Which Slavic beauty captivated the heart of the famous monarch? Let's take a closer look at the most beautiful queens from the past.

Scotland - France

Mary Stuart (1542-1587)

While still an infant, Mary was proclaimed Queen of Scotland (her late father, King James V, had no heirs left besides her). At the age of 16, the girl headed the French throne, becoming the wife of Francis II. Already after 6 months. The young queen was widowed. Not wanting to tie the knot with the brother of her deceased husband, Karl, she returned to her homeland.

Many influential people wanted to win the heart of the graceful beauty, but to no avail. Only Lord Darnley managed to charm Mary, who married him. Due to many political differences, the marriage between the lord and the queen turned out to be fragile. Subsequently, Darnley died. Most likely, the initiator of the lord's murder was his wife.

As a result of the death of her husband, Mary's position on the throne was shaken - and she lost her crown. The third husband, James Hepburn, had to flee with Maria to England. Here she was taken prisoner, in which she spent 12 years. Later, Maria was executed by cutting off her head.

Spain and Portugal

Isabella of France (1602-1644)

The beautiful Isabella, the eldest daughter of the French monarch Henry IV, was tied in marriage with Spanish king Philip IV at the age of 13. young girl for a long time did not arouse any interest in her husband. In the new place, the girl felt like a stranger and unwanted. Only after turning 18 years old did her husband pay attention to her - since then the queen gave birth to 8 heirs, but only two of them managed to survive, and the rest died at an early age.

The loss of 6 babies had a negative impact on the physical and psychological state Monarchs. Not wanting to be at the Spanish court any longer, Isabella made several attempts to return to her homeland - she asked her father for permission to leave her husband and return to her father’s house. Without receiving the approval of the King of France, the woman died unexpectedly. The cause of Isabella's death is shrouded in mystery. According to one version, the queen’s death was planned by her husband, tired of Isabella’s prolonged depression.

England

Elizabeth Woodville (1437-1492)

The daughter of the English Count Richard Woodville also had such a tragic fate. Like the ancient Greek Helen the Beautiful, the attractive Elizabeth became a bone of contention between powerful dynasties that renewed the War of the Roses. The leader of the Yorks, King Edward IV, fell in love with a young beauty (by the way, she was already a widow with 2 children) and he asked for her hand.

The monarch's supporter, the influential Earl of Warwick, did not like the king's passion, because he wanted Edward to choose a princess from France (any of the heirs) as his wife. Contrary to Warwick's plans, the king married his beloved, who subsequently turned the gentle monarch into a henpecked man who fulfilled her every whim.

As a result, Elizabeth's relatives became close associates of the king, which greatly angered Warwick. The offended count betrayed Edward and became a supporter worst enemies monarch - the Lancaster family, one of whom the young king overthrew from the throne. Having joined forces, the Lancasters short time managed to return the crown. Edward had to spend a lot of effort to return power to his own hands.

While her husband was alive, Elizabeth and her 12 children (including 2 sons) felt safe. After the sudden death of the king, the struggle for the throne flared up again, preventing Elizabeth's plans to crown her son. Subsequently, the former monarch buried her heir (he was executed), and spent the remaining years in Bermondzi Abbey.

Navarre (border area between France and Spain)

Margaret of Navarre (1553-1615)

Henry III, who headed the throne of the Kingdom of Navarre, became interested in the daughter of the French ruler Henry II. Legends were made about the beauty of Margaret of Valois. Throughout her life, the loving lady turned the heads of many men. Rumor has it that even her brother, the Duke of Anjou, could not resist the charms of the beautiful queen.

Henry III is grateful with the life of his wife, who saved him from death on St. Bartholomew's Night. Margarita organized her husband's escape from the Louvre, in which he was imprisoned as an honorary prisoner. Having inherited the crown of the French state, the already divorced monarch began to be called Henry IV.

After the dissolution of her marriage to the King of Navarre, Margaret continued to be popular among influential men. Until her death, the woman had a bunch of lovers who were ready to fulfill her every whim.

France

Anna Yaroslavna (1032-1075/1089)

U Prince of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise had the most important goal - to become related to influential families in Europe. As a result, he married his daughters to kings (France, Hungary, Norway). Thanks to dynastic ties, Yaroslav managed to strengthen the position of Kievan Rus in the international arena.

He betrothed Anna Yaroslavna to the ruler of France, Henry I. Having never seen his bride before, the young king from the first minute of their meeting began to experience the most tender feelings for the Kyiv beauty. The kind and generous Anna was loved by the subjects of the French monarch. The mother of three sons was faithful to her husband until his death.

The widowed Anna attracted the attention of the influential feudal lord Raoul de Vexin, who became her second husband. Where and when one of the most beautiful queens in history died remains a mystery. Different sources speak about different places and dates of Anna's death.

What girl doesn't dream of marrying a prince? For some, this dream comes true. And for some, the crown and title belong to birth.

We present to you the top most famous princesses and queens.

HRH Princess Letizia

Leticia Ortiz Rocasolano was born into an ordinary Spanish family, worked as a journalist, and anchored news on Spanish television. Before her marriage to Prince Felipe, she managed to be married.

King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofia were initially hostile to their union only son with the commoner Letizia, but after the heir threatened to abdicate the throne, and the entire Spanish people sided with the girl, the marriage still took place.

After a very beautiful wedding in 2004, the Prince and Princess of Asturias live in the Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid. The couple had two daughters, Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia. The latter is named after her grandmother, who still treats Laetitia with coldness.

At the same time, loving dad Felipe does not cease to discuss the topic of changing Article 57 of the Spanish Constitution, where it is written in black and white that the crown is inherited mainly by royal male offspring.

HRH Crown Princess Victoria

Unlike Spain, in Sweden there is a boy among the heirs, but he is second in line to the throne. The wonderful girl Victoria, the eldest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, will ascend to the throne in Carlson’s homeland.

