Cat's Historical Doodles

Maria Francisca Isabel Josefa Antónia Gertrudes Rita Joana was born on 17 December 1734 at the Ribeira Palace, in Lisbon. She was daughter of King José of Portugal (not yet king) and his wife, Mariana Victoria of Spain. On the day of her birth, her grandfather, King João V of Portugal , created her Princess of Beira. When her father succeeded to the throne in 1750, Maria (aged 16) became his heiress presumptive and was given the traditional titles of Princess of Brazil and Duchess of Braganza. Maria grew up in a time when her father’s government was dominated completely by the Marquis of Pombal. He took control of the government after the terrible Lisbon earthquake of 1 November 1755, in which around 100000 people lost their lives. After the earthquake, King José was often uncomfortable at the thought of staying in enclosed spaces, and later suffered from claustrophobia. He then had a palace built away from the city centre, which became known as Real Barraca de Ajuda (Royal ...

Doña Carlota Joaquina Teresa Cayetana was born in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez on 25 April 1775. She was the second child of Charles, Prince of Asturias and his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma. Carlota Joaquina received a rigid and deeply Catholic education, and studied religion, geography, painting and riding. The closed and austere temperament of the Spanish monarchy imposed on the family and the court rigid norms of behaviour and etiquette. King Charles III was a reserved man, devoted to his family rather than the animations of the courtesan life, where his daughter in law, Maria Luisa, took part. Carlota Joaquina's mother assumed the organisation of the court's entertainments, with luxurious parties where morals were easily forgotten. Soon, Maria Luisa's image would be linked to that of a promiscuous woman who betrayed her husband. Not even the successive pregnancies and the birth of a long-hoped living male heir saved Maria Luisa from the contempt of the population. S...

Maria da Glória Joana Carlota Leopoldina da Cruz Francisca Xavier de Paula Isidora Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga was born on 4 April 1819, in Rio de Janeiro. She was the eldest daughter of the future King Pedro IV of Portugal (and first Emperor of Brazil), and his first wife, Maria Leopoldina of Austria . The death of Maria's grandfather, King João VI of Portugal, in March 1826 sparked a succession crisis in Portugal. The King had a male heir, Pedro, but he had proclaimed the independence of Brazil a few years before, in 1822, making himself Emperor. The King also had a second son, Miguel, but he was exiled in Austria after leading a number of revolutions against his father. Before his death, João had nominated his favourite daughter, Isabel Maria, to serve as regent until the legitimate heir returned to the Kingdom . However, he failed to specify which of his sons was the heir: Pedro, the liberal or Miguel, the absolutist. Most people considered Pedro the legitimate ...

Caroline Josepha Leopoldine Franziska Ferdinanda was born on 22 January 1797, in Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna. She was the daughter of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and his wife, Maria Teresa of Naples and Sicily. According to her biographer, the name Maria was not present in the baptismal record of the Archduchess and she only adopted it during her journey to Brazil. Maria Leopoldina was raised in accordance with the educational principles laid down by Emperor Leopold II, her grandfather. Among these, there was the habit of exercising the handwriting by writing the following text several times: Do not oppress the poor. Be charitable. Do not complain about what God has given you, but improve your habits. We must strive earnestly to be good. In addition, she and her sisters were taught French and Latin, as well as drawing, piano, riding and hunting. Maria Leopoldina's passions included natural sciences, especially botany and mineralogy. She was educated according to the three ...

Maria Amélia Augusta Eugénia Josefina Luísa Teodolinda Heloísa Francisca Xavier de Paula Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga was born on 1 December 1831, in Paris. She was the only daughter of King Pedro IV of Portugal and Emperor of Brazil and his second wife, Amélie de Beauharnais. Maria Amélia's father was the first Emperor of Brazil and the 29th King of Portugal. However, he gave up the Portuguese throne only two months after his acclamation; he was succeeded by his daughter, Maria II . However, Maria's position was usurped by her uncle (Pedro's younger brother), who took the throne as Miguel I. Anxious to put his daughter back on the throne, Pedro abdicated the Brazilian throne (and was succeeded by his son, Pedro II) and left to Europe with his second wife, who was pregnant with Maria Amélia. Because he wanted to recognise Maria Amélia's rights as a Brazilian princess, Pedro invited various people to watch her birth. The newborn Maria Amélia was a goddaughter of King ...

Maria Ana Francisca Josefa Rita Joana was born in Lisbon, on 7 October 1736. She was the second child of King José and his wife, Queen Mariana Victoria. When she was young, she was considered as a possible bride to Louis, Dauphin of France, the son of Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska of France. However, her mother refused to consent to the marriage. Maria Ana Francisca dedicated herself to painting and music and remained single for the rest of her life. Maria Ana Francisca and her family escaped to Brazil, when Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the invasion of Portugal in 1807. She died in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 16 May 1813. She was 76 years old. Her remains were moved to Convento do Desagravo do Santíssimo Sacramento, in Lisbon. This convent had been founded in 1294, but completely destroyed during the 1755 earthquake. 131 women residing in the convent died during the earthquake. In 1783, Maria Ana Francisca reopened the convent with the blessing of Queen Maria I . Infanta Ma...