Google allows me back into my blog after 4 years!

Only a test! Can it be true that I can finally enter my own blog ?

Miss my old blog!

I miss my old blog, but its been two years and blogger still wont let me into the old posts. I have no idea why. I'm done trying. I will post the link incase you'd like to look at the old one.

http://writerofqueens.blogspot.com/

And, so, on we go.

Getting Dressed

Last of the toilette...

Queen Esther of Persia....Beautiful & Brave, Believing

In about the year 477 B.C......a beautiful, young girl was living with her Uncle Mordecai. He had taken her as his very own daughter when her mother and father had died. The household was not wealthy. They lived as their neighbors did...working, cooking and taking care of their daily rituals. In the land of Persia---Esther, whose name means "Star" and her uncle---- were not Persian. They were Jewish, as were many others. What they did not know was that a battle was beginning to brew in the exquisite Palace of King Ahasuerus who ruled the land.

The King planned a great feast to be given in his court. Most of it would take place in the gardens of the Kings Palace. Preparations were made among the court. The couches were made of gold and silver. There were curtains in the rooms---blue and white---made of the finest linens which hung on silver rods. The floors were made of a mixture or mosaic of white and black marble, turquoise and alabaster. Imagine that floor. Many would be invited, some say thousands, from many provinces. Kingdom officials were invited, and others---from great to small.

The King was exceedingly rich. Let's just take the cups that the guests would drink out of....they were all made of gold. And not only that...each one was a different shape! I don't know of any Kingdom court today to display such opulence.  Queen Elizabeth of England invites many to her magnificent dinners and they are brilliant, but I daresay they cannot compare to this feast. There was wine offered, as much as a person wanted, but the King did not demand anyone to drink it. Surely there were tables upon tables laden with meats, fruits and pastries of the finest kind. This feast went on for some time. The cooks were very busy.

The King's Queen---Vashti---was holding her own feast at the same time. It appears to have been very enjoyable. On the 7th day of the feast, the King asked his eunuchs---they were men who had their manhood removed and served him ---to summon his beautiful Queen to come to him. He wanted her beauty to be seen by all, as he was very proud of her.

Yet Vashti did not appear. Why? I really don't know. It might have been that the men were a bit too merry after drinking their wine. Maybe she didn't want to be paraded around hundreds or even thousands of people---to be gawked at---in her opinion. Or rather, perhaps she was content staying in her own chambers enjoying her own feast. Maybe she felt she was too important to simply be commanded.

When the King was told that she refused his command to come to him, he was FURIOUS. It is said that his anger burned within him. He summoned his wise men to come to him. These would have been some of the Princes of Persia and other important men of his Kingdom. They discussed the wrong that the Queen had committed and how this should be handled. The men said, "For the Queen's behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.'

In those days, the husband was the master. In the quiet of each home, did each wife obey every command of her husband? ...Maybe so, maybe not.  But still, eventually, word of Queens Vashti's disobedience would be known to all. It might take weeks or months, but everyone would hear about it. She had defied her King and her husband and this could not stand. This could not be tolerated. They said that the noble ladies would hear of her behavior and there would be excessive contempt and wrath.

As I write this, I really feel for the King and his embarrassment. I'm sure he was greatly hurt by the woman he had made his Queen. Also, I feel a bit sad for Vashti, for she did not know what lay ahead as she enjoyed her feast. Basically, as they say today, she was clueless.

It was finally decided that a decree be written by the King, that the Queen would no longer come to him, saying that Vashti's royal position be given to another who was better than she. And they felt that once the decree was pronounced throughout the Kingdom (a great empire) that wives would  honor their husbands, both great and small. This pleased the King and the Princes and letters were sent to every province, each in its own script and language, so that each man would be master in his own home. 

We can only imagine what Vashti felt when she received this news. She must have left in disgrace, shocked. Do I feel sorry for her? Not really. Do you?

After a time, the Kings wrath subsided and he remembered what his Queen  had done and what he had decreed against her.  Even though his wrath had subsided, things must have seemed amiss. He had lost his wife, he had suffered an injustice. I'm sure as a man he mourned for what he thought should have been. It's a painful thing to live through. But, good news came that cheered the King. His attendants said, "Let beautiful, young virgins be sought for the King."

What was suggested was this.... that the King appoint officers in all the provinces of his Kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins....they would be brought to "Shushan the Citadel" (my emphasis) ---the women's quarters. A man named Hegai, the Kings eunuch, would be custodian of the women there and the beauty preparations would begin there.