Crown Princess Victoria - no exaggeration national treasure Sweden. To say that the Swedes adore her is an understatement. This is why people are even more worried about the personal life of the future queen. The girl turned 31 this year; the press does not miss a single engagement, wedding or christening attended by the princess.

Victoria is said to be marrying fitness trainer Daniel Westling next summer.

HRH Princess Maxima

The future wife of the heir to the throne of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander Maxima Zorreguieta, was born on another continent in Buenos Aires. Where else is the daughter of the Argentine minister agriculture maybe meet the future king of the Netherlands? At a private party on neutral territory - in Spain. Two years later they announced their engagement.

Oddly enough, Willem-Alexander's mother, the current Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix and 80 percent of the Dutch immediately approved Maxima's candidacy, which cannot be said about the political forces of the country. As a sign of her gratitude, Maxima, who had received Dutch citizenship shortly before her wedding, invited the Queen Mother to be one of three witnesses at the ceremony in 2002.

Her Majesty Beatrix appreciated the gesture and dedicated Maxim a knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion - the country's highest award.

Maxima gave birth to three heirs to Holland - Princess Katharina Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariana Wilhemina. Beatrix adores and spoils her granddaughters.

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit

The acquaintance of a simple Norwegian, Mette-Marit Tjessem-Høiby, with Prince Haakon of Norway occurred in 1996, but the romance did not continue, since at the same time Mette-Marit fell in love with another man and gave birth to his son Marius.

Soon she was left alone with her son, went to study at the University of Oslo, and there fate again confronted her with Haakon. But even then the romance did not begin, but the princess was not bored, the photographs of that period of her life are impressive - here she is dancing on the table and smoking weed, and here she is with a shaved head and a bottle of champagne.

When Mette-Marit finally began living with the prince in 2000, a scandal involving her ex-boyfriend: He was jailed for possession of cocaine.

But no matter how skeptical people are about Mette-Marit, her transformation into royal marriage impressive. Norwegians fall more and more in love with the Crown Princess every year. Before the wedding in 2001, the royal family held a press conference where Mette-Marit cried and apologized for past misdeeds.

King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja have come to terms with their son's choice and publicly support the princess. The former rebel and heir to the throne Haakon has two children together - Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Mette-Marit's first son Marius was officially adopted by Haakon.

HRH Queen Rania of Jordan

Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan is one of the most beloved, beautiful and popular royals in the world. When she married Prince Abdullah bin Hussein in 1999, Rania, born into a simple family in Kuwait, never imagined that she would soon become queen. Her husband's elder brother, Prince Hussein, was to ascend the throne.

But after tragic death The current king in the late nineties, Jordan was shocked by another news - contrary to tradition, Abdullah was appointed heir. And Rania began a new life.

Her Majesty is known as a women's rights activist and philanthropist. She travels a lot and covers this topic in the most unexpected places, such as on the Oprah Winfrey show and in glossy magazines. Many also remember the video, at her request, posted on YouTube, where the queen asked to send her questions about Arab world and Islam.

The royal family of Jordan really has nothing to reproach; they love each other dearly, both are skilled diplomats, charming and sincere people. And there are already legends about “going among the people” without security and in simple outfits of the royal couple. It is not surprising that the people of Jordan simply cannot imagine better monarchs. By royal standards, they behave quite well earthly life, raising four children - Hussein, Iman, Salma and Hashim.

HRH Crown Princess Mary

Scottish girl Mary Elizabeth Donaldson prepared to prove theorems and solve equations, just like her father, a professor of applied mathematics. She would probably have been doing this all her life if it had been during the summer Olympic Games in 2000 in Sydney (where her family emigrated) she did not meet Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. Now, by the way, Mary’s father works at Aarhus University in Denmark.

Soon Mary moved to Europe, where she began teaching English in Paris. When a certain Miss Donaldson began to actively appear in the society of Prince Frederick and no less actively learn Danish, journalists published the first articles about the future crown princess.

The Danes still remember Frederick's touching tears when he saw his bride in the church aisle in her wedding dress.

Mary patronizes the European branch World Organization health care and, together with Frederick, is raising a son, Christian Voldemar, and a one-year-old daughter, Isabella Henrietta.

Princess Charlotte Casiraghi

Charlotte belongs to the princely family of Grimaldi and is the daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover of Monaco, niece ruling prince Monaco Albert II and, most importantly, the granddaughter of Hollywood beauty Grace Kelly.

Although not a legitimate princess (the girl's late father did not hold the title of prince), Charlotte is third in line to inherit the throne of Monaco after her mother and older brother Andre. And all because Prince Albert II of Monaco never started a family and legitimate children.

Charlotte is known as a socialite, the new darling of the paparazzi and one of Karl Lagerfeld's muses. Photographers photograph her with her boyfriends on vacation in the most exotic places globe from Brazil to Maui.

But until the age of 18, mother Caroline, a desperate daredevil in the past, took care of her daughter like the apple of her eye, even sending her away from Monaco - to the south of France in Provence. The first photos of the matured Charlotte caused a sensation, and it seems that journalists around the world decided that the girl’s beauty obliges them to photograph her forever.

Is Kate Middleton the future Crown Princess of England?

Kate Middleton is the girlfriend of Prince William, who is second in line to inherit the throne of Great Britain (after Prince Charles), a very famous person. She has not yet become an official member of the royal family, but is approaching this status by leaps and bounds.

As you know, the royal court in England is one of the most conservative, so Queen Elizabeth II carefully monitors the lives of her grandchildren and tries in every possible way to influence the choice of her other half for the boys. It is said that both Her Majesty and her subjects at court approved of William's choice. After all, Kate is the daughter of a major English businessman, well known in social circles of the country.

Publications in the Museums section

Dynasty Games: german princesses on the Russian throne

On November 26, 1894, Emperor Nicholas II married Princess Alice of Hesse. The tradition of marrying representatives of German ruling dynasties long history. Some of these marriages were happy both for the royal spouses and for the country, others ended tragically. Let's understand Anna Popova's history.

