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Leopold I, King of the Belgians; Credit – Wikipedia
July 21, 1782 – Death of Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen in Sonneberg, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany; initially buried at the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, his remains were later moved to the Meiningen municipal cemetery in 1977
When he was eight years old, Karl Wilhelm succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Because of his age, his mother served as Regent and was instrumental in bringing the duchy back from the brink of financial and economic disaster. He married Princess Luise of Stolberg-Gedern but the couple had no children. Karl Wilhelm died at the age of 27 and was succeeded by his brother Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
Unofficial Royalty: Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
July 21, 1831 – Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the uncle of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, ascends to the throne of Belgium as Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians
In August of 1830, the southern provinces (modern-day Belgium) of the Netherlands rebelled against Dutch rule. International powers meeting in London agreed to support the independence of Belgium, despite the fact that the Dutch refused to recognize the new country. On April 22, 1831, Leopold was asked by the Belgian National Congress if he wanted to be King of the Belgians. Leopold swore allegiance to the new Belgian constitution on July 21, 1831, and became the first King of the Belgians. Each year July 21 is celebrated as Belgian National Day.
Unofficial Royalty: King Leopold I of the Belgians
July 21, 1838 – Death of Sophie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, Princess Reuss of Gera, first wife of Heinrich XX, 4th Prince Reuss of Greiz
In 1834, Sophie married the future Heinrich XX, 4th Prince Reuss of Greiz. Sophie was Catholic and her husband was Lutheran. There is no information on whether Sophie remained Catholic or converted to Lutheranism. On October 31, 1836, Heinrich XX’s elder brother Heinrich XIX, 3rd Prince Reuss of Greiz died. Because his brother had no son to succeed him, Sophie’s husband became the 4th Prince Reuss of Greiz. Sophie was in ill health for most of her marriage and never had any children. She died on July 21, 1838, at the age of 29. Her husband had the Sophienkreuz (Sophie Cross), also known as the White Cross, built in her memory on a hill overlooking Greiz. The cross has been knocked down several times due to bad weather but it has always been rebuilt.
Unofficial Royalty: Sophie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, Princess Reuss of Greiz
July 21, 1858 – Birth of Maria Christina of Austria, Queen of Spain, second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain, at Židlochovice Castle near Brno, Moravia, now in the Czech Republic
Full name: Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria
After the death of his first wife, King Alfonso XII of Spain married Maria Christina. On November 25, 1885, three days before his 28th birthday, King Alfonso XII died from tuberculosis, leaving two daughters and Maria Christina pregnant with their third child. It was decided that Maria Christina would rule as regent until the child was born. If the child were a male, he would become king and if the child were a female, Alfonso and Maria Christina’s elder daughter María Mercedes would become queen. On May 17, 1886, a son was born who immediately became King Alfonso XIII. Maria Christina continued as regent until Alfonso XIII reached the age of 16 and took control of the monarchy in 1902.
Unofficial Royalty: Maria Christina of Austria, Queen of Spain
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