The book “Ook dit gaat voorbij” (Translation: “This Will Pass Too”) tells about the alleged teenage love between prince Alexander and Jettie, the daughter of a baron. In the summer of 1863 (when Alexander was 14) the family Schimmelpenninck have the young prince as a guest. Jettie, who is one year older than the prince, lives in the house Nijenhuis in Diepenheim with her family. Jettie and the prince get quite close, so close even, when the prince has grown up he returns to Jettie’s parents to ask for her hand. Of course that marriage never happens.
The book starts out with listing all the main characters. The old duke, Jettie’s grandfather, died in 1863. According to the book it was in the summer Alexander was with the family. Also according to the book, the prince was 14 years old. Me knowing the prince was born in 1851 and me being able to do a quick sum, made me come to the conclusion that or the named year is wrong or the named age of the prince is wrong. The prince couldn’t have been 14 in 1863, more like 11 going on 12. It is sort of important, because Jettie is one year older, 12 or 13. At that age, playing with dolls, maybe just. However at age 15 I would say she was too old, but she did, and it offended the prince somewhat. After he left the house he supposedely said he wanted to make Jettie grown up and not talk to dolls anymore.
Anyway, this is a very convoluted way of saying that the book came across to me as a very 60’s book. My mum, who doesn’t read books, has quite a few of these kind of books. It has the same sweet language, the same sweet structure of story telling and characters. In my opinion, the story is not told very well. A good story introduces the characters within the story. It also has one passage that seems to have nothing to do with the story, except that it apparently happened to prince Alexander. Maybe I missed something.
I will hold this book dear for a few passages. For instance when prince Alexander and Jettie go out riding the prince constantly keeps talking to the horse warning it for holes in the road and too deep mud tracks. Not only that, he also points out very big trees and other tourist attractions to the horse. The horse nods sideways letting him know he heard and understood.
I will also hold it dear for what to me looks like a very truthful, yet confronting, characterisation of the prince. He’s as sweet and brilliant as is always described. He’s also in such way socially awkward it makes me cringe sometimes. And he’s stubborn, and puts his opinions forward no matter what others say. That reminds me of what minister Weitzel once wrote in his diary: “The prince seems susceptible for a change of conviction, though his actions don’t always proof that.” Yeah, even I noticed that. Even in the book that comes across.
What I don’t like about the book is the alleged teenage love between the prince and Jettie. In most reviews I read it was noted the story was based on very thin evidence. So thin, only this book tells about it. Maybe it’s greed from my side; I want him for myself. Or maybe my dislike is based on something reasonable. I can see they liked each other. I don’t know what it was though. Could you call that a teenage love affair?
Another problem with the book is Jettie. Jettie is a sweet girl. Jettie behaves like a six year old while she’s supposed to be fifteen. Jettie’s character is described through the eyes of her grandfather who adores her, more than his other grandchildren. Jettie’s character is so minimal, in the end, I know nothing about her. Maybe I should read the book propperly.
I haven’t read this back before posting, but I’m quite sure this is more a ramble about a book than a proper review.
Showing posts with label prins Alexander. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prins Alexander. Show all posts
Monday, July 15, 2013
This Also Will Pass
Last Saturday the little book from the antique shop arrived: "Ook dit gaat voorbij". (Translation: "This Also Will Pass.")
It was a strange read. The book was written as a novel with the characters once having been real people.
It felt a little weird to me. Especially the words put in prince Alexander’s mouth made me feel a little uncomfortable, even though the author was very respectful and truthful. Yes, truthful, because he came across as a sweet, socially awkward, but intelligent young man with his own set of opinions and his own way of putting those opinions across. He felt every bit the prince I saw described in many descriptions. He came across as every bit the prince I love to hate.
Side step: that was the best use of “love to hate” I can think of, even though it came from my brains through my fingers.
He was every bit adorable. He was every bit fascinating. He was every bit stubborn. He was every bit socially inapt. He pursued with the passion I’ve come to known of him. He failed in every way he always seemed to. He was every bit the prince I came to know since that fatal day back at the start of May.
I’m not quite sure what to do now. Beside the fact that all of this lies in the past, he’s also an unreachable person. There’s no way I’ll ever meet him. Chances of news about him are very little, nearly even absent. There’s no development, no more life, nothing. There’s nothing there for me. It’s all distant, untouchable. Nothing of that history is mine, nor will I ever manage to attach only a little bit of me in there, because it is all done. How much longer? This also will pass.
Alexander.
Thoughts about him live on between sighs. *sigh* Alexander *sigh*. It’s as if recalling his life is as much a tragedy as his life was. Everybody who showed an interest in him seems to remember him with a sigh. Yes, it is strange how one gets more attention after death than during his whole life. Though technically, that’s not true. When he was still alive he got more attention. When he was alive people knew who he was, or they thought they know. The point is, people had an opinion about him, something people in general don’t anymore. Not about the late prince Alexander, youngest son of King William III.
Yes, he is a forgotten prince. But of all forgotten princes, he’s the one least forgotten.
*sigh* Alexander *sigh*
It was a strange read. The book was written as a novel with the characters once having been real people.
It felt a little weird to me. Especially the words put in prince Alexander’s mouth made me feel a little uncomfortable, even though the author was very respectful and truthful. Yes, truthful, because he came across as a sweet, socially awkward, but intelligent young man with his own set of opinions and his own way of putting those opinions across. He felt every bit the prince I saw described in many descriptions. He came across as every bit the prince I love to hate.
Side step: that was the best use of “love to hate” I can think of, even though it came from my brains through my fingers.
He was every bit adorable. He was every bit fascinating. He was every bit stubborn. He was every bit socially inapt. He pursued with the passion I’ve come to known of him. He failed in every way he always seemed to. He was every bit the prince I came to know since that fatal day back at the start of May.
I’m not quite sure what to do now. Beside the fact that all of this lies in the past, he’s also an unreachable person. There’s no way I’ll ever meet him. Chances of news about him are very little, nearly even absent. There’s no development, no more life, nothing. There’s nothing there for me. It’s all distant, untouchable. Nothing of that history is mine, nor will I ever manage to attach only a little bit of me in there, because it is all done. How much longer? This also will pass.
Alexander.
