Thorbjorn Paternò Castello and the Crown of Aragon as a legitimate fons honorum to grant nobiliary titles

Family history
The Libro d'Oro lists the Paternò family as an historical family for more than a thousand years which traces its origins to Prince Robert of Embrun and to the Sovereign House of Barcelona and Provence which arrived in Sicily in 1060 as part of the entourage of King Roger, seizing the Castle and Lordship of Paternò therefrom it assumed its name. In 1161 Costantino Paternò Count of Butera married Matilde Avenela the daughter of the Count of Avellino and a niece of King Roger I of Hauteville. It is impossible to list all the members of the Family of Paternò who have risen to eminence over the centuries. They have achieved honours and titles as well as the highest ranks of ancient chivalry, such as the Military Belt and the Golden Spur, and the Paternò have been Viceroys, Vicars General of the Kingdom of Sicily, Presidents of the Kingdom, Cardinals, Ambassadors to Popes and Kings, brave knights, generous patrons of the arts, famous politicians. Already Counts of Butera and of Martana in the 12th Century, the Family of Paternò has established close ties of blood with the Norman, Swabian and Savoyard Royal Houses. Knights of the Order of Malta since the beginning of the 15th Century, they are recorded by Mugnos as one of those families of royal descent. The Paternò have been Peers of Sicily since their origin and so assumed control over the governorship of the city of Catania and over its House of Nobility as to be able to exclude anyone who did not meet with their approval. Over the course of the centuries the Family held more than 170 main fiefs and since the beginning of the 18th Century possessed five hereditary seats in the Sicilian Parliament. The abolition of feudalism meant the loss of these inherent rights but the Family has continued to be renowned in intellectual, diplomatic and political fields.

Titles
Amongst the principal titles of nobility held by the Family are: Princes of Biscari, Sperlinga (1627), Manganelli, Val di Savoja e Castelforte (1633); Dukes of Carcaci (1723), Furnari (1643), Giampaolo, Palazzo (1687), Paternò, Pozzomauro e San Nicola; Marquises of Capizzi (1633), Casanova, Desera (1806), Manchi, Regiovanni, Roccaromana, San Giuliano (1662), Sessa, del Toscano; Counts of Montecupo (1772); Barons of Aliminusa, Aragona, Spedolotto Alzacuda, Baglia e Dogana di Milazzo, Baldi, Belmonte, Bicocca, Bidani, Biscari, Burgio, Capizzi, Castania e Saline di Nicosia, Cuba, Cuchara, Cugno, Donnafugata, Ficarazzi, Gallitano, Gatta, Graneri, Imbaccari e Mirabella, Intorrella, Manchi di Bilici, Mandrile, Manganelli di Catania, Marianopoli, Mercato di Toscanello, Metà dei Terraggi di Licata, Mirabella, Motta Camastra, Murgo, Nicchiara, Officio di Mastro Notaro della Corte Capitaniale di Catania, Oxina, Placabaiana, Poiura, Porta di Randazzo, Pollicarini, Pozzo di Gotto, Raddusa e Destri, Ramione, Ricalcaccia, Salamone, Salsetta, San Giuliano, San Giuseppe, Sant' Alessio, Scala, Schiso, Sciortavilla, Solazzi, Sparacogna, Spedalotto, Terza Parte della Dogana di Catania, Toscano; Lords of Baglio, Collabascia, Erbageria, Gallizzi, Mandrascate, Sciari, Sigona, del jus luendi of Camopetro. (“ House of Paternò-Castello: A Sicilian House which traces its origin to James the Conqueror, King of Aragon (+1286)”.

References to the royal descent of the House of Paternò and the rights that derive therefrom can be found in the Archive in the writings of Ignazio V Prince of Biscari, Francesco VII Duke of Carcaci, Giuseppe Emanuele IX Marquis of Sessa and Francesco XI Duke of Carcaci, considering only authors from the Family itself.

Family pact
After the death of the last Prince of Cassano the heads of the different branches of the Paternò family met in family council at Palermo and recognised that the family's royal rights were vested in Don Mario Paternò Castello Guttadauro d'Emmanuel B. of Don Giovanni Paternò Castello iure maritale Prince of Emmanuel (son of Don Mario Guiseppe IV Duke of Carcaci) and his wife Eleanor Guttadauro last of the house of the Princes of Emmanuel and herself a descendant of the Kings of Aragon.

Thorbjon Paternò Castello
Principe Don Thorbjorn Paternò Castello d’Aragona Gran Maestro del Sovrano Ordine di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme Cavalieri di Malta OSJ e del Reale Ordine Dinastico Aragonese, is the son of Roberto II Enrico Francesco Mario Gioacchino and Bianca Monteforte (1948–1990). He belongs to the ancient Paternò family which traces its origins to Prince Robert of Embrun and to the Sovereign House of Barcelona and Provence which arrived in Sicily in 1060 as part of the entourage of King Roger, seizing the Castle of Paternò therefrom it assumed its name.

The Balearic Kingdom, the Paternò pretension to it and their rights as a sovereign family 
The Balearic (from Baleos or Balios, comrade of Hercules) Archipelago of Spain, in the Mediterranean, facing the coast of Valencia, is composed, apart from vast numbers of minor islands and islets some of which are uninhabited, of the islands of Majorca, Minorca and Cabrera, of the islands denominated Pityuse, or Ivisia or Ibiza and Formentera, and of the Presidios, off the north coast of Morocco, excluding the island of Ceuta; these constitute at present the region known as the Balearics, with an area of 5014 sq.km. and c. 330,000 inhabitants. (Grande Enciclopedia Sozogno, vol.II, pages 238-9, entry Baleari).

The Balearic Islands, conquered in the distant past by the Carthaginians, then by the Romans under Consul Metello, again by the Vandals, the Greeks and the Arabs, were taken from these last by James I of Aragon, the Conqueror, in a war lasting from 1228 to 1235; he constituted them as kingdom in favour of Jayme, the second son of his second marriage (to Iolanda, daughter of Andrea King of Hungary) (Imhof, op. cit. table II, page 4); Jayme, the first king of this name, who died in 1312, was succeeded on the throne of the Balearics by his son Sancho, husband of Maria daughter of Charles II King of Naples. Sancho died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother Ferdinand, first married to Isabella daughter of Louis Prince of the Peloponnese and then to the cousin of the king of Cyprus. He was succeeded by his son Jayme II, who died in the recapture of Majorca in 1349. Jayme was followed by, as Prince Regent, his younger brother Ferdinand, who in turn was followed by his nephew (son of Jayme) Jayme III, who died childless in 1375, the kingdom having been taken from him in 1375 by Pedro IV of Aragon, who incorporated the Balearic Archipelago into the Aragon Crown; the only sister of Jayme III was Isabella, wife of Giovanni Paleologo Marquis of Monferrat. (Ludwig, Die Balearen, geschildert in Wort und Bild, Lipsia 1897; Jaun Dameto, La Historia general del Regno Balearico, Majorca, 1633).

The right of pretension to the Paternò Princes, last surviving branch of the Ayerbo of Aragon (itself the last branch of the House of Aragon, itself no longer extant) over the ancient Balearic kingdom, finds a juridical basis in the pontifical act which King James I the Conqueror obtained to legitimise his sons by the Duchess Teresa de Vidaure, these being Pietro, Lord of Ayerbe, and Jacopo, Lord of Xerica. “He also obtained that, if the male line became extinct (it is extinct today) the successors to the kingdom in preference to the females would be the descendents of the sons of Donna Teresa Gil de Viduara” (Candida Gonzaga, op. cit. page 5).

