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History, Uncategorized, Women and History

The Tragic Life of Catherine of Valois

L.M. Hosler

The Neglected Young Princess

Catherine of Valois was born a princess of France on October 27, 1401. Catherine was the daughter of King Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria. She spent her life as a neglected child of this royal couple.

King Charles often suffered from bouts of madness. and was often referred to as “Charles the Mad” or sometimes the Mad King. Meanwhile, her mother, Isabeau of Bavaria, would act as Regent for France in her husband’s place during his spells of madness. Rumors spread that she was much more interested in her young lovers than her children.

Brothers and Sisters

Although King Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria had a total of twelve children only a handful of them lived to become adults. Some that did survive died early deaths. Three were given the name Charles and two were named Jeanne after babies that had not lived very long.

  • Jeanne of Valois (two were named Jeanne)
  • Charles (three were named Charles)
  • John
  • Philip
  • Marie of Valois
  • Michelle of Valois
  • Dauphin Louis (brother)
  • Isabelle of Valois (Catherine’s older sister)

Catherine of Valois

Catherine of Valois

Catherine being the youngest child was probably the most neglected. She faced many challenges due to her father’s madness. Her mother’s lack of interest also affected her life, so she certainly did not live the life of a pampered fairy tale princess. Catherine did spend some of her young life growing up at Poissy Convent which was the basis for her religious education. Catherine was raised understanding that she would be merely a pawn when it came who her future husband would be. There had been negotiations since she was fairly young regarding a possible marriage to the future king of England, Henry V.

I believe that like most young princesses of Europe, she hoped for love and a family with her husband. Yet, her marriage would be to whichever member of European royalty was most beneficial to France.

Signing the Treaty for Catherine and Henry's Marriage—Isabeau of Bavaria and Charles VI at the Treaty of Troyes
Signing the Treaty for Catherine and Henry’s Marriage—Isabeau of Bavaria and Charles VI at the Treaty of Troyes | Source

Peace Through Marriage

King Charles VI reign was filled with war (known as The Hundred Year Wars). One effort at achieving peace was through marriage. Isabelle, Catherine’s older sister was married to England’s King Richard at a mere six years of age. The marriage was never consummated due to her young age and the early death of King Richard in 1400. She was held in England for some time after Richard’s death before she was allowed to return to France.

King Henry V

King Henry was a young man when he was crowned the king of England. For much of his father’s reign, the royal English family fought with France. This conflict came to be known as the “One Hundred Years War”. King Henry V signed a treaty with France on May 21, 1420. In the treaty, he demanded the return of lands that had once belonged to England. This was the Treaty of Troyes which also included Henry’s marriage to the young eighteen-year-old Catherine of Valois. A large dowry was also included in the marriage contracts.

Wedding of King Henvy V and Catherine of Valois

King Henry V and Catherine of Valois were married on June 2, 1420, and Catherine was crowned queen of England in February 1421. The royal couple soon welcomed their only son Henry VI heir to both the English and France thrones. Their marriage proved to be a brief marriage. Henry V died on a battlefield in 1422 leaving a twenty-one-year-old widow and an infant son. Henry VI was only an infant when his father died. His two uncles, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Bedford, controlled the government.

Queen Catherine was sent off to live quietly, at Baynard’s Castle, with only a small household staff. Her brothers-in-laws who were controlling England were concerned that if Catherine were to remarry, any new husband might influence the infant king and they would lose their power over the boy and England.

Forbidden to Love Again

The two dukes and the English parliament had specific ideas on how this young widow should conduct herself. She was also the mother of the boy king Thus they decided how she should be allowed to live her life. Therefore, parliament passed a law that forbade Catherine from establishing romantic relationships and she was forbidden to marry again without parliament’s or her young son’s approval. Any man with a title or lands would lose both his title and his land if he were to marry King Henry V’s widow. No man was willing to take the risk of angering parliament or losing their lands or titles. As her son was only a year old and would not be able to give his consent for years, Catherine’s fate had just been sealed. She would never be allowed to return to France, love again, or have more children to love.

The Queen’s Secret Love

But Catherine was lonely and a very young widow. Catherine was only in her early twenties and wanted to love and marry again. She wanted more children also. However, she was shut away from society in a huge castle with little company other than those who were her servants. She was even deprived of her young son, the future king. Henry had nurses and governesses and was allowed little time with Catherine.