"Let the young woman who pleases the King be Queen instead of Vashti." And this pleased the King. And he allowed it. I tend to think it made him happy---to know that eventually he would be able to choose a new Queen.

Mordecai, Esther's uncle happened to be at Shushan the Citadel and knew what was happening. It's only natural that he thought of his niece, who in his opinion was lovely and beautiful and a virgin. He made it his mission to get Esther into this exclusive "program". We don't know what Esther herself really thought about it, but she obeyed her uncle. It must have felt strange as she traveled there and wondered what was ahead of her. Would they even allow her to enter?

Why did her uncle feel this need, this calling, to get her there?

Many beautiful women were already at Shushan, being taken care of by Hegai. When Hegai saw Esther, she obtained his favor and he was eager to give her beauty preparations, well beyond what the other women were getting. And not only that, Hegai chose seven maidservants just for her. And not only that, Hegai moved her to one of the best places where they women stayed. 

Why did Hegai show her this kind of favor?  She was not the only beautiful and lovely women there. It may have been her sweet countenance, it may have been a feeling he had about her. Esther must have been overwhelmed. She had never resided in such a splendid place. She wasn't used to it. She had never seen beauty preparations, yet she had more than the other women. She had worked at home---cooking, baking, cleaning, sewing----but here she was attended by not one, but seven maidservants. It must have been overwhelming in a great way, but also a bit scary. What was she in for? How many months or years would she have to prepare for the day where she would get a chance to meet the King? And, what if the King did not choose her? What would life be like again....to go back, after living in a place such as this?

And, if chosen, Esther must have wondered if she would be up to the task of being Queen...and personally, did she want to be chosen?

She was living in Persia, but she was not Persian, she was Jewish. But her uncle had told her to keep silent about that. And so, she did. She would not break her promise. 

Esther began her beautification process. There would be six months using oil of myrrh---(very expensive, a restorative oil, regarded as good as gold)---and then six months with other perfumes and other beautifying preparations.

Her devoted uncle paced each day, in the court outside of the building where his niece stayed, wondering about her welfare, eager to hear of news of how and what she was doing. Could Esther see him out there, pacing? Did she know how cherished she was? I'm sure she did. She must have spent time in prayer, contemplating her purpose and her future. She must have missed him greatly. 

When each woman had finished her 12 months of preparations, arrangements were made to be received and presented to the King. The women were allowed to bring anything with them when they met the King. In the evening they would meet him and then in the morning return to a second house. She would stay there unless the King delighted in her and specifically called for her by name. I don't know how many women went in before Esther. It may have been twenty women, perhaps over one hundred.

Finally, it was her turn. She asked to bring nothing with her, except what Hegai recommended. Esther was taken to the Kings Palace. As she walked the lengths of the halls, was she fearful? Did she feel beautiful? How many exquisite beauties had he seen already? Surely, there were many more beautiful than she.....But this was it, her one and only chance. Esther could only be herself. She entered the Palace in the 7th year of his reign.

No one knows what happened between them during this meeting, what their conversations were or exactly what she wore. But we do know one thing. The King picked up the royal crown at some point during their hours together and placed it on the top of her head. She would be his Queen. She had attained grace and favor in his sight and it is said he loved her more than all the other women. He said he loved her. This is quite amazing! What did he see in her? Was it just her incredible beauty, or did he also feel peaceful in her presence?  Wouldn't it have been safer or better to see her several times over a period of days? Perhaps send her to the second house, and then call her by name, and receive her for another visit, and another visit, and then, give her the crown when he was very certain? After what happened with Queen Vashti, he had to be careful. Yet, evidently, he loved her immediately and knew he must have her. He was certain.

He would have her. Esther was to become a Queen.

But this is far from the end of the story. Yes, she was beautiful, but that's not what made her great, and it's not why she is remembered. I hope you'll enjoy the next part of her story, to be posted soon. 

A Day in the Life of a Queen

I originally wrote this back in 2007. But I cannot get into my original Blog, Writer of Queens.  So I began a new one---The Writer of Queens.  Of course you can go back to the old link....

 http://www.writerofqueens.blogspot.com/

..... The new blog is still a work in progress, I have much to do. I started the new one back in about 2006.  But its okay, there's some reason I am supposed to begin a new blog....a new season...for us all. 

It will take some time to recapture all the lovely pictures of the royals, princesses and their homes and palaces.... but, that's ok... I have some new surprises in mind for my readers. I just have to figure out the best way to promote the new blog. I never promoted the old one, it just took off.