Thoughts about him live on between sighs. *sigh* Alexander *sigh*. It’s as if recalling his life is as much a tragedy as his life was. Everybody who showed an interest in him seems to remember him with a sigh. Yes, it is strange how one gets more attention after death than during his whole life. Though technically, that’s not true. When he was still alive he got more attention. When he was alive people knew who he was, or they thought they know. The point is, people had an opinion about him, something people in general don’t anymore. Not about the late prince Alexander, youngest son of King William III.
Yes, he is a forgotten prince. But of all forgotten princes, he’s the one least forgotten.
*sigh* Alexander *sigh*
Monday, July 8, 2013
It's Quite Pleasing
Pleasing Thing 1
A few weeks back I told you I was doing a training Professional Advice Skills. It was a very useful training to which I should go back more often than I do at the moment. For one, I could bring all the material to office and sort all the useable models out.
Anyway, one piece of homework we had to do and which I hadn’t done, was doing a test to figure out what kind of person I was. You could fall into the following categories: 1) Action 2) Tactic 3) People 4) Ideas. The test was chosing between two statements. There were about 50 couples of statements. This was my score 1) Action: 7, 2) Tactic: 9, 3) People: 7, and 4) Ideas: 17. Total should be 40. It did shed some light on why I don’t feel very happy in the work I do right now. Everything I have to do is collecting information, steering people and filling in a template. That’s it. I don’t need to come up with any ideas in my daily work.
That sounds like a negative thing, which it is. The positive is; I now know why I don’t feel happy at work now. That’s pleasing.
Pleasing Thing 2
Not too long ago I posted a fun fact on one of the Dutch Royals websites. The fun fact was that Alexander once danced with a male friend of his on a gala. I also added I didn’t know what his intentions were.
Someone responded he did it to shock the people in attendance. It was very effective; people were shocked and spoke their disapproval and rumors assued.
Pleasing Thing 3
Finally the weather behaves like it’s summer, which it is. Last Saturday I went sailing with Owen on the Gaasperplas. The weather was fantastic. We had some nice food; my pasta salad was very pleasing. We had some joints, alcoholic and a few swims and we didn’t drown.
Even though my arms were killing me later in bed, I was really happy the weather was finally such I could go have a swim in the Gaasperplas. The water was cool, but not too cold. Refreshing and lovely. Also, my sun cream/block is very pleasing. It smells nice and protects.
Pleasing Thing 4
I’m pulling myself together and it’s getting rather busy at work. I could be sharper, but I think I didn’t let anything slip too much. Still, I could be much sharper. Amount of work done per day is pleasing.
A few weeks back I told you I was doing a training Professional Advice Skills. It was a very useful training to which I should go back more often than I do at the moment. For one, I could bring all the material to office and sort all the useable models out.
Anyway, one piece of homework we had to do and which I hadn’t done, was doing a test to figure out what kind of person I was. You could fall into the following categories: 1) Action 2) Tactic 3) People 4) Ideas. The test was chosing between two statements. There were about 50 couples of statements. This was my score 1) Action: 7, 2) Tactic: 9, 3) People: 7, and 4) Ideas: 17. Total should be 40. It did shed some light on why I don’t feel very happy in the work I do right now. Everything I have to do is collecting information, steering people and filling in a template. That’s it. I don’t need to come up with any ideas in my daily work.
That sounds like a negative thing, which it is. The positive is; I now know why I don’t feel happy at work now. That’s pleasing.
Pleasing Thing 2
Not too long ago I posted a fun fact on one of the Dutch Royals websites. The fun fact was that Alexander once danced with a male friend of his on a gala. I also added I didn’t know what his intentions were.
Someone responded he did it to shock the people in attendance. It was very effective; people were shocked and spoke their disapproval and rumors assued.
Pleasing Thing 3
Finally the weather behaves like it’s summer, which it is. Last Saturday I went sailing with Owen on the Gaasperplas. The weather was fantastic. We had some nice food; my pasta salad was very pleasing. We had some joints, alcoholic and a few swims and we didn’t drown.
Even though my arms were killing me later in bed, I was really happy the weather was finally such I could go have a swim in the Gaasperplas. The water was cool, but not too cold. Refreshing and lovely. Also, my sun cream/block is very pleasing. It smells nice and protects.
Pleasing Thing 4
I’m pulling myself together and it’s getting rather busy at work. I could be sharper, but I think I didn’t let anything slip too much. Still, I could be much sharper. Amount of work done per day is pleasing.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Prince Alexander - Character Study
Alexander was born 25 August 1851. One year before his birth his older brother Maurits had died of meningitis. Possibly the only reason Alexander’s parents found each other, in a short period of reconciliation, was their sadness over losing Maurits. Whatever the case, Alexander was conceived around Christmas.
Alexander was from birth on a sickly, nervous and shy child. Both his parents found him an ugly baby, with his father saying: “Foei, wat een lelijke jongen” (Damn, what an ugly boy) and he took pleasure from telling his wife how lacking and weak her son was. His mother meanwhile wondered if she was punished for attaching too much value to beauty.
It was soon decided his mother would raise him and her husband let her to it distancing himself from his youngest born son.
When Alexander was growing up it not only became clear how nervous and shy he was, he also turned out to be a clever and sharp minded boy. Undoubtly his mother encouraged him in developing his mind and she was a great influence on the boy. Alexander’s liberal opinions found birth in that period, when he spent most of his time with his mother.
The war between his parents, that had been going on long before Alexander was born, was only slightly tempered by the fact his parents didn’t share their lives together anymore. Since Alexander grew up with his mother he would easily choose his mother’s side in fights with his father. Not that his father ever sought his affections. Obviously, Alexander’s relationship with his father was far from close and would only grow more hostile as time went on.
Alexander grew up to be a clever man. His cleverness can still be found in some letters and the two brochures he wrote. Also in recollections of people he’s said to be a sharp minded and developed man.
Beside clever Alexander was also stubborn. One example is his not being present at the openening of the political year after he became heir aparent to his father. He explained in one letter and the two brochures he was too sad about the losses he had suffered (death of his mother 1877, and brother 1879) he couldn’t be present. That was in 1879. However, Alexander never went to the opening after his brother’s death. From an account from a minister I’ve got the impression that in the end even Alexander didn’t believe in his reasons to stay away anymore.
Another example is the unrest when Alexander became a candidate to become “Grootmeester Nationaal” (Grandmaster- National) of the freemasons. Alexander threw himself in that discussion with gusto.
