PinnedLaura / L.E. van AltfeldtThe Emperor’s Schizophrenic Son Who Tortured and Killed a WomanAfter asking a barber’s daughter to live in his castle, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II’s bastard son committed crimes bad enough for his…Jul 31, 20204Jul 31, 20204
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtinLessons from HistoryThe Life of Napoleon’s French MistressesOne was a painter and a novelist, others a noblewoman and a middle-class beauty. A commoner nicknamed “Cleopatra”, with another a divorcée…Sep 24, 2023Sep 24, 2023
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtFour Weird Facts About King Charles IX of France You May Find InterestingReigning during the French Wars of Religion as a young and immature King, Charles IX’s time on the throne could have had so much more…Jul 14, 2022Jul 14, 2022
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtThe Wife Who Carried Her Husband’s Head in a Velvet BagTill death did them part, Sir Walter Raleigh’s loyal Bess kept his head with her after his execution until the day she died.Jul 7, 2022Jul 7, 2022
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtThe Most Unfortunate Pope in HistoryCommissioned Michelangelo’s ‘The Last Judgement’, was the ‘handsomest’ of all Supreme Pontiffs, and got captured by Emperor Charles V.Dec 24, 2021Dec 24, 2021
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtThe Persecution of Homosexuals in 17th Century UtrechtThe ‘Utrecht sodomy trails’ took place amid natural disasters, for which the moral panic of the populace sought some scapegoatsDec 23, 2021Dec 23, 2021
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtThe Life of Tsar Nicholas II’s MistressUnlike most royal mistresses, she was done away with as a consequence of her lover’s marriageJul 24, 20212Jul 24, 20212
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtFox Tossing: An Example of Animal Cruelty in the Baroque PeriodFrom 17th to 18th century Europe, animal cruelty took on the shape of yet another pointless aristocratic blood sportJul 18, 2021Jul 18, 2021
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtThe West’s First Erotic NovelAn 18th century work far ahead of its time… it stirred as much controversy as you can imagineJul 12, 20211Jul 12, 20211
Laura / L.E. van AltfeldtHow a King’s Sister Wrote of Her Brother’s Sexual ExploitsIntelligent, open-minded, and bold; Marguerite of Navarre was the perfect sister for the chivalrous Renaissance King Francis I of FranceMar 21, 20211Mar 21, 20211