The branch of Jacopo of Aragon, second son of James I the Conqueror and his second wife Iolanda, daughter of Andrea King of Hungary (his firstborn Pedro was king of Aragon, and his line too is now extinct – this Jayme of Aragon was nominated by his father King of Majorca of the Balearics – coming to an end with his great-grandson Jayme III, who died childless in 1375, and Isabella, wife of the marquis of Monferrat, the Paternò, blood relatives of the Aragon kings of the Balearics by reason of their common ancestor James I the Conqueror (the Aragon kings being direct descendents of James I and Iolanda of Hungary, and the Paternò direct descendants of Pietro of Ayerbe of Aragon, son of James I of Teresa de Vidaure), they can claim the right to pretend to the ancient Balearic kingdom not only by blood but also by the testament of James I, who declared that they were to succeed to the throne if direct branches of the House of Aragon should become extinct: “Duo ex illa (Teresa de Vidaure) Jacobus Rex sustulit filios, quos testamento legitimos declaravit, quorum …Ajerbio oppido cum ejus quoque arce aliisque oppidis in Aragonum regno donavit, e a conditione ut alterutri fine liberis decedenti superstes succederet; Jolantae reginae autem, filiis sine prole decedentibus, illos ad regna vocari atque omnino foeminis etiam ex Jolanta natis praeferre voluit” (Bern. Gomez, de Vita Jacobi I R. Lib.X, XIV and X). The Aragonese Kings of the Balearics and the Paternò in fact used the same coat of arms, “Or four bars gules” (which is of Aragon), with the bend or bendlet of blue, indicating the cadet branch. The direct descent of the Paternò from Ayerbe and thus from Aragon confers also upon the Paternò, today the last representatives of the Sovereign House of Aragon, all the due rights of Fons Honorum and Jus Majestatis, recognised by international right due to the direct descendents of ancient Sovereign Houses: common rights recognised by many verdicts of the Italian Magistrature, also regarding other descendants of ancient Sovereign Houses, and consistent with the faculty of conferring or confirming noble titles on the basis of the surname or predicates taken from the names of places at some time part of the Balearic kingdom; to concede and confirm coats of arms and mottos; to concede predicates and feudal representation; to decorate with the Knight Orders of the family dynasty; to modify the statutes, to create new ones and be legitimately considered, since the Aragon Balearics Kings did not suffer the “debellatio”, that is, the total and passive renunciation for themselves and their heirs of the rights due to those who exercised Sovereignty Pretenders to this throne, were treated as Royalty; and recognition of the quality of “Princeps natus” or Royal Prince by birth.

The pretension extends, for the actual extinction of all the branches of the House of Aragon, legitimate and not, to the Aragon Crown and to the Spanish Orders (the Aragonese and of the Crown). The so-called royal prerogative is a personal prerogative “jure sanguinis” which belongs only to the king or the Prince on the throne and is transmitted to his successors at the act of coronation and investiture, also when, for whatever reason, they do not possess territory, on condition though, as in fact happened to the Aragonese Kings of the Balearics, that they have not accepted the afore mentioned “debellatio”. For not having accepted the “debellatio” after the institutional referendum, Umberto of Savoy is even now, and his successors will be in perpetuity, Pretender to the Italian Throne; the same is true for the Hapsburgs, the Bourbons, the Romanoffs, still pretenders to the thrones of their Ancestors.

That the possession of the territory does not constitute the requisite to award a person noble rank or to exercise other rights and prerogatives by virtue of “jure sanguinis” from sovereign ancestors as proved by the customs of the ages, for apart from the aristocratic Republics of Genoa, Pisa and Venice and even today that of San Marino, no Republic or President thereof has ever conferred noble titles. These are prerogatives by virtue of the noble blood of those who have reigned or exercised sovereign powers, because even after the loss of the throne they retain in themselves with the attributes and special qualities, the rights and honours which they transmit to their successors in perpetuity.

Regarding the licit and legitimate use of the Honours of the Dynastic Orders of Collation and Jus Patronatus of the ancient Royal House of Paternò-Ayerbe-Aragon, last representatives and Heirs of the Kings of Aragon and of Balearics, they, because they belong to an ancient Sovereign Family, are quite distinct from those dealt with in the Law no. 178 of 3-3-51, on the Institution of the Order of Merit of the Republic and the discipline of the Independent Knightly Orders, qualification granted “by organisations, associations or individuals”, not being, obviously, a House of Sovereign origin. The only obligation to be observed by those who have been decorated is to specify the name of the Order following the rank, to avoid causing confusion between the various Orders, national, of foreign States, of Malta and of the Holy Sepulchre (Source: L. Pellicioni).

Historical Criticism
The Fount of honour (Latin: fons honorum) of the family is heavily chalenged by Guy Stair Sainty, an individual, who has no acadamic degree, stating that as a junior member of a junior branch of the family don Roberto has no right to claim any prerogative pertaining to its chief, whether such prerogative actually exists. In 1973 Lt Col Robert Gayre, a man with proven Nazi ties, published a booklet in which the states that "certain observations should be made which, in our opinion, destroy completely these historical claims. The Papal legitimation which is brought forward to allow the desired descent was, in itself, insufficient to transfer any title to the Crown of Aragon. Furthermoree, as Aragon dit not have the Salic law, the descnet of crown could pass through a female line. Consequently, even if the legitimation had put Don Pedro Sancho into the line of succession, that succession would have gone through a female line on the extinction of the male descent - and so to the house of Paternò would have been out of succession in any case.". (...) It is clear that no matter how distinguisched is the house Paternò, it cannot claim to be the heirs of the Kingdom of the Balearic Isles or of Aragon." (Lt Col R. Gayre of Gayre and Nigg, A Glimpse of the Chivalric and Nobiliary Underworld, Lochore Enterprises (Malta) Ltd. Valetta, Malta, pp. 27-28). A PhD study by Dr Hans Hoegen Dijkhof of the Univiversity of Leiden refutes both opinions.

Legal Judgements
The legal judgements regarding the Fount of honour and the power to grant nobility are part of the PhD-research at the University of Leiden by Dr Hans Hoegen Dijkhof, lawyer. This section of the article is based on his PhD-thesis (see pp. 296-297).

The Fount of honour and the power to grant nobility played a role in the various Paternò cases in Italy. On 1 April 1952, the ‘Pretura Unificata di Bari’, evidently a court of first instance in criminal cases, had to decide a criminal case against a certain Umberto Z., a resident of Bari, who had publicly presented himself as Count of St. Ilarico. Z. was prosecuted for violating article 496 of the Italian Penal Code, as he was denounced by an anonimous person for having committed this crime.

Retaining the Fons honorum
His decisive defense was inter alia that this title had been validly conferred upon him by the ‘Prince Emanuel Francesco Mario Paternò Castello di Caraci’. It appeared after a full investigation of all relevant documents by the Court, that this Prince belonged to one of the first families of Sicily, a family who are descendants of William I, the Conqueror, descendants of the Counts of Gascogne, the Kings of Navarre and Castil and that the Prince was a direct descendant of the Kings of Mallorca and the Baleares and was still Pretender to this throne. The Court found that on these grounds, he had retained his full rights of fons honorum, which meant according to the Court, that he had the power to nobilitate, to grant and confirm coats of arms and to award predicates, taken from places in which his ancestors in fact had exercised sovereign powers, not to mention his right to constitute, resuscitate, reform and exercise the ‘Grand Magistry’ of the chivalric Orders of the dynasty, which are passed from father to son as an insupprimable heredity of birth, which in the ascendants of the Prince had found in fact also a confirmation by Francesco II of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies, in 1860. Z. was acquitted.

Legitimate power to grant honours
Then it was the Prince’s own turn. He was denounced on 14 July 1958 and prosecuted, as a resident of Brunate, before and condemned on 29 May 1962 by the ‘Pretore of Monsummano Terme’, the competent judge in first instance, to 4 months and 15 days imprisonment for having allegedly conferred false titles to a number of persons (Article 81 of the Penal Code and article 8 of Law 3.3.51 N.178.) but he was acquitted of several connected alleged counts (Articles 81cpv 640, 56, 640 of the Penal Code) for lack of evidence. He appealed with the ‘Tribunale di Pistoia’ and on 5 June 1964, this court of appeals confirmed his acquittal in first instance and annulled his condemnation in first instance. Basically, the Court said that the conferment to and acceptance of foreign honours, the honours conferred being foreign, by Italian citizens, was legal, while only the public use of these honours by Italian citizens was subject to authorisation by the President of the Republic, to properly safeguard the merits reserved to and represented by the honours bestowed by the Italian State. The Court had also investigated the fons honorum of the Prince and had found that he was the legitimate possessor of this faculty, which according to the Court was an expression of the honorific power of his house, which had been conserved by family tradition and had not suffered ‘debellatio’, the forced surrender of power. He was therefore entitled to grant the honours given by him, because the Court deemed that he had the legitimate power to grant these honours.

The quote from the website of the Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana Circolo Giovanilegt;, section ‘Alcune domanda sulla nobiltà’, dated 24 December 2004, may further elucidate this point.