A more painful proof of his stubborness is his holding on to the past. Alexander never managed to give the death of his mother and brother a place. He felt those losses deeply and that made him even more sad and melancholic, which made him feel the losses even deeper. In other words, Alexander lived in a vicious circel he didn’t want to and couldn’t break free from.
Alexander is most of the time a friendly and sympathetic man. However, if he feels something is not right he would speak his mind. One example is his reaction to a young lady writing a letter in French, which in those times was normal. Alexander wrote her back telling her she could write a letter in Dutch or not at all.
The above mentioned situations are also examples of Alexander’s principles and the way he dealt with those. Only when it concerned more personal matters, like the fact he didn’t seem to be able to come out of grieving, he would retreat and not contact anymore. That his old uncle Frederic found out. His uncle, only worried about his way of living, tried to encourage him to change his ways. Alexander ignored him and they lost contact somewhat. Alexander regretted that when his uncle died not long after their differences. It didn’t take him long to overcome that.
Nothing is known about Alexander’s ambitions. Not because his health wasn’t very promising and after becoming heir aparent he locked himself up in his palace. He kept up with news and developments, because he was aware of his duties as heir aparent, but the general public never saw anything of that. To the outside world he was just a reclusive.
In summary, Alexander was a clever, sharp minded, well developed, (over-)sensitive and fragile person.
Alexander died 21 June 1884 at age 32, today 129 years ago.
It was soon decided his mother would raise him and her husband let her to it distancing himself from his youngest born son.
When Alexander was growing up it not only became clear how nervous and shy he was, he also turned out to be a clever and sharp minded boy. Undoubtly his mother encouraged him in developing his mind and she was a great influence on the boy. Alexander’s liberal opinions found birth in that period, when he spent most of his time with his mother.
The war between his parents, that had been going on long before Alexander was born, was only slightly tempered by the fact his parents didn’t share their lives together anymore. Since Alexander grew up with his mother he would easily choose his mother’s side in fights with his father. Not that his father ever sought his affections. Obviously, Alexander’s relationship with his father was far from close and would only grow more hostile as time went on.
Alexander grew up to be a clever man. His cleverness can still be found in some letters and the two brochures he wrote. Also in recollections of people he’s said to be a sharp minded and developed man.
Another example is the unrest when Alexander became a candidate to become “Grootmeester Nationaal” (Grandmaster- National) of the freemasons. Alexander threw himself in that discussion with gusto.
A more painful proof of his stubborness is his holding on to the past. Alexander never managed to give the death of his mother and brother a place. He felt those losses deeply and that made him even more sad and melancholic, which made him feel the losses even deeper. In other words, Alexander lived in a vicious circel he didn’t want to and couldn’t break free from.
Alexander is most of the time a friendly and sympathetic man. However, if he feels something is not right he would speak his mind. One example is his reaction to a young lady writing a letter in French, which in those times was normal. Alexander wrote her back telling her she could write a letter in Dutch or not at all.
The above mentioned situations are also examples of Alexander’s principles and the way he dealt with those. Only when it concerned more personal matters, like the fact he didn’t seem to be able to come out of grieving, he would retreat and not contact anymore. That his old uncle Frederic found out. His uncle, only worried about his way of living, tried to encourage him to change his ways. Alexander ignored him and they lost contact somewhat. Alexander regretted that when his uncle died not long after their differences. It didn’t take him long to overcome that.
Nothing is known about Alexander’s ambitions. Not because his health wasn’t very promising and after becoming heir aparent he locked himself up in his palace. He kept up with news and developments, because he was aware of his duties as heir aparent, but the general public never saw anything of that. To the outside world he was just a reclusive.
In summary, Alexander was a clever, sharp minded, well developed, (over-)sensitive and fragile person.
Alexander died 21 June 1884 at age 32, today 129 years ago.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
My Two Weeping Angels
Most of the time it's persistence, sometimes pure luck.
A few nights back I read there's a marbel angel supposedl representing prince Maurits, the angel, holding a little boy on its arm, representing Alexander. Ever since I've been wanting to see that statue, but I couldn't find it anywhere on the Internet. <-- excited="" failed="" i="" make="" sense...="" so="" to="">
Luck has it, in the report, they visited the salon where that statue stands, I saw it in a flash and couldn't believe my luck. Of course I reloaded the report (not only to screencap the "two angels") and made screencaps.
I also managed to screencap a picture of Alexander I had never seen before.
A few nights back I read there's a marbel angel supposedl representing prince Maurits, the angel, holding a little boy on its arm, representing Alexander. Ever since I've been wanting to see that statue, but I couldn't find it anywhere on the Internet. <-- excited="" failed="" i="" make="" sense...="" so="" to="">
Luck has it, in the report, they visited the salon where that statue stands, I saw it in a flash and couldn't believe my luck. Of course I reloaded the report (not only to screencap the "two angels") and made screencaps.
 |
| Not very clear, but the best I could do |
the Last William - King Gorilla
In my research for everything about Alexander I found several websites dedicated to the Dutch royals. Several of those sites have individual entries on the many members. Usually the texts are very general and have small errors. Nothing to worry about, though it irritates me sometimes. One of those sites is http://koningshuis.wordpress.com. On every entry you can comment. I usually don’t accept when I find there are big mistakes or when other people have asked questions, which happened on this particular site. I think I fill most of the comments area.
The person asking the questions has posted a link to a report from a Dutch news show called “Brandpunt”. The report was called “De laatste Willem” (the last William) It was quite interesting, if I hadn’t known as much as I do. The reason I’m blogging about it is the blunt way they talked about Alexander. Let me see if I can find the exact words said about Alexander:
“…getormenteerde ziekelijke homoseksueel die niet wilde deugen..”
Translation: “…a tormented, sickly, homosexual, who didn’t want to be ok…”
And:
“…mismaakt, intelligent…”
Translation: “…deformed, intelligent, …”
The one blatant mistake “deformed” I have to adress. He was not deformed; he wore a corset in his teens to make sure he wouldn’t become so. What annoys me, but what I can’t help, is the minimal painting of the person he was. I’m sure he was much more than that, but he didn’t do anything to prove that.
Maybe it’s just very easy to offend me by saying anything about Alexander. Of course, I had no problem with "intelligent".
Other than that, I really enjoyed that report. I loved the little anecdotes about the king. Something you can now laugh about, because it’s been more than 100 years ago. And the fact they couldn’t find a statue of King William III. In the end they found one, but they never even bothered to put some bronze on it. It was covered in an unflattering plastic cover.
