MM Mini View: Romanov Tsars of Russia, Part III

Continued from Part IIEmperor Peter III: There is no doubt that Tsar Peter III is one of those emperors you are not supposed to like, however, I think a great deal of injustice has been done to the man. Most of the worst things said about him were said by those who were trying to justify their betrayal and that should be kept in mind. Forced into a marriage he did not want by his aunt Elizabeth it was never a happy union. His wife, Catherine, wanted...

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Flag Flaps, Part II, France

Most monarchists are aware of the occasion on which the restoration of the Kingdom of France came to naught because of a dispute over the national flag. HRH Henri of Artois, Count of Chambord, the grandson of King Charles X, who should have been King Henri V of France, was offered the chance of reclaiming his birthright but turned it down because of the refusal of the National Assembly to revert the national flag to the white flag with the golden...

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MM Mini View: Romanov Tsars of Russia, Part II

Continued from Part IEmpress Catherine I: Peter the Great did a great deal to benefit Russia and also some things that I do not think were so beneficial. I count among those leaving Russia in the hands of his common-born wife Empress Catherine I. She continued the policies of her late husband, good and bad alike but did win some popularity for lowering taxes but cutting the strength of the army. Overall, I am not a big fan of Catherine I. She was...

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Favorite Royal Images: The Last Empress

HM Empress Wan Jung of Ch...

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Royal News Roundup

Starting in the Far East, on Sunday HM the Empress of Japan celebrated her 79th birthday, congratulations on that and best wishes for many more to come. In a press conference Her Majesty expressed her admiration for those still dealing with the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake, her joy at Tokyo being chosen to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and expressed her concern over civil wars and acts of terrorism around the world. The Empress addressed...

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Flag Flaps, Part I, Japan

As long-time readers will know, your resident madman is a vexillologist, which is a very fancy name for folks interested in flags. Flags, like even the most ceremonial of monarchs, are powerful symbols and have the ability to arouse very strong feelings in people. I have ranted before about the misuse of monarchist flags and those who want to scrap flags with monarchist overtones, however, something else that bothers me a great deal is when a flag...

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Question for Catholics: Why Not the Pope?

Two weeks ago was my second attempt at a “theme week” focusing on royal topics from a particular region. The first was Scandinavia, then two weeks ago was Southeast Asia. Here at The Mad Monarchist your humble correspondent makes an effort to cover the royal heritage of every part of the world, not just the popular monarchies or former monarchies most in this audience are probably most familiar with. However, who you are will always have some effect...

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MM Mini View: Romanov Tsars of Russia, Part I

Tsar Michael I: The first Romanov to rule Russia, placed on the throne by the Church and known as a frail but pious youth in the beginning, Michael I showed he was stronger than he appeared by having to deal at the outset with Polish and Swedish armies on Russian soil and some rebellious Cossacks. He got Novgorod back from the Swedes but had to accept some losses to Poland. Under Michael I the ruined Russian economy began to recover, Orthodoxy was...

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Favorite Royal Images: An Italian Princess

HRH Princess Mafalda of Italy, Landgravine of He...

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Royal News Roundup

Starting in the Far East this week, in the Kingdom of Thailand, HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, eldest child of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thai ambassador to Austria and a former criminal prosecutor has launched a new campaign aimed at helping incarcerated women receive “equal justice” on a global scale through the United Nations. At the first of what is hoped to be many international meetings held in Bangkok the princess said, “Without...

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Shut Down and Debt Ceiling

Recently, the United States government was shut down for a few days, causing worry all around the world and warnings of the most dire consequences and even total economic collapse across America and then across the globe if the government was not re-opened and the debt ceiling raised. Because that is what the stand-off came down to; raising the debt ceiling. The provocation, of course was the “Affordable Care Act” aka “Obamacare” which the Republican-controlled...

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Monarchists Today: Germany

The most prominent monarchist group or movement (that I am aware of) in Germany is the group “Tradition und Leben”. It was officially registered with the German authorities in Cologne in January of 1959 but existed prior to that in an organizational stage. “Tradition und Leben” seems to be a good group and, given their platform, there are probably some who would be surprised to hear yours truly say that. However, I say it because they are being serious...

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