Conferring of noble titles
The Public Prosecutor did not institute cassation and it was therefore definitively established between the Italian State and the Prince that the Prince or his direct descendants, by using their fons honorum, can validly confer noble titles. Accordng to Hoegen Dijkhof it is an entirely different matter whether those who have been awarded with these noble titles are or have to be recognised by a State which has a law on nobility, as belonging to the nobility of this State or as having a right to be taken up in the nobility of this State. This should be established for each State separately, depending on the domestic laws.

Recent judgement
The latest judgement of arbitral tribunal of 5 November 2009 No 709/09, declared enforceable in the territory of the Italian Republic by decree of the Ordinary Court of Ragusa, that the Head of the Royal House of Paternò Castello of Valencia, Sardinia has the fountain of honor with all the prerogatives attached and connected to the quality of Royal Highness. The court also deceided that Noble titles may be granted with or without predicates, coats of arms, titles of honor and chivalric orders as the subject of international law for the purposes of the Act of March 3, 1951, n . 178. More specific, the verdict states the following (p. 110 ff):

"IV) - H.R.H. Prince Thorbjorn Francesco Giuseppe Nicola Roberto Paterno Castello of the Dukes of Carcaci,Prince of Emanuel in accordance with the provisions of-1 'art. 16 of the Rules of the Court of Arbitration of Ragusa for a 'finding of evidence of claim, was entitled to set up the Real Home of Valencia and Paterno Castello di Sardegna and legally took over as Head, with the deeds of the notary public act of Vincenzo Giacalone Alcamo of July 20, 2009, rep. No. 25,806, Coll. No. 4270, recorded July 24, 2009 in Trapani, mod. T, No. 5132;

V) - to H.R.H. Prince Thorbjorn Francesco Giuseppe Nicola Roberto Paterno Castello of the Dukes of Carcaci, Prince of Emanuel, an Italian citizen, born November 26, 1976 at Molndal (Sweden), who is lawfully entitled, as Head of the Royal House of Paternò Castello of Valencia and Sardinia, to the following qualities, rights and privileges:

• The quality of Royal Highness, Royal Prince, and Pretender to the Throne of Valencia and Sardinia;
• The right to qualify and to be the Sovereign Head of the Name and Arms of the Royal House of Paternò Castello of Valencia and Sardinia;
• The right to all the qualifications, prerogatives, attributes of rank, with the right to use coats of arms, which belong to him by hereditary right;
• The sovereign prerogatives related to the Jus Majestatis and Jus Fons Honorum, with power to confer titles of nobility, with or without predicates, coats of arms, titles of honor and chivalry on orders equestrian family as well as create new orders;
• The sovereign prerogative to assign, to a citizen of male or female, of its House titles by giving the right to integrate the titles and predicates into surnames, in the manner and terms established by the rules in the name;
• The quality of material subject to international law and orders of the Grand Master of the dynastic family ergo non-national for the purpose of the law March 3, 1951, No 178;
• The pretensions of sovereign titles of the King of Aragon, King of Valencia, King of Sardinia, King of Majorca, King of Sicily, King of Corsica, the Count of Barcelona, ​​Count of Provence, Count Roussillon and of Conte d'Urgell;
• The pretensions of the feudal titles of Duke of Athens, Duke of Neopatria, Count of Sicily, Count of Cervera and Lord of Montpellier;
• The non-Feudal titles of the Family Paterno Castello: Count of Paterno, Earl of Artedero, Earl of Mongialisi, Baron of Carcaci, Baron of Biscari, Baron of Granieri, Baron of Bicocca, Lord of the Bidan and Patrician of Catania;
• The right of ownership of the Orders of the Family:
• Royal Dynastic Aragonese Order of the Knights of St. John, based in Valletta - Malta;
• Royal Dynastic Noble Order Valenciano, headquartered in La Valletta - Malta.

VI) - H.R.H. Prince Thorbjorn Francesco Giuseppe Nicola Roberto Paterno Castello of the Dukes of Carcaci,Prince of Emanuel, an Italian citizen, born on 26/11/1976 in Molndal (Sweden), is the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty founded by King Alfonso II of Aragon, being the Head of the Royal House of Paternò Castello of Valencia and the Balnearic Islands."

More information: es@baron-of-sisto.com

References
1.^ Edition XXIII of 2005-2009, Volume XXVIII, Tome 2 on page 275 of the Golden Book
2.^ Almanach of Gotha, 1926 edition
3.^ Deeds of the notary public act of Vincenzo Giacalone Alcamo of July 20, 2009, rep. No. 25,806, Coll. No. 4270, recorded July 24, 2009 in Trapani, mod. T, No. 5132; see also http://www.real-aragon.org
4.^ Guy Stair Sainty and Rafal Heydel-Mankoo, World Orders of Knighthood & Merit (2006).
5.^ Dr H.J. Hoegen Dijkhof, The legitimacy of Orders of St. John: a historical and legal analysis and case study of a para-religious phenomenon (PhD Thesis University of Leiden 2003)
6.^ This section of the article is based on the PhD Thesis of Dr Hoegen Dijkhof
7.^ Dr H.J. Hoegen Dijkhof, The legitimacy of Orders of St. John: a historical and legal analysis and case study of a para-religious phenomenon (PhD Thesis University of Leiden 2003)
8.^ Judgement pronounced and deposited on 1 April 1952 in the case 485/52.
9.^ Dr H.J. Hoegen Dijkhof, The legitimacy of Orders of St. John: a historical and legal analysis and case study of a para-religious phenomenon (PhD Thesis University of Leiden 2003)
10.^ 'Si senti spesso parlare di Capo di antiche dinastie spodestate che concedono titoli ed onori, sono validi? ’argomento è complicato e –come sempre- è opportune agire con la massima prudenza onde evitare truffe e raggiri che, purtroppo, sono molto frequenti. Bisogna innanzitutto essere certi che il concedente discenda realmente e per via legittima da una persona che abbia effettivamente regnato su di un territorio ed abbia esercicato il diritto di concedere onori, ed il quali forme; si deve poi guardare alle cause che hanno determinato il venir meno di tale regno; infine è opportuno accertarsi del livello tenuto dai discendenti del sovrano spodestato, onde essere sicuri che non siano ˝decaduti˝. Cosi –per esempio- chi vanta discendenze dagli Imperatori Bizantini non dovrebbe avere alcun valido diritto, dal momento che i Troni romani di Oriente erano elettivi e non si trasmettevano di padre in figlio. In linea di massima è significativa la presenza della famiglia nell’Almanacco del Gotha'
11.^ See also R. de Francesco, La Legittimità e validità degli ordini cavallereschi “non nazionali” secondo gli insegnamenti della Corte di Cassazione - Con prefazione del prof. Luigi Gianetti (Napoli, 1959).
12.^ Dr H.J. Hoegen Dijkhof, The legitimacy of Orders of St. John: a historical and legal analysis and case study of a para-religious phenomenon (PhD Thesis University of Leiden 2003).
13.^ Verdict of The International Civil Tribunal, Permanent Organ of the European Court of International Arbitration of Ragusa of the 5th of November 2009, published in the Italian State Gazette on 6 April 2011 when it became final under Italian Law and under the Convention of NY 1954

Literature

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Agnello, G. “Il Museo Biscari di Catania nella Storia della Cultura Illuministica del ‘700” in Archivio Storico della Sicilia Orientale, 1957, a. X p. 142

Amico, “Catana Illustrata”, 1741

Amico, “Sicilia Sacra” 1742

Maria Concetta Calabrese, I Paternò di Raddusa, C.U.E.C.M. 1998

G. Carrelli, Hauteville e Paternò, in Rivista Araldica, n.3, 1932

Enciclopedia Treccani Vol. XXVI, voce "Paternò", curata dal prof. Giuseppe Paladino dell'Università di Catania

Francesco Gioeni, Genealogia dei Paternò, Palermo,1680

G. Libertini, Il Museo Biscari, Milano 1930.

V. Librando, Il Palazzo Biscari in Cronache di archeologia e di storia dell'arte, 3, 1964, p. 104 e ss.

Denis Mack Smith, “Storia della Sicilia Medioevale e moderna”, Universale Laterza (1970) pp. 367 e ss, 376-377.