At some time, Catherine met and became involved with a young handsome Welsh gentleman who was in charge of the royal wardrobes. Owen Tudor was in reality a high-ranking Welshman. Thus, the two of them began a secret love affair. Although there seems to be no record of their marriage, and though it was forbidden, Catherine and Owen were secretly married. A marriage that would produce more children for Catherine to love but would also have tragic endings for both Catherine and Owen. When the marriage caught the attention of Parliament, Catherine entered a nunnery and died a short time later. Owen would be captured and imprisoned. Owen eventually escaped prison and served with Catherine’s oldest son King Henry VI but was later captured by the enemies of Henry VI and was beheaded in Hereford marketplace. He was buried in Hereford.

Children of Owen Tudor and Queen Catherine

Owen Tudor an Catherine had several children together but two would play a huge part of English royalty history. Catherine’s oldest son King Henry VI would later make his half brothers and sisters legitimate and bestow them royal titles.

Edmund Tudor 1st Earl of Richmond and father of the future king Henry VII.

Jasper Owen Earl of Pembroke who would help to bring Henry VII the crown of England.

There may have been two daughters and another son named Edward but this is unknown for certain.

Catherine’s grandson would later become king making Catherine the wife of a king, the mother of another king, and the grandmother of the first Tudor king.

References

© 2021 L.M. Hosler

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Exploring the Best Sandra Brown Novels

L.M. Hosler

I am a Sandra Brown fan. I have read several of her books and I enjoyed most of them. I think her early books were more romance than her newer books. I didn’t care a lot for those and ended up putting those aside. I may read those at a later date.

Sandra Brown Author Larry D. Moore

Some of Sandra Brown books that I have read include: Unspeakable, The Alibi, French Silk and Mean Streak. The first year I joined my book club, I choose her book “Overkill”. I have been a fan since then. I loved all of those books and I had a hard time putting those books down.

I just finished the Sandra Brown book “The Witness” and I recommend reading it. It’s full of intrigue, danger and love and romance.

At the moment, I have just started her new book “Blood Moon”. This is my book club choice for this year. It sounds very interesting but I have only read the first chapter yet. It will probably be another page turner. I am sure I won’t be disappointed and will be unable to put it down.

Daily writing prompt
What book are you reading right now?
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Lessons from an Adopted Grandmother

L.M. Hosler

I never knew my actual grandparents. I saw my grandmother on my mother’s side a few times but never really knew her. It’s sad that I never really had grandparents in my life.

I made Madeline my adopted grandmother when I went to work for her as her caregiver. We sat and talked for hours when I had everything that was needed done. She told me some wonderful stories of her life. Madeline had grown up during the depression era and World War II. She had been a teacher and she told me about her college adventures and romances. She shared with me stories of the other man she almost married. Madeline lived away at college and came home on weekends by train. Madeline had a talent for music and she became a music teacher. Although her family couldn’t afford for her to go to college her church stepped in with a scholarship.

When Madeline came home as a teacher, one of the first things she did was form a school band. I remember her story of how she had friends, neighbors and other community members searching through attics for instruments for her students. And she managed to construct the first band for that high school.

Madeline married and had two children but continued teaching. But her family always came first and she raised two great children. She was loved by her students who still dropped in to visit with her when her health declined. Madeline was very active in church and community activities. At one of the town’s parades, Madeline was the Grand Marshall of the parade.

Madeline also did a lot of traveling after her retirement. When her sight failed, I would sit and read her the notes she had written about her travels. One evening we got out boxes of valentines from her grade school days. It was amazing to see old valentines with movable arms and legs. They don’t make valentines like that anymore.

I spent many hours with Madeline and I enjoyed every minute. She was a beautiful, unique woman who gave her time and love to so many others. I will never forget some of the lessons I learned from her. I always remember her kindness to everyone. I learned to be more tolerant of people. I offer find myself repeating something she would say. When asked if she liked a new food, she would either say she did like it. Or she would say “I wouldn’t walk around the block for it”.

Madeline died when she was 102. Her last unselfish act was to donate her body to science. She hoped that doctors would find cures for some of the problems that she had suffered.