Well, so far for King Gorilla.
The report: De Laatste Willem
 |
| Original design for a King Gorilla statue Source: original |
“…getormenteerde ziekelijke homoseksueel die niet wilde deugen..”
Translation: “…a tormented, sickly, homosexual, who didn’t want to be ok…”
And:
“…mismaakt, intelligent…”
Translation: “…deformed, intelligent, …”
The one blatant mistake “deformed” I have to adress. He was not deformed; he wore a corset in his teens to make sure he wouldn’t become so. What annoys me, but what I can’t help, is the minimal painting of the person he was. I’m sure he was much more than that, but he didn’t do anything to prove that.
Maybe it’s just very easy to offend me by saying anything about Alexander. Of course, I had no problem with "intelligent".
Other than that, I really enjoyed that report. I loved the little anecdotes about the king. Something you can now laugh about, because it’s been more than 100 years ago. And the fact they couldn’t find a statue of King William III. In the end they found one, but they never even bothered to put some bronze on it. It was covered in an unflattering plastic cover.
Well, so far for King Gorilla.
The report: De Laatste Willem
Friday, May 31, 2013
Correcties en Opmerkingen
Deze is meer voor mijn eigen archief. Mijn excuses voor de herhaling en eeuwig geemmer.
De geschiedenis van het Huis van Oranje is geplaveid met tragische prinsen die reeds op jonge leeftijd politiek waren uitgerangeerd en op poëtische wijze ten onder gingen. Het meest pregnante voorbeeld wordt nog altijd geleverd door het droeve prinsenkoppel Willem en Alexander, de twee onfortuinlijke halfbroers van de latere koningin Wilhelmina. Deze zonen van Sophie von Württemberg, de eerste vrouw van koning Willem III, hadden in de doorlopende loopgravenoorlog die het huwelijk van hun ouders kenmerkte altijd partij getrokken voor hun moeder.
Kroonprins Willem haatte zijn vader met hart en ziel, zeker nadat deze zijn huwelijksplannen met een Hollandse onderdaan, jonkvrouw Mathilde van Limburg Stirum, categorisch had afgekeurd. Wat hier vreemd aan is, is dat zijn moeder het voorgenomen huwelijk net zo goed afkeurde. Maar dat schijnt niets uit te maken. Liever dan zich te schikken naar het vaderlijke bevel om een Russische prinses te huwen, vertrok prins Willem naar Parijs, waar hij zich stortte in een leven van seks, drank en gokken. De Parijse boulevardpers was gek op «Le Prince de Citron», en wijdde met enige regelmaat grote scandaleuze verhalen aan zijn liederlijke handel en wandel. Op 10 juni 1879 stierf prins Willem, 39 38, hij is geboren in september 1840 jaar oud, totaal berooid aan een combinatie van tyfus, syfilis, leveraandoening en totale uitputting Daarvoor had hij ook een dubbele longontsteking gehad waardoor hij bronchitis had gekregen in zijn Parijse hotelkamer, slechts bijgestaan door één trouwe bediende Aanwezig waren prinses Mathilde, familie van zijn moeder en prins Alexander.
Vijf jaar later volgde zijn broer Alexander. Deze overleed op 33-jarige 32, geboren 25 Augustus 1851 en overleden 21 Juni 1884 leeftijd in zijn paleis aan de Haagse Kneuterdijk, verscheurd door melancholische driften en kwalen van allerlei aard die het hem bijvoorbeeld onmogelijk hadden gemaakt om gewone kleren te dragen — men herinnert zich deze droeve prins, die «niet voor de huwelijkse staat was geschikt Dit is slechts een vermoeden. Volgens Alexander's personeel was het vrij zeker dat de prins nooit vrouwelijk gezelschap heeft gehad. Eerder asexueel dan homosexueel?», vooral gekleed in kamerjas.
Over de dood van Alexander hangt nog altijd een mysterieuze waas Niet echt. Hij is overleden aan vlek tyfus en leed daarnaast aan uitputting — speculaties over de mogelijkheid dat hij is vermoord om ruim baan te maken voor zijn halfzusje Wilhelmina, weerklinken tot op de dag van vandaag Roddel en ramptoerisme. Alexander vreesde in ieder geval altijd voor zijn leven, vooral voor de mogelijkheid dat men hem probeerde te vergiftigen Die is nieuw voor mij!. Brieven van de hand van deze tragische prins waarin dit vermoeden uitgebreid ter sprake kwam Wederom roddel en ramptoerisme, veelal verspreid door fanatieke republikeinen, zouden door Wilhel mina hoogstpersoonlijk zijn vernietigd. Een en ander was onlangs nog een bron van inspiratie voor de KRO, die een behoorlijk conspiratief getoonzette dramaserie wijdde aan het mysterie van Alexander.
Bron: De Groene Amsterdammer
Het was het liberale kabinet De Vries-Fransen van de Putte Het zit 'em in de naam, niet? Putte, Rutte, tijd voor een Koningslied, dat in 1873 de destijds al vermaarde priester, dichter en politicus in spé Herman Schaepman de opdracht gaf om een officieel Koningslied te schrijven. Een slimme zet, want in een tijd dat de katholieken zich heftig aan het emanciperen waren (en het Zuiden van het land als economische motor fungeerde), had je het roomse deel der natie meer dan ooit nodig.
Bron: Geschiedenis 24
De geschiedenis van het Huis van Oranje is geplaveid met tragische prinsen die reeds op jonge leeftijd politiek waren uitgerangeerd en op poëtische wijze ten onder gingen. Het meest pregnante voorbeeld wordt nog altijd geleverd door het droeve prinsenkoppel Willem en Alexander, de twee onfortuinlijke halfbroers van de latere koningin Wilhelmina. Deze zonen van Sophie von Württemberg, de eerste vrouw van koning Willem III, hadden in de doorlopende loopgravenoorlog die het huwelijk van hun ouders kenmerkte altijd partij getrokken voor hun moeder.