Filadelfo Mugnos, Theatro Genealogico, 1650, s.v. "Paternò" p. 27

Filadelfo Mugnos, Teatro della nobiltà del mondo, 1654, s.v. "Paternò", p. 297

Muscia, Sicilia Nobile, 1408, s.v. "Paternò

Scipione Paternò e Colonna, Storiografia della Casa Paternò, Catania. 1642

Francesco Paternò di Carcaci, I Paternò di Sicilia, Catania, 1935.

Vincenzo Notaro Russo, Genealogia della Casa Paternò, 1721, - Archivio Comune di Catania

Gaetano Savasta, Storia di Paternò, Catania” 1905

F. Ughello, Antonius Paternò, nobilis neapolitanus”, Palermo,1729

Bruno Varvaro, Nuove indagini sulla contea di Paternò e Butera nel sec. XII, in Rivista Araldica, n. 4 - dicembre 1931

Bruno Varvaro, Hauteville e Paternò in Rivista Araldica, n. 1 - 20 gennaio 1933 *G.E. Paternò di Sessa, F. Paternò, "Dell'origine regia e aragonese dei Paternò di Sicilia", inRivista Araldica Fasxcicolo n. 6, giugno 1913

Salvatore Distefano, Ragusa Nobilissima - Una famiglia della Contea di Modica attraverso le fonti e i documenti d'archivio, contributo alla Historia Familiae Baronum Cutaliae, Ancillae et Fundi S. Laurentii, RICHERCHE (2006), 109-160, a pag.128 si ricorda che Eleonora Paternò e Tornabene, vedova Biscari, sposò Guglielmo Distefano, duca di San Lorenzo. -->

Librando, V. “Il Palazzo Biscari” in Cronache di Archeologia e di Storia dell’Arte, 1964, n. 3 p. 104 e ss.

Guzzetta, G.: “Per la gloria di Catania: Ignazio Paternò Castello Principe di Biscari” Agorà, Luglio- settembre 2001

Garuffi, “Archivio Storico della Sicilia Orientale”, anno IX, 1912

Garuffi, “Gli Aleramici ed i Normanni” Palermo 1910, Vol. I

La Dinastia Sovrana Paternò-Ayerbe-Aragona - L Pelliccioni di Poli

1956 Rome Nobiliario Internazionale - C Santippolito

1985 RAM Messina Corpus Historiae Genealogicae Italiae et Hispaniae - J W Imhof 1702 Nurnberg

Los Condes de Barcelona Vindicados Cronologia y Genealogia - Prospero de Bofarull y Mascaro Secretario de SM Archivero de la Corona de Aragon

1836 Barcelona Rivista Araldica 1922 p295-305, 343-346

Rivista Araldica 1913 p330-335

Anales de la Corona de Aragon by Jerònimo Zurita, Tom 1 libro IV cap.126

The Rise of the Aragonese-Catalan Empire 1200-1350 - J Lee Shneidman 1970 New York and London

Blauw bloed. Overrompelende debuutroman van Binnert de Beaufort

Blauw bloed, de overrompelende debuutroman van Binnert de Beaufort, verhaalt van de vriendschap tussen Olivier van Aldenborch en Stefan von Schwenningen Schönau. Tot Oliviers ongenoegen wordt zijn leven bepaald door ongeschreven gedragswetten. Op school moet hij zich wapenen tegen de benepen moraal van zijn klasgenoten en leraren. Door zijn vriendschap met Stefan, een zelfverzekerde diplomatenzoon, denkt Olivier zich van zijn keurslijf te bevrijden.

In Blauw bloed blikt Olivier, halfhartig societyjournalist, terug op het verloop van zijn vriendschap met Stefan. Stefan heeft hem met het echte leven laten kennismaken, maar dat heeft voor Olivier inmiddels veel van zijn glans verloren. Hun gezamenlijk in Amerika doorgebrachte studietijd heeft Stefans vrijheidsdrang in een heel ander, dreigend licht gesteld, vooral na hun ontmoeting met Sylvie, een getraumatiseerd meisje uit Louisiana. Sylvie zal de ware aard van Stefan aan Olivier openbaren.

Binnert de Beaufort (Arnhem, 1970) groeide op in Den Haag. Hij studeerde oude geschiedenis in Amsterdam en is tegenwoordig werkzaam als journalist.

Recensie
Romandebuut van de Quote-journalist (1970). Het thema van deze autobiografisch getinte roman is zeker origineel: hoe is het om als jongeman in deze tijd van adel te zijn? Danslessen te moeten volgen en braaf te moeten zijn om de naam van de familie niet te grabbel te gooien? De uitwerking van het thema in twee verhaallijnen - een in het verleden als de hoofdpersoon nog jong is en de tweede verhaallijn speelt nu, als hij dertiger is, en werkt bij een blad dat erg op Quote lijkt - is aardig. Langzamerhand grijpen de twee verhaallijnen meer in elkaar. Soms heeft het iets van een thriller: wat is er toch met Sylvie gebeurd? Hoe zal de rechtszaak tegen de hoofdpersoon aflopen? Anderzijds bevat het verhaal nog wel een aantal losse einden. Al met al toch onderhoudend. Vrij kleine druk.

(Biblion recensie, Drs. E.A. van Kemenade)

Queen pays tribute to 'Last Tommy'

The Queen, the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have led tributes to the last surviving British soldier of the First World War, who has died at the age of 111.

Harry Patch, known as the Last Tommy, passed away peacefully just before 9am on Saturday at Fletcher House nursing home in Wells, Somerset.

He had become Britain's oldest man when another veteran of the war, Henry Allingham, died a week ago on July 18 aged 113.

The only remaining known British-born veteran of the First World War is now Claude Choules, 108, who served in the Royal Navy and now lives in Perth, Australia.

Mr Patch, a machine-gunner, served in the trenches as a private from June to September 1917 and fought in the battle of Passchendaele in which more than 70,000 British troops died. He was born on June 17, 1898 and grew up in Combe Down, near Bath.

The Queen said: "I was saddened to hear of the death of Harry Patch, the last British survivor or the First World War. We will never forget the bravery and enormous sacrifice of his generation, which will continue to serve as an example to us all."

Prince Charles said nothing could give him greater pride than to pay tribute to Mr Patch. He told the BBC: "The Great War is a chapter in our history we must never forget, so many sacrifices were made, so many young lives lost.

"Harry was involved in numerous bouts of heavy fighting on the front line but amazingly remained unscathed for a while. Tragically one night in September 1917 when in the morass in the Ypres Salient, a German shrapnel shell burst overhead badly wounding Harry and killing three of his closest friends.

"In spite of the comparatively short time that he served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Harry always cherished the extraordinary camaraderie that the appalling conditions engendered in the battalion and remained loyal to the end."

The Prime Minister said: "I know that the whole nation will unite to honour the memory, and to take pride in the generation that fought the Great War. The noblest of all the generations has left us, but they will never be forgotten. We say today with still greater force: 'We will remember them'."

Source: Press Association

Kruisvaarders voor mensen in nood

De zwarte mantel die zij op hun jaarlijkse ridderdag dragen, verwijst naar de man naar wie hun beweging is vernoemd: Johannes de Doper. Op de stof is een wit kruis met acht punten geweven, symbool van de zaligsprekingen. De leden van de Johanniter Orde in Nederland zien in Jezus’ woorden een belangrijke inspiratiebron bij hun inzet voor mensen in nood. „Wij willen troost, zorg en aandacht geven”, zegt een van hen in een nieuw, informatief boek over de orde.

Op hun jaarlijkse ridderdag in Zeist vormen de leden van de Johanniter Orde een opvallende verschijning. De ridders en dames, allemaal lid van de protestants-christelijke adel in Nederland, komen met veel ceremonieel vertoon bijeen in Slot Zeist en lopen vervolgens in optocht naar de kapel van de evangelische broederschap voor een speciale kerkdienst. Iedereen draagt bij die gelegenheid een zwarte mantel met daarop een wit, achtpuntig kruis.

Voor veel baronnen, baronessen, jonkheren en jonkvrouwen vormt het moment waarop jonge edelen tot de orde toetreden het hoogtepunt van de dag. Dat gebeurt op een bijzondere manier. Voorovergebogen op een knielbank krijgen de nieuwkomers drie slagen met een zwaard op de linkerschouder. Daarmee worden zij tot ridder of dame geïnstalleerd. „Een indrukwekkende plechtigheid”, zegt jhr. dr. P. A. C. Beelaerts van Blokland.