Daily writing prompt
Describe a family member.
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Success: Different Versions

L.M. Hosler

When I think of a successful person, the first person I think of is the late Charlie Kirk. I was stunned when I heard about his assassination. It happened during one of his events at Utah Valley University on September 10 of this year.

Charlie Kirk was a month away from his thirty second birthday when he was gunned down. Although he was very young he accomplished more in his short life than many of us, including me, will ever achieve.

Some of Charlie’s greatest accomplishments:

  • Started a non-profit organization named Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was only 18 years old
  • Was the author of a book “The College Scam”
  • Was the host of his own radio show
  • Was the speaker at the Republican National Convention 2020 and 2024
  • Was a proud follower of Jesus and talked with many young people regarding faith and family
  • Met with many world leaders

Those are just a few of the reasons I think that Charlie Kirk was an extremely successful person. It was Charlie’s faith that I most admired. His commitment to his faith, family and our country were a joy to hear. He traveled around the USA promoting freedom of speech, Christian values, and conservative values. He chose to debate and listen to other points of view. I have watched many of his videos of him challenging college students. He was always kind and showed so much common sense, which is so rare today.

I think Charlie was so successful in his life due mainly to his unfaltering faith in Christ. He was also very successful in his relationships. He had a beautiful, loving wife and two children.

I saw people mourning this young man all over the USA and countries overseas. You had to know this was a very special man who had touched millions of lives including mine even though I never met him. Charlie has been called to heaven, but now it’s up to us to carry on his faith and values.

Daily writing prompt
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
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Why Reading is My Favorite Hobby

L.M. Hosler

I have so many hobbies I enjoy that it’s hard to choose.

I enjoy reading, writing, playing cards, quilting and puzzles. So which one do I choose as my favorite.

I spend more time reading than any of the others. So, I will say reading is my favorite pastime. When the weather is nice, not too hot or cold, I will be sitting on my porch with a good book and a cool glass of lemonade. When winter comes I will be sitting on my sofa all bundled up with a good book. Television programming is rather lousy these days. So thank goodness for authors and great books.

Some of my favorite authors include:

  • John Grishman
  • Mary Higgins Clark Never pass one of those up
  • Tami Hoag Just finished her latest one
  • Johanna Lindsey
  • Jude Deveraux
  • Nora Roberts
  • Sandra Brown
  • Linda Castillo

That’s just a short list. I keep adding other authors I like to the list.

Thank goodness for the library and it’s book sales. I can get as many books as I can fit into a bag for a small fee. They keep my shelves full so I always have a book handy.

Book Collection Vyacheslav Argenberg

I belong to a local book club in my area. We each buy one book and in two weeks we pass the book on to the next member. This is a very old book club. It was started before cars and libraries existed. The members of the first book club actually took out loans to buy a book. We have come a long ways from that first book club.

I picked reading as my favorite pastime but I enjoy all my hobbies. I am so glad to have hobbies so that I am never complaining about being bored.

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
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The Impact of Computers on Daily Life

L.M. Hosler

How quickly our world has become accustomed to using computers in our daily lives. They have changed communication, shopping, reading, games and so much else since computers early days.

Without my computer, it would be much harder to get information. I am constantly telling people, “just let me look it up on the computer”. A computer has become what a set of encyclopedia used to be a generation or so ago. We can even use our voices to ask questions and get an answers.

Using the computer has changed my shopping habits. I do a lot of my shopping online now. Now most brick and mortar stores also have an online store. At the moment I am waiting for my latest order from Amazon. I also buy pet food online. It’s delivered right to my porch without me having to go to the store then drag it home. Without the use of a computer, I would be spending more time shopping. I don’t do all my shopping online. It’s hard to find clothes that fit without going into a store. Groceries can now be ordered online and delivered. I prefer doing my own grocery shopping and picking out what I want myself.

An Old Typewriter Life magazine 1891

I would be using a typewriter or even a pencil and paper if I didn’t have a computer to do my writing. I would be spending a lot of time sitting in a library doing research. Letters and cards would still have to be handwritten and mailed through the unreliable post office. Now with a computer, I can send an email and get a reply within minutes.

Using my computer, I communicate with people all over the world. Social media helps to keep us in touch with near and faraway friends and family. I get a lot of news and information from those social media sites.

With the use of my computer games, music and movies all entertain me. Not that I do much of those but they are a nice diversion at times. Computers can do so many things in our lives today.

