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Well, Fan Li was very smart--he knew that the king of Yue was that kind of friend who would make full use of you when he needed you, and once he got what he wanted, he will turn around and stab you in the back. In other words, now the king of Yue has sampled his greatest victory and he no longer required Fan Li's service. In fact, Fan Li could pose a threat to him, with his skills and brains and capabilities. Realising that the king was one to 'keep his bow after the birds are shot, and kill the dogs after the rabbit is caught', he resigned and left the country, and became a successful business man elsewhere. Great retirement plans, I'd say.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766742_kU5oQM1A_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645766742_kU5oQM1A_b.jpg" width="278" /></a>So what about Xi Shi? It is really disappointing to say this, but no one knows what happened to her for sure. There are several possibilities out there, and I've selected the three most famous ones.<br />
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#1: Xi Shi had fallen deeply in love with Fan Li during her training sessions, and she ran away with him after her mission was done. This ending is for those who believe in happily ever after.<br />
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#2: Xi Shi had fallen in love with the king of Wu, and when he committed suicide, Xi Shi killed herself by throwing herself onto a rock beside him. This ending is for those who like the Romeo and Juliet sort of star-crossed lovers.<br />
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#3: Xi Shi returned to her native land, but the wife of the Yue king feared that she might use her charms and seduce the king and bring upon the downfall of her own country. So, the wife ordered people to sink her into the lake. This ending is for those who don't like happily ever after nor Romeo and Juliet. <br />
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She is often depicted in Chinese paintings as a beautiful lady kneeling by the riverside, washing gauze. It is said that fishes, dazzled by her beauty, would forget how to swim and sink into the lake, thus winning her the title of 'the one who sinks the fishes'. When I visited China a few years back, the tourist guide showed us some pictures of Xi Shi, where she was painted showing only her side profile or back. He explained that Xi Shi was considered so beautiful that no one could capture her likeness accurately.<br />
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Whatever her fate was, Xi Shi continues to bedazzle future generations by her legendary charms, her unusual identity, and her mysterious disappearance after her work was done.<br />
<br />xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-44417466745484557962012-09-12T14:19:00.000+08:002013-05-10T23:57:26.025+08:00Four Greatest Beauties of China: Wang Zhaojun (王昭君)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Emperors of China were quite notorious for their lavish lives, especially when it came to the sheer number of court ladies in the palace. The number 3000 was but a representation, in fact during the reign of Emperor Xuan Zong (<a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-story-of-lady-yang.html">Lady Yang</a>'s husband), it is said that he had 4 million ladies in the palace! Well, with such a staggering number, it was really hard to get to know them all personally. Besides, the camera was yet to be invented. But Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty(206BC-8AD) had just the perfect solution for it.<br />
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He employed artists to draw portraits of the beauties, which would be presented to him. He would then select whom to favour based on the portraits. It was the perfect chance for the artists to earn a fortune. The palace ladies, eager to win the emperor's favour, bribed the artists so that they could be painted in a more flattering manner. Talk about manual photoshop.<br />
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Things were going great for the artists, that is, until Wang Zhaojun came along.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><a href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765468_pHNLwhjJ_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765468_pHNLwhjJ_b.jpg" width="165" /></a> The actual name of Zhaojun was 'Wang Qiang'. She was brought up in a prominent family in Baopin village, Zigui County (now in the province of Hubei). Her father was quite elderly when she was born. Having obtained a daughter at such an old age, he was extremely happy and treated her as the 'pearl in his palm'. (Chinese saying for precious daughter) As Zhaojun grew up, her beauty was much renowned in her province. She was selected to enter the imperial palace. However, with so many beauties selected from all over the country, she also had to resort to the 'portrait procedure' before she could meet the emperor face-to-face.<br />
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Wang Zhaojun was confident about her looks and talents. Besides, perhaps she had that streak of righteousness in her. She refused to resort to low-handed bribery to have those extra strokes added to her portrait. Naturally, the artist who was in charge of painting her, Mao Yanshou, was infuriated. He did have those extra strokes added all right--but all in the wrong places. And when the emperor saw her portrait, he casually shove it aside. (Or perhaps he had never viewed it at all) According to popular belief, Mao Yanshou had added a mole to her face. The Ancient Chinese believed that certain moles were inauspicious, and in Wang Zhaojun's portrait's case, people believed that such a mole might cause one's husband's death.<br />
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And so, Wang Zhaojun spent several years in abject solitude, living her life in obscurity.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765467_CK1Ji514_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765467_CK1Ji514_b.jpg" /></a>Perhaps her entire life would had turned out that way, if a certain political situation had not happened. During that time, the leader of a Xiongnu tribe, Huhanye Chanyu (Chanyu meaning leader) came to the capital of China to meet the emperor. The Xiongnu were nomadic people who were a nuisance to China at points of times due to their sieges and attacks. This story has to be re-winded a bit, to the time of Emperor's Yuan's predecessor, Emperor Xuan. There was a civil wall within the Xiongnu itself, with five leaders fighting against each other. Huhanye was defeated and sought refuge beneath the Chinese Empire. He became the first Xiongnu Chanyu to do so, and the emperor was extremely pleased, and even relieved his people's famine by sending grains. The emperor also directed two generals and a million soldiers to escort Huhanye back to his homeland.<br />
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After Huhanye became the main Chanyu, he returned to China, and requested to Emperor Yuan to become a Imperial son-in-law. In other words, he wanted to marry a Chinese princess.<br />
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Now, let's imagine what thoughts were running through the emperor's mind at that time.<br />
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Emperor:"Hmm...marry a princess? Seriously? Well, I will just send him a nice palace girl and treat her like a princess. Oh wait. A plain-looking one will do just fine."<br />
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And so, he selected the plainest portrait in the lot--Wang Zhaojun's. Another version of the story states that Wang Zhaojun volunteered and the emperor agreed heartily since her portrait was so plain...but anyway, we can just deduce that Wang Zhaojun's fate was tied to that portrait.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765473_kdB1sG98_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765473_kdB1sG98_b.jpg" /></a>The time of departure neared. Wang Zhaojun was summoned to court and met the emperor face-to-face for the first time.<br />
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The emperor looked at her. And he stared.<br />
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She was so exquisitely beautiful, so much more than all the other court ladies added up together. He had spent his life searching for such a rare beauty, and there she was, sitting in his backyard all along and he never even discovered her. The emperor looked at the portrait, which was really a dreadful representation of her.<br />
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The Xiongnu Chanyu was delighted, but the Chinese emperor wasn't. He ordered all the artists to be executed for their trickery.<br />
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The emperor felt deep regret for selecting her to marry the Chanyu. However, as a man of trust, he dared not substitute Wang Zhaojun with someone else, and he had to let her go.<br />
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Wang Zhaojun left China and began her journey on horseback to her new home. Legend has it that when she was leaving her homeland, she was overcome with sorrow and strung a woeful tune on her pipa. When the wild geese flying ahead heard the tune, they turned and saw such a beautiful woman sitting on horseback. Overwhelmed by her beauty, they forgot to flap their wings and plummeted to the ground.<br />
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The Xiongnu people received Wang Zhaojun with delight. She was styled 'Ninghu Yanzhi', 'Ninghu' meaning 'Pacifying the Hu people' and 'Yanzhi' meaning 'Consort of the Chanyu'. The Chanyu cherished her deeply, making her his favourite. They had two sons and a daughter together, one of the sons being Yituzhiyashi. After Huhanye Chanyu died, his son by his first wife succeeded him. As required by Xiongnu customs, Wang Zhaojun married him, despite the fact that this was against Han customs. They had two daughters together.<br />
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Wang Zhaojun's political marriage to the Xiongnu tribe brought upon many years of peace for both sides. However, there was a rebellion in China by Wang Mang in the later years. The Xiongnu tribe did not recognise him as the emperor of China, and so they besieged the border lands of China. Wang Zhaojun was heartbroken to see the peace she had established crumble. She died and was buried at a tomb in Inner Mongolia, which is reputed to be covered with green grass all year and hence also nicknamed 'The Green Grave'. However, certain sources claim that it is not her actual grave, and her actual burial place as well as her exact date of death is unknown.<br />
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Wang Zhaojun is often pictured alongside Xishi, Diaochan and <a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-story-of-lady-yang.html">Lady Yang</a> as the 'Four Greatest Beauties of China'. Her beauty is further remembered with her contribution to the peace between the Han dynasty and the Xiongnu tribe. She is often depicted in paintings as a beautiful lady in a red, fur lined cloak, carrying a pipa.<br />
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Countless poems, plays, movie dramas and even a relatively modern song has been written about her. In short, she is one of the most celebrated Chinese women in history.<br />
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However, sometimes I wonder--if Wang Zhaojun had been as plain as her portrait, would later generations feel such deep sentiment and sympathy towards her? That, I think, is a question worth pondering upon.<br />
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Below is a rendition of the song 'Wang Zhaojun' by the singer Mei Dai. It tells of Wang Zhaojun's emotions during her journey, which include her feelings of homesickness, her longing for her homeland and her melancholic feelings upon viewing the foreign scenery.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wI0sc1KvVLw" width="420"></iframe>xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-91470945732850055122012-09-11T17:09:00.003+08:002012-09-19T18:00:54.419+08:00Four Greatest Beauties of China: Lady Yang (楊貴妃)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was hard being a woman in Ancient China. Nor did being beautiful help much either, as there was a Chinese saying, “Beautiful women are often unfortunate/short-lived." A beautiful woman may be promoted to a higher station by winning the favour of the emperor or a high ranking noble officer. However, such beauty may even earn envy, and even ultimately death. Beautiful concubines often became the scapegoat for an emperor's foolery and even a nation's downfall. Perhaps such is the life of Yang Guifei, who, after a life of luxury, was strangled to death in the midst of a rebellion.<br />
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This story starts with the death of another woman, Emperor Xuan Zong's beloved concubine Lady Wu in the year of 737 A.D. The Emperor was deeply saddened, and none of the beautiful court ladies could entice his interest. His favourite attendant Gao Lishi was anxious to please him. He sought beauties from far and wide, but none of them could lift the Emperor's mood.<br />
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Rumours about the extraordinary beauty of a particular lady came to the emperor's ear. He decided to summon her, and was stunned by her extraordinary beauty. She was so lovely, that the other ladies dulled in comparison. The emperor was smitten. He decided to make her his concubine by hook or by crook.<br />
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The aforementioned lady was from the Yang family, with the name of 'Yu Huan'. (Literally 'jade bracelet') She was orphaned at a young age, and was brought up by her uncle who was a minor court officer. She was later listed as one of the 'Four Greatest Beauties of China'.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765353_vUGyfQ77_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645765353_vUGyfQ77_b.jpg" /></a>However, there was a little glitch. Yu Huan was already married, and that to the emperor's own son by his late favourite--a prince whose name was Li Mao. It was unthinkable, in ancient China with its strict Confucian ideals of family relations, for a father-in-law to marry his own daughter-in-law. In other words, it was plain incest. But the emperor had a way out of this sticky situation.<br />