Kroonprins Willem haatte zijn vader met hart en ziel, zeker nadat deze zijn huwelijksplannen met een Hollandse onderdaan, jonkvrouw Mathilde van Limburg Stirum, categorisch had afgekeurd. Wat hier vreemd aan is, is dat zijn moeder het voorgenomen huwelijk net zo goed afkeurde. Maar dat schijnt niets uit te maken. Liever dan zich te schikken naar het vaderlijke bevel om een Russische prinses te huwen, vertrok prins Willem naar Parijs, waar hij zich stortte in een leven van seks, drank en gokken. De Parijse boulevardpers was gek op «Le Prince de Citron», en wijdde met enige regelmaat grote scandaleuze verhalen aan zijn liederlijke handel en wandel. Op 10 juni 1879 stierf prins Willem, 39 38, hij is geboren in september 1840 jaar oud, totaal berooid aan een combinatie van tyfus, syfilis, leveraandoening en totale uitputting Daarvoor had hij ook een dubbele longontsteking gehad waardoor hij bronchitis had gekregen in zijn Parijse hotelkamer, slechts bijgestaan door één trouwe bediende Aanwezig waren prinses Mathilde, familie van zijn moeder en prins Alexander.
Vijf jaar later volgde zijn broer Alexander. Deze overleed op 33-jarige 32, geboren 25 Augustus 1851 en overleden 21 Juni 1884 leeftijd in zijn paleis aan de Haagse Kneuterdijk, verscheurd door melancholische driften en kwalen van allerlei aard die het hem bijvoorbeeld onmogelijk hadden gemaakt om gewone kleren te dragen — men herinnert zich deze droeve prins, die «niet voor de huwelijkse staat was geschikt Dit is slechts een vermoeden. Volgens Alexander's personeel was het vrij zeker dat de prins nooit vrouwelijk gezelschap heeft gehad. Eerder asexueel dan homosexueel?», vooral gekleed in kamerjas.
Over de dood van Alexander hangt nog altijd een mysterieuze waas Niet echt. Hij is overleden aan vlek tyfus en leed daarnaast aan uitputting — speculaties over de mogelijkheid dat hij is vermoord om ruim baan te maken voor zijn halfzusje Wilhelmina, weerklinken tot op de dag van vandaag Roddel en ramptoerisme. Alexander vreesde in ieder geval altijd voor zijn leven, vooral voor de mogelijkheid dat men hem probeerde te vergiftigen Die is nieuw voor mij!. Brieven van de hand van deze tragische prins waarin dit vermoeden uitgebreid ter sprake kwam Wederom roddel en ramptoerisme, veelal verspreid door fanatieke republikeinen, zouden door Wilhel mina hoogstpersoonlijk zijn vernietigd. Een en ander was onlangs nog een bron van inspiratie voor de KRO, die een behoorlijk conspiratief getoonzette dramaserie wijdde aan het mysterie van Alexander.
Bron: De Groene Amsterdammer
Het was het liberale kabinet De Vries-Fransen van de Putte Het zit 'em in de naam, niet? Putte, Rutte, tijd voor een Koningslied, dat in 1873 de destijds al vermaarde priester, dichter en politicus in spé Herman Schaepman de opdracht gaf om een officieel Koningslied te schrijven. Een slimme zet, want in een tijd dat de katholieken zich heftig aan het emanciperen waren (en het Zuiden van het land als economische motor fungeerde), had je het roomse deel der natie meer dan ooit nodig.
Bron: Geschiedenis 24
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Oh, and this is Willem Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik (Wiwil)....and the rest of the family
Below a picture of Alexander's older brother Wiwil:
And his older brother Maurits who died age six, one year before Alexander's birth.
Oh, what the hell. Here are Alexander's mum and dad too.
Sophie van Württemberg and King Willem III
Willem (-) Alexander
Here’s a blog that looks like mine, subject and background, but obviously isn’t. However, I do like his post and like to direct you there. It is all in Dutch however. Sorry...
The first post I direct you to is about our current King, Willem-Alexander.
http://vrijeopinie.blogspot.nl/2013/04/willem-alexander-zal-zijn.html
Deze wil ik ook nog even uitlichten:
Uit dezelfde post:
Ik had het geschreven kunnen hebben. Ergens heb ik hetzelfde sentiment geventileerd, maar dat zou best eens in mijn dagboek kunnen zijn. Maar toch, op de troon, alsnog, Willem (-) Alexander.
The first post I direct you to is about our current King, Willem-Alexander.
http://vrijeopinie.blogspot.nl/2013/04/willem-alexander-zal-zijn.html
Deze wil ik ook nog even uitlichten:
"Het waren de jaren - rond 1879 - dat het Oranjehuis bezig was onverbiddelijk uit te sterven."Wat een heerlijke woordkeuze.
Uit dezelfde post:
"Wat verstandig, zeggen ze. Geen Willem IV maar Koning Willem-Alexander. Dus niet terug naar de grotendeels ongelukkige mannelijke Oranjevorsten van de 19e eeuw. Willem-Alexander wordt koning om zichzelf. W-A de eerste.http://vrijeopinie.blogspot.nl/2013/01/the-day-after-willem-alexander-en-de.html
Toch maakt de Willem-Alexander op die wijze wel degelijk een verbinding met de geschiedenis. Dat ligt niet aan hem persoonlijk maar aan het besluit van zijn ouders Beatrix en Claus toen zij hem die naam gaven. Ik weet niet zeker of hierover destijds, in 1967, openlijk is gesproken. Maar vaag blijft mij bij dat Beatrix en Claus bij de naamgeving van hun oudste zoon uitdrukkelijk gedacht hebben aan de twee Oranjeprinsen aan wie het koningschap door hun vroegtijdig overlijden voorbij was gegaan."
Ik had het geschreven kunnen hebben. Ergens heb ik hetzelfde sentiment geventileerd, maar dat zou best eens in mijn dagboek kunnen zijn. Maar toch, op de troon, alsnog, Willem (-) Alexander.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
the Media Perfect Prince
It seems my dear prince is very beloved by media people.
the Book: "Alexander - De vergeten kroonprins"
English: "Alexander - The forgotten crown prince"
the Book: "Alexander - De vergeten kroonprins"
English: "Alexander - The forgotten crown prince"
The first cover was the cover used for the first edition of the book, published in the late 70's of last century. The cover on the right is of the latest edition, published some time around 1997.
This book is the best and the most complete biography you can find on Alexander. There's not that much exciting to find out, Alexander didn't really do much of importance. Great parts of the book are filled with the complete texts from papers. It also includes Alexander's sent in letter as a reaction on an article in a paper and the two following brochures he published to explain his point made in the first mentioned letter. It's an interesting and exhausting read since it's all in old Dutch. But it gives a nice view of how Alexander's brain worked. Pretty well, I must say.