So I hope you enjoy this, composed 9 years ago...

A Day in the Life...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a day in the life of a Queen? Or a princess? I have. I'm sure you're not surprised at that! But...let's sort of follow her around for a day...and kind of hang out. Of course, the kind of day she'd have would vary from country to country and from decade to decade. And then again, there are Queens in their own right, and Queen Consorts, which are Queens that are married to a reigning King. A Queen in her own right might be Maria Theresa of Austria--the mother of Marie Antoinette. She reigned and worked. A consort would be a Queen such as Queen Charlotte, who married the reigning monarch Mad King George.
.
.
The Queen might be awakened by a maid or lady in waiting, and served a tray of tea or coffee, perhaps with fruit, and she might sit up and read the papers. The drapes would be opened, and after a time, her clothes for the day would be brought in (or a selection of clothes). If she was staying in the palace for the day, and no visitors were coming, she might slip into a pretty dress, but nothing too formal. She would be assisted in her dressing by a maid. The Queen would also sit down at her dressing table and would begin her toilette, which we would call 'putting on our face.' The Queen would be assisted with any makeup she might wear and her hair would be done for her. Hair ornaments would also be added, and a few jewels...perhaps a necklace and earrings.
.
.
After that, she would be accompanied by a lady in waiting to the dining room for breakfast. Oh, did you think the coffee and fruit was breakfast? Oh, no. The King might accompany her as well. A footman would open the dining room door for her, and another uniformed footman would pull out her chair. If she had children and they were old enough they might join their parents for breakfast, and sometimes a senior lady in waiting would be invited to stay to dine. If there was a private secretary and a royal doctor, they also might be invited. It varied day to day.
.
.
After a leisurely breakfast, the Queen would return back to her sitting room or office and begin her work. If she was a reigning Queen, she would be assisted by her personal secretary and usually her senior lady in waiting...
.
.
As far as ladies are concerned, all ladies that assisted the queen were called "Ladies in Waiting" although there was a hierarchy of ladies. The senior one might be called "A Mistress of the Robes" and the next senior might be "Lady of the Bedchamber." Then there were assistant ladies of the bedchamber, maids of honor, etc. The senior lady in waiting would see that the Queens wishes were taken care of. If the Queen needed to appoint a lady in waiting, the Mistress of the Robes would send the letter to the lady in question. She would handle the matter and let the Queen know the details. The Mistress of the Robes acted as sort of a secretary. If the Queen wanted to see someone in the palace, a senior lady would tell a lesser ranking lady, and the person would be fetched. Also, ladies worked for a month or two at a time, and then returned to their families. At any given time there was usually between 4 to 8 ladies at court. Some kept the Queen company, and might read with her, and often the ladies chosen were noble ladies, such as Duchesses or Countesses...or women who were used to court life. It was also a plus is they could paint or draw, ride, sing, play an instrument or speak a second language.
.
.
During her morning she would sign official documents, read important news and letters, dictate or write responses, and sometimes receive visitors. Her private secretary would give her the work in order of it's importance and usually had comments of his own to clarify the situation for her. Sometimes he might make suggestions.
.
.
After a long morning of work, it would be time for luncheon. Again, she would be accompanied to the dining room, or if it was nice weather lunch might be laid out on a private terrace. One or two of the Queens ladies would eat with her--after all--they were there to keep her company. Luncheon wasn't usually too heavy. In the royal household, though, every meal was served on fine plates and the food arranged beautifully.
.
.
After eating, the Queen might be ready for a break. She might wish to take the air. (That's what they called sitting outside or taking a carriage ride throughout the grounds). Fresh air and light exercise were always recommended. If the weather wasn't fair, she would retire again to her sitting room area, and perhaps read her personal correspondence...the royals were very fond of letter writing. They couldn't be too familiar with many and so it meant a lot to them to commit their feelings to paper and send them off by a special courier to their relatives. Some couriers regularly went to other countries and some delivered the royal letters to recipients inside the country. She might do some needlepoint, drawing or read by the fireplace. Sometimes in the afternoon they were visited informally, or they received visitors formally. There might be a meeting arranged, or even an afternoon drawing room. Lucky for today, the Queen has none of those!