De Utrechtse oud-commissaris van de Koningin doet zijn uitspraak in het boek ”Honderd jaar Johanniter Orde in Nederland”, waarin de geschiedenis van de protestants-christelijke adelsvereniging goed gedocumenteerd uit de doeken wordt gedaan. Bij de viering van het eeuwfeest, zaterdag, kreeg koningin Beatrix het eerste exemplaar overhandigd uit handen van de coadjutor van de orde, jhr. mr. J. P. de Savornin Lohman.

Koninklijk Huis
De Johanniter Orde heeft nauwe banden met het Koninklijk Huis. Niemand minder dan prins Hendrik, echtgenoot van koningin Wilhelmina, gaf in 1909 de aanzet tot de vorming van een Nederlandse afdeling van een beweging die haar vleugels in Europa breed heeft uitgeslagen. Prins Bernhard heeft de orde vijftig jaar lang geleid. Zowel koningin Beatrix als prins Willem-Alexander is er lid van.

De Johanniter beweging zelf is vele eeuwen ouder. Zij ontstond in de tijd van de kruistochten, toen christenen, vaak onder aanmoediging van de paus, het Heilige Land wilden vrijwaren van vijandelijke invloeden. Slachtoffers van de bloedige oorlogen werden door de Johanniters opgevangen in ziekenhuizen in Jeruzalem. Overigens konden niet alleen de gewonde kruisridders, maar ook zieke pelgrims een beroep op de zorg van de lekenbroeders doen.

De Johanniters ervaren de link met de kruisvaarders niet als een smet op het blazoen. Het tegendeel blijkt het geval te zijn. „De strijd om de heilige plaatsen kunnen we begrijpen, maar niet goedkeuren”, zegt ds. C. van Dongen, predikant van de orde, in het jubileumboek. Maar de zorg die de Johanniters besteedden aan gewonden en zieken, is volgens hem „een van de weinige positieve gevolgen” van de kruistochten, „een wit randje aan een zwarte bladzijde in de historie.”

De Reformatie leidde tot een scheuring in de orde. De rooms-katholieken gingen verder als de Maltezer Orde, de protestanten als de Johanniter Orde. Beide bewegingen bloedden in Nederland in de eeuwen daarna zo goed als dood, totdat prins Hendrik in 1909 tot heroprichting van de Johanniter Orde kwam. Twee jaar later volgden de rooms-katholieken. Beide adellijke organisaties werken inmiddels nauw samen.

Geheimzinnigheid
Volgens ds. Van Dongen spelen de zaligsprekingen een belangrijke rol bij de hulpverlening door de ridders en dames. Naar zijn overtuiging moedigen zij aan tot hulp, troost, bescheidenheid, rechtvaardigheid, empathie, integriteit, vrede en geloof. „Wij zijn al eeuwen geen gewapende kruisridders meer, maar we zien onszelf wel als kruisvaarders voor de hulpbehoevende mensen”, aldus voorzitter jhr. mr. J. P. de Savornin Lohman.

Samen met een leger van enkele duizenden vrijwilligers zetten de 600 Johanniter edelen zich in voor hulp aan daklozen, armoedebestrijding, recreatieve activiteiten voor mensen met een lichamelijke of verstandelijke beperking. De orde is actief betrokken bij tal van projecten in ziekenhuizen, zorg instellingen en hospices. Ze geven een handreiking die, aldus ds. Van Dongen, „vooral niet paternalistisch mag overkomen.”

Volgens De Savornin Lohman klopt de indruk dat de Johanniters hun werk vrij geruisloos en onzichtbaar doen en dat zij voor het bredere publiek alleen in beeld komen op de jaarlijkse ridderdag in Zeist. „De geheimzinnigheid die nog vaak rond de orde hangt, willen we afschudden”, zegt hij in het boek. „We hebben er geen behoefte aan onszelf te manifesteren, maar publiciteit over projecten is prima.”

N.a.v. ”Honderd jaar Johanniter Orde in Nederland. 1909-2009”, door Monda Heshusius; uitg. Waanders, Zwolle, 2009; ISBN 978 90 4008 619 9; 240 blz.; € 34,95.

De mantel van prins Bernhard
Prins Bernhard gaf op de kop af vijftig jaar, van 1954 tot aan zijn dood in 2004, leiding aan de Johanniter Orde. Ooit hielp hij tijdens een ridderdag in Den Haag erelid jhr. V. H. de Villeneuve uit de brand.

Toen De Villeneuve op de plaats van bestemming kwam, ontdekte hij dat hij zijn zwarte mantel met kruis was vergeten. Die had hij nodig voor het zogenaamde cortège, een processie van Johanniter ridders.

„Ik heb mijn dochter gebeld en gevraagd stante pede naar Den Haag te komen. Toen we ons gingen opstellen had ik nog steeds geen mantel. De prins keek me vragend aan. „Mijn mantel is onderweg naar hier, met mijn dochter.” „Geen probleem”, zei hij, „neem mijn mantel maar. Als u zonder mantel binnenkomt, kijkt iedereen op. Als ik zonder mantel binnenkom, zal nooit iemand er iets over zeggen. U krijgt mijn mantel.” Hij stond erop. Zo was hij.”

Bron: refdag.nl
24-06-2009 08:09 | Ben Tramper

Cornelis Kraijenhoff 1758-1840 - Een loopbaan onder vijf regeervormen

Cornelis baron Kraijenhoff was zeer veel: medicus, natuurkundige, waterstaatkundige, topograaf, militair ingenieur, minister van Oorlog. Hij speelde een rol in alle politieke en militaire keerpunten van zijn tijd: 1787, 1795, 1799, 1809/1810, 1813.

Minstens even belangrijk waren zijn grote projecten, die het land als het ware van een ruggengraat hebben voorzien: de driehoeksmeting voor de eerste exacte kaart van het land; zijn waterstaatkundige opmetingen die leidden tot het landelijk maken van het Amsterdams peil; de (re)organisatie van de waterlinies in Holland en Utrecht.

In een radicale aanpak van het rivierenprobleem was hij zijn tijd te ver vooruit. Zijn ongehoorde vestingenproject in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden ten slotte, gerealiseerd in een driemanschap met Willem I en Wellington, leidde tot zijn val. Het raakte in de vergetelheid - zoals ook Kraijenhoff. Toch mag hij, met zijn activiteiten vooral in de Bataafs-Franse tijd, te boek worden gesteld als een van de erflaters van het moderne Nederland.

Wilfried Uitterhoeve (1944) heeft gepubliceerd op tal van historische terreinen, van de reizen van Columbus tot de geschiedenis van Nijmegen en omgeving. Samen met Eric M. Moormann schreef hij de naslagwerken die in 2007 zijn bijeengebracht in het lexicon Van Alexander tot Zeus.

Uitgeverij Van Tilt

Aan het Russische Hof - Paleis en protocol in de 19de eeuw

Grootse openingstentoonstelling Hermitage Amsterdam, vanaf 20 juni 2009



De Hermitage Amsterdam opent met de tentoonstelling Aan het Russische hof. Paleis en protocol in de 19de eeuw, die met ruim 1800 objecten van het moedermuseum in St.-Petersburg een van de grootste tentoonstellingen ooit in Nederland belooft te worden. De tentoonstelling, te zien van 20 juni 2009 tot en met 31 januari 2010, speelt zich af in een eeuw van zes tsaren. De eerste is de minder bekende Paul I, de zoon van Catharina de Grote, de laatste Nicolaas II, de tragische laatste tsaar van Rusland.

Het was een tijd met een zeer rijk hofleven, en dat staat in de tentoonstelling centraal: het uitvoerige hofprotocol, de feestelijke bals, de fantastische japonnen. Onder het reusachtige aantal objecten bevinden zich honderden baljurken, schilderijen van Winterhalter en Repin, unieke meubels (waaronder de beroemde Romanov-troon), indrukwekkende juwelen (van onder anderen Fabergé), kostbare en omvangrijke serviezen en de vleugel van de laatste tsarina. Eén tentoonstellingsvleugel van de Hermitage Amsterdam is gewijd aan het officiële protocol met zijn publieke demonstratie van macht en weelde, de andere vertelt over de grandioze diners, feesten en themabals die de tsaren gaven in de Hermitage.

