July 17, 1917

[oldbrownhat]

On this date the British Royal Family officially changed their name from "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha" to the more prosaic (and English) "Windsor", after 3 years of murderous unpleasantness with King George's cousin, Kaiser Wilhelm. This resulted in King Bill displaying a rare example of humour, declaring he was looking forward to a performance of Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha."

 

[biku324]

Did the new Windsors tell their favorite dog he was then an Alsatian (rather than a German) Shepherd?

 

[oldbrownhat]

Did the new Windsors tell their favorite dog he was then an Alsatian (rather than a German) Shepherd?

Alas, history has not recorded this for posterity.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

When Kaiser Bill arrived at his place of exile in the Netherlands in November 1918 the first thing he asked for was a good hot cup of strong English tea.

 

[biku324]

When Kaiser Bill arrived at his place of exile in the Netherlands in November 1918 the first thing he asked for was a good hot cup of strong English tea.

Well, that Serbs him right.

 

[Greyman50]

Well, that Serbs him right.

LOL, will have to remember this and use it at the next militaria show

 

[Rudi]

All the great houses of Europe were inter- married. Must have been interesting at large State dinners etc.

 

[oldbrownhat]

All the great houses of Europe were inter- married. Must have been interesting at large State dinners etc.

That close inter-marriage has genetic side-effects, too.

My gf & I often comment that visiting Europe in the Edwardian era and maybe between the wars would have been very interesting from an arts & culture point of view... as log as you could "get out of Dodge" on a moment's notice.

I've been reading up a bit on Kaiser Bill. Apparently very intelligent and made many valuable reforms in education and various social issues; promoted interest and research in promoting science and the arts. But also deeply insecure and jealous of Britain's position as top dog, which fuelled his nationalism. Also frustrated by his physical disability, which curtailed his participation in military activities, with which he became almost obsessed.

I remember reading an anecdote of a visit to Switzerland, where he observed some very accurate shooting by the small Swiss army (~100,000) He expressed his admiration, but added, "But what would happen if I were to invade with an army of 1 million?" To which the commanding officer said, "Well, we'd each shoot 10 times and then go home."

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

All the great houses of Europe were inter- married. Must have been interesting at large State dinners etc.

They were ALL related to an extent even before marriage....and few liked each other. A lot of those state dinners were very tense to say the least. If you ask me most of them would've been good Jerry Springer material! Take a good look at the Hapsbergs

 

[oldbrownhat]

...Take a good look at the Hapsbergs

Is that a jawline you would trust?

The Distinctive 'Habsburg Jaw' Was Likely the Result of the Royal Family's Inbreeding

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Is that a jawline you would trust?

The Distinctive 'Habsburg Jaw' Was Likely the Result of the Royal Family's Inbreeding

And some were even WORSE than that!
Kinda makes you wonder where the material for all those nursery rhymes came from!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Kinda makes you wonder where the material for all those nursery rhymes came from!

One mustn't forget the plague. Ring Around a Rosie is based on things little tykes should never have had to face.

 

[Kinman]

That close inter-marriage has genetic side-effects, too.

My gf & I often comment that visiting Europe in the Edwardian era and maybe between the wars would have been very interesting from an arts & culture point of view... as log as you could "get out of Dodge" on a moment's notice.

I've been reading up a bit on Kaiser Bill. Apparently very intelligent and made many valuable reforms in education and various social issues; promoted interest and research in promoting science and the arts. But also deeply insecure and jealous of Britain's position as top dog, which fuelled his nationalism. Also frustrated by his physical disability, which curtailed his participation in military activities, with which he became almost obsessed.

I remember reading an anecdote of a visit to Switzerland, where he observed some very accurate shooting by the small Swiss army (~100,000) He expressed his admiration, but added, "But what would happen if I were to invade with an army of 1 million?" To which the commanding officer said, "Well, we'd each shoot 10 times and then go home."

If I remember correctly I remember seeing a photo of the old Queen surrounded by her nephews, and other brats. Everyone from the future King of England to Kaiser Wilhelm and the Russian Czar Nicholas, there was another one, just can't remember. Bunch of Inbreds...

 

[biku324]

One mustn't forget the plague. Ring Around a Rosie is based on things little tykes should never have had to face.

We fortunate New Mexicans still have bubonic plague in the north - thanks a lot, conquistadores!

 

[Golddollar]

All the great houses of Europe were inter- married.

I was in a library in Baltimore one time and found a genealogical report on the royal families of Europe. It looked like a schematic for a pinball machine.