Lost stories

James IV of Scotland (1473-1513) was a true Renaissance prince, interested in practical and scientific matters. He granted a charter to the Edinburgh College of Surgeons in 1506 and transformed Edinburgh Castle into one of the most important cannon foundries in Great Britain.

He was the brother of Germaine de Foix, Queen consort of Aragon, and the cousin of Catherine I of Navarre.

From a very young age, Henry VIII earned the admiration of his contemporaries for possessing what was considered the perfect princely appearance and presence...

Marie de Médicis (1575-1642) did not always get along with Henry IV. Being very jealous by nature, she could not tolerate his affairs with other women or her husband’s numerous acts of indelicacy toward her. In fact, he forced her to associate with them and often refused to give her the money she needed to cover all the expenses she intended to incur to demonstrate her royal status to everyone. Domestic disputes broke out, followed by periods of relative peace. Marie de’ Medici was determined to be officially crowned Queen of France, but Henry IV, for various reasons—particularly political ones—postponed the ceremony.

Queen Catherine of Aragon. By Charles Sharpe.

In 1314, during the trial known as the “Trial of the Tower of Nesle,” in which her sister Blanche of Burgundy and her sister-in-law Margaret of Burgundy were found guilty of adultery, she was charged only with complicity. She was imprisoned in the fortress of Dourdan. Continuing to proclaim her innocence, she avoided the charge of adultery, but was nevertheless prosecuted for failing to report her sisters-in-law’s conduct. Acquitted by a ruling of Parliament, she was released between December 24 and 31, 1314, and resumed her place alongside her husband at the French court. Her mother’s influence certainly played a major role in her return to favor, as Mahaut d’Artois did not wish to lose the influence that the accession of her son-in-law, Philip the Long, could bring her.

Twenty years in prison ended up affecting his mental balance. According to a Spanish ambassador, Tsar Ivan, dethroned by Empress Elizabeth, was in Schüsselburg Fortress, and Emperor Peter III went to see him incognito with some trusted people: "It is said of the unfortunate prince, who knew no world but his prison, that he is handsome but shows no other sign of reason." Despite the mystery surrounding him, he was aware of his imperial origins and always called himself "Gosudar".

Marguerite of Burgundy died at Château-Gaillard on April 30, 1315. The time and circumstances of his death have given rise to much speculation...

Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset (1519-1536) was the illegitimate son of Henry VIII and his mistress Elizabeth Blount.

King Ottokar II Premysl (1233-1278) was related, through his mother Kunigunde, to the German King Philip of Swabia.

Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Verneuil (1601-1682) was an illegitimate son of King Henry IV and his mistress Catherine-Henriette d'Entragues, Marquise de Verneuil.

Following the death of their aunt Margaret in 1530, Mary was asked by her eldest brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, to assume the governance of the Netherlands. Throughout her tenure she continuously attempted to ensure peace between the Emperor and the King of France.

Unlike his elder brother Vendôme, Saint-Pol would enjoy the status of royal favourite throughout his life.

She was a daughter of Ivan Vladislav (reigned 1015–18), the last Tsar of Bulgaria.

John II of France (1319-1364) has a sensitive personality and easily gives free rein to his emotions, sometimes becoming violent, which has caused him some diplomatic setbacks. He did not engage in much physical activity, rarely took part in tournaments and only occasionally enjoyed hunting. He loves books and is a patron of painters and musicians...

During her lifetime, the foundations for Christianisation were laid and the power base of the Přemyslid dynasty was established. The life of Saint Wenceslas’s grandmother and tutor has been recounted in many legends, which serve as fundamental sources for the history of Bohemia in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Jean (c. 1297-1375), bastard of Bourbon, the son of Louis I of Bourbon and Jeanne of Bourbon-Lancy.