De tentoonstelling wordt spectaculair ingericht door Merkx+Girod Architecten, bekend van onder meer de Meesterwerkenpresentatie van het Rijksmuseum Amsterdam en de Marokko-tentoonstelling in De Nieuwe Kerk. Uitgangspunt van het ontwerp zijn de twee beroemdste staatsievertrekken van het Winterpaleis: de Nicolaaszaal en de Sint-Joriszaal. De decoraties van die zalen komen in geabstraheerde vorm terug in de twee grote tentoonstellingszalen van de Hermitage Amsterdam.

De publieksbegeleiding in de tentoonstelling is zeer gevarieerd. Naast de traditionele beteksting en de audiotour zijn er verschillende interactieve computerprogramma’s die verdieping aanbieden bij de basisinformatie. Opvallende toevoeging is de projectie van beelden uit de film Russian Ark van de Russische regisseur Alexander Sokurov, die helemaal in de Russische Hermitage speelt. Ze zullen samen met muziek en ronddraaiende vitrines bijdragen aan de indruk dat zich in de Hermitage Amsterdam een negentiende-eeuws bal afspeelt.

Bron: www.hermitage.nl

Koningin bij viering 100 jaar Johanniter Orde

Hare Majesteit de Koningin is zaterdagochtend 20 juni in de Grote Kerk van Naarden aanwezig bij de viering van het 100-jarig bestaan van de Johanniter Orde in Nederland. De protestants adellijke Johanniter Orde werd in 1909 door Prins Hendrik opgericht.

De orde vindt haar oorsprong de orde van Sint Jan, in de tijd van de kruistochten. Deze was opgericht om hulp aan zieken en gewonden te bieden. Deze doelstelling geldt nu nog steeds in de Johanniter Orde.

Binnen de Johanniter Hulpverlening zijn ruim 3.000 vrijwilligers actief in meer dan dertig (zorg-)instellingen in Nederland. Zij organiseren onder andere vakantieweken voor mensen met een handicap en hebben het initiatief genomen tot instellingen als Kruispost Amsterdam (eerste hulp aan onverzekerden) en Sint Jans Hospice de Casembroot Middelburg (verzorging terminale patiënten).

Jonge Johanniters bezoeken wekelijks gedetineerden in de jeugdgevangenis Teylingereind in Sassenheim.

Prins Bernhard was Landcommandeur van de Orde, de Koningin is Erecommandeur en de Prins van Oranje is als Rechtsridder aan de Johanniter Orde verbonden. De Koningin neemt het jubileumboek 'Honderd jaar Johanniter Orde in Nederland 1909 – 2009' in ontvangst.

Bron: Nieuws van Nederland

Le comte de Paris décoré de la Légion par le Président Nicolas Sarkozy

Déjà décoré en 1959 de la Croix de la Valeur Militaire, Monseigneur le comte de Paris a reçu ce 18 mai la Légion d'honneur à titre militaire pour ses faits de guerre et son implication en tant qu'officier de la légion étrangère dans différents conflits. Reçu en fin d'après midi à l'Élysée, Monseigneur a été décoré par le Président Nicolas Sarkozy au cours d'une cérémonie de 45 minutes durant lesquelles le président a prononcé un discours s'adressant à monseigneur le comte de Paris ...où il a rendu hommage aux 40 rois qui ont fait la France, puis il a personnellement offert un bouquet de fleurs à la comtesse de Paris.

Il n'est pas rare qu'une telle distinction soit remise, à titre militaire, à un membre de la famille de France. Servir, et dans le cas présent servir dans l'Armée française, est en effet une tradition bien ancrée dans cette famille. Le dévouement et l'esprit de sacrifice militaire y ont souvent été poussés jusqu'à l'héroisme, et parfois même jusqu'au sacrifice suprême, comme ce fut le cas pour le Prince François, l'un des onze enfants du précédent Comte de Paris, et donc frère de l'actuel Comte de Paris, mort pour la France en Algérie en 1960, près du village de Michelet.....

Parmi les proches qui étaient présents : la comtesse de Paris, le duc de Vendôme, le duc d'Angoulême, les ducs de Chartres, la princesse Chantal et le baron François-Xavier de Sambucy de Sorgue, les ducs d'Uzès, les comtes de Bourbon-Busset, les comtes de La Panouse, le prince Fayçal de Tunisie, les princes Constantin Mourousy, les marquis d'Amat, M. Stephane Bern et les représentants de la Fondation Saint-Louis.

(Merci à Mr Franz Quatreboeufs de Malimensu pour ces belles photos)
http://la-couronne.over-blog.com

Order of Malta Medal for A.A. Ritter von Lutter and R.A.U. Freiherr von Quast-Juchter

In recognition and honour of special contributions, the Sovereign Military Hospital Order of Malta (SMOM), within the framework of Malteser International, bestowed upon A.A. Ritter von Lutter and R.A.U. Freiherr von Quast-Juchter, the Malteser International Medal of Commitment. This medal is seldomly awarded.

Marriage Duc de Vendôme

Already pronounced husband and wife in a March 19th ceremony at the town hall in Paris' 7th arrondissement, the union between Prince Jean d'Orleans, Duke of Vendome and Philomena de Toros y Steinhart was blessed during a religious ceremony held on May 2, 2009.

Well-wishers standing outside Senlis Cathedral in Senlis, France witnessed a steady stream of royals, including Prince Guillaume and Sybille of Luxembourg, the Duke and Duchess of Wurtemberg, The Infanta Pilar of Spain and Prine Philippe and Mathilde of Belgium, stroll by before the bride stepped upon the blue aisle runner which would lead her to the altar.

Wearing an ornate Christian Lacroix creation accented with gold embroidery, a dainty blue bow sewn onto the garment harmonized with the baby blue outfits worn by the tiny attendants, who cared for the gown's train and the lace-edged veil which clung to the turquoise tiara atop the bride's blonde tresses.

Following the exchange of vows, the newlyweds and their guests gathered at Chateau de Chantilly for the reception.

The Wall Street Journal interviews the recently engaged Jean, Duc de Vendôme (b. 1965), son of the most widely recognized claimant to the French throne. (H/T: Royal Musings)

I'm glad to see the WSJ paying attention to non-reigning royalty (though the reader comments--open only to subscribers--are uniformly disgusting), and that HRH persists in believing in the future of the French monarchy, no matter how unlikely its restoration seems at present. But there are a few misleading statements in the article.

(1) The [Spanish] Bourbons (the French Bourbon senior line became extinct in 1883) and the Orléans are not two separate families or dynasties. They are different branches of the same family, the Capetians, who ruled France from 987 to the Revolution and then again until 1848, and remain on the thrones of Spain and Luxembourg. Both the Duke of Anjou ("Louis XX") and the Duke of Vendôme are descended in the male line from King Louis XIII (1601-1643), the former from his elder son Louis XIV (1638-1715) and the latter from his younger son Philippe Duc d'Orléans (1640-1701). While it is not incorrect to state that "[t]he Orléans are related to Louis Philippe I, who ruled France between 1830 and 1848 and was related to Louis XIV's younger brother," why not specify that the Orléans are descended from Louis Philippe I (1773-1850), who was descended from Louis XIV's younger brother? "Related" makes it sound like some vague connection less direct than it actually is. As direct male-line descendants of Henri IV (the first "Bourbon" King of France) and his son Louis XIII, in a sense the Orléans family are "Bourbons" too.

(2) Luis Alfonso de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou (b. 1974), is not a "distant cousin" of the King of Spain. His father was Juan Carlos's first cousin, making them first cousins once removed. That is not a "distant" relationship!

(3) The idea that a Spaniard cannot be King of France is not really an "old tradition," but rather an odd way of summarizing the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, which stipulated that the crowns of Spain and France could never be united. The main issue, however, is not that stipulation (since Luis Alfonso is not in line to the Spanish throne), but rather the fact that Louis XIV's grandson Philippe Duc d'Anjou (from whom the Spanish and Italian Bourbons, including Luis Alfonso, all descend) renounced for himself and his descendants any claim to the French throne in order to be recognized as King Felipe V of Spain (1683-1746); the validity of that renunciation is the key dispute between supporters of "Louis XX" and supporters of "Henri VII" (Jean's father).