Charlotte Christina Sophia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Unknown artist of the 1st half of the 18th century. Portrait of Charlotte Christina Sophia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. 1711. Saratov Art Museum named after. Radishcheva

The tradition of marrying German royal families was started by Peter I. And for his son he chose a bride from the Welf dynasty, one of the oldest in Europe. Charlotte Christina Sophia, Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, spent her childhood at the court of the Polish king Augustus II the Strong. At the age of 15, she became the wife of Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Peter I from Evdokia Lopukhina. The marriage was dictated mainly by political motives - Charlotte was related to Charles VI of Habsburg, and Russia hoped, thanks to the alliance of the prince and the German princess, to enlist the support of Austria in the upcoming war with the Turks.

Peter I allowed the Lutheran Charlotte not to convert to Orthodoxy, although all subsequent foreign princesses changed their religion. And at court she was nicknamed Natalya Petrovna in the Russian manner. The idyll, however, was short-lived. Tsarevich Alexei was more interested in feasts and affairs, while the princess was forced to find a means of livelihood herself. At first warm attitude Catherine I's relationship with her, the second wife of Peter I, noticeably deteriorated when it turned out that both the tsarina and the princess were expecting a child. Shortly after the birth of her second child, Charlotte died. She was 21 years old. According to the official version, the cause was appendicitis, but there is a legend that in fact the princess moved to America, where she married again and lived happy life. And her son, Peter II, ascended the throne and ruled for four years until he died of smallpox.

Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst

Peter Drozhdin. Portrait of Empress Catherine II. 1796. State Tretyakov Gallery

The most famous Russian monarch of German origin. When an agreement was reached on the marriage of Sofia Augusta Frederica, or Fike, as her relatives called her, and the future Emperor Peter III, she began to diligently study the history of Russia, the language and converted to Orthodoxy. So Sofia Augusta became Ekaterina Alekseevna, the future Catherine the Great. In 1762, she and like-minded people carried out a coup and took the throne.

During her reign, new lands were annexed to Russia (including Crimea, the east of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Kalmyk Khanate), about 30 new provinces were created and almost one and a half hundred cities were rebuilt. Under Catherine II, the country became the largest European power. During these years, a system of urban educational schools arose, and Catherine herself became a trustee of Smolny. The Hermitage and Russian Academy, studied Russian. At the same time, the empress maintained an active correspondence with Diderot and Voltaire and was not a stranger to literary creativity. She created many fairy tales, plays and fables. There was no more brilliant ruler on the Russian throne who left such a mark on history.

Augusta Wilhelmina Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt

Alexander Roslin. Portrait Grand Duchess Natalia Alekseevna. 1776. State Hermitage Museum

The son of Catherine II, Emperor Paul I, although he had a cool relationship with his mother, chose as his wife those whom she approved. When the heir to the throne reached adulthood, the Empress considered the possibility of his marriage with one of the princesses of Hesse-Darmstadt or the Princess of Württemberg. As it turned out, all the options came in handy.

In 1773, three princesses of Hesse-Darmstadt arrived at the court. Pavel drew attention to the middle one and, according to the memoirs of Catherine II, immediately fell in love with her. A month and a half later, Augusta Wilhelmina converted to Orthodoxy - now her name was Natalia Alekseevna - and soon the marriage took place. The Grand Duchess was passionate about the ideas of liberalizing power, spoke about the liberation of the peasants, and even participated in the creation of a project for noble representation. This document essentially proposed transferring legislative power to the Senate. Catherine II was not delighted with her daughter-in-law’s freethinking. After Natalia Alekseevna died in childbirth, the Empress immediately began to look for her son new wife.

Sophia Dorothea Augusta Louise of Württemberg

Alexander Roslin. Portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna. 1777. State Hermitage Museum

Paul's second wife was a princess from the house of Württenberg, the same one who had been among the contenders before. However, then Sophia-Dorothea was still too young. Interestingly, she was born in the same Stettin castle as Russian empress. Like Catherine, the princess began to learn Russian and tried in every possible way to please her fiancé. Deprived by Catherine II of the opportunity to raise her own children, Maria Feodorovna took care of an educational society for noble maidens and supervised educational homes. She was also passionate about needlework: in Pavlovsk, the empress worked on a lathe, creating objects and jewelry from ivory and amber, and was engaged in engraving and drawing. She gave birth to ten children to Paul I, two of them - Alexander and Nicholas - became emperors.

Louise Maria Augusta of Baden

Jean-Laurent Monier. Portrait of Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna. 1805. Chelyabinsk regional art gallery

Like the sisters of Hesse-Darmstadt, the daughters of Karl Ludwig of Baden and Amalia of Hesse-Darmstadt, were among the contenders for marriage with Grand Duke Alexander. In 1793, the wedding of the heir to the Russian crown and Grand Duchess Elizaveta Alekseevna took place. The wedding celebrations lasted two weeks, and they ended with a fantastic fireworks display in the very center of St. Petersburg. After the coronation, which took place on September 15, 1801, balls were given in Moscow, one more luxurious than the other. However, the imperial couple was in a hurry to return to St. Petersburg. There, Elizaveta Alekseevna patronized schools, orphanages and devoted a lot of time to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. After the military campaign of 1812, the Empress decided to accompany her husband. Commemorative coins, triumphal arches, applauding audiences - the Russian royal couple was warmly received in every city.

Elizaveta Alekseevna outlived Alexander I by six months. There is a legend that the emperor actually became the elder Fyodor Kuzmich. A similar story is associated with the name of the empress. Some believe she also abandoned worldly life and became Vera the Silent.

Friederike Louise Charlotte Wilhelmina of Prussia

George Dow's workshop. Portrait of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna." 1820s. State Historical Museum

The daughter of the Prussian king Frederick William III met her future husband, Grand Duke Nicholas, in 1814. Their marriage was concluded out of mutual love and was politically beneficial, since it strengthened the alliance of Prussia, Russia and Austria. Alexandra Feodorovna studied Russian under the guidance of the poet Vasily Zhukovsky and believed that the life of a Grand Duchess, but not an Empress, lay ahead of her. However, in 1823, the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich renounced his rights and the throne passed to his brother. In 1826, the coronation took place, and three years later, Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna were crowned again - in the Kingdom of Poland. The Warsaw ceremony is unique in its kind because it happened only once. Due to poor health, Alexandra Feodorovna was forced to spend a lot of time away from Nicholas I; the same, experiencing separation, decided to build a palace for her in Crimea.