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He ordered the lady to become a Taoist nun, with the name of 'Tai Zhen'. His 'excuse', was that she had to pray for the departed soul of his late mother. By doing so, she was considered separated from her former husband. After a certain period of time, the emperor ordered his son to marry the daughter of another court officer, and took Yu Huan for himself. She was given the newly-created the title of 'Guifei' or 'Royal Concubine', the highest rank for a concubine then.<br />
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Heavens know how she felt about this transition, of leaving her husband of 5 (some say 10) years. However the emperor's orders had to be obeyed, and this process of marrying one's own daughter-in-law was completed smoothly.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764262_QjY3tF7Z_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764262_QjY3tF7Z_b.jpg" /></a>The new concubine became the emperor's favourite. Lady Yang was extremely talented in performing arts. She could dance and play the 'pipa' very well. Coincidentally, the emperor was also a great fan of music and dance. The two were more than lovers; they became soul mates. It was said that Lady Yang, upon having a dream about visiting the 'Moon Palace', composed a famous tune 'Dance of Rainbow Gowns and Feathered Costumes'. However other sources claim that it was the emperor himself who composed the tune.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese lute, or pipa</td></tr>
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Many legends persist about Lady Yang's beauty. A story recounts an incident when she was strolling in the palace gardens. She accidentally touched the leaves of a mimosa plant which closed immediately. Her ladies flattered her by saying that even the flowers felt ashamed in her presence. Hence she earned the title of 'the one who makes the flowers ashamed'.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764261_ZcwZY7M1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764261_ZcwZY7M1_b.jpg" width="185" /></a>Along with Lady Yang's rise to Imperial favour, her family also were bestowed with titles, wealth and fortune. Her cousin Yang Zhao, once a gambler and a wastrel, was given the name 'Guo Zhong' (Loyal to the Nation) and was later made the Emperor's Chancellor. Lady Yang's three eldest sisters were conferred the title of the ladies of Han, Guo, and Qin respectively. Among the three sisters, Lady Guo was said to be a natural beauty, and unlike the ladies of that time who loved to put on thick makeup, she was so confident with her looks that she went about with hardly any makeup on at all. Two princesses and two noble ladies were married into the Yang clan in total. The Yang family enjoyed such favour to the extent that the people began to think that having a daughter was way better than having a son. (Note: in Ancient China, the birth of a daughter was less welcomed than a son). However, they became so unbearably high and mighty that, despite their many flatterers, they also had many haters in court.<br />
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Things were not always bright for Lady Yang. She was actually chased out of the palace twice, for behaving in a jealous manner and evoking the emperor's displeasure. The first time she was sent away, the emperor moped about the entire day and had no appetite for a meal. He was extremely upset and his servants and attendants got into trouble for little mistakes. His favourite attendant Gao Lishi suggested that he send Lady Yang's belongings to her, in order to make her comfortable with her new surroundings. The emperor agreed to it, and it is recorded that her belongings were enough to fill up more than hundred carts. The emperor even sent half of his meal to her. As night fell, the emperor missed her so badly that in the end, he decided to invite her back after all.<br />
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The second time, Lady Yang's offence seemed worse, as the emperor made no move to call her back after a day. She begged his forgiveness by writing a touching letter along with a lock of her hair as a token of her love. Hair in Ancient China was considered a deeply personal item and no one (except monks and nuns) cut their hair, as it was considered an unfilial act to one's parents. This move touched the emperor, and he invited Lady Yang back. After this incident, their affection for each other deepened.<br />
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Lady Yang was from the south of China, and her favourite fruit were lychees, which was not grown in the north. The emperor decided to transport some for her. However lychees could not be kept for long, and turned bad quickly. There were no refrigerators or canned food back then, so guess what the emperor did? He ordered the lychees to be transported by horseback without stop. Rest stations were set up along the road for changing of horses, and many people and horses were pushed to the brink of extreme weariness, "just to win the smile of the concubine", as a poem depicted. It wasn't a matter of concern to the emperor at all. Well, nothing mattered as long as Lady Yang was happy.<br />
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To this point, things seem to be going on pretty well for Lady Yang. She eclipsed every one else in the palace, which was no easy feat, since the emperor had 3000 palace ladies at his beck and call. But the emperor had only eyes for her. But things began to go terribly wrong at a point.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764418_IgYSQkOZ_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764418_IgYSQkOZ_b.jpg" /></a>There was this guy, An Lushan, who had mixed heritages of Han Chinese and Hu. He was a master at the art of flattery, and won the emperor's favour almost immediately. Once, when he saw the emperor and Lady Yang, he paid his respect to Lady Yang first before the emperor. When the emperor asked him the reason, he smiled and said, "Our Hu people honour one's mother very highly. For us, the mother comes before the father." His words earned the emperor's and Lady Yang's pleasure, and he became their 'adopted son', despite the fact that he was considerably older than Lady Yang. Things came to a point when Lady Yang had a frolic with him in the palace, by bathing him and swathing him in baby clothes. Was the emperor furious with her for that? No. In fact, he found the scene extremely funny, and rewarded both of them generously.<br />
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Remember Lady Yang's cousin Yang Guozhong? He actually had a part to play in her downfall. He was in bad terms with An Lushan, and the latter retaliated, by stirring up a rebellion with the excuse of punishing Yang Guozhong. The rebellion could not be controlled, and in the end, even the imperial city fell into the hands of the rebellious forces. This rebellion marked the deterioration of the Tang dynasty, and was also caused by the inefficient leadership of the emperor.<br />
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The emperor was forced to flee with an entourage. He took Lady Yang and her cousin Yang Guozhong with him. After a long journey, they reached Mawei station. The guards were tired, thirsty and hungry. They demanded Yang Guozhong for food, and then accused him of treason and killed him by shooting arrows at him. His son was killed as well. However, the angry soldiers were still unappeased and they demanded to kill the cause of all the trouble--Lady Yang. The emperor was unwilling to do so, but in the end, he was left with no other choice, as the soldiers refused to disperse.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764267_mliPpd7J_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/423901383645764267_mliPpd7J_b.jpg" /></a>So, the great beauty was led to the front of a Buddhist shrine, and was strangled to death by Gao Lishi. She was but thirty-eight when she died, at the prime of her life. According to a poem by the poet Bai Juyi, her valuable hair ornaments were scattered all over the floor as she was being strangled, and the emperor covered his face, barely able to watch. When he looked back his face was tear-stained.<br />
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It is said that the emperor was deeply saddened by her death and often remembered her in the years to come. When the rebellion was over, he tried to relocate her body for a proper reburial, but it had decomposed, though a fragrance bag buried with her was still fresh. The emperor wept bitter tears at the sight of it.<br />
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A poem was written about their love by Bai Juyi, entitled 'The Song of Everlasting Sorrow'. Its final lines sum up the tragedy of their love story.<br />
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"Heaven and earth may have an end, but this sorrow is for eternity."<br />
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Note 1: Yang Guifei was actually overweight, despite the various pictures that portrayed her to be a slim and willowy woman. She was actually the representation of Tang dynasty's ideal of beauty, which preferred fleshy women to slim women.<br />
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Note 2: The name 'Yang' (楊)is a common Chinese family name, which also happens to be my surname. :pxlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-82630902709381138752012-08-02T21:09:00.001+08:002012-08-03T13:28:24.121+08:00Isabella of France: She-Wolf of England<b><i><u><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Scandalous Women:<a href="http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/2012/07/isabella-of-france-she-wolf-of-england.html"> Isabella of France: She-Wolf of England</a></span>:</span> </u></i></b>Isabella of France When Isabella of France (1295-1358) arrived at the church in Boulogne in 1308 for her wedding to England’s Edward I...<br />
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#rebloggedCeline Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-88916851378624639002012-07-19T00:39:00.002+08:002012-07-19T22:40:56.009+08:00Cleopatra VII: Mark Antony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Note: Thank you so much for your support. My previous post <a href="http://theirhistory.blogspot.com/2012/06/cleopatra-vii-julius-caesar.html">"Cleopatra VII: Julius Caesar"</a> has over 500 viewers in less than a month! </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the most famous love stories of all time</td></tr>
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Cleopatra had known Mark Antony since she was a teenage girl. This was during her father's reign because Mark had helped Ptolemy (her dad) to get back on his throne. She had also met him countless of times during her visit in Rome. He was known to be a handsome man but Cleo never took notice in him, maybe because of their lack of mutual interest: she liked books, learning, science, etc whereas he liked wine and women. That, or maybe it's because he wasn't powerful enough.<br />
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Well, that was about to change.<br />
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Julius Caesar had been murdered by plotters, so it wasn't surprising that a civil war broke out after his death. It was between Octavius backed by Mark Antony, and Brutus and Cassius, the two men who killed Julius Caesar. Just over a year after Caesar had been killed, Cleo was asked by Octavius and Mark to send some warships. Despite Egypt's famine and plague, Cleo agreed. The reason Cleo agreed to fight alongside Mark and Octavius was that Cassius had been plotting with her only living family member (son is not inclusive)-- Arsinoe/her youngest sister-- to support Arsinoe's claim to the Egyptian throne. Unfortunately, a storm broke out and wrecked her Egyptian warships. <br />
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In the end, Mark and Octavius won the battle without Cleo's help. It was agreed that Octavius (now called Octavian) would rule the western half of the empire and Mark the eastern part. That was good news to Cleo because it meant that she would be able to just deal with Mark, since Octavian wasn't very happy with Cleo for being the mother of his uncle's only son/living child. Nevertheless, Mark was not pleased that Cleo hadn't sent any warships. Of course, he didn't know that her fleet was destroyed in a storm so he decided to pay her a visit.<br />
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When Mark got into the river bank to meet Cleo, he was surprised by how sensational this young Egyptian Queen was. On top of it all they met in the city Tarsus, on the river Cydnus. What makes this special is the city Tarsus had been known to be the place where the goddess of love, Aphrodite, met the god Dionysus. Cleo was then dressed as Aphrodite and as it was, this romance have turned out to be one of the most famous love stories of all time.<br />
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Now that Mark had fallen right under Cleo's spell, the Romans accused Cleo as a loose woman. The truth is, Cleo only had two boyfriends in her entire life time, it was just that they both happened to be very powerful Romans and she wasn't married to either one of them. Should he still be what he was when Cleo was a teenager, Cleo wouldn't even give him a second look. Was it true love?<br />
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Whatever Cleo's intentions were from the start-- and it really does look as if she had set out to make Mark fall for her-- by the end they both seem to have really loved each other.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the young Cleopatra</td></tr>
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However, Mark and Cleo were more than just lovers. They were also heads of state making a political alliance. In return for gold, ships, and men, Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe was sentenced to death by Mark.<br />
