Real Life Historical Gushes

Yes, that's him. King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden. I've been having this obsession for almost all my life - ever since I discovered that the current queen is German born, though from a different part. When my parents made me watch the above mentioned film, I was really grumpy "it's good for your history lessons" is nothing that enthralls a 12-year-old. A good old romance - a fairytale romance and true story to top it - did.

And before becoming Madame Bernadotte, Désirée Clary was Napoléon's love - before he met Joséphine de Beauharnais.

Off to read a little in my battered issue of the novel, Désirée. BTW: Thanks again, Lady Barb, you're just giving me so many pleasant memories, just what I need!



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Edith says: Had to edit the first Bernadotte's name. He was, after all, the fourteenth Carl of Sweden, the sixteenth is the current one: Carl XVI Gustav. Shame on me!

I'd say George Armstrong Custer, but I'm afraid our western members might rip me a new orifice.

I found Ulysses Grant intriguing after reading his autobiography. There's must to be said about a simple, good man.

I have a dead heroes file on my computer - among my crushes are Joseph Banks, Charles Dickens, Alexander Hamilton and Arthur Wellesley. :-)

And my own contribution to Historical Babe Dudes for today

Lord Granville Leveson-Gower (Lawrence was the BEST portrait painter for Babe Dudes in history). Spot the tousled Roman style hair, the fur lined coat and the black breeches with black stockings. Yowza
They don't make diplomats like this anymore



For those into scandal, before he married Lady Harriet Cavendish (daughter of the famous Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire), he was the lover of Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough (Georgiana's sister) and they had two illegitimate children, which Harriet raised with her own children

In many ways, Bernadotte tops Boney in the 'How High Can You Go' stakes. From the ranks to King of Sweden...and unlike a certain someone I won't mention, he kept his throne...and his dynasty is still there, the House of Bernadotte (my pedantic gentleman acquaintance who is also a huge fan keeps reminding me to stop calling him Bernadotte once he becomes Crown Prince, ho hum). 
Yes, but alas he could not keep on to Finland because Alexander I wanted it, and the Allies had enough trouble with Russia and Prussia trying to grab land (thus went Poland..and Saxony lost half of its territory to Prussia)...by the way, a great book on this subject (the peace negotiations and the congresses) is 'Rites of Peace' by Count Adam Zamoyski (who also wrote the superb '1812'...although am currently reading Dominic Lieven's (is he related to Prince Lieven?) 'Russia against Napoleon' which is fabulous, I know now more about Russian military logistics than I ever did before...on the back of the book, under the author bio stuff Dominic Lieven states that his dog is named Barclay de Tolly, which is pure genius..bark bark bark).

Talking of the Congress of Vienna, here's Viscount Castlereagh, the most brilliant Foreign Secretary in British History. 
And talk about woof woof 



And just to show the good genes, here is his brother Charles Vane-Stewart, future 3rd Marquis of Londonderry (Peninsular War veteran, noted diplomat and ambassador at the congresses)

Might as well add President/General George Washington and John Adams. Adams especially for his brillance. Abigail must have seen Something in him.

Yours Aye,

Diane