Maximilian Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia Maria of Hesse and the Rhine

Franz Xavier Winterhalter. Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. 1857. State Hermitage Museum

The wife of Alexander II and mother of Alexander III, Empress Maria Alexandrovna went down in history as a patron of female education and a benefactor. Seeing young Maria at the opera, Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich immediately fell in love and wrote to his mother about his desire to get married immediately. He was even ready to give up the throne just to be close to his beloved. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna personally paid a visit to her father, Duke Ludwig II of Hesse, and, having gotten to know the girl better, gave her consent. Having become empress, Maria Alexandrovna was not interested in politics, devoting much more time to charity. She created the Red Cross movement, was a trustee of hospitals and shelters, gymnasiums, including women's. Institutions for female students of all classes were financed by private and public donations, and the curriculum was divided into compulsory and optional parts. The first, for example, included the Russian language of Nikolai Alexandrovich, heir to the throne. During the First World War, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna allocated funds for the organization of ambulance trains, and organized treatment for the wounded at the Tsarskoe Selo hospital. Together with their daughters, they assisted in operations and cared for the sick. Alexandra Fedorovna was also in charge of more than three dozen charitable societies, including the Women's Patriotic Society, which provides assistance to the poor and those affected by the war. He was in charge of the Tsarskoe Selo school of nannies, the Alexandria women's shelter and others.

1.Cleopatra

You might think there's something you don't know about her. Well, let's pretend that you fell from the moon and tell us. Lived in the 1st century BC. e. Lady of Egypt. Mistress of Caesar and Mark Antony. Famous for her beauty, she is a lover of milk baths and rubbing of dissolved pearls. Died due to technical problems with the snake. By the way, the images on the coins are the only one hundred percent proven portraits of the queen. And they all look something like this.

2.Lina Cavalieri

Opera singer. She lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. She was considered one of the most beautiful women of the era. Postcards with her images were sold in the millions, and any soap considered it a duty to decorate its advertising with the famous “hourglass” figure of the busty singer, who was famous for her ability to tighten her corset so that her waist did not exceed 30 centimeters.

3.Phryne

The Athenian hetaera, who lived in the 4th century BC, is a favorite model of many sculptors and artists, including Praxiteles. She became famous for her beauty and huge money - she demanded it from those gentlemen she did not like.

4.Cleo de Merode

French dancer who was born at the end of the 19th century and became one of the most famous women world thanks to its beauty. Received the title "Queen of Beauty" French magazine"Illustration", which compiled the world's first ranking of world beauties in 1896.

5.Ninon de Lanclos

French courtesan and writer of the 17th century, one of the most free-thinking women of her era. We wrote - 17th century? It is necessary to add: all of the 17th century. And she also managed to capture the edge of the eighteenth, becoming the absolute record holder among the veterans of the courtesan movement.

6.Praskovya Zhemchugova

Rare Cinderellas in reality manage to ring princes, but in history there is at least one case when a count, a millionaire and the most illustrious nobleman of his time married his own slave. At the end of the 18th century, Parasha Zhemchugova, a serf actress of Count Sheremetev, became the wife of her master, scandalizing Russian society.

7.Diane de Poitiers

A favorite of Henry II who lived in the 16th century, for whose sake the king actually ruined his subjects. The king was much younger than his beloved; he fell in love with Diana virtually in infancy and remained faithful to her all his life, if not physically, then at least mentally. As contemporaries wrote, “for all the people’s hatred of Diana, this hatred is still less than the king’s love for her.”

8.Anne Boleyn

English short-term queen of the 16th century, second consort Henry VIII, because of which the English became Protestants. The mother of Elizabeth the Great was known for her beauty and frivolity and ended her life on the scaffold, accused by her husband of numerous betrayals to him and England.

9.Messalina

Lived at the beginning of the 1st century AD. uh, was the wife of Emperor Claudius and enjoyed the reputation of the most lustful woman in Rome, according to the testimony of Tacitus, Suetonius and Juvenal.

10.Empress Theodora

In the 6th century AD e. Theodora became the wife of the heir to the imperial throne, and then the emperor of Byzantium, Justinian. But before becoming a pious and respectable queen, Theodora spent many years doing pantomime and acrobatics in the circus, at the same time selling herself a little to especially admiring connoisseurs of circus art.

11.Barbara Radziwill

A young Lithuanian widow, who in the 16th century became the secret wife of the future king of Lithuania and Poland, Sigismund II Augustus. She was considered the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.

12.Simonetta Vespucci

If you have seen the painting “The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli, then you are well aware of this famous Florentine model of the 15th century. It’s easier to list which of the artists of that era did not paint the red-haired Simonetta. And the Medici dukes (the model had trusted relationships with some of them) officially obliged her to be indicated in documents as “The incomparable Simonetta Vespucci.”

13.Agnes Sorel

The French mademoiselle of the 15th century, a long-time favorite of Charles VII, who gave birth to daughters for the king, had a beneficial influence, according to contemporaries, on his politics, and in her spare time, she posed for artists - for example, Fouquet, when he depicted Madonnas for churches and private clients.

14.Nefertiti

The main wife of Pharaoh Ekhanaton, who ruled Egypt in the 14th century BC. e. Numerous busts and statues of the beautiful Nefertiti have been preserved. But the queen’s mummy has not yet been found, so it is unknown how similar she was to her very attractive portraits, which literally drove crazy many poets and writers of the early 20th century who saw these works in European museums.

15.Marquise de Maintenon

The young widow of the poet Scarron was invited to the court of Louis XIV by the king's favorite, Madame de Montespan, so that poor Scarron would educate the royal bastards. The king was so delighted with her pedagogical techniques that he wanted to experience them for himself. To the great indignation of the entire court, he not only made his new mistress the Marquise of Maintenon, but then also secretly married her.