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<u>Relationship</u><br />
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The Romans liked to think that Mark was a very good Roman who was led astray by the wicked Egyptian Queen. There was indeed one major problem in their relationship-- Mark was married. <br />
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His wife name was Fulvia, and Mark didn't like this woman at all. Then news came from Rome that Fulvia had started a civil war against Octavian, Mark's co-ruler. Thus, Mark had to leave Cleo to sort it out. By the time he got back to Rome, Octavian had defeated Fulvia and driven her out of Italy. Not long afterwards, she died in Greece. This meant that Mark was free to marry. Coincidentally though, Octavian's sister became a widow. Octavian soon planned a marriage that would turn Mark into an ally and get rid of the evil Egyptian Queen-- he wanted Mark to marry his sister.<br />
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Mark agreed, of course, because he knew that he would never be able to marry Cleo (Romans can only marry Romans). After dating for more than a year, Mark left Cleo when she was expecting his baby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvxNP0T1oRF9Ha8DyXYanMYZAwGGKrsabx7nsP-2bJk4Nr6PdmmifMwbxxw_vNSRFyOGiemqjtG-lOsbILccdn4xMtw13Vzd4LhUsqUXxc8Xs7cUaD6iYti0KEn7wVsU3xv_nu8-6cq7B/s1600/300octavia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvxNP0T1oRF9Ha8DyXYanMYZAwGGKrsabx7nsP-2bJk4Nr6PdmmifMwbxxw_vNSRFyOGiemqjtG-lOsbILccdn4xMtw13Vzd4LhUsqUXxc8Xs7cUaD6iYti0KEn7wVsU3xv_nu8-6cq7B/s400/300octavia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octavian's sister, Octavia</td></tr>
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Cleo gave birth to twins, named Cleopatra Selene and Alexander. It would be 3 years before she saw Mark again. He was living in Athens with Octavian's sister, called Octavia. Cleo sent an astrologer to spy on them and tell her what was going on. The spy wrote to her on a daily basis so she was always up to date.<br />
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However hurt or angry Cleo was, she still had a country to run. She read a lot, studied science, and looked after her children. Some books which she wrote during the 3 years were:-<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleopatra in a TV series</td></tr>
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1. A book about make up<br />
2. A book on gynaecology<br />
3. A book on designs and measures<br />
4. The design and building of a monument which would be her tomb<br />
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She also studied the secrets of the ancient Egyptians.<br />
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These are all part of being the Queen of Egypt, and that's what mattered to Cleo most-- far more important than the loss of Mark. From what she heard, Mark was getting fed up of Octavia.<br />
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Finally, Mark had enough of the good but boring Octavia. He left his marriage and took off for Antioch and sent a letter to Cleo asking her to join him. She came, bringing with her the twins he had never seen. All wasn't forgiven though, and Mark had to prove to Cleo that he wanted her back. Instead of roses and whatnot, all Cleo wanted was to strengthen Egypt and so, Mark gave her more land to rule. Here's what a Jewish historian said about her:<br />
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<i>At this time there were revolutions and troubles in Syria; for Cleopatra constantly poisoned Antony's mind against the local rulers. She persuaded him to remove them from government, and give their lands and titles to herself. And Antony loved her extremely. He thought the world of her.</i><br />
<i>In this way, she begged Antony to give her the kingdom of Judaea, and to expel the kings of Arabia from their lands. He was so bewitched by this woman that he obeyed whatever she asked of him.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Antony</td></tr>
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You can tell he didn't like Cleo, and it wasn't only him that hated her so. Mark expelled the rulers of many places in order to give their kingdoms to Cleo. Not only did those rulers hated Cleo, Cleo had also made herself a greater enemy of Rome, since those kingdoms weren't given to Rome but Cleo. <i> </i><br />
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He wasn't giving everything for free though. In exchange Cleo agreed to build a fleet of ships and so, the Egyptian navy would guard the Mediterranean sea for Mark. Aside from this, she would keep his army supplied with food and clothing. <br />
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<u>Mark Antony and Cleopatra versus Rome</u><br />
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When Mark lost the battle in Parthia (if he had won, he would've conquered as much as Alexander the Great once did), Cleopatra just had her fourth child, Ptolemy. While Mark had been losing campaigns and men, Octavian was doing rather well. Octavian was a strong and efficient ruler. He had modelled himself as the Greek God Apollo who was the god of reason and order. Mark's coins, on the other hand, showed Dionysus, the wild god of wine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark's wife, Octavia</td></tr>
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Octavian was as ambitious as Mark and Cleo and he hated the way Mark treated his sister Octavia. Mark had left her pregnant and went back to Cleo, and now she was bringing up four children on her own-- two she had from Antony and another two from his previous marriage to Fulvia. However, even though Mark behaved badly towards Octavia, she was a loyal wife. Octavian knew that he would have to fight against his sister if he were to be in a war with Mark and so held back. In fact, Octavian sent some men and supplies for the army Octavia was getting together to help Mark make a second attack on Parthia.<br />
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In the end, Octavian stole Mark's will and read every bit of it to the senate. Parts of his will includes him being buried next to Cleopatra in the Egyptian style. Now it was only a matter of time before the battle between Mark and Octavian. Octavian wasn't too worried because he knew that the Romans wouldn't attack Italy/Rome in the name of the Egyptian Queen, albeit on Mark's side.<br />
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The Egyptians have always been good sailors, and Cleo planned to attack on sea. Some people had accused Mark for doing so too because he was following everything Cleo said. Mark was also very sad when he found out that good men were leaving him. The battle of Actium had started.<br />
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<u>Fall</u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaius Octavius/Octavian/Augustus Caesar</td></tr>
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Mark and Cleo lost in the battle of Actium. Cleo had returned to Egypt and realized that she couldn't win. Lots of people reported strange sounds in Alexandria the night before Octavian marched into Egypt. They believed that the god Dionysus was abandoning the city and since Mark worshipped the god Dionysus, he was doomed.<br />
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The following day, when Octavian's soldiers couldn't find Mark, they went to report it to Octavian. Misunderstanding the situation, Mark assumed that the Queen was in league with Octavian to have him killed. When Cleo found out about Mark's rage and accusation, she told the messenger to lie that she was dead. Not doubting this message for a moment, Mark stabbed himself.<br />
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Someone must have told Cleo what had happened, because she had ordered someone to bring him to the monument where she was hiding. Octavian's troops were entering the city, so she hoisted Mark up through the windows. When they got him to the monument, Cleopatra was crazy with grief. He was dead by the time Octavian got there, and that very first day of the month is now called August, in the name of Augustus Caesar (Octavian would later change his name to Augustus when he became the first emperor of Rome). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Antony</td></tr>
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Octavian wanted Cleo alive, to walk in his Roman triumph like how her sister Arsinoe had done in Julius Caesar's so many years before. In her defeat, Cleo persuaded Octavian to be in the monument one last time to pay her last respects to Mark, who was buried there. Soon enough, she was found dead.<br />
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<i>when all the people burst through the doors they found Cleopatra dead upon a golden couch, dressed in her royal robes. One of her women was dead at her feet while the other, hardly able to stand , was trying to put straighten the diadem on Cleo's head. 'Very well done, and fitting for a princess descended from many kings.' Uttering these words, she fell down dead by the side of the couch.</i><br />
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Cleo's children were then walked as prisoners in Octavian's victory march. Octavian also had Julius Caesar's son killed whereas the rest of Cleo's children stayed with Octavia. Egypt became a part of Roman's province and Octavian became the first Roman Emperor, who renamed himself Augustus Caesar. In his life, Augustus had never forgotten Cleo as his biggest threat, and even named the month August as the month he had defeated Cleopatra.<br />
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That's the story of the young girl who had came to the throne when Egypt was bankrupt and managed to stay Queen against all odds-- she had made Egypt rich again, and unlike her ancestors, she was popular with the people.<i> </i>After all these years, her name still means <b>power, wealth, glamour, sex appeal, fame, and fascination.</b><br />
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</div>Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-50111651242008495982012-06-20T00:06:00.000+08:002012-09-11T19:34:08.940+08:00Cleopatra VII: Julius Caesar<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleopatra and Julius Caesar in one of the movies</td></tr>
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You can't really blame Cleopatra's "husband" for not trusting his big sister. Firstly, Cleopatra had tried to pretend that Ptolemy didn't exist and ruled on her own. Then, during the time when she had taken refuge, she became an opportunist when news about the war between Pompey and Julius Caesar broke out. With the support from Julius Caesar, Cleopatra had the upper hand.<br />
<br />
So how did she do it?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
To start with, Pompey and Julius Caesar were two of the most powerful men in Rome at that time, and Pompey was Julius Caesar's son in law, for he married Julius' only child and daughter, Julia, who then died of childbirth (which leaves Julius Caesar without any child). Unfortunately, the relationship between Julius and Pompey ended with a war against each other.<br />
<br />
Despite being old enough to be Cleopatra's father (Julius was 52 and she was 17), Julius was attracted to Cleopatra. As far as Cleopatra was concerned, he was the most powerful Roman alive; however, descriptions of him say that he was an attractive man. As for Caesar, it is no wonder he found Cleopatra attractive. This is an account from Plutarch (historian) about Cleopatra:-<br />
<i>"Her actual beauty was not in itself so remarkable; it was the impact of her spirit that was irresistible. The attraction of her person, joined with the charm of her conversation and the characteristic intelligence of all that she said and did, was bewitching. It was a delight merely to hear the sound of her voice. As if this were an instrument of many strings, she could pass from one language to another, so that in her interviews with barbarians she seldom required an interpreter."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<u>Relationship</u><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
In the war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, Pompey had been defeated and ran off to Egypt. Since Pompey was a friend of Egypt, he did not hesitate to trust King Ptolemy. Unfortunately, King Ptolemy had switched sides and decided to behead Pompey in order to please Julius Caesar. The King of Egypt thought that Caesar would be happy with such a ghastly gift, but when Caesar arrived in Egypt and saw the severed head of Pompey, he was furious. Caesar said, "I may have had my differences with Pompey, but you had no business killing him. You seem to have forgotten that he was still a Roman leader."<br />