In the second edition is a an intro in which the below series "Wij Alexander" ("We Alexander") is mentioned. According to the author the series says Alexander went mad and got institutionalized, instead of dying in 1884. If the author of the book had watched the series right till the end, or had paid attention right till the end, he would have found out his assumptions of what the series was saying were wrong. To find out what I'm talking about watch "Wij Alexander". The piece of intro I'll add in the next entry.
To buy:
the TV-series: "Wij Alexander"
English: "We Alexander"
 |
| Find the |
The story plays in 1909 right after the birth of the (then) future Queen Juliana. Doctor Giltay returns to the Netherlands to finish his studies at an institution. In the institution he meets patient #4 who claims to be Prince Alexander, who at that point had been dead for 25 years.
Soon the care of this patient is handed over to Giltay who also gets the assignment to find out about a wooden box (mentioned before on this blog).
The questions are many: Is patient #4 really Prince Alexander? Where's the wooden box and why are people so keen to find it?
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The story is clever and very respecting towards Alexander. Only facts are presented as facts and rumours remain rumours. If we're not certain about something, neither is the series. In other words, this series doesn't sling any false facts into the world, it merely plays with the already old existing rumours.
Also the pace of the story is right, the acting is superb and it all looks very authentic. Definately recommended.
the Play: "Alexander - de prins die niet wilde"
English: "Alexander - the prince who didn't want to"
I only found out about this play today. This play was only performed on Texel, I believe, for a small audience and only a few dates. The prince was played by Dutch actor Antonie Kamerling, who unfortunately was very depressed and commited suicide in 2010.
I can't really find much about the play except that it was performed in December (?) 2009 and that it gave a view on the Dutch royals from around 1890 from the viewpoint of Alexander. It was a solo performance.
If I find more, I'll post it here.
My Alexander
This is how I always picture Alexander (in my head).
Just so you know.
This one below, however, is my favourite for obvious reasons (probably not to you, but is to me).
the Dutch Royal Soap Continued
Recently, or lately, or the last few days, or would that rather be the coming few days, or more than one century ago or to come, I get stuck in time a little and I’m not even a time traveler.
Even I believe this is getting ridiculous and I indulge myself regurarly in fantasizing up ridiculous things. Out of the Doctor Who fandom into Orange fandom, which quite frankly scares me, has me time traveling more than I did with the Doctor. I mean when fantasizing about the Doctor. Hmmm, I wish. I now know my answer when the Doctor asks me where to go first.
This will be one of these blogs in which I get stuck in gushing about my latest interest. About how I can’t stop thinking about him. About his character flaws, completely forgetting he probably can’t help it (anymore) either.
For my convenience at the bottom some links to sources. These two give you a very complete, though not very detailled, and correct retelling of Alexander’s life.
And now, on with the Royal Soap.
On a forum I read the following:
That one got me. That was a thought I hadn’t come across yet nor did that sprout from my rich fantasies. It had me mildly shocked, amused, excited and then disappointed when I realized that’s not very likely.
However, let’s examine this thought.
Forget all that talk about him never leaving his palace only to lay flowers at his mother’s and brother’s coffins. Also forget that Alexander couldn’t stand the thought of Emma being his step-mother for accepted (by me) moral reasons.
Let’s adopt the generally approved believes that Emma was a good person with a good feel for human suffering. If we forget and/or accept all above mentioned, it’s not a strange thought that Alexander and Emma hit it off. It’s even possible that Wilhelmina is not Willem III’s child, but Alexander’s. In that case, not only has the throne been semi-legally in the Oranje-Nassau family, but something or rather someone of Alexander lives on right up till this day.
See why I got mildly excited? It certainly put a completey different spin on things. It feeds the bottom from which my trees and flowers of absurd stories sprout.
On the other hand, picturing Alexander as Wilhelmina’s father, rather than half-brother, seems a bit gross. I know it’s not really; it would even be a bit less gross than the actual situation. I’m still not willing to picture a sixty-something year old king with a twenty-something year old queen having sex, which, if the history isn’t telling lies, actually happened. It might have saved the monarchy, for what it’s worth, it’s still not a very pleasant thought to me. Emma with Alexander seems more acceptable and suitable in equal measures.
It would have meant not only that Alexander had been with a woman, which pales the gay rumours a little, he would have been with his father new wife, his step-mother. In the light of things disturbing, yet interesting. It definitely would make this horrible royal fairy tale complete. Especially since Alexander never meets his little half-sister/daughter.
So, could Wilhelmina Alexander’s child?
Sources Alexander biography:
http://madmonarchs.guusbeltman.nl/madmonarchs/alexander/alexander_bio.htm
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42952075
Source Alexander’s supposed saviour of the kingdom (a few messages down):
http://www.startrek.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1373
 |
| Alexander at some point in his life Could this man be the...? |
Even I believe this is getting ridiculous and I indulge myself regurarly in fantasizing up ridiculous things. Out of the Doctor Who fandom into Orange fandom, which quite frankly scares me, has me time traveling more than I did with the Doctor. I mean when fantasizing about the Doctor. Hmmm, I wish. I now know my answer when the Doctor asks me where to go first.
This will be one of these blogs in which I get stuck in gushing about my latest interest. About how I can’t stop thinking about him. About his character flaws, completely forgetting he probably can’t help it (anymore) either.
For my convenience at the bottom some links to sources. These two give you a very complete, though not very detailled, and correct retelling of Alexander’s life.
And now, on with the Royal Soap.
On a forum I read the following:
Mr Hayes wrote:
“Who was the real father of Queen Wilhelmina????? We shall never know…..unless people go into the grave chambers in Delft to examine that (DNA).”
To which 22339 replies with:
“That 29 year old prince (meaning Prince Alexander) of course who did it with his step-mother.”
 |
| Wilhelmina age 4/5 Could this girl be...? |
However, let’s examine this thought.
Forget all that talk about him never leaving his palace only to lay flowers at his mother’s and brother’s coffins. Also forget that Alexander couldn’t stand the thought of Emma being his step-mother for accepted (by me) moral reasons.