.
.
Before dinner, there would always be some time to rest. The Queen might be visited by some of her children or her husband...or sometimes lie down on her chaise. A lady in waiting might read to her, or the Queen might want quiet time. While she enjoyed some quiet time, the servants were busy getting things ready for...dinner.
.
.
Her evening dresses would be brought into her dressing area for her to look at. At the appropriate time, she would go to her dressing table and begin her toilette again. Her toilette would be different for dinner. Her hair might be piled high on her head, letting tendrils fall, and jewels might be added to her hair, and for larger dinners with many guests a tiara would be chosen. (And tiara's do hurt, ladies!) The Queen might do some adjusting here and there...but her lady would do her hair and jewels. Then she would be helped into the dress most appropriate, which was usually a formal one with much lace, ruffles or beading, made of the finest fabric. (All her clothes were made just for her, and hand stitched.)r
.
.
For all intents and purposes, we'll say that tonight will be a small dinner...just family and a few quests. The more senior servants would join them, and so their party might consist of 10 or 12 people. The King and Queen...or the Queen and her consort would assemble outside the dining room, and the family, guests and servants would line up according to precedence. Once assembled, the door would be opened and they would take their appropriate places, according to rank and precedence. If it was a larger dinner, some guests might already be seated.
.
.
Courses were many. Candelabras were lit, and fine china was laid out. Tables were adorned with flowers and sometimes menu's. It would be appropriate to talk to the guest on your left and your right, giving equal time to each. Dinners were formal, and etiquette was stiff. Footman usually watched the Monarch, and once he or she was done with a course, they would begin taking away the dishes...to the dismay of some. If the Monarch was a fast eater--and some were--you were out of luck, and so you learned to eat fast!
.
.
After dinner amusements were just as stiff as dinner. Guests would retire to the drawing room for cards, games and conversation. The Queen would mingle throughout the room, making sure she spoke to each person for a short bit...and she would speak to them first. Talk about the weather or riding or a person's general health were proper topics. A guest would never say, "I heard you had terrible stomach pains the other day. How do you feel?" That would be quite improper. They might say something like this: "I had heard Your Majesty was feeling indisposed earlier this week. I do hope you are recovered." And even that would be a bit too familiar! Only those close to her would say something like that. So, conversation was generic and polite.
.
.
Sometimes there might be a band and dancing at the palace, depending on the amount of visitors that evening. On other nights, there might be a performance by a singer, or a concert or play given. They also attended the opera on some nights. They did have balls and grand balls, too...but for tonight we'll keep them close to 'home'.
.
.
If the Queen was having a wonderful, gay time, she might be inclined to stay up later than usual. No matter how tired the guests were--and the Ladies in Waiting--they would not retire until she did. Once the Queen (and her husband) left, often there would be sighs of relief, and guests would plop down on a couch or chair, tired, with painful feet! Being invited to dine with the Crown was an honor indeed...however, because there were such firm rules of etiquette, it could be quite grating on the nerves! Guests were known sometimes to slip away into another room to sit down for a bit! Remember if the Queen stood, so did everyone else. If the Queen was sitting, the others could too. Some courts were stiff and boring and long...others were more relaxed and gay.
.
.
Back in her bedchamber, she would be assisted with undressing and her dresser would take care of putting her precious jewels back in their safe place. Her hair might be brushed, too. If she was keyed up and not tired, she might want to read for awhile or ask a lady to read to her. Sometimes the Queen might pen a letter or write in her journal, or dictate a letter to her lady. A fire would be lit, too, to keep the Queen warm during the night.