Meanwhile, the opportunist Cleo was desperate to get in touch with Julius Caesar, especially since her brother was a disgrace in the eyes of Caesar for killing Pompey. Therefore, in order to meet Julius Caesar, she had decided to risk her life by being rolled up in a carpet that would be delivered in the Egyptian palace. In due time, Caesar was impressed by the clever young Queen followed by her carpet trick.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiMb49h1GUo46jyLdVhZItFBy5v0CWsf-qPzL5CWHF27x52kIJuE-gYefDoCX_bTE6oJ5jb4qWdNFZb-z3EVPZCXOFVNqfuA9-9fKM56ZSP-gQS8e45Ic9dKJw7EJfqRwYaKUc4Eol-HM/s1600/019-william-colbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiMb49h1GUo46jyLdVhZItFBy5v0CWsf-qPzL5CWHF27x52kIJuE-gYefDoCX_bTE6oJ5jb4qWdNFZb-z3EVPZCXOFVNqfuA9-9fKM56ZSP-gQS8e45Ic9dKJw7EJfqRwYaKUc4Eol-HM/s320/019-william-colbert.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">their rendezvous</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shortly afterwards, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra became a couple. Despite this, Julius Caesar announced to the Egyptian people that Ptolemy XIV and Cleopatra VII are to be the King and Queen of Egypt (<i>note: this Ptolemy is the younger Ptolemy, which means Cleo's second husband/brother; the elder Ptolemy had been killed during a rebellion which had caused the burning of the great library of Alexandria)</i>. This may just be for practical purposes because he already had a Roman wife and he needed to please both the Romans and Egyptians. Both Caesar and Cleo then went on a river cruise down the Nile river which showed the people that Egypt and the Roman Empire were allies. Caesar then sailed back to Rome and took Cleo's youngest sister Arsinoe along with him (as a prisoner, because she had once instigated a rebellion against Cleopatra).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz67zWsgzopoKsKJ_sMGvQ5YhuemXIg8BaF1i0qlU4bCrbDjMjeC_iSWK4D9Pc2BfDNtTbsRV5vCOk3VhSzh4eurd67TZYxWOWMHq8khf7X4xxOcyTV_ickm__O09Yq6ChHJ7nxvHqzOT/s1600/cleo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz67zWsgzopoKsKJ_sMGvQ5YhuemXIg8BaF1i0qlU4bCrbDjMjeC_iSWK4D9Pc2BfDNtTbsRV5vCOk3VhSzh4eurd67TZYxWOWMHq8khf7X4xxOcyTV_ickm__O09Yq6ChHJ7nxvHqzOT/s320/cleo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleopatra and Arsinoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While in Rome, Caesar had a life-size statue of Cleopatra built. Cleopatra had also given birth to his son named Caesarion. Cleopatra then arrived in Rome as a visiting Queen that same year, along with her kid-brother husband and son. Julius Caesar, along with the rest of Rome, was surprised. His wife Calpurnia, on the other hand, was not pleased.<br />
<br />
<u>Julius Caesar's death</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrJo5Oo2opOkfadwbfUgVkUDf2IfsOmAQVKwlWvfN1F2fB9Udk7k4b8P7WP9vMMifTEcJ1QeKVSoqrMNM0egtqKklAWI3VVt6ItIeK-OhgkfxGI9_Iw-OoBt-cqJZuPOnuy4iOVI3nay5/s1600/murder_julian_cesar_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrJo5Oo2opOkfadwbfUgVkUDf2IfsOmAQVKwlWvfN1F2fB9Udk7k4b8P7WP9vMMifTEcJ1QeKVSoqrMNM0egtqKklAWI3VVt6ItIeK-OhgkfxGI9_Iw-OoBt-cqJZuPOnuy4iOVI3nay5/s400/murder_julian_cesar_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julius Caesar murdered in Ides of March.<br />
<a href="http://annoyzview.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/real-story-of-julius-caesar%E2%80%99s-assassination/">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT JULIUS CAESAR'S ASSASSINATION</a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Cleopatra isn't the only one who knew that Julius Caesar was fed up with the Republic system in Rome. Many of the fellow senators knew it too, and most of them weren't pleased because they felt that Cleopatra's influence had made him a megalomaniac. They all blamed Cleopatra for brainwashing Caesar and they all believed that Caesar was already gaining too much power. Hence, in order to prevent Caesar from abolishing the Roman Republic and make himself Emperor of Rome and whatnot, some of the senates had devised a plan to assassinate Julius Caesar.<br />
<br />
In the spring of 44BC, Caesar was about to go off to war again. If he was to win that war and conquered Parthia, it would mean that he had ruled as much of the world as Alexander the Great had. Knowing that he would be gone for a long time, Cleopatra had decided to return to Egypt. Two days before he was due to leave, he was stabbed to death by some of his fellow senators as he made his way to the Senate.<br />
<br />
<u>After Caesar's Death</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Cleopatra's protector is now dead, and Caesar's great-nephew named Octavius was made his successor. This meant bad news for Cleo because for one, Octavius didn't like the prospects of having Caesar's mistress nor Caesar's illegitimate child as a future threat. Two, Cleo would never be able to make a conquest out of Octavius for he was rather uptight and was never impressed with her to begin with. Would she be able to keep her throne?<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqz9g25NQC5aSwZfyknsh796c6hAXMbu_r3tluQ-xRoS040Uc4DtQFd1UMyqYFSZtzFwHeOwnaZF9GyC_4Sb9pb2qbbazpTWxNlj-hkdM7iMGl4AszkanBFxeALlq9EwXO_sF-Z2DTV08x/s1600/220px-Denderah3_Cleopatra_Cesarion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqz9g25NQC5aSwZfyknsh796c6hAXMbu_r3tluQ-xRoS040Uc4DtQFd1UMyqYFSZtzFwHeOwnaZF9GyC_4Sb9pb2qbbazpTWxNlj-hkdM7iMGl4AszkanBFxeALlq9EwXO_sF-Z2DTV08x/s1600/220px-Denderah3_Cleopatra_Cesarion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Said carvings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back home in Egypt, there was a famine and the people were dying from diseases. Even young Ptolemy/Cleo's husband/Cleo's youngest brother, who became increasingly stroppy about his rights, took ill and died. This meant that out of all of Cleo's siblings, the only one who was alive was Arsinoe (Caesar had taken her as prisoner in Rome, remember?).<br />
<br />
To celebrate the fact that Cleo's son was now made her co-ruler, Cleo had huge figures carved at the temple at Denderah. One was herself (Goddess Isis), and the other, a grown up Caesarion.<br />
Cleopatra worked hard in ruling her country. Aside from paying off Egypt's debts to Rome-- for the first time in generations-- Egypt's economy was improving. This eventually made her popular and well-liked by both the Alexandrians and the "real Egyptians."<br />
<br />
<b>to be continued in next post.</b>Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-35711857742044633432012-04-19T22:14:00.000+08:002012-07-18T23:41:34.387+08:00Cleopatra VII: Before Queen and OverviewCleopatra-- the last queen of Egypt; the most famous queen in history; infamous for her relationship with Julius Caesar; known for her relationship with Mark Anthony; killed herself; "beautiful."<br />
<b>And often misunderstood.</b><br />
<br />
First and foremost, if you observe carefully, her title "Cleopatra the <i>seventh" </i>is because her ancestors-- and daughter-- were also named Cleopatra. Yet, she is the only one referred to when the name "Cleopatra" is mentioned.<br />
<br />
To note, here are some fun facts about this brilliant woman:-<br />
She married both her brothers (very high degree of inbreeding among the Ptolemies, I'll come to that soon); not an Egyptian; not very pretty; rumoured to have a hooked nose (she might not have it because a hooked nose was also a symbol of authority in the Ptolemaic dynasty); a bit short and fat; killed her younger sister; and most importantly-- extremely intelligent. For example, she spoke nine languages; invented aroma therapy; a gynaecologist; wrote books; made her country rich when it was in debt; and the list goes on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://www.mrdowling.com/images/702cleopatra.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="190" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">One of the most famous depictions of Cleopatra,<br />
as portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In summary, Cleopatra was a politician, strategist, and warrior. More often than not, you will find historians writing about Cleopatra as a seductress, but please do not forget that this notion was written by male traditionalists, for unlike Hatshepsut, she ruled as a woman. The media also likes to modify Cleopatra into something she was not. Knowing that she had caught the eyes of the two most powerful men in the world during her time, many will assume that she is very pretty, or even portray her as a whore. I am here to debunk the myth about this "seductress" by telling what she did as an 18 year-old queen who became the sole ruler of the ancient world and held the fate of the western world in her hands.<br />
<br />
Now take a look at some of the actresses who had played as Cleopatra:-<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEJnyBrNJ8konKUACGDA_QptJ6hWuq8emEUF1NammS4IOX-zMlyrldRQnBMmq7n1L4nHDRo_nykkv_y4Dmb4RLL8lD29lgPVslvGE1q4PANyce1MOQDeM9kD1mufb3Y_pFivfMvrGojJj/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEJnyBrNJ8konKUACGDA_QptJ6hWuq8emEUF1NammS4IOX-zMlyrldRQnBMmq7n1L4nHDRo_nykkv_y4Dmb4RLL8lD29lgPVslvGE1q4PANyce1MOQDeM9kD1mufb3Y_pFivfMvrGojJj/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very beautiful Vivien Leigh (I find her the prettiest Cleopatra; like every other movie, this one is not a historically accurate version)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWF-6-WJJAwUlltvCqJEY7DK0LjopWIerSIfxnQX41q6j3CYTqBvhMw3uy3mzmfnnjAmTeN1ce0QCGu2CFebA_7TbpFljN3MALdseLu2QZyMGNSIrESk2JbAr85rGLjLUcCJstyedA_EC/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWF-6-WJJAwUlltvCqJEY7DK0LjopWIerSIfxnQX41q6j3CYTqBvhMw3uy3mzmfnnjAmTeN1ce0QCGu2CFebA_7TbpFljN3MALdseLu2QZyMGNSIrESk2JbAr85rGLjLUcCJstyedA_EC/s320/images+(1).jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a fact that Cleopatra was often carried away with her eyeliner and loves to dress as the Goddess Isis. This is the most famous version of Cleo, as played by Elizabeth Taylor</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PDcFBE7TyaSEK8gij8SewYP17QHeLUYMA7Qd_dIjLvplG1Z71DauNCYVel50Cka9ewYXcCl_wfa8KaxRje0XWI5UcvTs-EMu4LNrKwOIys1-94YLH_Cd83jgLbgp6fz3KCtQ_zT4JYh2/s1600/10038721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PDcFBE7TyaSEK8gij8SewYP17QHeLUYMA7Qd_dIjLvplG1Z71DauNCYVel50Cka9ewYXcCl_wfa8KaxRje0XWI5UcvTs-EMu4LNrKwOIys1-94YLH_Cd83jgLbgp6fz3KCtQ_zT4JYh2/s400/10038721.jpg" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A movie produced by Hallmark, this is the version I enjoyed the most. Played by Leonor Varela, this movie is the one which introduced me to Cleopatra, and ultimately-- history :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VmyEAGC2AK6X7Ss0MAEspDhEkHp7hfgSKSB0nl9JfhKlVbYPXrG-jnW9CCQK_KLkyyVwidyCrpwe_j47l4NQwNJZ2oZRJBEOEzh36tmiS6btv0pVOo2jmxoAVBzSDvCduZCv9u2XJuy-/s1600/jolie-alexander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VmyEAGC2AK6X7Ss0MAEspDhEkHp7hfgSKSB0nl9JfhKlVbYPXrG-jnW9CCQK_KLkyyVwidyCrpwe_j47l4NQwNJZ2oZRJBEOEzh36tmiS6btv0pVOo2jmxoAVBzSDvCduZCv9u2XJuy-/s640/jolie-alexander.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">This is played by Angelina Jolie and the movie will be released in 2013. A middle-aged woman acting as a 19 girl? This better be good. I'm slightly convinced because the producers claimed that they will emphasise more on Cleo's wits and not on the conventional, seductive interpretation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, back to her story:-<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Ancestors</u></div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dVuibgAnsdABwvvnM9eNhv0aNjW-FmtjbvOMFZsoLHJZelK14djM0Ijd3KOl9azQVG011iPVLziYu0LrfUU4mO5eQqMYOwZkQSyMlwMvQe0R69P1NR1rc5Tl2qKQzDG0BqnxAJJsfO5Z/s1600/mqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dVuibgAnsdABwvvnM9eNhv0aNjW-FmtjbvOMFZsoLHJZelK14djM0Ijd3KOl9azQVG011iPVLziYu0LrfUU4mO5eQqMYOwZkQSyMlwMvQe0R69P1NR1rc5Tl2qKQzDG0BqnxAJJsfO5Z/s400/mqdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Cleopatra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Although Cleopatra was the ruler of Egypt, she was not an Egyptian. She was Greek and her family name was Ptolemy. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Egypt was the richest country in the world and her family had stayed in Egypt for only three hundred years. In 330 BC, the Greek civilization was conquering the world. The Greeks were led by one of the most famous generals in history, Alexander the Great, who claimed that Egypt was one of his greatest prize. About two hundred years before Cleopatra, Alexander conquered Egypt, declared himself King of Egypt, and founded the city Alexandria. The Alexandria of Egypt is the most famous Alexandria city albeit there were at least 20 other cities named Alexandria. This is because Alexander the Great founded a city named Alexandria in every country he conquered. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After Alexander the Great died, it was one of his generals named Ptolemy who managed to grab Egypt. Except for Cleopatra, Ptolemy and his successors never bothered to learn the Egyptian language but continued the polytheistic beliefs. This includes marrying their own siblings. Not only did the Ptolemies married their siblings, most of the sons were named Ptolemy and most of their daughters, Cleopatra! The reason the Ptolemies married their sisters (and sometimes in different segments of their family hierarchy such as daughters and mothers) was that they thought it would retain the power within the family. Unfortunately, it meant family members killing one another and this includes our <b>Cleopatra Thea.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Family</u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cleopatra's father is named Ptolemy, and he married his sister named Cleopatra. This makes Cleopatra's mother-- Cleopatra. Her mother disappeared around the time when our Cleo was born. Till this date, nobody knows what had happened to her because her story was no longer found in history books.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Okay, to make things easier, I'm going to call Cleopatra VII as Thea, because her full name is Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator.</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfphiekkAsSfkqBZnSY0kBmfM0USygSQOw6CKolaFYkdB3gfYrOXDilC4huwnYgfeRPzRvTvhJmLRx92OuMxEJqk9IWFH5bVIcwRDObJN1oMF9vpAydXpPnsivfADxq9qJGCQRk9MOdMLN/s1600/cleopatra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfphiekkAsSfkqBZnSY0kBmfM0USygSQOw6CKolaFYkdB3gfYrOXDilC4huwnYgfeRPzRvTvhJmLRx92OuMxEJqk9IWFH5bVIcwRDObJN1oMF9vpAydXpPnsivfADxq9qJGCQRk9MOdMLN/s320/cleopatra.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sculpture that mostly resembles<br />
her real face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Thea's father was a rude and cruel drunkard. Before Thea, he had two other daughters named <b>Cleopatra Tryphaena </b>and <b>Berenice.</b> Her father didn't marry again after Thea's mother but had three other children who are her younger siblings. Their names are <b>Arsinoe, Ptolemy, and Ptolemy. </b>The whole family was very clever. They may have been cruel, incompetent rulers but they loved learning. During the power struggle within the family, every single one of Thea's family member died which had left Thea our Queen of Egypt.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Accession to the throne</u></div>
<div>
<u><br /></u></div>
<div>