Let’s adopt the generally approved believes that Emma was a good person with a good feel for human suffering. If we forget and/or accept all above mentioned, it’s not a strange thought that Alexander and Emma hit it off. It’s even possible that Wilhelmina is not Willem III’s child, but Alexander’s. In that case, not only has the throne been semi-legally in the Oranje-Nassau family, but something or rather someone of Alexander lives on right up till this day.
See why I got mildly excited? It certainly put a completey different spin on things. It feeds the bottom from which my trees and flowers of absurd stories sprout.
 |
| Emma, 20-something Could this woman...? |
It would have meant not only that Alexander had been with a woman, which pales the gay rumours a little, he would have been with his father new wife, his step-mother. In the light of things disturbing, yet interesting. It definitely would make this horrible royal fairy tale complete. Especially since Alexander never meets his little half-sister/daughter.
So, could Wilhelmina Alexander’s child?
Sources Alexander biography:
http://madmonarchs.guusbeltman.nl/madmonarchs/alexander/alexander_bio.htm
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42952075
Source Alexander’s supposed saviour of the kingdom (a few messages down):
http://www.startrek.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1373
Friday, May 17, 2013
Alexander, prins der Nederlanden
Isn’t it amusing? Or frightful?
Yeah, I changed subject of obsession again. This time my obsession really does feel rather lonely, in every sense of the word. There’s hardly any attention for him; hardly anyone knows who he is. It’s not easy to find more information on him, partly because it doesn’t exist, I think. It’s only a matter of time before my interest in him dies down and I’ll lay him to rest in the dark corners of my mind.
Over the last few weeks I have been developing some (random) thoughts about him and his family:
It’s ironic he was laid to rest forever in the same room as later his father was, with whom he was far from close. That really goes for the whole (first) family of Willem III, though maybe excluding Maurits, Alexander’s older brother, who died age six/seven one year before Alexander was born. I don’t know how vile Willem III was, but Maurits might not have become sour about his father yet at the age he died.
This one I’ve been wondering about in this blog before. There’s a book about Alexander’s life which is titled “Alexander, the Forgotten Crown Prince”. No, not many (Dutch) people know who he is, but even less people know who his brother, Willem of Orange (Wiwil) was, and he was a crown prince, hence the title behind his name. So far, this prince has spawned more speculation, fantasy and interest than most other princes who never became king.
The more I research him, the more I find websites and forums where people claim he was, or had become, completely mad. This is not true. Right till the last moments of his life he was very sharp and clear, definately not mad. He was misunderstood. He had very progressive ideas for his time. Ideas more fitting for our times. That was the reason some people then labeled him "mad".
In the Netherlands there’s a neighbourhood and area named “Prince Alexanderpolder”. This neighbourhood is named after the “forgotten” crown prince (I’ll remain calling him “crown prince” conviently, eventhough that title doesn’t exist in the Netherlands). So I googled the neighbourhood and found this:
Source: Prins Alexanderpolder website
What would the Netherlands have looked like if he ever became King?
ETA: Facts in this blog are a bit shaky since I didn't feel much like putting it all down quite correctly. The "neighbourhood" is in fact not the neighbourhood, but something else; a "polder".
Yeah, I changed subject of obsession again. This time my obsession really does feel rather lonely, in every sense of the word. There’s hardly any attention for him; hardly anyone knows who he is. It’s not easy to find more information on him, partly because it doesn’t exist, I think. It’s only a matter of time before my interest in him dies down and I’ll lay him to rest in the dark corners of my mind.
Over the last few weeks I have been developing some (random) thoughts about him and his family:
It’s ironic he was laid to rest forever in the same room as later his father was, with whom he was far from close. That really goes for the whole (first) family of Willem III, though maybe excluding Maurits, Alexander’s older brother, who died age six/seven one year before Alexander was born. I don’t know how vile Willem III was, but Maurits might not have become sour about his father yet at the age he died.
This one I’ve been wondering about in this blog before. There’s a book about Alexander’s life which is titled “Alexander, the Forgotten Crown Prince”. No, not many (Dutch) people know who he is, but even less people know who his brother, Willem of Orange (Wiwil) was, and he was a crown prince, hence the title behind his name. So far, this prince has spawned more speculation, fantasy and interest than most other princes who never became king.
The more I research him, the more I find websites and forums where people claim he was, or had become, completely mad. This is not true. Right till the last moments of his life he was very sharp and clear, definately not mad. He was misunderstood. He had very progressive ideas for his time. Ideas more fitting for our times. That was the reason some people then labeled him "mad".
In the Netherlands there’s a neighbourhood and area named “Prince Alexanderpolder”. This neighbourhood is named after the “forgotten” crown prince (I’ll remain calling him “crown prince” conviently, eventhough that title doesn’t exist in the Netherlands). So I googled the neighbourhood and found this:
Feestelijke ceremonie
In 1859 ontwierp waterstaatsingenieur Jan Anne Beijerinck een plan voor de droogmaking van de plassen ten oosten van Rotterdam. Het plan voorzag in drie ondergemalen bij de Ringvaart en één bovengemaal bij Kralingseveer. De eerste steen voor het bovengemaal met stoom werd door de vijftienjarige prins Alexander gelegd op 25 oktober 1866.
Het was een buitengewoon feestelijke ceremonie. Het bouwterrein rond het gemaal was met vlaggen versierd, er stond een feesttent, er was muziek, en er werden toespraken gehouden.
De prins, die was ontvangen door de Rotterdamse burgemeester Van Vollenhoven, genoot in een voor de gelegenheid neergezet gebouw met een uitgelezen gezelschap van een uitgebreide maaltijd. Dankzij persoonlijke tussenkomst van de jonge prins kregen ook de aanwezige arbeiders een feestmaal aangeboden. Bovendien schonk hij hen het door de feestelijkheden verloren dagloon. Na afloop vertrok de prins zoals hij was gekomen, per rijtuig over Schielands Hoge Zeedijk terug naar Rotterdam en vandaaruit met de trein naar Den Haag.
Tijdens de plechtigheid werd er reeds op gezinspeeld dat niet alleen het stoomgemaal in Kralingseveer, maar tevens de gehele nieuwe droogmakerij de naam Prins Alexander zou mogen dragen. Dit laatste vond feitelijk plaats bij Kabinet des Konings schrijven van 31 mei 1873: de Polder Prins Alexander was officieel een feit. In 1875 vestigden zich er de eerste boeren.
Source: Prins Alexanderpolder website
What would the Netherlands have looked like if he ever became King?