So what would my world look like without a computer? Honestly, my world would look a lot like the simple life I grew up with. Reading would require trips to the library. Writing would be done on typewriters. Information would come from books and other sources. Letters would be handwritten and sent through snail mail. I would be getting together with friends and family more often. I would be using a house type of telephone instead of a smart phone. And I would still be lugging home big bags of pet food and cat litter from the store.

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Hitler, Sabotage And Horseshoe Curve

L.M. Hosler

The Horseshoe Curve located near Altoona, Pennsylvania was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967. The Horseshoe Curve draws thousands of visitors daily to view the engineering achievement of John Edgar Thomson. It’s history as well as it’s breath taking scenery, makes it a popular tourist attraction. It is especially beautiful in the fall. That’s when the mountains are showing off their trees with leaves of colorful red and gold.

In the mid 19th century, railroads were beginning to provide easy fast transportation. The railroads were becoming valuable to business and industry as a way to move people and products. Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Railroad were looking for a way to ship those products and supplies west. However, the Allegheny Mountains stood tall and was impassable for trains.

On February 15, 1854, the Horseshoe Curve opened for travel. It solved the problem of the Allegheny Mountains. It allowed passage from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh in both directions. This allowed passengers and goods faster transportation. From 1854, the Horseshoe Curve was a bustling, busy place. Freight and passengers could now travel quickly to the west or the east coast.

In fact, the HorseShoe Curve became a major, important railway system for supplying troops in World War II. it carried supplies, heavy equipment and troops to the east coast. From there, the supplies and troops were sent to Europe on ships. The Horseshoe Curve gained Hitler’s attention and he planned to sabotage several vital areas in the United States. Destroying this major transportation hub would help to cripple the flow of troops and supplies to Europe. The Horseshoe Curve was just one of Hitler’s targets.

Hitler gave orders to recruit young men who spoke English and were possibly familiar with areas of the United States. These young men were sent to a training camp near Berlin on an estate named Quentz Lake. They were taught various sabotage tactics, shooting, fighting, explosives and throwing hand grenades.

On Saturday, June 13. 1942 a submarine coasted underwater and landed just a hundred miles from New York. George John Dasch and three other men left the submarine on a beach with instructions on specific targets to sabotage. Horseshoe Curve was on the list of targets. The plan was to make it to New York where the Hell Gate Bridge was also a target. The list of targets also included the New York Water Supply and Newark Penn Station.

George John Dasch

Unfortunately, for Dasch they landed near a United States Coast Guard station. Although they were not apprehended at that time, the coast guard was suspicious and started a search of the beach. They quickly came across tracks that led them to where the Nazis had buried their supplies in the sand. Those supplies included explosives and other sabotage related materials. They promptly notified the FBI and other authorities.

Dasch and his three other saboteurs, Ernest Peter Burger, Heinrich Heinch and Richard Quirin all made it to New York. Dasch was having cold feet and so was Burger. There equipment had been found and was of no use to them now. Just two days after landing in the United States, Dasch made a phone call to the New York FBI. He then went to Washington, DC where he was arrested and questioned. Dasch agreed to work with the FBI and supplied them with information about the others he had come ashore with. He also supplied information about another group of Nazis who had landed in Florida. On June 20th, the other seven saboteurs were arrested through the information he provided.

Trail of the eight men accused of sabotage
CREATOR: gd-jpeg v1.0 (using IJG JPEG v62), quality = 98

Military Trial

On July 2, 1942, President Roosevelt ordered a military tribunal. The court was to try all eight men who had planned sabotage against the United States. Attorney General Francis Biddle and Judge Advocate General Cramer presided over the trial. They were assisted by seven military officers.

August 3, 1942 all eight men were found guilty. Six were sentenced to death. Dasch and Berger were given life sentences due to their assistance with the FBI. The military insisted on using these six men as examples. They wanted to ensure that Hitler and his Germans would not be eager to try sabotage against the United States again.

August 8,1942 Six of the Nazi plotters were put to death in the electric chair. All were buried at Potters Field, Blue Plains, D.C. In 1948 George John Dasch and Ernest Peter Burger were released from prison and returned to Germany.

Thus the death of these six men ended Hitler’s plans of invading and blowing up critical manufacturing, transportation and water systems in the United States.