During Thea's time, the Roman Empire was one of the most influential and powerful empire. Like every neighbouring country, Rome was also very interested in Egypt's wealth. Thea's father was afraid that the Romans would one day conquer Egypt and was even more fearful of a revolution by the Egyptians. This made him became sycophantic to the Romans and wanted the Romans' backing against the Egyptian people. This is because the Egyptians were very unhappy with Ptolemy's ruling and his very debauched character. In fact, the Egyptians' dissatisfaction culminated to Ptolemy running away to Rome and seeking for help.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While Thea's father was away, Thea's eldest sister declared herself Queen of Egypt. Her eldest sister (Cleopatra Tryphaena) then died very suddenly (<strike>hmmm?</strike>) and her second oldest sister (Berenice) was announced the new Queen of Egypt. During this time, the Romans had finally agreed to help Thea's father in return for money. Berenice's supporters were afraid of the Romans and thought that their new Queen should be married to strengthen her claim to the throne. She married twice and had both her husbands killed because she didn't like them. Her second husband was murdered by a Roman soldier named Mark Anthony while she and her supporters were executed by her father for treason.</div>
<div>
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Thea survived this civil war and political upheaval within the royal family. She was 12 when her father ran away from Egypt and 14 when he regained power. When Ptolemy got back from Rome, Ptolemy declared Cleopatra Thea as his heir. </div>
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Situations weren't improving for Ptolemy. His debts to Rome were increasing and the Roman's backing didn't do much good for him. When Thea's father died, Thea married her younger brother Ptolemy and they both ruled as Egypt's King and Queen. In their joint reign, Thea had been particularly dominant in the ruling of Egypt. This drove Ptolemy angry, and his advisor had devised plans to blame Thea as a puppet for Rome. The Alexandrians were angry, and Thea took refuge. </div>
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Note: In my next post, I will revert back to using the conventional name "Cleopatra" when mentioning her.</div>Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-4401505859276795162012-03-11T11:15:00.000+08:002012-03-11T12:41:57.265+08:00Lady Jane Grey 4: Book & Movie Reviews<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US">In a previous post about Lady Jane Grey, I’ve mentioned about ‘Innocent Traitor’ and ‘Lady Jane’, a book and a movie based on Lady Jane’s life. In this post I will do a brief review of both.</span><br />
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<b>Book Title: Innocent Traitor <br />Author: Alison Weir</b></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Review: I especially enjoyed reading ‘Innocent Traitor’. It describes the life of Lady Jane Grey in detail, and gives the readers an insight of her life. As Alison Weir is a well-known historian who has done much research, it can be assured that the details in this book are historically accurate. Well, most of it, anyway.</span></div>
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The plot is just as described in many popular accounts of Jane’s life—her birth, the disappointment of her parents that she is not a boy, her strict upbringing and education, her love for learning, her forced marriage with Guilford Dudley, her proclamation as queen, and eventually, her downfall and death. Yet, what makes it interesting are the little details and descriptions added into the story. Life is breathed into the character of Jane—a girl with a strong passion for loving, who fears her parents and detests her husband, who is zealous in matters of religion and who is courageous in the face of death. <br />
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It is the story of Jane as we know it, and her parents are described as ruthlessly ambitious, her mother even more so. Since her birth, it had been hoped that she may marry Prince Edward and be crowned Queen of England. It was that hoped which lifted Frances Brandon out of her disappointment of not bearing any sons, and it marked the start of Jane’s strict upbringing. Hoping to make her daughter the ideal royal bride, Frances is stern about Jane’s education, her conduct and manners, and her dressing. Jane, on the other hand, prefers to dress modestly as befits a Protestant maiden. In the end, her mother learns to love Jane, but it is too late as Jane has already been sentenced to death. <br />
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The relationship between Jane and the Lady Mary is also described vividly. Both cannot tolerate each other’s religions, and Jane is horrified at the idols and all the trappings of papary in Mary’s grand house. Mary, on the other hand, tries to warm up to Jane by giving her luxurious gifts, including a rich court gown of scarlet velvet, embroidered with gold and seed pearls, thinking that the girl would be glad at such a gift. Instead, Lady Jane recoils in horror as she refuses to follow the example of Lady Mary whom she views as an extravagant Catholic. However, she does accept Mary’s gift of a necklace of rubies with gratitude, but when she puts in on before the mirror, she has a vivid image of gouts of blood around her neck. This foreshadows her eventual fate of beheading in Mary’s hands. <br />
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Jane’s relationship with her husband is distant and unpleasant; he being a shallow, crude and childish youth who mistreats her and makes her life miserable. When she refused to let him be King, he threw a tantrum and went off crying to his mother. However, after his imprisonment, Jane’s heart softens a bit and realizes that despite all his bad points, he has some good in him. She refuses to see him on the last night before the execution, but watches by her window and sends him off as he walks towards his execution site. <br />
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Overall, this is a good read, although certain expressions struck me as rather modern. It seemed like what we would use in the 21st century, and not really what people living in Tudor England would think or say. It was a little disconcerting at first and it almost put me off from enjoying the book. Another thing that several other reviewers pointed out is the switching of viewpoints. It’s not a bad thing, really, and Philippa Gregory employed this in her book ‘The Boleyn Inheritance’. However, the voices of the different narrators sound almost the same—I remember randomly flipping open a page and reading, thinking that it was Lady Jane narrating, only to realize that the narrator was her father-in-law instead! Surely the voice of a young girl and a hardened courtier would be very much different. But if everything were to be written in a third-person point of view, we will not be able to experience Jane’s feelings about her execution so vividly. <br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Movie title: Lady Jane</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><b>Year of Production: 1986</b></o:p></span></div>
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This movie has Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey, and Cary Elwes as Guilford Dudley. </div>
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I have only watched the second half of the movie on Youtube. Nevertheless, it left a lasting impression in my mind. I loved the way Bonham Carter portrayed Lady Jane. Her acting skills are very convincing—from the ice maiden who shuns Guilford and sticks to her books, to a cheerful young girl madly in love with her husband. And Cary Elwes is sooo…hot. In that movie, I mean. <br />
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Now, on the plot—overall, this movie is historically inaccurate. Jane was very much in love with her husband, and together they work on social reform, after meeting a group of poor peasants who had lost their lands. When Jane was made queen, she ordered the commission of new shillings that was worth its value, ordered the return of the lands to the peasants, distributed her finest clothes and linens to the poor, and also planned the building of schools to educate the children of the poor. (If I didn’t remember the movie wrongly) Now, that was really compassionate of her, but sadly that wasn’t what happened in history. That type of social thinking was not typical of the Tudor era. But the movie leaves us with questions of ‘what ifs’. What if it had been true? What if Jane had reigned instead of Mary? What if her husband did love and support her, the way he did in the movie?<br />
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There are certain parts which are really memorable. Firstly is the part where Jane is proclaimed as queen. The ominous silence of the great hall, the intimidating crowds of lords and ladies all clad in black, the loud echo of footsteps as Jane is being led to the throne…that was a scene well executed, and we can smell Jane’s fear and reluctance in accepting the crown. <br />
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Next, is the part where she and her husband spent their last night together, repeating their vows of ‘we will fly, out of their reach’. As the guards came to take Guilford away, back to his cell, they gaze at each other for the last time, and Jane says, “Next time I see your face, I want it for……eternity.” She looks away, and Guilford continues to gaze at her, his eyes filled with tears, a smile on his lips. He turns and walks out of her cell, a resigned expression on his face. <br />
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The third memorable scene is historically accurate. Jane is blindfolded, and kneeling before the block, she reaches out but fails to take hold of it. “Where is it?” She asks, her voice forcefully calm. “W-Where is it?” she asks again, her voice faltering. She starts gasping in fear, her hands groping helplessly. “What do I do?” it comes out almost like a sob, until the kind priest steps forward and helps her to it. She lays her chin on the hollow and the executioner grabs his axe. (Now this part onwards is not accurate) The executioner presses his axe on the back of her neck, (this scene gives me chills—imagine the cold blade pressing against your neck!) she whispers, “Guilford” (in reality she said, “Lord, into thy hands I command my spirit”), the executioner raises his axe and it comes down with a sickening chop. <br />
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In the very last scene, Dr. Feckenham is shown gazing at a flock of birds in the sky, and he says softly, "The soul takes flight to the world that is invisible. At there arriving, she is assured of bliss, and forever dwells in paradise." The first time I watched this scene, tears welled up in my eyes. Even now this scene still gives me goosebumps.</div>
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To wrap it up, this is a nice movie. Certain artistic liberties have been taken, but I guess that is permissible, since it is a movie and not a documentary.</div>xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-68122760932314507422012-03-10T22:01:00.001+08:002012-03-10T22:01:32.941+08:00Lady Jane Grey 3: Summary<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UX6pUDBA2Jw?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-9273181581708768222012-03-10T17:46:00.003+08:002012-03-11T12:42:34.367+08:00Lady Jane Grey 2: Facts and Fiction<div class="MsoNormal">
So Lady Jane was dead; but her story lives on. As time passed, more and more details were added to it, to make her image suit the ideals of the times. She was depicted as the very first Marian martyr, an innocent Protestant maiden who was good, devout and pious, ready to die for her faith. </div>
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The famous painting by Paul Delaroche depicts a beautiful maiden, dressed in a flowing white dress, her eyes bound by a white cloth. She is guided to the block; two ladies are overwhelmed with grief, while the executioner waits, axe in hand. The beauty of the maiden with her helpless form contrasts with tragic atmosphere of the painting. The grey walls behind suggests a closed room, which is historically inaccurate, as Jane was executed in the open on a scaffold. In reality, her hair would probably be bound up (imagine how those flowing tresses would get in the way), and she is said to have worn black—the same dress that she had worn to her trial. But nevertheless, it does picture how many have come to view Jane throughout the years—a helpless victim, the ideal embodiment of female purity and submission.<br />
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Browsing through websites for information, I noticed an interesting fact. The mainstream idea was that yes, she was a pawn in her family’s dangerous games, and had no decision over her fate. However, some claim otherwise, that she was a not-so reluctant participant in the scheme to take over Mary I in the line of succession. I thought that it might be interesting to highlight certain controversies over her life, and her short reign. Of course, we might never gain light of the reality behind the moves of Lady Jane, or those who were manipulating (or said to manipulate) her. At least, we might be able to gain a neutral view of history, and not be inclined to take any extreme views of her life.</span><br />
