#queenfredegund

[ardenrosegarden]

Thank you for existing, you are loved! Send this to 10 people who, in your opinion, deserve such a sweet message in their inboxes. :) 💜 Nothing bad will happen if you don't, but imagine the smiles.

This is so nice, thank you ｡.｡:∞:･ﾟ*✧♡*♥*✧

[russianladieshistory-daily]

Hello, could you tell me more about the role of the tsarevnas during the 16th and 17th centuries? I heard they were apparently segregated spatially and lived in terem like the other aristocratic women, but that they were also forbidden to marry and remained mostly single. Have you more informations or recommandations on this subject, because I think this is really intriguing?

Hello,I’ll gladly tell you all I know on the subject. So, Tsarevnas (daughters of Tsars).It’s hard to discuss their role in the 16th century since, basically, there were no Tsarevnas, who survived into adulthood. First Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible (reigned from 1547 till 1584) had 3 daughters with his first beloved wife Anastasia, but sadly all 3 girls died when they were little. Tsar Feodor I (reigned from 1584 till 1598) had only one daughter, and she also died in childhood. As you see, due to this there were no established customs and rules in relation to Tsarevnas and their role.In 1598 Boris Godunov was elected as new Tsar of Russia, since previous ruling dynasty, the Rurik dynasty, ended. Godunov was influential high rank courtier during reigns of Ivan IV and Feodor I, besides his sister Irina was wife of Feodor I. By the time he became Tsar he already had a daughter, Xenia, who became Tsarevna upon his ascension. She was 16 at the time.Xenia, even before becoming Tsarevna, received a very good education in literature, mathematics, history and music. Her father tried to arrange marriages for her with foreign princes. But here comes one important condition, that pretty much defined the lives of Tsarevnas in 17th century. Russian Tsarevnas were not supposed to convert into faith of their husbands (becoming Catholic or Lutheran for Russian Orthodox at that time was unthinkable). So any husband of Russian Tsarevna needed to be Orthodox as well or convert into Orthodoxy. Now, foreign princes didn’t want to convert to Orthodoxy. Still, Godunov finally managed to make an arrangement with  John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (son of King of Denmark and brother of Anne of Denmark, Queen of England). John agreed to convert to Russian Orthodoxy and came to Russia in 1602, but he fell ill and died before the marriage. And in 1605 Godunov himself died and that ended any marriage prospects for Xenia (her subsequent fate was a very tragic one).

For the rest of 17th century, the rule of Romanov dynasty, the lives of Tsarevnas indeed went like this: they had separate rooms/premises in their own terems, they were allowed to go only  to churches and on pilgrimages, they almost never participated in any feasts or big events at court.  Men were not allowed to see them, unless they were close male relatives or members of clergy.  When they traveled to churches or moved to another terem for summer  their carriages were properly guarded and measures were taken so nobody could catch a glance of them. Their main pastimes were praying, reading religious texts or embroidery. They could also listen to their female servants’ singing.They were not forbidden to marry though. It just was very hard for them due to numerous strict rules, that resulted in them being single. They couldn’t marry anybody from Russian nobility as they were beneath them in rank and also to prevent fighting for the throne, and they only could marry foreign royalty if those royals were Orthodox/converted to Orthodoxy. In 17th century there weren’t foreign royal houses, which were Orthodox and eligible for Tsarevnas. And other foreign royals didn’t want to convert to Orthodoxy, as stated above. Thus, out of 3  daughters of Tsar  Michael I, who survived into adulthood, all 3 remained unmarried. Though Michael I tried to arrange marriage between his eldest daughter Tsarevna Irina and Prince Valdemar Christian of Denmark, but he refused to convert into Orthodox faith. Out of  7 daughters of Tsar Alexis, who survived into adulthood, all remained unmarried too. But some of them were politically active and took parts in domestic political intrigues and events. Namely, Tsarevna Sophia became regent for her brothers, Tsars Ivan V and Peter I, and reigned Russia for 7 years. She was very smart, educated, ambitious and pretty talented politician. While she didn’t marry anyone it’s strongly believed she had a lover in her political ally and statesman Vasily Golitsyn. She was fascinating woman. You can search “sophia alekseyevna” tag on my blog to find more posts about her. Sophia, however, had a power struggle with her brother Peter I, when he reached maturity, and she lost. Under Peter I (Peter the Great) a lot of things changed, including lives of Tsarevnas. He arranged marriages for all of his 3 nieces (daughters of Tsar Ivan V), the marriages were arranged for two of his daughters (though in one case the groom died before the wedding) - but that all happened in 18th century.

[winterhalters]

@queenfredegund​ and i when we try to make our brains work

[winterhalters]

PICK A DECADE → the 570s (requested by queenfredegund)

happy birthday babe!! ❤️❤️❤️

[winterhalters]

history meme (french edition)  →  6 couples (6/6) Chilperic I & Fredegund

Despite contemporary sources suggesting otherwise, the marriage of Chilperic and Fredegund actually proved to be strong and enjoyed a stability that was unprecedented at the time. First mentionned by Gregory of Tours as the favorite, yet low-ranking concubine, of Chilperic, Fredegund became his official wife in 568, only months after the death of Queen Galswintha of Toledo, found strangled in her bed. For the new queen, the return in favor was spectacular, after having been cast aside along with her fellow concubines, following the agreement between Chilperic and his father-in-law to be, King of Toledo and father of Queen Galswintha. Chilperic would have no other mistress nor concubine after his marriage to Fredegund; although only a son and a daughter reached adulthood, the birth of at least 6 children proves that Chilperic and Fredegund remained sexually active until passed her forties. Contemporary evidences, such as praises and public display of sympathy for the death of the princes and princesses (it is most likely that other children were born, mostly daughters, but did not survive), suggest that the royal couple enjoyed a great popularity, particularly Fredegund who fulfilled all the expectations of a queen in Merovingian times. 

[stormyoceans]

Oh my god, this is your birthday too!!! 😍 Happy birthday to you, hon, have a very nice day! 🥰 🥰🥰

WAIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'TOO' DO WE SHARE A BIRTHDAY??????

BUT OH MY GOD HI JUSTINE!!!!!! you're actually the very first person i've talked to after making this account and every time i see an history 3: trapped post i immediately think of you!!!! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH DEAR I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT DAY TOO!!!!!! 💕💕💕

[winterhalters]

If you got this, send this to 10 of the nicest people you know and if you get 5 back, you're extremely nice too 💚💙💜🐼

💕💕💕

[haticesultanas]

🌊 ✨💖⚡☄if you're receiving this, you make someone happy💞🌊⚡💖✨☄go send this to 10 people who make you happy or who you think need cheering up.💞✨🌊✨⭐☄If you get it back then the better🌊💞💖⚡✨ 😊💙

💖 💗 💕 💘 💓 💞 💝

right back at you!!