16.Marquise de Montespan

The favorite of Louis XIV, who lived in the 17th century, herself came from a noble ducal family, so the French court willingly tolerated such a high-ranking mistress near the king. Moreover, the marquise was pretty (by the standards of that time, at least) and smart enough not to meddle too much in government affairs.

17.Zinaida Yusupova

The richest and most beautiful woman Russian Empire XIX century. Moreover, being the only heir of the entire family of princes Yusupov, she, by special order of the tsar, in addition to a multimillion-dollar dowry, brought her husband the title of prince Yusupov. How many fans do you think she had? The winner of this tiring race was Count Sumarokov-Elston - a general, a brave man with a large mustache.

18.Wallis Simpson

Each of us sometimes wonders what he is worth in this life. Twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson had an answer to this question. It costs a little more British Empire. At least that's what the King of Britain decided Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936 in order to marry Wallis: while occupying the throne, he had no right to marry a divorced woman.

19.Madame Recamier

Fifty-year-old banker Jean Recamier, who married sixteen-year-old Julie in 1793, knew what he was doing. He did not bother his beauty with vulgar sex, but invited her to her the best teachers, which could only be found in revolutionary France. A couple of years later he generously financed her house, her outfits and her social life, encouraging the young wife to attract crowds of friends and admirers from the then elite. Thanks to Madame Recamier's famous political, literary and scientific salon, the banker became one of the most influential people in Europe.

20.Yang Guifei

Precious wife Chinese Emperor Ming-huang, who is better known under the posthumous name of Xuan-tsung (ruled in the 8th century). A poor girl from a peasant family, Yang, drove the emperor so crazy that he actually gave all the power in the state into the hands of her numerous relatives, while he amused himself with Yang Guifei by eating fused oranges and other Chinese delicacies. The natural result was a coup d'état and civil war.

21.Veronica Franco

There were many tourists in Venice in the 16th century. It was not so much the Venetian canals that attracted gentlemen from distant lands to this city, but “pious courtesans” - this was the official name for the most luxurious, corrupt women of the city, who were refined, educated, free in communication and ruined their gentlemen in the most noble way. One of the most famous pious courtesans was Veronica Franco.

22.Aspasia

An Athenian hetaera who became the wife of the ruler of Athens, Pericles (5th century BC). Hetaera in the wives of a ruler was in itself a curiosity, but another feature of Aspasia was that numerous authors do not say a word about the fact that she was beautiful or sexy. No, everyone praises her outstanding mind in unison. It is known, for example, that Socrates himself was very fond of visiting Aspasia and listening to her philosophical reasoning.

23.Isadora Duncan

A star of the early 20th century, an American dancer who introduced the tradition of “natural” dance in spite of official ballets on pointe and other classical horrors. Naturalness also required natural attire, so Isadora usually danced barefoot, carelessly wrapped in a variety of fluttering sheets, which did not interfere with the audience’s ability to follow the movements of her body. She was the wife of the Russian poet Sergei Yesenin.

24.Kitty Fisher

The most expensive courtesan in 18th-century Britain: a night with her cost at least one hundred guineas (that amount could buy ten thoroughbred horses). At the same time, from men she did not like, Kitty took amounts ten times larger. Her great love access to money was accompanied by terrible extravagance. The symbol of Kitty was the image of a kitten catching goldfish from an aquarium - it simultaneously played on her name, surname and character.

25.Harriett Wilson

In the first half of the 19th century scandalous life London existed mainly due to the six Wilson sisters, who were engaged in high-society prostitution. The luckiest of them was Sophia, who managed to marry Lord Berwick, and the most famous was Harriett. Hard to find famous politician of that era, who managed not to end up in Harriett's bed. The future King George IV, Lord Chancellor, Prime Minister, Duke of Wellington - they all had a close relationship with Harriett. Officially, she was considered a writer: she published monstrously unpopular and boring Gothic novels at her own expense.

26.Mata Hari

Dutch young lady Margarita Gertrude Zelle took the pseudonym Mata Hari after she, having lived in an unsuccessful marriage with her first husband in Indonesia, ran away from her husband and began performing striptease. Officially, the striptease performed by Mata was called “a mystical oriental dance pleasing to Shiva.” During the First World War she was a spy, a double agent for France and Germany, after which she was indecently hastily executed by the French in 1917. The version that still prevails is that in this way some of the high-ranking officials of France tried to hide their connection with Mata and their own war crimes.

27.Tullia d'Aragona

Italian courtesan of the 16th century, who alternately shocked Rome, Florence and Venice. In addition to her own sexual victories over the most outstanding talents and minds of the Italian Renaissance, Tullia was famous as a poetess, writer and philosopher. For example, her “Dialogues on the Infinity of Love” were one of the most popular works of the century.

28.Carolina Otero

French dancer and singer late XIX century, posing as a gypsy, although in fact she was a purebred Spaniard (but then it was not fashionable). It was a huge success with crowned persons. At least seven kings and emperors were her secret lovers. It is also known that Russian Emperor Nicholas II was extremely partial to Caroline.

29.Liana de Pugy

A French dancer and writer at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, she also slightly sold herself for an extremely large reward (Liana herself liked girls more, so she had love affairs mostly with fellow beauties). Marcel Proust based one of his heroines, Odette de Crecy, on Liana. Mademoiselle de Pougy was friends with almost all the intellectuals of her era. Having married a Romanian aristocrat, she became a princess and retired.

30.Countess di Castiglione

Born in 1837, Italian Virginia Oldoini became the world's first top fashion model. More than 400 of her daguerreotypes have survived. Being a noblewoman from an old family, she married Count Castiglione at the age of 16, but quietly family life chose the fate of a high-society courtesan and politician. She was the mistress of Napoleon III.

31.Ono no Komachi

Japanese poet and court lady of the 9th century, included in the list of "36 Greatest Poets of Japan". The hieroglyphs denoting her name have become synonymous with the phrase “beautiful woman.” At the same time, Ono no Komachi was a symbol of coldness and hardness. It is known, for example, that she forced her lovers to stand in front of her doors in light clothes all night long in winter, after which she composed sad poems about them. early death from a cold.

32.Empress Xi Shi

In the 6th century BC. e. The ruler of the Chinese kingdom of Wu, Fuchai, was sent a gift by ill-wishers from neighboring kingdoms - the incredible beauty Xi Shi, accompanied by a retinue of beautiful maids. Seeing Xi Shi, Fuchai’s mind went into overdrive. He ordered a park with a palace to be created for her and hung out in this palace around the clock. Of course, his kingdom was soon conquered by the scoundrels who came up with this cunning plan.

Princess Olga. The first Christian ruler of Kyiv. Kievan Rus

Currently, the former princess is considered a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. After revenge on the Drevlyans and reforms, Olga went to Constantinople, took the Christian name Helen and became the first Christian ruler of Kyiv, bringing religion to the previously pagan city. It was revenge on the Drevlyans for the murder of their spouse that went down in history. When Princess Olga's husband, the Grand Duke of Kiev Igor Rurikovich, was killed by the Drevlyan tribe, Olga took brutal revenge, several times. First, she ordered the matchmakers the Drevlyans sent to her to be buried alive. Then the official ambassadors of the Drevlyans were burned in the bathhouse. After this, during the funeral feast for their husbands, about 5 thousand Drevlyans were drunk and killed. As a result, the princess went on a campaign against the rebellious tribe and completely burned its capital. When Olga returned, she continued to reform the government structure and returned lost lands to Kyiv.

Empress Theodora. Byzantium

The beginning of Empress Theodora's career was, to put it mildly, far from the image of decency and aristocratic behavior. And today Theodora is considered a saint in the Orthodox Church. Performing on stage with early age, young Theodora became notorious for her lewd interpretation of Leda and the Swan, where she stripped naked on stage. But Theodora's fate changed when she married Justinian I, heir to the throne of Byzantium. The Empress soon skillfully put an end to those who threatened her position. She is also remembered for building housing, giving women additional rights, and expelling brothel owners from Byzantium.

Queen Nefertiti. Egypt

Nefertiti received equal status with the pharaoh when the Egyptians abandoned the veneration of all Egyptian gods and introduced the cult of worship of the sun god, Aten. They built new city Akhenaten, to which they moved their residence. IN Ancient Egypt The legendary Queen Nefertiti and her husband, Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, caused a real cultural revolution, completely changing the religious structure of the empire. Although Egypt later returned to the veneration of the old gods after the end of her reign, Nefertiti forever went down in history as the first revolutionary of one of the most remarkable religious revolutions in ancient Egyptian history.

Queen Ranavaluna 1. Madagascar

One of the most eccentric in history was Queen Ranavaluna 1 of Madagascar. She executed her subjects if they appeared to her in a dream without warning. After all, it was not for nothing that Madagascar’s Queen Ranavaluna 1 was known by the nickname “mad monarch.” She was suspected of poisoning her husband (to take over the throne alone) and also began a brutal persecution of Christians during her 33-year reign. People who disagreed with her policy of freeing Madagascar from European colonialism were tortured and killed. However, as a result of Ranavaluna's death, her weak-willed successors could do little, and Christian missionaries returned to the country. Three decades later, the last monarch was exiled and Madagascar became a French colony.

Queen Nandi. Zulu

Queen Nandi's story was initially unenviable. When Nandi of the Langeni tribe became pregnant by the Zulu chief Senzangakhona in 1700, the tribal elders were outraged. After the birth of the child, who was named Shaka, Nandi received the rather disgraceful status of Senzangakhon's third wife and faced mockery and ridicule. Despite the humiliation, Nandi raised Shaka to be a fierce warrior. He became chief of the Zulu in 1815, and Nandi became queen mother, receiving the name Ndlorukazi ("Great Elephant"). After this, she took brutal revenge on everyone who mistreated her and her son.

Cleopatra. Egypt

Cleopatra successfully fought against Rome for almost 30 years, defending the independence of Egypt. To ascend the throne, Cleopatra had to defeat two sisters - Berenice and Arsinoe, marry two young brothers in turn and poison both. They said about her: “Fatal beauty.” To understand the irony of Cleopatra VII’s fate, you need to know the history of her “cheerful” family. Egyptian rulers, descendants of Ptolemy, the commander of Alexander the Great, married sisters for 12 generations in a row, executed, slaughtered and poisoned children, parents, brothers, husbands and wives. Cleopatra charmed the young Caesar and bore him a son, Ptolemy Caesarion, to rule on his behalf. She fell in love with the middle-aged Roman commander Mark Antony and bore him three children. She almost managed to embarrass Emperor Octavian, but age still took its toll. And at the same time, Cleopatra should not be considered a frivolous, depraved woman. In terms of education, the Egyptian princess was superior to most ladies of her time - she knew eight languages, and understood not only Homer, but also tactics, medicine, and toxicology.

Irina Athenskaya. Byzantium

In Greek Orthodox Church Irina is considered a saint. In the 8th century, Irene took the Byzantine throne as regent after the death of her husband. But when her son grew up and received the right to the throne, Irina... gouged out his eyes in order to rule alone. This Byzantine Empress Irina of Athens not only loved power, she would do anything to keep power in her hands. Although the empress was deposed five years later and died in exile, she is remembered for restoring the veneration of icons in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Julia Agrippina. Rome

The insidious Agrippina skillfully seduced her uncle Claudius, becoming his fourth wife. After this, Agrippina upset the engagement of Claudius' daughter (Claudia Octavia) to Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus in order to marry her to her son from a previous marriage, Nero. After Claudius died of poisoning (this is also assumed to be Agrippina's fault), Nero became Roman emperor, forever changing the face of the Roman Empire. However, Agrippina was so controlling of her son that she even (rumored) considered removing him from the throne after Nero began making decisions independently of her. As a result, Nero killed his own mother. In history, Agrippina became known as one of the most influential women of the Julio-Claudian empire.