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<i style="text-indent: 36pt;">View 1: Jane’s parents, especially her mother Frances Brandon, is said to be particularly harsh on her.</i><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Fact: This viewpoint is very much based on an account of Master Ascham after Jane’s execution. He finds her reading alone at home while her parents had gone on a hunting excursion. The book was Plato’s </span><i style="text-indent: 36pt;">Plaedo </i><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">and Jane appeared to have much interest, as well as a good understanding of it. He asked her how she could derive so much pleasure in reading, instead of hunting with her parents. She revealed that one of the benefits that God ever gave her that was, despite having such sharp and severe parents, she had a gentle schoolmaster in Dr. Alymer. She then began to pour out her woes—how she was expected to be perfect in everything she did before her parents, or else receive taunts, nips, slaps and pinches which made her think herself in Hell. And so she seeks pleasure in learning from Dr. Alymer and in reading her books that everything else she did seemed to land her in nothing but trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Dispute: Was Jane’s parents really that cruel? Or was Jane only whining about her parents in their absence, as any teenager today would do? Or was such treatment typical of the times she was born in? I came across a website (which I cannot find again) makes certain claims. Firstly, Dr. Ascham wrote this sometime after Jane’s execution. Was this account coloured with prejudice against her parents, who had a hand in Jane’s downfall? If her parents were that cruel, would they have left her in peace to read her book and receive guests, instead of dragging her along with them in their hunt? Her parents did provide her with an adequate education, and satisfied her thirst for knowledge. Hunting was also a favourite pastime of the nobles, and there’s nothing that indicates that Frances enjoyed hunting excessively.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Regardless of what the truth is, Frances has been regarded as a strict disciplinarian and a stern, unloving mother who treated her child miserably. The lack of correspondence prior to Jane’s execution seems to highlight the distant relationship between the two. It is possible that the letters, if any, did not survive till this date. Frances’ second marriage to Adrian Stokes, her young master of horse, also was not viewed favourably. However, she married him a year after her husband’s death. Leanda de Lisle, author of ‘The Sisters Who Would Be Queen’ writes, "By not choosing a nobleman, she protected her surviving daughters from further conjecture concerning the throne. "(</span><a href="http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/leanda-de-lisle/lady-jane-grey" style="text-indent: 36pt;">http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/leanda-de-lisle/lady-jane-grey</a><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">) And according to the website, Frances is depicted as mannish and brutal--a woman of power, as opposed to her feminine and chaste daughter, which reflects the view of the times— a woman welding power loses her feminine charm, and becomes somewhat masculine. Visit the link to read more.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of Lady Darce and her son, once misidentified as that of Frances Brandon and Adrian Stokes</td></tr>
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<i>View 2: Mary I chose to execute Jane as Philip I insisted that she do so.</i><br />
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Dispute: This claim may have be planted to represent Mary as such a desperate woman to get a husband such as to sacrifice the life of an innocent young girl. It is portrayed in ‘Lady Jane’, where Mary gazes adoringly at Philip’s portrait and tells Jane that she is lucky to have married young. In ‘Innocent Traitor’ by Alison Weir, this forms part of the plot, where Mary is caught between her compassion for the young Jane and her love for Philip. Here is a site that explains it all in detail, as well as several other myths regarding Jane’s life. <a href="http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/posts/myths-about-lady-jane-greys-and-guildford-dudleys-executions/">http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/posts/myths-about-lady-jane-greys-and-guildford-dudleys-executions/</a><br />
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<i style="text-indent: 36pt;">View 3: Jane was in love with her husband/ Jane loathed her husband</i><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 36pt;">Fact: Jane appeared not to be in love with her husband, as the two rarely spent time together. After all, their marriage was arranged by their parents, and was more for convenience as many matches were in those days. “The Jane is in love” thing is largely a plot of ‘Lady Jane’, while the idea that Jane loathed her husband was spawned from the fact that she refused to make him king. Her husband was said to have thrown a fit, and involved his mother as well, but Jane refused to give in. She is said to have refused to marry him, but relented after severe punishments from her parents. Also, she refused to see him on the night/morning before their execution, although she did watch him go to his death by her window. She was also said to have spoken of her husband’s ‘childishness’ during her days of imprisonment. </span></div>
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However, as far as history is concerned, we do not know about Jane’s exact feelings towards her husband. It is quite obvious that she was not madly in love with him, but did she hate him that badly? Or was she indifferent towards him and would rather spend more time with her books? There is also a marking of the words 'Iane' (‘Jane’) on one of the tower walls, allegedly carved by Guilford. However, we can never be sure. Even if he was the one who carved it, it could refer to his mother, whose name was also ‘Jane’.<br />
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There are things in history which had been coloured by the romantic views of later generations. There are also remarkable men and women whose lives had been written into books and poems, whose figures had been embodied in vivid portraits, whose stories had been acted out numerous times, on stage and on screen. Jane was one of them—her short and tragic life makes her such a captivating subject to be portrayed in various art forms. However, we cannot conclude that a person is completely good or evil, nor can we judge someone based on accounts and sketches written by contemporaries on his or her life. What we do have are the facts, the dates and the numbers; but what is history without any feelings put into it? Perhaps history appeals to us outside the textbook as we can symphatise with the hardships, conflicts and struggles of the people portrayed in it. For we are only human, and something about these famous people resonate with a part of us, and may coincide with something that we are facing in our lives. Naturally, Jane’s story will continue to fascinate many.<br />
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To tell the truth, I too can’t help but symphatise and feel deeply for Lady Jane, despite having read both sides of the story,. I feel sorry how she was a product of her birth and circumstances, and admiration at how she handled her execution calmly, with dignity befitting one who had reigned as queen, even if it was for a short while.</div>xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-2751810619557846872012-03-10T17:46:00.000+08:002012-03-10T22:00:16.256+08:00Lady Jane Grey 1: The Nine-Days QueenShe was innocent; yet she was beheaded as a traitor. She was young, yet she was firm in matters regarding religion. She was crowned a monarch, yet she was often referred to as ‘Lady’, rather than ‘Queen.’<br />
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The details of her reign are shaky. Can she be considered as England’s first queen? Or should the title go to Mary I, the rightful heir to the throne? Many only know her as the ‘nine-days queen’, Interestingly, some take her reign as ’13 days’—that is, if you take the days between Edward I’s death (6 July 1553) to the day Jane was declared as queen (9 July 1553) into account. Her reign ended drastically on 19 July, when Mary I was declared as queen instead.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 48px;">There are so many details of Lady Jane’s life that remain shrouded in mystery. Her life was exceedingly coloured with the ideals of later historians, many who pictured her as an innocent, helpless young girl who was pushed onto the throne—and eventually, the block, by her ambitious parents and father-in-law. Yet, how big was her role in deciding her fate? Was she truly the passive victim that many thought her to be?</span> <br />
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One thing that we can be sure about—Jane was an exceedingly learned child for her times. During those days when girls were trained in needlework, dancing, music, and managing a household, Jane received formal education in Latin, Greek and Hebrew with her tutor John Alymer, and Italian with Michelango Florio. She was a notable scholar, was considered well-learned and intelligent, receiving the praise of many for her interest and advancement in her studies. It wasn’t entirely strange though, that Jane would have received such an advanced education. She was, after all, the granddaughter of Princess Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry the Eighth. (Not to be confused with his daughter, also named Mary) Both her cousins Edward VI and Elizabeth also received an education befitting their rank as members of royalty. She was also a zealous Protestant, and her faith would determine her fate eventually.<br />
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In early February of 1547, Jane was sent to live in the household of Katherine Parr, the former queen, along with her cousin, Lady Elizabeth. She adored the kind queen, who was genuinely interested in the welfare of her stepdaughters as well as Lady Jane’s. Her parents were said to be very strict towards her, but that is another controversial fact. </div>
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A few months into her stay with the queen, Katherine remarried; this time to Thomas Seymour, who was related to King Edward through his sister, Jane Seymour. It was revealed later that Jane’s stay with the Seymour’s had a reason—Thomas Seymour tried to propose Jane as a royal bride to Edward VI, though eventually nothing came out of it. Jane acted as the chief mourner at Katherine Parr’s funeral, and continued staying at the Seymour’s household for another two months until Thomas Seymour was charged with treason for attempting to hold Edward VI captive, along with other charges. </div>
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In the year of 1553, King Edward took ill. Knowing that he was close to his death, he decided to redraft the act of succession. According to his father’s will, Edward’s immediate successors would be his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, who were both declared illegitimate. Mary was a staunch Catholic, and her beliefs largely conflicted with Edward’s. Many officers feared that Mary would turn England back to the <span lang="EN-US">‘</span>Roman <span lang="EN-US">Religion’. Edward decided to cut both his sisters out of the succession, and pass on the crown to the male heirs of Frances Brandon and Lady Jane instead. After all, his sisters were illegitimate, one was a Catholic, but worse of the worst, they were<i> girls</i>. And how could a woman hold power over men? It was considered unnatural indeed, according the views of that time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The problem was neither Jane nor her mother Frances had any male heirs. Frances’ had a son, who died young; her remaining children were three daughters. Jane was newly married to Guilford Dudley, the youngest son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. Setting the issue of gender aside, Edward had to stick to reality. As his death neared, he decided to change his will—and make it possible for Jane or her sisters to succeed instead. It was possibly done under the persuasion of the Duke of Northumberland, who would benefit greatly if his daughter-in-law became queen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">By all means, Edward’s immediate successor should be Frances Brandon, but she willingly gave up her right to succession and allowed her daughter to reign in her place. There are a few possible reasons to this. Frances was getting old, and getting past the age of childbearing, while Jane was still young and she could produce male heirs who could succeed her in the future. Besides, the adults knew well that leaving Mary and Elizabeth out of the succession was a risky thing—if the plan foiled, they could very well be beheaded for treason. Jane’s young age also made her a suitable pawn that could be manipulated at ease. And most importantly, she was married to John Dudley’s son. With his son made King of England—what more could the duke hope for? The throne may be Jane’s, but the power would be the duke’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Jane was taken to the Syon House where two great lords kissed her hand. She was informed of the death of Edward I, and that she was now proclaimed as queen, which she wrote as feeling ‘stupefied’ as she heard the news. She was reluctant to accept the throne, which she believed to be the right of Mary I. She fell to the ground, weeping, but in the end, after forceful persuasion from her mother and her husband, she was forced to succumb to their will.</span></div>