Alone in her bed (with fluffy pillows and thick quilts) the Queen would blow out her candle at the bedside and lay down. Invariably, she would think about the day past, and more importantly, the day ahead. Nothing was left to chance. Each day and week and month were planned in advance and rarely was there anything spontaneous on the menu. The Queen might be excited about the next day...perhaps they would be traveling to a favorite vacation home. Or maybe it was something more tedious....like a levee or drawing room or even a ball! Some of these things could be trying. The Queen would have to stand on her feet for a long period of time, or, shake a thousand hands easily. But, everyday was something different.
.
.
Hopefully, the Queen would have sweet dreams and be looking forward to something the next day! She is Queen after all, and so she shall make sure it is so! She will decree it! Her eyes would get heavy and she would relax. Sleep would come soon.

And YOU! You're only a visitor who's been graciously allowed a peek into her day! So, I think it's time to leave the Queen's bedchamber now!........Quietly, please......

All she wanted was to be a mother

Imagine being engaged, promised or betrothed to be married at 10 years old? And then being married at 14 years old, to another teenager, who happened to be the heir to the French Throne. That's what happened to Anne of Austria.

.

.

On November 25, 1615, the teenagers, both royals, married. Anne was then the wife of Louis XIII. They say that the couple consummated the marriage quickly. But, for a variety of reasons it appears there was long stretches of time that the royal couple were not intimate. Could it be that Louis was unkind to Anne? Perhaps Anne missed her homeland and her family.

.

.

During the 1620's, there were rumours of pregnancies. A pregnancy was a must for the Bourbon Line. The couple must have a male child. It's recorded that Louis himself told an ambassador that his Queen had four miscarriages. In thinking about this young girl, fair, with a sweet smile.. about 20 years old, I feel for her. Not being able to get pregnant is enough to throw the strongest of women into a depression. If you add in the possibility of more than one miscarriage, how tragic for this Spanish Princess. What pain she endured. She must have wondered why she couldn't conceive or carry a child. At times she must have feared being sent back to her homeland. If Louis had wanted to...well, he could have acted to have the marriage annulled.

.

.

Louis's younger brother wasn't loosing sleep over Queen Anne's infertility. If she didn't produce an heir, he was next in line to inherit the French crown. The Queen's marriage wasn't hostile, but it definitely wasn't pleasant. That we know. Anne traveled to the different royal residences, prayed, enjoyed the theater very much---she prayed more---and she enjoyed eating. And she loved sweets. Sounds like us, don't you think?

.

.

She wasn't the most popular Queen and she knew it. She continued to pray about her infertility. and it wasn't only Anne that prayed. Many of the religious of her day prayed for her. While the faithful prayed, there was scandal, gossip and Anne was even suspected of conspiracies against her husband. None of this could have been easy for her. To make things worse, she had been married now 20 years---yes, 20 years--and still there was no child. You have to imagine that in her heart of hearts, Anne was near to giving up. She was in her thirties. It would be rare to become pregnant at that age. In the 1600's, she was considered old. Her marital relationship wasn't the best as we know and obviously that brings its own problems. And even somehow, if there was some miracle...would she have a boy? And if she did have a boy, would he even live? Child mortality rates were very low.

.

.

November and December of 1637 were interesting for several reasons. In December, we know that the royal couple spent at least one night together under the same roof due to an unexpected storm. (Surely there were more as well.) And in November, a monk in Paris claims to have had a vision. He claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared to him, telling him that the Queen would indeed become pregnant and that he should inform her of this. The monk sent word to the couple.

.

.

When Brother Fiacre, the monk, finally met personally with the King and Queen several months later, Anne was ecstatic. She was pregnant! Her doctor had confirmed it weeks before. It was a miracle, a miracle! It appears that the Queen felt it was so. Whether it was a miracle or not...I certainly do not know...what a wonderful story! I can almost imagine her joy and happiness. At age thirty six, she was carrying a baby, finally. She must have been on cloud nine, or whatever they called it in the 1600's. It was generally thought by all that this baby would be a lucky child, protected by God.

.

.

The baby that was born on the 5th of September 1638, was the famous Louis XIV. He was certainly a lucky King, a great King. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. At that point, on that warm September day in a room that overlooked the river Seine, there was a healthy Dauphin born. The birth was witnessed by many of the Court. To say there was rejoicing would be an understatement. As the afternoon wore on and the witnesses left, Anne rested. It would not be stretching the truth to say that the fragrance of flowers flowed through the open windows of Anne's room as she laid in bed that day, looking at her robust son. No doubt she feel asleep exhausted, but with a smile on her face.

.

.

Anne adored her son. She spent much time with him, although it was not the court etiquette of the day. None of that mattered to her. She played with him and took him outside. Her baby was considered very beautiful and she enjoyed fussing over him and combing his hair. He inherited her soft, warm brown curls. Her joy was compounded when she gave birth to another boy named Phillipe two years later. She waited half her life for these miracles that had eluded her for so long...so she didn't waste a moment.

.

.

She adored being a mother and the children came to her often. Little Louis loved Anne and formed a very close attachment to her, as most boys do. And it did not fade. This attachment remained with Louis. Although Anne loved both sons, she clearly adored her eldest. Did Anne show him this preference to prepare him for his future role? We can only guess. But whether the three of them shared a bath, played, shared dinner....or prayed together... the time they spent together was special, sweet and lasting. Anne gave them a real childhood and a feeling of safety. She was their constant. They didn't see their father nearly as much as their mother. And the brothers played as brothers do...laughing sometimes and fighting at other times. It was evident to all at court that these boys were the joy of her life.

.

.

And they said she couldn't do it.

.

.

Well done, Anne!