Comment
That said, kudos to Prince Jean for his determination to remain above "Left" and "Right" and "sow ideas" for Restoration. Vive le Roi---whoever "le Roi" is! I would gladly acclaim either Louis XX or Henri VII rather than the French Republic!

G.K. Dumoulin

Interview with the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, in the newspaper "Russian News"

Your Imperial Highness, the process that culminated in the legal rehabilitation of Emperor Nicholas II and his family went on for many years. The rulings of all the lower courts had uniformly been negative—that is, the murder of the royal family was deemed to be a criminal act…nothing more or less…. Was it something of a surprise, then, to learn about the ruling of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation?

I always believed that the rule of law and justice would triumph. And that this matter would be resolved in Russia. But this ruling of the Presidium of the Supreme Court was, to a certain extent, rather unexpected. I had appealed the previous, unlawful rulings of lower courts and moved to have the matter reviewed again. But I had not foreseen that on 1 October 2008, my relatives would be finally rehabilitated. But, thank God, I am delighted no less by this unexpected turn of events.

What do you make of the ruling of the Supreme Court: as merely a validation of the historical record, or as the reestablishment of historic justice, the rebirth of spiritual principles in Russian government?

I see it as both of these things. The state cannot be strong without the observance of the rule of law. Society is ruined if a spiritual and moral grounding is void in it. We perhaps do not yet fully realize it, but surely a very important event has taken place: the modern Russian state—from the moment it recognized the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers as victims of political repression, in full accordance with the laws—no longer bears the bloody responsibility for the regicides of 17 July 1918! Therefore, I affirm that this is not a personal victory for me, but a general victory for my country.

Does the ruling of the Supreme Court open the door to the restitution of lost properties for the House of Romanoff and to the descendants of Russian émigrés of the first wave?

I have, like my father and grandfather, always been against the restitution of property in principle since it would entail a threat to the civil order in Russia. Moreover, I have never linked property or monetary issues with the question of the rehabilitation of the royal family. If I had wanted to receive property or money, I would have acted through any number of international legal bodies without any reference at all to the rehabilitation. But we have not sought anything and we do not require anything for ourselves. Since 1991, we have actively participated in Russian life, we have been in Russia many times, and have never once voiced any such pretentions. When the government implements what has already been recognized in the overwhelming majority of the country, that the Russian Imperial House is a historical institution, and allows its return to Russia on these terms, then the government itself will determine how and in what form it will provide maintenance for us and what aid it will provide for the expansion of our social and cultural activities.

It is possible that someone looking at the prospects of your return to Russia would see it as an attempt to restore the monarchy, and therefore fear it.

The reestablishment of the monarchy is one thing, and the legal recognition of the status of the Imperial dynasty is altogether something else. Not in any of the countries of the world that have allowed the return of their Imperial or Royal dynasties has there been any resulting discord. Just look at Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Albania…. Everywhere that the former dynasties have returned, the governments have in one way or another determined its formal legal relationship to it. And nowhere has this shaken the existing constitutional order, but has only made possible a further establishing of the authority of the state. As far as the reestablishment of the monarchy is concerned, only the people can make that decision. We hold to the monarchist idea and believe that legitimate monarchy is most suited to Russia. But we would never agree to a restoration except by the expressed will of the people. In any case, we want to serve our country, and seek no personal advantages.

Interest in the former Russian Empire cannot help but touch on the very relevant question today of the international relationship between the currently independent states that once formed part of the Empire. I would like to know what your opinion is about recent events in the Caucasus, about how it could be that Georgia, which once, of its own free will, became part of Russia, should today be a military adversary? What is your take on the claims of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

You have touched on an extremely tragic and sensitive topic. The present enmity between Russia and Georgia goes against the very interests of Russians and Georgians. It is the result of the irresponsible actions of political leaders who are doing nothing but fulfilling the wishes of foreign powers and who are transforming their territory into a firing range for foreign weaponry, aimed at the citizens of these regions.

The Imperial House has never participated in the dismemberment of the country or in fratricidal civil war. We have always felt ourselves to be in our homeland, whether we be in the Russian Federation, of which we are a citizen, or in any of the other countries that formed after December 1991 in territories of the former Russian Empire. I believe that sooner or later, unity of all the peoples of the Russian Empire will be reestablished. This does not mean the reestablishment of the empire in the same form it had before 1917, and, of course, this does not mean the reestablishment of the USSR. But at an appropriate point in the future, one might find a kind of Commonwealth which would correspond to the present realities and, at the same time, lean on traditions, on the centuries-long experience of our ancestors, who together created a great world power. As for the recognition by Russia of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, this is a convoluted question. Of course, Russia simply cannot abandon to their own fates the peoples of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, the Pridnestr, and the countless other peoples of all nationalities in other countries, who, when the USSR fell, found themselves in these territories and were suddenly and unexpectedly citizens of a foreign country. All of these people trust Russia and expect protection from her. I firmly am convinced that this is one of the important historical missions of the Russian Federation, and, at the same time, I very much hope that Russia’s recognition of the independence of these lands you ask about will not deepen the conflict, and will not be used in the future as a precedent by our geopolitical rivals against the territorial integrity of Russia itself. In such matters it is necessary to show both a strong will and extreme sensitivity, and in no way to permit any double standards in relation to our own interests or to those of the people who expect from Russia help and protection.
(Published without abridgement: “Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna: The Present Russian Government No Longer Bears the Responsibility for Regicide,” an interview by A. Tolstikovich, “Russian News” [Rossiiskie vesti], 2008, 15-21 October, no. 36 (1932).

[Rossiiskie Vesti]
source: imperialhouse.ru

Albrecht der Bär: Glanzvolle Ordensverleihung in Amsterdam im November 2008

Auf Initiative von Herrn R.A.U. Juchter van Bergen Quast konnte Seine Hoheit Eduard Prinz von Anhalt eine weitere wichtige Persönlichkeit im Askanischen Hausorden Albrecht der Bär begrüßen. Dr. Hans Hoegen Dijkhof, Rechtsanwalt und Inhaber einer großen und international erfolgreichen Anwaltskanzlei in Amsterdam, wurde in einer privaten und sehr feierlichen Zeremonie im Hotel Hilton in Amsterdam in der Ordensklasse Commander in die Gemeinschaft der askanischen Bären aufgenommen.

Dr. Hoegen Dijkhof hatte zu einem Galadinner geladen und viele Freunde und Weggefährten aus Politik und Wirtschaft aus den Niederlanden folgten der Einladung zu diesem Ereignis. S.H. Prinz von Anhalt, begleitet von seiner Ehefrau I.H. Corinna Prinzessin von Anhalt, überreichte Dr. Hoegen Dijkhof die Ordensurkunde sowie Miniaturen und die rot-grün-rote Rosette. Außerdem erhielt Dr. Hoegen die Ordensregeln und Statuten sowie ein Buch zur Geschichte der Familie von Anhalt-Askanien.

Dr. Hoegen Dijkhof erhielt den Orden, für seine umfassenden juristischen Recherchen, womit er die Grundlagen für die Weiterentwicklung des Ordens im Sinne seiner zeitgemäßen, heute gültigen Grundsätze und Werte schuf.

S.H. als Großmeister des Haus-Ordens Albrecht der Bär, freut sich über den neuen, ganz im Sinne des Ordens aktiven Bruder.

Der Namensgeber des Ordens ist Albrecht der Bär (1100 - 1170) erster askanischer Markgraf von Brandenburg, Graf von Anhalt und Ballenstedt. Die ersten bekannten Verleihungen von Orden in den askanischen Häusern gehen zurück bis ins Jahr 1382.

Albrecht der Bär, Sohn von Otto dem Reichen ist der Ur-Urenkel des Stammvaters der Askanier Graf Esiko von Ballenstedt (gest.ca.1059). Albrecht war eines der berühmtesten historischen Persönlichkeiten des deutschen Mittelalters. Neben seinen Eroberungen östlich von Saale und Elbe war er Vertrauter und Diplomat für mehrere deutsche Könige und Kaiser (z.B. Kaiser Barbarossa). Durch seine Eroberungen und angeheiratete Rechte brachten es seine Söhne zu den mächtigsten Fürsten und Kurfürsten im Heiligen Römischen Reich Deutscher Nation. Sohn Otto wurde Markgraf von Brandenburg, dessen Söhne übrigens Berlin gründeten und der Stadt den Bären ihres Großvaters verliehen. Der jüngere Sohn Bernhard wurde Herzog von Sachsen und erbte die Grafschaft Anhalt. Von Bernhards Söhnen wurde Heinrich I. Fürst von Anhalt und Stammvater aller heute lebenden echten Mitglieder des Hauses Anhalt.