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Anne and Josie Basset Wild West Sisters

L.M. Hosler

Annie and Josie Bassett were the daughters of Herbert and Elizabeth Basset. Herbert was an educated man who had been a teacher and then later served in the Union Army. During the gold rush years, his brother Samuel headed west. Herbert decided to move his family west because of his health. The family ended up settling in Brown’s Hole, Colorado. Brown’s Hole also had close borders to Utah and Wyoming. His wife, Elizabeth, renamed it “Brown’s Park” because of its natural beauty. The family settled down there and built a small cabin, started ranching, and their family grew to four children.

The Basset Family

Herbert tended to be quieter and calmer than his beautiful, wild wife. The Bassett family was very social and welcomed everyone into their home. Strangers, church-going neighbors, travelers, and many times even outlaws hiding from the law. Butch Cassidy was one of those famous outlaws. He was romantically involved with both Anne and Josie Bassett at different times. Members of the Butch Cassidy gang, the Wild Bunch, were welcome visitors.

Elizabeth Bassett, Anne, and Josie’s, mother was a beautiful woman. She could ride rope, shoot, and rustle cattle as well as the men who were devoted to the family. These men would do anything Elizabeth or her daughters asked them to do. Even if it meant breaking the law. Her two daughters took after her. After Elizabeth’s death when she was only 37, the sisters took over running the ranch. By this time, there was a feud starting between the small ranches and the big cattle barons. This feud was particularly between the Bassets and the Two Bars Ranch.

Butch Cassidy and The Wild Bunch

Anne Basset

Anne was involved with several of the outlaws that hung out at the ranch. But then she did become engaged to Matt Rash. Before they were married, though, the owner of the Two Bar Ranch brought in a hired gun. Tom Horn was hired to hunt down cattle rustlers, and Matt Rash was shot and died. After this, things escalated between the two families. Anne would drive many of the Two Bar Ranch cattle over a cliff in revenge. At one point, she stood trial for cattle rustling but was acquitted. Both Anne and her sister were admired and respected. The cowhands they worked with had a great respect for these two women. They admired them for their ability to run a ranch and work right along with the cowboys. Queen Anne, as she was often referred to was well-liked. On the other side the cattle rancher was so disliked that Queen Anne was given a parade in honor of her acquittal.

Josie Bassett’s cabin in Cub Creek

Josie Basset

While Anne was the more daredevil of the two girls, Josie was more domesticated. However, she could hold her own on the ranch, riding, roping, shooting, and rustling cattle. Josie was married five times. She divorced four of those husbands, and the fifth was rumored that he died of poisoning. Josie was charged with his murder but was acquitted. The fifth husband actually died from alcoholism. In her later years, she was asked if she poisoned her fifth husband. Her answer was a smile, and she just said that some husbands are harder to get rid of. Josie also stood trial for cattle rustling, but she also was acquitted. In her later years, close to forty years old she built a cabin in Cub Creek. During the years Prohibition Laws were in effect, Josie made her own whiskey, wine and brandy. Here at her cabin she lived off the land for the next fifty years. Josie died in May 1964. She had lived long enough to see automobiles, electricity, television and phones and two world wars.

Anne and Josie Bassett were an interesting pair of sisters. They grew up running wild and were friends with known outlaws. They were women who were before their time, women who took control of their own destinies. They were liked and respected for their independent natures. They did what women weren’t supposed to do. They became women legends of the old west.

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Cathay Williams: First Female Buffalo Soldier

L.M. Hosler

Cathay Williams

The Civil War was finally over on April 9, 1865. The slaves were set free, but there were few jobs or opportunities for anyone, especially an African American woman.

Cathay Williams was one of those young African American women. She had been born the daughter of a slave and a free man in Jackson County, Missouri. In her teen years, she worked as a house slave in Jefferson, Missouri. When the Union took possession of the state of Missouri, the Union army often employed freed slaves. They were used in positions such as cooks or for doing other domestic work. At just the age of seventeen, she worked for the army as a cook and did laundry for the army. This enabled her to travel all over the country under General Philip Sheridan.