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The following day, she was brought to the Tower of London on a barge to prepare for her coronation as Queen of England. Jane was dressed finely in Tudor white and green, and was given ‘chopines’—think of wooden platform shoes with three inch heels—to make her look taller to the people of London. Despite that, those who came to watch were silent and doubtful. Who is this Lady Jane anyway? Isn’t Mary 1, daughter of Henry the Eighth, the rightful heir to the throne? Jane was escorted by a procession into the White Tower, to the presence chamber. She was presented with the court jewels, and the magnificent crown studded with gems worn by her grand-uncle, Henry the Eighth. The sight of this symbol of power frightened her; she was reluctant to put it on, as she felt that it was ‘not demanded by her’, and it was not hers rightfully. The lord of Winchester assured her that she may take it without fear, to see if it fits—and it was done. Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed as queen.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">However, John Dudley had underestimated his daughter-in-law. She refused to make her husband Guilford King of England, making him a duke instead. She refused to back down even after admonishment from her mother-in-law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Mary’s letter to the Privy Council arrived, demanding that she be recognized as the rightful heir to the throne. In response to her letter, two of Guilford’s brothers were sent to meet Mary. Mary and Elizabeth were also declared as illegitimate and thus unfit to succeed the throne in a sermon at St Paul. Dudley however miscalculated the people’s support for Mary. Her rightful claim to the throne overrode her religion, and many did not know who Queen Jane is. The people were in favour of Mary’s accession, and Mary managed to gather a large force of supporters to secure her claim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It was decided that Jane’s father, the Duke of Suffolk, should lead an army to put Mary down. Jane refused to let him go, and in the end, John Dudley had to go instead. At the same time, the strain of the situation was catching on. Jane suffered from health problems with her hair falling out and her skin peeling off. She believed herself to be poisoned, but it was probably a result of anxiety and stress of the uncertainty of her position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">However, Mary had amassed supporters in East Anglia and the Thames Valley. The peasants also refused to take arms against Mary, whom they recognized as their rightful queen. Taking opportunity of Dudley’s absence, several councilors fled. By and by, the lords of the Privy Council began to desert Jane, to save their own lives. They left to St. Paul’s and gave thanks for the country’s deliverance from treachery—in other words, they were proclaiming their support of Mary as queen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It was a lost cause. John Dudley gave up resisting; he proclaimed Mary Tudor, but this did not prevent his arrest. He was executed on the 22<sup>nd</sup> of August that very year for high treason. On the ninth day of Jane’s reign, Jane’s father entered the presence chamber where Jane was seated, tore down the canopy of state and informed her that she was no longer queen. Innocently, she asked, “</span><i>Out of obedience to you and my mother I have grievously sinned</i>. <i>Now I willingly relinquish the crown. May I not go home?” </i>Things were not so simple however; perhaps Jane herself did realise it. Her father hastened to Tower Hill to proclaim his support for Mary I; but it was already too late to turn back. Jane was now a usurper and a prisoner of the state. She was told to turn in her crown and other regalia to Queen Mary. She was then taken into custody in the apartments of the Tower’s Gentleman Gaoler. Her husband, Guilford, was held in Beauchamp Tower.<br />
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Initially, Mary took pity on Jane, as she understood that Jane was no more than a pawn for her family’s ambitions. Her treatment of Jane during her imprisonment was also kind—instead of being confined in a dark, draughty dungeon, Jane was given the privilege of lodging in relative comfort, and was allowed to take walks on Tower Green at convenient times and at the discretion of the Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower. She also had several ladies to attend to her. However, her fate was sealed when Thomas Wyatt the younger raised a rebellion against Mary I to overthrow her after she announced her decision to marry Philip II of Spain. The English did not want a Spanish king on the throne, and were extremely displeased by Mary’s choice. Jane’s father, the Duke of Suffolk, also had a part in the rebellion, and it turned out to be a failure. The duke was sentenced to be beheaded for high treason. According to popular account, Philip II refused to set foot in England as long as Jane lived, knowing that she could easily be the figurehead for further rebellions. Mary was given no choice but to issue her beheading on the on the 9<sup>th</sup> of February. (But then again, this is open to controversy) However, she wanted to give Jane a second chance—and brought in a Catholic priest, Dr. Feckenham to convince her to convert to Catholicism. (Note: there is dispute on this fact, and Mary 's attempts may be aimed at saving her soul, not her life). Jane’s execution was delayed to the 12<sup>th</sup> of February to give her time to decide whether to convert. Given a choice between life and death—Jane stood her ground and staunchly refused to change her faith. Despite her young age, her conviction was admirable. Although Jane did not allow herself to be ‘saved’, Dr. Feckenham decided to accompany her to the scaffold and prepare her for her death. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Jane was given a last chance to see her husband before her execution—which she refused. Being devout and religious, perhaps she wanted to focus her mind on religious matters rather than earthly ones. Or rather, it could be inferred that Jane was not overly fond of her husband who had practically been forced onto her to fulfil the ambitions of her father-in-law. But then again, this story might not be true. All we can be sure of is that, Jane’s relationship with her husband was far from what was portrayed in the movie ‘Lady Jane’, where they spent their last night together and bade each other a tearful farewell. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the 12<sup>th</sup> of February, Jane watched as her husband was taken to the Tower Hill to be executed. She later saw his headless body being brought back on a cart. It is said that Jane had cried out, “Oh Guilford! Guilford! The bitterness of death!” Perhaps the sight reminded her of her impending doom. Then, she herself was led to Tower Green to be beheaded on a much private affair—a privilege her royal status granted her. Traditionally the punishments for women who had committed treason is burning or beheading, but noblewomen were often given the ‘privilege’ of the latter, which incurred much less suffering. Which somehow reminds us the injustice of the world in life and even in death!<br />
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Donning a solemn black dress befitting the occasion and clutching her prayer book in her hands, Jane was accompanied by two ladies—Mrs Tylney, her attendant and Mrs Ellen, her nurse; the Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower Sir John Brydges. She met Dr. Feckenham at the scaffold as promised. She was praying all the way to the scaffold. Her two ladies were weeping, but Jane appeared composed. As required by tradition, she delivered a short speech before the small crowd that had gathered to watch her execution. According to the accounts of a contemporary, her speech was as such, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“</i><i>Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed, against the queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day.” </i></div>
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She then recited Psalm 51 to the end in English in a most devout manner. After the prayer, she told Dr. Feckenham that she beseeched God to abundantly reward him for the kindness he had shown to her. Then, she gave her gloves and handkerchief to Mrs Tilney and gives her prayer book to the Deputy Lieutenant. (An account says that it’s his brother that she handed the prayer book to) She began to untie her outer gown, which would be in the possession of the executioner after the execution. The executioner stepped forward to offer her help, but she declined politely, and was aided by her attendants instead. One of the women handed her a kerchief to bind her eyes with, and the executioner knelt down before Jane, asking for her pardon, which she gave willingly, as required by tradition. (Which makes me wonder at the fact that even executions in Tudor England requires much tradition) She hands him a purse with his payment (for lopping off her head, something that I find ironic), and kneels on the straw, blindfolding her eyes. She begs the executioner to dispatch her quickly, asking, “Will you take it off before I lay me down?” To which the executioner assured her that he won’t.'<br />
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However, at this point she reaches for the block, fails to find it, and starts to panic. We can imagine all her anxiety at her impeding death arising at this point, surfacing through her outward countenance of composure. Unable to see through her blindfold, she gropes with her hands, and failing, cries out, “Where is it? Where is it? What shall I do?” One of the bystanders (some say that it is the Deputy Lieutenant, another account says that it is Dr. Feckenham) takes her hands and guided her to the block, where she laid her head down. The last words she uttered was ‘Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit’ and the executioner’s axe came down and thus ended her short, illustrious and tragic life.</div>
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</div>xlnyeonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940838713511534725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-55990712527328830872012-03-04T19:19:00.000+08:002012-03-04T19:19:38.466+08:00The Beauty of Xiaohe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Non-Asian looking mummies were found in China. These mummies are approximately 4000 years old. There was one particular mummy, even though dead, have turned the heads of many. The implications of the European features (many details are still in tact, such as eyelashes)? I'm not so sure. This article consists of pictures only, because I'm not very clear about the details. Good to share though! She is the most beautiful mummy on Earth!<br />
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Interesting site: <a href="http://blog.hmns.org/?tag=beauty-of-xiaohe">http://blog.hmns.org/?tag=beauty-of-xiaohe</a>Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-52947622721761009522012-02-14T22:22:00.000+08:002012-03-10T22:03:30.384+08:00King Tutankhamun<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Tut</td></tr>
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Perhaps the most famous Egyptian Pharaoh of all time would be this boy-king. It is interesting how during ancient Egypt's 3000 years of world supremacy, it is this boy without fascinating records of his life and achievements who has become one of the only kings most of us can name.<br />
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The reason why he became famous is his tomb: complete with his mummy and treasures left untouched for thousands of years. Ever since this lost Pharaoh's tomb full of treasure was found, millions of people have gazed upon him and his treasures. Please note that it is almost impossible to find a Pharaoh's tomb complete with its treasures, due to the infamous grave robbers.<br />
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Despite his claim to fame for being the only Pharaoh who had his tomb left untouched for thousands of years, I find his life story to be very intriguing too. Not to mention the infamous curse of Tutankhamun.<br />
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King Tutankhamun was first called Tutankhaten, but later changed his name two years after he became king. No one knows for sure exactly when he was born and when did he died. In fact, no one knows who his parents really are! This is because Egyptian Kings often marry their sisters, their own daughters, and even their granddaughters!<br />
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King Tut was born during the New Kingdom period, which is a time of great prosperity in Egypt. It is generally believed that his parents were King Akhenaten and Kiya, one of his wives. Among King Akhenaten's other wives was Queen Nefertiti, world famous for her magnificent portrait sculpture. Akhenaten and Nefertiti had six daughters, and one of them would eventually marry King Tut!<br />
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During the time when he was born, his father had caused a religious upheaval. Akhenaten had forced Egypt to change their age-old polytheism ways to worship only one God-- Aten. He became so obsessed with his religious and political revolution till he neglected his responsibilities as a king. A lot of people were unhappy with King Tut's father and thus were plotting against him, which probably led to King Tut's early death.<br />
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In 1336 BC, his father, King Akenathen, died. When this happened, his successor was a mysterious individual known as <b>Ankhkheprure Smenkhkare Djeserkheperu (also known as Nobby). </b>Some people think that Nobby is Akhenaten's brother, and some think that he is Tutankhamun's brother. It is even believed that Nobby is actually Queen Nefertiti disguised as a man! However, he died a couple of years later and King Tut became the King of Egypt at the age of <i>nine.</i><br />
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At such a tender age, King Tut had received the guidance from his advisers. And of course, these people quite naturally took advantage by exploiting his immaturity and lack of experience. For instance, polytheism was restored and they had arranged everything else to be like what it was before (plus making themselves more powerful). Shortly before turning 19, King Tut realised that he will soon have total power over Egypt. He wanted to change many things that were happening, because he gradually suspected that his advisers (which includes his uncle, Aye) were taking advantage of him for their own benefit and were making decisions which were not to his liking . In fact, it seemed as if he wanted to bring back his father's 'heretic' decision of a one-god worship.<br />
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Coincidentally, he died when his 19th birthday was near.<br />
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His death was by no means the end of his story. His wife, Ankhesenamun, must have been devastated by his early death. Tut had no royal children to carry on the family reign. Now, 60 year old Aye would soon become king of Egypt (he is culpable of Tut's murder, if this is homicide).<br />
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<u><i>Uncle Aye</i></u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ankhesenamun:wife and sister</td></tr>
