Books · Monarchies · Mores · Education
Thus a French Speculum Principis of the early sixteenth century contains the counsel not to "speak against the sun" and not to "make water facing the sun"
NB! · Archive · Monarchies · Mores · Humour
Books · Monarchies · People
Charles the Fifth, Emperor of Rome, used to say that one should speak Spanish with God, French with friends, German with the enemy, and Italian with the fair sex. But had he been skilled in the Russian tongue, he would surely have added that one may fittingly speak it with
Monarchies · Observations
Strictly speaking, however, French has the name Ludovic, Ludovicus alongside the name Louis, and the kings are called precisely Louis. We, for our part, wrongly call the French monarchs Ludoviks, following the medieval diplomatic tradition of communicating in Latin, which took account of the etymology of the name, going back
NB! · Monarchies · Humour
Archive · Monarchies · Observations · Mores · Humour
Inside the card, which measures 12×8, is mounted a colour photograph of Charles and Camilla skiing in Scotland, inscribed in black ink "To Cyril and Eve from Charles and "Camilla". The recipient, Cyril Dickman, was formerly a butler at Buckingham Palace, where he served the Queen
Art · Monarchies · Museums · Paris
In 1823 Louis XVIII acquired a unique slab of wood: a cross-section of Malabar oak, or teak, almost 3 metres across. The wood of Indian teak, especially from the Malabar Coast, is highly prized for its handsome colouring. But teak usually reaches no more than a metre and a
Archive · Books · Monarchies · Moscow
"In the year 6655. Grand Prince Yury of Suzdal, son of Vladimir Monomakh, grandson of Vsevolod, great-grandson of Yaroslav, great-great-grandson of Vladimir the Great, gathered an host, and went and took the town of Novy Torg, and along the river Msta laid waste many districts; and
Archive · Art · Books · Monarchies · Moscow
The State Coat of Arms: the Double-Headed Eagle and the State Seal in the manuscript book "Titulyarnik" or "The Great Sovereign's Book" of 1672. Pen, watercolours, shell gold. Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts. In this historical and diplomatic reference work, presented to
NB! · Architecture · Monarchies · Heritage
Alexander the Great spared Mount Athos from the plan of his architect Dinocrates, who wished to turn it into a colossal statue of Alexander holding a city and a bowl pouring water into the sea. By Alexander's will, Dinocrates left Athos untouched and designed Alexandria instead
NB! · London · Monarchies · Mores · People
Architecture · Art · Monarchies
Louis XIV was delighted with the decor of the Hôtel de Châteaurenard in Aix-en-Provence. The decoration of the central staircase is executed in the genre of trompe-l'œil, or "fool the eye", popular since antiquity. Trompe-l'œil is when you see something