Cathay Williams in the United States Army

After the war ended, Cathay made the decision to join the army. Since women were not allowed to enlist, she disguised herself as a young man. She was described as being tall with dark skin and short dark hair. So it wasn’t all that hard for her to be mistaken for a man. What was hard was passing the physical exam. But somehow, the army doctor did just a very quick exam and passed her. She enlisted using the name William Cathay. She served with the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment. Cathay served for about two years until repeated illness sent her to the hospital several times, where eventually, a doctor discovered her gender. She was given an honorable discharge on Oct 14, 1868.

Cathy Willaims also known as William Cathay Army discharge papers

After her discharge from the army, Cathay joined what came to be known as “the Buffalo Soldiers.” She was the first official female African American to serve in the United States Army. Years later, the St. Louis Times wrote about the story of Cathay Williams. She was the first African American woman to serve in the military. When asked what motivated her decision to enlist in the army, she replied. She said it was her desire to be independent.

Cathay Williams left the Buffalo Soldiers when she became disabled and was no longer able to carry out her duties. Although she had some severe disabilities linked to her service in the military she was denied disability from the U.S. Army. The reason given was that she had enlisted under the wrong name and gender. Cathay died in 1893 in Trinidad, Colorado.

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Tragic Tales of Failed Royal Marriages

L.M. Hosler

Failed Royal Marriages

We often think of Prince Charles and Princess Diana when discussing disastrous royal marriages. Maybe Prince Andrew and Fergie Anderson also come to mind. It’s true those marriages didn’t turn out well, but there were several other royal marriages that also failed. King Henry VIII had five failed marriages before he married his last wife, Katherine Parr.

Several of his marriages ended in divorce, and at least two of Henry VIII’s wife were beheaded. That is really a tragic end to a royal marriage. But then we also have the story of the Prince of Wales and Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Their story is less known, but it is the story of another royal marriage that turned into a disaster.

Prince George Frederick Augustus

Prince of Wales, George Frederick Augusta, the heir to the British throne. Known as Prinny to his friends
Prince of Wales, George Frederick Augusta, the heir to the British throne. Known as Prinny to his friends | Source

Prince George Frederick Augustus

Prince of Wales, George Frederick Augustus was born at St. James Palace in London on August 12, 1762. His parents were King George III and Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz. He was their first son of fifteen children, although one of those children died at a young age. George, being the oldest, was given the title of Prince of Wales and heir to the throne. George was a charming young man when he wanted to be. He was also rather a handsome sort and well educated to fit his status as the future King of England.

George was very well-dressed and took great pride in being fashionable. George also indulged in heavy drinking, gambling and womanizing. He had at least two relationships with women who were older than he was. One of those women was named Mary Robinson. The other woman was Maria Fitzherbert. He was deeply in love and deeply in debt due to his excessive spending.

The Secret, Not-So-Legal Marriage

George had fallen in love with Maria Fitzherbert. She was a woman who had been married twice to two older men. Both men had left her widowed. George was totally captivated by the young, beautiful woman with light blonde hair and flawless complexion. Maria was a Roman Catholic and a widow, making her an unacceptable wife for a future king. George was a determined young man. He finally persuaded Maria into a secret marriage. It was performed at her house with family members as witnesses.

Neither King George III nor parliament had given approval for this marriage. As heir to the throne, George IV needed approval from both the King and parliament. Without these, it could not be recognized as a legal marriage under English law. Shortly thereafter, Maria was delivered a letter stating that her relationship with the prince was finished. Sometime later, the pair did reunite after he had married and separated from Princess Caroline. Rumors suggested that Maria gave birth to several illegitimate children. These children were rumored to be fathered by Prince George over the years of their relationship.

Princess Caroline of Brunswick

Princess Caroline of Brunswick was George’s cousin, although the two had never met. She was the daughter of his Aunt Princess Augusta of England and the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. She was said to be rather bold, coarse, loud and rude in her manner of speaking. Her sense of fashion was almost non-existent. Her clothing was out of fashion and was often worn without proper washing. Her own personal hygiene was also lacking. She neglected to wash properly most of the time or change and wash her undergarments. As a result, she often had an offensive odor.

This is rather strange. A young woman with servants to look after all of her needs would surely have clean, suitable clothing available. Of course, Caroline had her good points as well. She was kind and generous. She was known for her charity work. She loved and fostered several homeless children later in her lifetime.

