State of Princes

collective noun // tumblr companion to my fantasy novel writing endeavors //

[mesbeauxarts-blog]

Antoine-Jean Gros. Bonaparte at the Bridge of Arcole. ca. 1801.

Oil on canvas

State Hermitage Museum. St. Petersburg, Russia.

[richardferro]

You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings.

- Catherine II of Russia

[eachoneallmuch]

ANONYMOUS

Casta Painting, 18th Century

[camilotangerine]

Anonymous, Indian dance demonstration, c. 1780, oil on canvas, 58 x 75 cm., Private collection.

[richardferro]

"The English who first came to this country were but a handful of people, forlorn, poor, and distressed. My father [Massasoit] was then sachem; he relieved their distresses in the most kind and hospitable manner. He gave them land to plant and build upon. They flourished and increased. By various means they got possessed of a great part of this territory. But he still remained their friend until he died. My elder brother became sachem; he was seized and confined and thereby thrown into illness and died. Soon after I became sachem they disarmed all my people. Their land was taken; but a small part of the dominion of my ancestors remains. I am determined not to live until I have no country."

- Metacomet

[richardferro]

I need no bodyguard at all, for even the bravest men who approach me get weak at the knees and their hearts turn to water, whilst their heads become giddy and incapable of thinking as the sweat of fear paralyzes them. They know no other will except that of their King, who is something above, and below, this earth.

- Shaka Zulu

[richardferro]

Power without a nation's confidence is nothing.

- Catherine II of Russia

[karoline-von-manderscheid]

Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787):

Portrait of Edward Augustus, Duke of York and Albany. 1764. (detail)

[x]

[richardferro]

I will live to make myself not feared.

- Catherine II of Russia

[richardferro]

Who seeth not that he that is an evil counsellor to a prince is an evil counsellor to a realm? If it be sin to be an evil counsellor to one man, wat abomination, what devilish and horrible sin is it to be a flatterer or an evil councillor to a prince?

- Thomas Cromwell

[richardferro]

The king died and then the queen died is a story. The king died, and then queen died of grief is a plot.

- E. M. Forster

[boho-garden-of-tears]

[alessandrahautumn]

Ana de Mendoza de la Cerda; Princess of Éboli,Countess of Mélito and Duchess of Pastrana.Ana de Mendoza de la Cerda; Princesa de Éboli,Condesa de Mélito y duquesa de Pastrana.

She was considered one of Spain’s greatest beauties, despite having lost an eye in a mock duel with a page when she was young.

[mercurieux]

Flying Fish by Herbert Draper, 1910.

[royaltyandpomp]

THE GRAVE

Hans von Rotenhan Grave (+1559)  

[ahumourlessworld]

Kings are the slaves of history.

- Tolstoy

[richardferro]

It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince