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King Ferdinand VI of Spain; Credit – Wikipedia
August 10, 1520 – Birth of Madeleine of Valois, Queen of Scots, daughter of King François I of France and first wife of James V, King of Scots, at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
After the Battle of Flodden in 1514, where James IV, King of Scots led an invading army into England, was defeated, and died in the battle, Scotland wanted to strengthen their alliance with France. The Treaty of Rouen was signed in 1517 and one of the provisions was for James V, King of Scots to marry a French princess. When James V reached a marriageable age, talks began regarding a marriage with Madeleine. However, Madeleine apparently had tuberculosis and her ill health was an issue and another French bride, Mary of Bourbon, was offered as a substitute. When James V came to France to meet Mary of Bourbon, he met Madeleine and decided to marry her. Because of his daughter’s health issues, François I was reluctant to agree to the marriage, but eventually, he did so. Madeleine and King James V of Scotland were married on January 1, 1537, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The couple arrived in Scotland on May 19, 1537, after months of celebrations in France, with Madeleine’s health having further deteriorated. Madeleine wrote a letter to her father on June 8, 1537, saying that she was feeling better and that her symptoms had subsided. Despite this, on July 7, 1537, Madeleine died from tuberculosis in her husband’s arms, a month short of her seventeenth birthday.
Unofficial Royalty: Madeleine of Valois, Queen of Scots
August 10, 1759 – Death of King Fernando VI of Spain at the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón in Madrid, Spain; buried at Salesas Reales Church in Madrid, Spain
In 1729, Fernando married Barbara of Portugal, daughter of João V, King of Portugal. The couple had no children. Fernando succeeded his father Felipe V, King of Spain in 1746, and reigned for thirteen years. His wife Barbara died in 1758 and her death broke Fernando’s heart. During the last year of his reign, probably at least partially caused by his wife’s death, Fernando VI rapidly lost his mental capacity and was held at the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón, near Madrid, where he died less than a year after Barbara’s death, on August 10, 1759, as the age of 45.
Unofficial Royalty: King Fernando VI of Spain
August 10, 1869 – Birth of Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, second wife of Friedrich August II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, in Schwerin, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg- Schwein, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
Elisabeth Alexandrine married Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was the sister of Heinrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerinmarried who Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. After her husband was forced to abdicate on November 11, 1918, when the German Empire fell, the couple took up residence at Rastede Castle in Rastede near Oldenburg, Germany. Elisabeth Alexandrine remained close to her large family, often spending time with her brother, Heinrich, in the Netherlands.
Unofficial Royalty: Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
August 10, 1876 – Death of Charles Elmé Francatelli, maitre d’hôtel and chief cook in ordinary to Queen Victoria from 1840 – 1842, in Eastbourne, England
Charles Francatelli’s story in the TV series Victoria is mostly fictional. For two years only, from March 9, 1840 to March 31, 1842, Francatelli served as maitre d’hôtel and chief cook in ordinary to Queen Victoria. For some reason, he was dismissed, perhaps because Queen Victoria did not like his French cuisine. Francatelli did have one more royal client. From 1863 – 1865, he served as chef de cuisine to The Prince and Princess of Wales (the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) at their London home, Marlborough House. He did marry (but not to Queen Victoria’s dresser) and had children.
Unofficial Royalty: Charles Elmé Francatelli
August 10, 1888 – Birth of Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark, son of King George I of Greece, in Pavlovsk, near St. Petersburg, Russia
Christopher was the only one of his parents’ eight children born outside of Greece. His birth was a surprise, as his eldest sibling was 20 years old at the time of Christopher’s birth. Christopher was offered the thrones of Lithuania, Albania, and Portugal, all of which he refused. Christopher believed a throne should be accepted only when the prospective ruler was seriously dedicated to the idea of leading a country. Christopher did not believe himself to be sufficiently up to the challenge.
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark
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