Hatshepsut. Egypt

The female pharaoh Hatshepsut, having ascended the throne after the death of her husband Thutmose II, was forced to wear men's clothing and wear a false beard, because the beliefs of Egypt required that the owner of the crown of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms embody the god Horus. Hatshepsut was eldest daughter and the only heir of Pharaoh Thutmose I was the future Thutmose III, the illegitimate son of her husband, who had barely reached the age of six. Having come to power, she sent the bastard prince to be raised in the temple and single-handedly led Egypt for 22 years. The country ravaged by nomads under the rule of Hatshepsut experienced an unprecedented economic growth, construction and trade developed, Egyptian ships reached the country of Punt. Hatshepsut personally led a military campaign into Nubia and won. Hatshepsut was supported by the priestly elite and loved by the people.

Queen Fredegonda. Frankish Empire Merovingian

The wife of King Chilperic 1 caused the king's first wife to be exiled to a monastery, and after that she organized the death of Chilperic's second wife, Galesvinta. When Galesvintha's sister Brunnhilde swore revenge, Fredegonda mercilessly killed her husband and sisters. This led to half a century of dynastic wars, which were called the "Wars of Fredegonde and Brünnhilde." Through a series of murders, Queen Fredegonda caused dramatic changes in the Merovingian Empire in the 5th century.

Queen Didda. Kashmir

Alternating between kindness and cruelty, Didda ruled Kashmir for most of the 10th century. In Kashmir, she is still considered one of the greatest rulers in history. The insidious and talented queen seized complete control over the country, getting rid of her competitors: on Didda’s orders, her son and three grandchildren were tortured to death. Queen Didda did away with her own grandchildren to ensure the country's sovereignty. Although Didda was ambitious and cruel, she effectively ensured the longevity of her dynasty.

Isabella of France. England

In conditions of constant humiliation, Isabella gave birth to four children to Edward II, among whom was the future king Edward III. The wife of Edward II, Queen Isabella of England, was hated by the king's favorites Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger Cop for many years dissatisfied with her husband, Isabella eventually, together with her lover Roger Mortimer, led a baronial rebellion against Edward II and overthrew him from the throne. Thus, she carried out the first constitutional parliamentary coup. After usurping the throne, she became queen regent for Edward III, but when her son came of age, he overthrew his mother. As a result, Edward III continued to rule England for 50 years.

Elizabeth of England

Elizabeth of England, like many women rulers of antiquity, had a difficult fate. She went through disgrace, exile, exile, imprisonment in the Tower and still took the royal throne. The unloved daughter of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, who was executed by him allegedly for treason, in fact - for the inability to give birth to a son. Despite the fact that Elizabeth had an official favorite, Robert Dudley, and many courtiers swore their love to their queen, who was truly distinguished by amazing beauty, at least in her youth, she claimed that she had retained her virginity and was pure before God.” She was the "Virgin Queen". "I'd rather be a lonely beggar than a married queen." Elizabeth's reign was called the “golden age”; under her wise rule, England defeated the “Invincible Armada” of Spain and became the queen of the seas.

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Married to the young French king by a 15-year-old girl, she did not love her husband, but lived with him for 20 years, bore him two daughters and even went with him to Crusade. A year after the annulment of her first marriage, she married Heinrich and gave birth to seven more (!) children. When her husband imprisoned her in a tower for unquenchable jealousy, she raised her sons against him. She lived until she was 80, and until her last day she actively participated in European politics, defending the interests of children. Eleanor was the daughter and sole heir of the Duke of Aquitaine, wife of Louis VII of France and Henry II Plantagenet, mother of Kings Richard Lionheart, John the Landless, Queens Eleanor of Spain and Joanna of Sicily. Ideal sweetheart, The beautiful lady of all the troubadours of her time. Willful, decisive, formidable, amorous and jealous - according to rumors, she poisoned the “beautiful Rosamund,” Henry’s beloved, about which many sentimental ballads were composed.

Empress Elizabeth 1, daughter of Peter 1

Elizabeth I is the empress who continued Peter's reforms. Due to the birth of his daughter, Peter I postponed the celebration of victory in Battle of Poltava. The name Elizaveta Romanov has not previously been used

Elizabeth I Petrovna is usually remembered as the most beautiful and most flirtatious of all Russian queens. She was called: “The Merry Queen.”

Elizaveta Petrovna was not prepared to take the Russian throne. Peter and Catherine planned to marry their daughter to a representative of the Bourbon dynasty, so the only requirement that the parents put forward for her education was good knowledge French. Well, and, of course, the girl was taught to dance and play music. She was an excellent rider and sat perfectly in the saddle.

Daughter of Peter I and Catherine I, a carefree beauty, a skilled dancer and a kind-hearted person. She was content with the life of a maiden of royal blood. According to foreign ambassadors, it was not a serious political force. However, at the age of 31, she led a revolt of the guards and ascended the throne, supported by the bayonets of the Preobrazhensky soldiers. The guards swore allegiance to Elizabeth and literally carried her into the palace in their arms, since there was a lot of snow outside. So Elizaveta Petrovna became empress.

The cheerful princess turned out to be a good ruler, at least she was smart enough to find wise ministers for herself. She fought victorious wars, opened the first banks, the imperial theater, and a porcelain factory in Russia. And... she abolished the death penalty - a couple of hundred years earlier than in Europe. The queen was also lucky with her personal life - she entered into a morganatic marriage with the singer Razumovsky. He loved his wife so much that after his death he destroyed the wedding documents so as not to compromise Peter’s daughter.