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<i>Aye was already a top official at the court of Tut's dad, Akhenaten. His wife, Tey, was the wet nurse of Queen Nefertiti (one of Ankhenaten's top wife). Some people even think that Aye is actually Nefertiti's father! If that was the case, that would make him the grandfather of Tut's wife, Ankhesenamun (she is the daughter of Nefertiti). Note that Tutankhamun married his 15 year-old step sister at the age of nine.</i><br />
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<i>And now. Aye wanted to marry his granddaughter, the widow of Tutankhamun.</i><br />
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<i>Knowing his intentions, the terrified Ankhesenamun sent a letter to a Hitite King with the intention of marrying one of his sons. She might have feared that Aye was the murderer of her late husband. After reading the letter, the King had sent one of his sons to marry Ankhesenamun. However, soon after his youngest son reached Egypt, the prince and all of his companions were murdered! Aye then married Ankhesenamun and he became king. Not long aftet this, Ankhesenamun disappeared. Now that Aye was king, he might've killed her too. There is no reference to Ankhesenamun in Aye's tomb, only of his other wife Tey. </i><br />
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Unlike a lot of Egyptian Pharaohs, hardly anything is actually known about the significant events that took place in King Tut's life. Despite being full to bursting with treasures, his tomb hardly contained any information about him. As we know, he died around the age of 19. Whether he was murdered, died from a broken leg, or became a victim of a plague that more often than not struck Egypt, no one is sure.Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2716323655983545363.post-46362983957387000172012-01-16T23:39:00.000+08:002013-04-14T19:07:58.820+08:00Queen Elizabeth I: Queenship<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aged 25 and Queen of England</td></tr>
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On this day in 1559, Queen Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey (I'm not joking on this one; her coronation really was on this day in history). When she first came to the throne, England was surrounded by much more powerful neighbours; hence, the speculation of her capability to govern a country such as this. Also, many people had thought that not only she had no right to the throne, but she was a gullible woman who can easily be manipulated.<br />
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Yet, she proved them all wrong: she eventually won the support of the ordinary citizens by avoiding the cruelty that had gone on during the reign of her predecessors. More importantly, she is best known for keeping her thoughts to herself, making her mind an unfathomable realm from her councillors and subjects. Throughout Queen Elizabeth I's life, she had strongly held on to this principle:-<br />
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Her mantra was:<br />
<i>Video et taceo-- </i>I see and keep silent.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> In Elizabeth's first parliament meeting, the issue of her marriage was brought up by the MPs. Despite urging the Queen to rule with a King, Elizabeth was determined to die a virgin.<br />
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Everyone thought that she should marry for the good of the kingdom too: at that time, the young Queen was thought to be the best marriage prize (this is because of obvious, political reasons). Many suitors lined up to woo her for their masters too. More importantly, they strongly believed that she needed an heir to the throne of England for she was the last of the Tudor monarch.<br />
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However, due to her past, she was strongly against marriage. Looking at her father, who married 6 times, she may have feared that the outcome would have been just the same-- or worse-- as her mother's premature death. In fact, her first love, Thomas Seymour had also proved to her that these men were only after her power, and not exactly <i>her. </i>To solidify her stance against matrimony, if she had married a foreigner, trouble may repeat itself (for example, her sister Mary's notoriety for marrying a Spanish King), and if she married one of her subjects, jealousy among others may stem and civil rivalry might occur.<br />
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But this does not mean that she was never in love.<br />
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Her romantic interest was her Master of Horse, a married man named Rob Dudley. Nobody liked the idea of such a star-crossed pair what more coming from their Queen. In fact, Lord Robert's wife mysteriously died not long after that. Up till today, nobody really knows how she died. She was found dead by the stairs of her house. Rob Dudley remained as her Master of Horse and it was widely known that she didn't want him to be marrying anybody else-- including herself of course, for she knew that her marriage with anybody was bound to brew more trouble.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Queen of Scots</td></tr>
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Everyone was happy during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, and everything seemed to be going rather well. However, Queen Elizabeth I was faced a serious threat by her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. Mary Queen of Scots had claimed to be the rightful heir to the English throne, and Elizabeth was not very pleased with such pretension. During that time, there was a Protestant revolution in Scotland. Although Scotland was becoming more Protestant (Mary was a Catholic), her subjects were happy to have a young and charming Queen to be their leader. Especially since Mary became a widow at the age of 19: she was keen on finding a husband. Elizabeth was envious of her cousin's popularity and was afraid that her cousin might induce a Catholic rebellion like how she induced a Protestant rebellion during her elder sister's reign. Therefore, she wanted Rob Dudley (the man she love) to marry Mary Queen of Scots, for she had to ensure that all other marriage possibilities would not solidify Mary's claim to the throne. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, Mary had already fallen in love and secretly married a man with a claim to the English throne. Elizabeth was outraged by the secret marriage but luck was soon on Elizabeth's side.<br />
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Mary's husband was a very spoilt man. He accused Mary of committing adultery with her secretary, and murdered him in front of Mary when she was seven months pregnant. Soon after that, Mary gave birth to a son named James. Three months later, Mary's husband was found dead due to an explosion at the house he was living. The Earl of Bothwell seemed culpable but Mary acquitted all charges against him. Four months later, Mary had married Bothwell! Mary became infamous among the Scots and was soon defeated in the civil war that followed. After her defeat, Mary decided to go to England. It was a rather daft decision because instead of going to France, where her friends and family are, she chose to be in a country where she knew no one. Since she was not found innocent nor guilty of her husband's murder, Queen Elizabeth made her a prisoner of the Queen of England.<br />
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Mary Queen of Scots was a very dangerous prisoner to Queen Elizabeth. When Mary was in prison, she became Elizabeth's big threat. The Pope even excommunicated Elizabeth due to the prospects of having a Catholic Queen. Elizabeth, The Parliament, and the council were outraged. Laws were then enforced to clamp down the Catholics (though not as harsh as what Queen Mary I and King Henry VIII had done). Mary was seizing every opportunity to plot against Elizabeth. Her biggest asset/weapon was her charm. Even the chairman of her inquiry had fallen for her. Elizabeth soon sentenced him to death, for plotting against the Queen.<br />
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Elizabeth wanted to execute Mary Queen of Scots, but she couldn't find a legal way to do it. In the end, Mary was on trial for plotting against the Queen. She was then found guilty and sentenced to death.<br />
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Speaking of threats, Philip of Spain had also been getting more narked with Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth soon realised that she needed a powerful ally-- such as a French Prince. Since Elizabeth was outraged when she found out that her "Eyes" (Duke of Leicester, the man she loved called Rob Dudley) was married, she had decided that she might want to marry after all: to the French prince's younger brother, the Duke of Alencon, for she was also quite taken with him. Her councillors and the Parliament strongly dissent the idea because they did not like the idea of having a Frenchman marrying their English Queen. In the end, she fell out of love and wanted him out of her sight. Even before then, was she confusing her subjects on whether or not she was going to marry him, due to her contradicting actions.<br />
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Elizabeth was nearly fifty by the time it was finally over with Alencon. It was now unquestionable of her ever producing a baby who would be the heir to the throne of England. Philip of Spain had now hated Elizabeth more than ever and wanted to avenge Mary Queen of Scots' death, because he had been plotting for years to put Elizabeth's cousin on the English throne (ironically he was the one who made her Queen-- remember that he is Mary Tudor's husband) . He sent an armada (Spanish for 'large fleet') to conquer England. However, Elizabeth's army soon defeated his armada. It was a great victory that Elizabeth was triumphant. The English people celebrated such glory because no matter Catholic or Protestant, all the English people did not want the Spanish King ruling them. The people still remembered the terrible days when Philip had been married to Mary Tudor. One of Elizabeth's greatest speech during the Spanish Armada threat is as follows:-<br />
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"<i>My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I do assure you that I do not wish to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that under God I have placed my chiefest strength in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects, and therefore I am come among you, as you see at this time, not for my creation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heart of the battle to live or die for my people, and my honour and my blood, even i' the dust. </i><b style="font-style: italic;"><u>I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but i have the heart and the stomach of a king, and of a king of England too</u>, and to think it foul scorn that Parma, or Spain, or any prince in Europe, should dare invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge and rewarder of every one of your virtues</b>."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the portrait mentioned</td></tr>
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Despite her victory, Elizabeth was in mourning because Rob Dudley had passed away. Her heart wasn't really in the celebrations because she was devastated by the news. She had loved him, even though she never married him. Now she had lost her best friend. She was so grieved that for some days she hurt herself in her chamber alone and refused to speak to anyone until the treasurer and other councillors had the door broken open and entered to see her. It didn't make Elizabeth any more sympathetic to Rob Dudley's widow though. The Duke of Leicester (Rob Dudley) had died owing the Queen a lot of money, and Elizabeth 'conveniently' wanted it back. She made his widow auction her furniture to pay the debt, as well as taking back the house the Queen had given to him. All this, despite the fact that Rob Dudley had left Elizabeth a spectacular necklace of 600 pearls to add to her vast collection of jewels. She wore it for the portrait that was painted to celebrate the English victory over the Spanish Armada. <b style="font-style: italic;"></b><br />
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Elizabeth was more popular than ever after the Armada, and she finally won the respect of her own councillors. All the same, she wasn't getting any younger and her problems didn't go away. Philip of Spain kept plotting till his death, and on top of that, the 1590s were a sad time for her. All her old friends and councillors were getting older too. Her loyal servants right from the time she was a child were dead. Even her most loyal friend, William Cecil, wanted to retire-- but she denied. She soon made Rob Dudley's widow's son as her new Master of Horse to take revenge on his mother. She felt that by stealing her loved one, she would steal her son. However, this new Master of Horse was rebellious and was soon tried for treason and found guilty. He was then executed. That day, when she signed the death warrant of her lover's step-son, she sat in her chamber, weeping. It was widely known that she hated executing people (unlike her sister and father) what more executing someone she had been fond of. <br />
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By this time, Queen Elizabeth was having trouble with her physical appearance. Her teeth were falling out and her hair was getting thin. Because she didn't want anyone to notice, she painted her face and stuffed her cheeks with rags so that she didn't look haggard. She wore red wigs with long curls hanging down her neck. She was in good health right up to February 1603. On her death bed, Elizabeth named James, King of Scots (son of Mary Queen of Scots) as her successor. After ruling England for 45 years, the Queen drew her last breath, and James was now James I of England. The Elizabethan Age was over and the Jacobean Age was about to begin.Celine Wanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11833841211379949064noreply@blogger.com0