Princess Caroline of Brunswick

The Prince and Princess Meet

The first meeting of the Prince of Wales and his soon-to-be bride Princess Caroline got off to a very rocky beginning. He did not find her attractive at all. He had no wish to marry anyone at that point in his life. Princess Caroline was also 26, which at that time was considered to be an age unfit to get married. He already had his mistresses to keep him happy. Truthfully, he was repulsed by his future bride. The only reason that Prinny (his nickname) had agreed to marry at all was that he was heavily in debt.

Parliament had agreed to cover his debts if he married, and Princess Caroline was chosen as his bride. Princess Caroline was disappointed. She felt humiliated by the way the Prince had treated her at their first meeting. At a later supper, Caroline was rude. She talked and laughed loudly about subjects that should not have been discussed at the supper table. Perhaps she was just very nervous and insecure at the time. In any event, neither of them made a good impression on the other one.

The Wedding

Prince George and Princess Caroline on their wedding day Source: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Prince George and Princess Caroline were married at St. James Palace on April 8th, 1795. His father was delighted to see his son get married. However, it was not a day of happiness for the future king of England. It is said that he was drunk during the ceremony and continued to drink for the rest of the day. When the couple retired to their bed-chambers, George was so drunk that he fell to the floor. He spent his wedding night passed out on the floor.

George managed to do his duty at some time. He had relations with Princess Caroline, who became pregnant almost immediately. With an heir on the way, the prince ignored Caroline completely. Their daughter, Princess Charlotte, was born, and the couple separated soon after. Princess Caroline was forced to leave her infant daughter with her father.

Princess Caroline, the Lonely Queen

Not much more than a year after they were married, Princess Caroline moved out of her husband’s residence. She took up residence at Blackheath, London. How lonely the new Princess of Wales must have felt in a foreign country with few friends of her own. Blackheath was located to the southeast of London and was a wealthy area. Here, the estranged wife of the Prince of Wales was lived with fewer restrictions. At BlackHeath her behavior and activities sometimes caused scandals.

One of those scandals was when she took in an infant, and some people whispered that she was the mother. This incident caused King George to form an inquiry into her activities. Although the inquiry proved she was not the mother of the infant, the king no longer welcomed her. She was not allowed in his household anymore.

After losing the king’s support, Princess Caroline left England and traveled throughout Europe. She created more scandals with a handsome young Italian servant that she had employed. Imagine the scandal they caused as they traveled together. Despite the scandal this may well have been the happiest time of Caroline’s life. Sometime during Caroline’s years abroad, several things changed. Her only daughter, Princess Charlotte, married Leopold George Christian Frederick, became pregnant and died in childbirth. Her husband, Prince George, had also taken over as Regent for his father, who was mentally unstable.

Caroline Returns to Be Queen but Is Put on Trial

In 1820, King George III died, officially making the prince, King George IV and Caroline the Queen of England. She returned to England and expected to be crowned queen alongside her estranged husband. Now king, George refused to have Caroline crowned as his queen. Instead, he wanted to be rid of her and needed grounds for a divorce. At his insistence, parliament put her on trial. They claimed she had committed adultery with her Italian man servant, Bartolmeo Pergami. They also accused her of other indiscretions.

Much like Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s public divorce, this one also had everyone in England engaged. The princess had her supporters publicly supporting her cause, and the prince had his own supporters. Unlike modern-day royal dramas, the only thing missing was television and social media.

Eventually, parliament ruled in favor of Princess Caroline. King George was denied his divorce. A divorce would have allowed him to remarry and produce another heir to the throne.

The Final Insult to the Queen

By rights, Princess Caroline, still legally married to King George III, was now queen even if the marriage was a total disaster. She expected to attend the king’s coronation and be crowned queen alongside her husband. But the king would not allow her to be crowned with him. He left orders that she would not be allowed to enter Westminster Abbey, where the coronation was taking place.

Caroline showed up to the coronation anyway but was refused entrance into Westminster Abbey. Basically, the door was shut in her face. Therefore, she was never officially crowned Queen of England. Princess Caroline of Brunswick later became the Princess of Wales and was the uncrowned queen of King George III. She died within a few short weeks after receiving the final insult from a disastrous royal marriage.

King George IV served as his father’s regent from Feb 5, 1811 until he was crowned King O England Jan 20, 1820. George served as king until his death on June 26, 1830.

Queen Caroline attempts to enter Westminster Abbey for King George IV coronation but is refused entry.