Celebrations for the coronation of Elizabeth I took place in April 1742. Contemporaries recalled that the celebrations, which lasted for 2 months, were distinguished by unprecedented luxury. During this time, the empress, who had a weakness for outfits, managed to wear costumes from almost all countries of the world. Subsequently, masquerades took place at the court twice a week. It is known that Elizabeth I’s wardrobe contained about 15 thousand dresses, which currently form the basis of the textile collection of the State Historical Museum in Moscow. In memory of the celebrations, the “Coronation Album of Elizabeth Petrovna” was published, which was prepared by the best engravers of that time: I. Sokolov, J. Shtelin, X. Wortman, G. Kachalov. The publication was published on thick paper with the golden monogram of the Empress in Russian and German languages and on plain paper with Russian text without decorations. The total circulation of the book was 1550 copies. In 2009, the original edition, published in 1744, was sold at Christie's auction for $98.5 thousand.

Elizabeth I went on pilgrimage on foot 52 km. Elizaveta Petrovna went on pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra from Moscow on foot, albeit in a very original way. She walked only 2-3 miles a day, after which she went in a carriage to the palace. The next day the carriage brought her to the place where she had picked her up, and Elizabeth walked on a couple more miles. Thus, the journey lasted for months, but was not very tiring. It is also known that the largest Orthodox male stauropegic monastery in Russia received the status and name of the Lavra by decree of Elizabeth Petrovna on July 8, 1742.

With the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, the Age of Enlightenment came to Russia. In 1744, the Empress issued a decree to expand the network primary schools. The first gymnasium was opened in Moscow in 1755, and in Kazan in 1758. In 1755, Moscow University was founded, and in 1757, the Academy of Arts. In 1756, Elizabeth I signed a decree on the creation of the imperial theater and ordered the transfer of Fyodor Volkov's troupe from Yaroslavl to the capital. Elizabeth I provides all possible support to M.V. Lomonosov and a number of other talented representatives of Russian science and culture. In 1755, the newspaper “Moskovskie Vedomosti” began to be published, and in 1760, the magazine “Useful Amusement” began to be published. Under Elizabeth I, the first Russian banks were founded - Kupechesky, Dvoryansky (Loan) and Medny (State).

Elizaveta Petrovna’s innate coquetry sometimes took on curious forms. For example, she once dyed her hair unsuccessfully and was forced to cut it. To prevent other ladies from overshadowing the queen's beauty, Elizabeth issued a decree: all court ladies should shave their heads and wear black wigs. Townswomen were allowed to keep their hair, but they also had to wear wigs.

Elizaveta Petrovna had a special passion for snuff boxes. By her decree, the first porcelain factory was even opened, which produced snuff boxes. The empress herself enjoyed using “sneeze boxes” and gave them away as gifts to foreign ambassadors. Today Elizabethan snuff boxes can be seen in the Hermitage.

Elizabeth I got married in secret. According to legend, in 1742, in the Perovskaya Church, a secret wedding Elizabeth I and Alexei Razumovsky. Supporters of this version cite 2 facts to confirm that they are right. Firstly, a year later the empress bought the village of Perovo and gave it to Razumovsky, who turned it into family nest. And secondly, the empress personally embroidered airs for the Perov Church - ritual fabrics for worship. They were kept in this church for a very long time.

Elizaveta Petrovna encouraged the development of science and the arts. One of her favorites, Shuvalov, actively promoted the spread of education among Russians. With his assistance, the first university in Russia was opened. Mikhail Lomonosov played a huge role in this matter. In general, under Elizabeth, the talents of Lomonosov, Kheraskov, Trediakovsky, and Sumarokov were revealed. There were brilliant architects who created their immortal works, which still adorn St. Petersburg.

Under Elizaveta Petrovna, who seemed to do nothing but shine at masquerades, internal trade in the country became very lively thanks to the concessions she made; The first banks opened. Elizabeth did not want to fight, but it was under her that the country was forced to fight fighting, as a result of which several Swedish fortresses came under Russian rule, and Berlin was captured. Active research was underway eastern territories, Alaska was discovered.

Upon her accession to the throne, Elizabeth I made an unspoken vow: under her rule there would be no capital punishment. In principle, she kept her word, but two high-profile trials with heavy punishments did happen during her reign: these were the cases of the “conspirators” Lopukhins and Bestuzhev-Ryumin.

Empress Catherine 2

During the reign of Catherine the Great from 1762 to 1796, the empire's possessions expanded significantly. Of the 50 provinces, 11 were acquired during her reign. The amount of government revenue increased from 16 to 68 million rubles. 144 new cities were built (more than 4 cities per year throughout the reign). The army almost doubled, the number of ships in the Russian fleet increased from 20 to 67 battleships, not counting other ships. The army and navy won 78 brilliant victories that strengthened Russia's international authority. Access to Chernoy has been won and Sea of ​​Azov, annexed Crimea, Ukraine (except for the Lvov region), Belarus, Eastern Poland, Kabarda. The annexation of Georgia to Russia began.

Moreover, during her reign, only one execution was carried out - the leader of the peasant uprising, Emelyan Pugachev.

The Empress was quick-tempered, but knew how to control herself, and never made decisions in a fit of anger. She was very polite even with the servants, no one heard a rude word from her, she did not order, but asked to do her will. Her rule, according to Count Segur, was “to praise out loud and scold quietly.” People who knew Catherine closely note her attractive appearance not only in her youth, but also in her mature years, her exceptionally friendly appearance, and ease of manner.

Catherine was indifferent to fashion. She didn’t notice her, and sometimes quite deliberately ignored her. IN weekdays the empress wore a simple dress and did not wear jewelry.

By her own admission, she did not have a creative mind, but she wrote plays, and even sent some of them to Voltaire for “review.”

Thomas Dimmesdale, an English doctor was called from London to introduce smallpox vaccinations in Russia. Knowing about society's resistance to innovation, Empress Catherine II decided to set a personal example and became one of Dimmesdale's first patients. In 1768, an Englishman inoculated her and Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich with smallpox. The recovery of the empress and her son became significant event in the life of the Russian court.

The Empress was a heavy smoker. The cunning Catherine, not wanting her snow-white gloves to become saturated with a yellow nicotine coating, ordered the tip of each cigar to be wrapped in a ribbon of expensive silk.

photo from the Internet