ETA: Facts in this blog are a bit shaky since I didn't feel much like putting it all down quite correctly. The "neighbourhood" is in fact not the neighbourhood, but something else; a "polder".
Monday, May 13, 2013
Dutch Royals
Last week I promised Dutch Royals blog. What happened is that I prefered handwriting for a number of reasons, one of them being that there is no comfortable working space to work on PC at home. Another is that I found handwriting in this particular case more appropriate. What I handwrote was a piece of a letter to the dead crown prince. Though apparently, together with Spain, the Netherlands doesn’t have crown princes; the person next in line for the Dutch crown gets the title prince (or princess, obviously) of Orange.
The letter turned out to be a livelier and bigger beast than I thought; I started last Wednesday and still ain’t finished. I don’t want to neglect my promis, so here’s an alternative blog.
The Forgotten Crown Prince
Before I tell you who he is, I’m going to tell you how I found him. Wikipedia. To be exact the Dutch Royals’ Wikipages. I really just wanted to know who had been king for the Netherlands so far. Turns out three gentlemen with the name Willem (I, II and III obviously) and one lady with the female version of the name (Wilhelmina), then Juliana and finally Beatrix.
For some reason I started with the last Willem, Willem III (I already knew about the ladies), and for some reason I dove in deeper than I had anticipated. That’s how I found Prince Alexander.
This picture on the left was the first glimpse I caught of the prince. For some reason, I was immediately sold. Don’t ask me, I honestly have no clue why. That was the start of the obsession and me repeatedly returning to his wiki, eventhough there’s really not much to read there. Then I found out that I wasn’t the only one who thought this particular prince was interesting eventhough he didn’t do anything. There’s a Dutch series named “Wij Alexander” which fantasizes up an intriguing drama which doesn’t really consist Alexander, or at least not notably and yet it does. And there’s a book, a real biography about Alexander eventhough he didn’t do anything, literally. Well, he did do things, he breathed for instance, but nothing notable. Then why Alexander and not his older brother Wiewil (another Willem in disguise)? He did things, eventhough not important for king and country.
You see, Wiewil was not as dramatic and tragic as Alexander, eventhough he drank, hugged and partied himself to death. Almost quite literally. Also, when Wiewil died, Alexander became the last male (d’oh!) crown prince for a long time. And since Alexander made only little effort to start his own family, some intentions were there but not succesful, the Orange Dynasty was in danger of coming to an end. So, that’s interesting and tying in with the whole sodding wooden handgraved box that might or might not be the proof of unrightful throne holding by the Oranges today. People love to whip up a wind for that one. It was first mentioned in the biography and “Wij Alexander” used it to build the whole plot of the series around it. Even these days the infamous box keeps cropping up. Apparently, the box held papers, and was withheld on Royal demand for forty years by a faithful servant. After the forty years had gone by, since Alexander’s death in 1884, the box was returned to the Royal family, and the cheap Queen Wilhelmina, Alexander’s half-sister, wanted the papers so bad, she was willing to give f1.000,- for the content of the little box. Shortly after papers were burned and rumours say it was the content of that box.
For me that was not the reason I became obsessed with Alexander. I had not even heard of that stupid box. Nor do I wish to push the Royal family off the throne. So why Alexander? Perharps because of his tragic life? Perharps because I can identify with his self-choosen reclusive life? No, that can’t be it, I had only seen a picture of him. It must have been something in his eyes (which were hardly visible) or on his face.
Anyway, some information about Alexander: He was born 25 August 1851. He had many health problems and was very sensitive. He died 21 June 1884, age 32.
Short info, cause 1) enough info elsewhere and 2) got sidetracked by rightfullness of throne holder and the senseless and naïve discussion about it.
The letter turned out to be a livelier and bigger beast than I thought; I started last Wednesday and still ain’t finished. I don’t want to neglect my promis, so here’s an alternative blog.
The Forgotten Crown Prince
For some reason I started with the last Willem, Willem III (I already knew about the ladies), and for some reason I dove in deeper than I had anticipated. That’s how I found Prince Alexander.
This picture on the left was the first glimpse I caught of the prince. For some reason, I was immediately sold. Don’t ask me, I honestly have no clue why. That was the start of the obsession and me repeatedly returning to his wiki, eventhough there’s really not much to read there. Then I found out that I wasn’t the only one who thought this particular prince was interesting eventhough he didn’t do anything. There’s a Dutch series named “Wij Alexander” which fantasizes up an intriguing drama which doesn’t really consist Alexander, or at least not notably and yet it does. And there’s a book, a real biography about Alexander eventhough he didn’t do anything, literally. Well, he did do things, he breathed for instance, but nothing notable. Then why Alexander and not his older brother Wiewil (another Willem in disguise)? He did things, eventhough not important for king and country.
You see, Wiewil was not as dramatic and tragic as Alexander, eventhough he drank, hugged and partied himself to death. Almost quite literally. Also, when Wiewil died, Alexander became the last male (d’oh!) crown prince for a long time. And since Alexander made only little effort to start his own family, some intentions were there but not succesful, the Orange Dynasty was in danger of coming to an end. So, that’s interesting and tying in with the whole sodding wooden handgraved box that might or might not be the proof of unrightful throne holding by the Oranges today. People love to whip up a wind for that one. It was first mentioned in the biography and “Wij Alexander” used it to build the whole plot of the series around it. Even these days the infamous box keeps cropping up. Apparently, the box held papers, and was withheld on Royal demand for forty years by a faithful servant. After the forty years had gone by, since Alexander’s death in 1884, the box was returned to the Royal family, and the cheap Queen Wilhelmina, Alexander’s half-sister, wanted the papers so bad, she was willing to give f1.000,- for the content of the little box. Shortly after papers were burned and rumours say it was the content of that box.
For me that was not the reason I became obsessed with Alexander. I had not even heard of that stupid box. Nor do I wish to push the Royal family off the throne. So why Alexander? Perharps because of his tragic life? Perharps because I can identify with his self-choosen reclusive life? No, that can’t be it, I had only seen a picture of him. It must have been something in his eyes (which were hardly visible) or on his face.
Anyway, some information about Alexander: He was born 25 August 1851. He had many health problems and was very sensitive. He died 21 June 1884, age 32.
Short info, cause 1) enough info elsewhere and 2) got sidetracked by rightfullness of throne holder and the senseless and naïve discussion about it.
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