Der heutige Großmeister des Ordens, S.H. Prinz Eduard von Anhalt wurde genau wie sein Urahn in Ballenstedt geboren. Aus den bekannten geschichtlichen Gründen wurden der Prinz und seine Familie lange Zeit von ihrer Heimat ferngehalten, und genießen es nun um so mehr, das Land seiner Vorväter kennen zulernen und neu zu erfahren. Auch der Orden soll nun wieder mit Leben gefüllt werden. In diesem Sinne verleiht das Haus Anhalt-Askanien den Orden Albrecht der Bär wieder an Persönlichkeiten, die sich in besonderer Weise um das Haus Anhalt-Askanien verdient machen.

Onderzoek naar bemoeienis rijksoverheid in privéleven de Roy van Zuydewijn

De Nationale ombudsman, Alex Brenninkmeijer, start een onderzoek naar mogelijke bemoeienis van de rijksoverheid met het privéleven van de Roy van Zuydewijn, waardoor hij nadeel zou hebben ondervonden. Aanleiding voor dit onderzoek is een klacht die de Roy van Zuydewijn hierover via zijn advocaat indiende bij de ombudsman.

De Roy van Zuydewijn noemt in zijn klacht twee voorbeelden van bemoeienis door de rijksoverheid in zijn privéleven. Ten tijde van zijn betrokkenheid bij het Bouwfonds, probeerde de directeur van het Kabinet der Koningin informatie bij het Bouwfonds los te krijgen over hem. Vervolgens deed de rijksrecherche een onderzoek naar de Roy van Zuydewijn bij dit fonds. Hierdoor zou het Bouwfonds zijn gestopt met het geven van opdrachten aan het bedrijf van de Roy van Zuydewijn. Ook werd hij door een reclamebureau gevraagd mee te werken aan een reclamespot voor een overheidscampagne tegen alcohol in het verkeer (de BOB-campagne). De Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst zou het reclamebureau hebben gezegd hier niet van gediend te zijn.

Het onderzoek van de ombudsman is erop gericht om vast te stellen of er inderdaad sprake is van inmenging in het privéleven van de Roy van Zuydewijn en in hoeverre dit negatieve invloed op zijn privéleven heeft gehad.

De Nationale ombudsman licht zijn onderzoek toe in een uitzending van Eén Vandaag op woensdag 1 april, 18:15, Nederland 1.

Queen is not amused by Brown's Royal succession plan

The Queen sounded a note of caution yesterday over Gordon Brown's revolutionary plans to bring equality to the monarchy.



Buckingham Palace said no changes to the laws and traditions of the Crown could be made until every country where the Queen is head of state had given its approval.

That means years of delay while 15 legislatures – including those of Australia, New Zealand and Canada – quibble over the Prime Minister's proposals.

Behind the Queen's insistence on cast-iron support from the Commonwealth is thought to lie her deep concern about the role of Christianity in Britain and the unforeseen impact of any reforms.

Mr Brown aims to remove the 308- year-old legal barriers that prevent a Roman Catholic or anyone married to a Catholic from becoming King.

He also intends to sweep away primogeniture, the ancient principle that says a man must always take precedence over a woman in line to the throne.

The surprise announcement that Downing Street and the Palace were in talks over reforms was made by Mr Brown's aides during a visit to Brasilia on Thursday.

Yesterday the Prime Minister accepted that Commonwealth countries must have a say, but added: 'I think in the 21st century people do expect discrimination to be removed and they do expect us to be looking at these issues.'

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace, however, said: 'This entire issue for us depends on obtaining agreement from each of the 15 realms of which the Queen is head of state. If an agreement were to be reached, then we would assess the situation. But not until then.'

It was underlined yesterday that the Queen is deeply committed to her overseas dominions and wants to be seen as taking her lead from them, not from the British Government.

And while Buckingham Palace was neutral over Mr Brown's reforms and the equality agenda that informs them, the Queen is known to be concerned over their impact on Christian belief and practice in Britain.

She is a serious Anglican and is aware of the possibility that Christianity may be sidelined if reforms to the monarchy culminate in the severance of the historic constitutional links between the Church of England and the state.

Mr Brown's reforms would mean the repeal of the Act of Settlement, the 1701 law designed to prevent the return of the Catholic Stuarts.

The abolition of primogeniture would open up the succession to women – for example Princess Anne would become fourth in line after Charles, William and Harry, and would overtake her brothers, Princes Andrew and Edward.

In the Commons, few MPs attended a debate on Liberal Democrat Dr Evan Harris's private members Bill calling for the same reforms.

It was effectively scuppered as Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Dr Harris's Bill was 'not the appropriate vehicle' for reform.

Tories meanwhile accused the Government of trying to divert attention from economic troubles.

Former minister Nicholas Soames said: 'This is an extraordinary thing to be talking about when the G20 summit is starting next week. It is a very, very odd time to raise it.'

By Steve Doughty and Rebecca English


ANALYSIS: Changing the act of succession would put a question mark over the monarchy

The Act of Settlement has long been a target of the political Left, who believe the 308-year-old pillar of the constitution is an offence against human rights.

Primogeniture, the automatic precedence of men over women in line for the throne which goes back as long as history has been written, is even more offensive to the diversity and equality lobby.

Campaigning against what the Left see as the twin evils of the Act and primogeniture began seriously at the turn of the Millennium, when the Guardian newspaper led the cause.

The Human Rights Act, which went into effect in 2000, gave a powerful boost to the idea.

Unhappiness has recently been shared by senior members of the Government. Justice Secretary Jack Straw launched a review of the Act of Settlement at the end of last year, calling it 'antiquated' and saying it discriminated against non-Protestants.

Leading Roman Catholics find the law irritating, although there has been no obvious sign of discontent among the millions of ordinary Catholics.

But the trouble with pulling down pillars of the constitution is that you never know what may fall with them.

Tinkering with either the 18th century law or the principle of primogeniture would put a question mark over the future of the monarchy, at a time when its popularity has been rocky.

The Act of Settlement was a law to ensure that the Roman Catholic Stuart dynasty, chased off the throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, could not return.

It barred any Catholic monarch or any monarch from marrying a Catholic, and paved the way for the arrival in 1714 of the Hanoverian dynasty with George I, the monarch from whom the present Queen is descended.

Repeal of the Act might even call into question the right of the Queen to be monarch.

The remnants of the Stuart dynasty now living in southern Germany might feel they had a better claim to the throne.

Removal of the Act of Settlement would threaten the position of the Church of England, England's state religion since 1534, when Henry VIII broke with Rome.

This would not worry some Church leaders. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said last year that disestablishment was 'by no means the end of the world'.

It would, however, be a further blow to Christianity and leave a major constitutional problem.

The role of the CofE is knotted deeply together with that of Parliament and the monarchy in centuries of constitutional law and practice.

The Church crowns the monarch and the monarch is Supreme Governor of the Church. Neither role could continue were the Church to be disestablished.

An end to primogeniture would be seen as a blow to the hereditary principle, already eroded by the removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

By Steve Doughty

Source: dailymail.co.uk

King of Spain bestowed Spanish knighthood on Lt. Governor Owen

OLYMPIA – More than 15 years working with the Spanish government on projects from arts to trains and even recognition of a historical fort in a far corner of Washington state has earned Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and a senior aide the highest honor the King of Spain can bestow on a non-citizen: Spanish knighthood.

The lieutenant governor will formally receive the title at an 11:30 a.m. ceremony and reception on April 2 2008 in Senate chambers in the Capitol. One of Owen’s longtime advisors on international relations, Antonio Sanchez, also will receive the decoration.

“I am extremely honored to receive this prestigious title, but more importantly it is a tribute to the great relationship we have been able to maintain with the Spanish government, a relationship that has been of significant benefit to our state and its citizens,” said Owen.

A number of ranking state dignitaries, including Governor Chris Gregoire, are expected to be in the ceremony. The list will include several other elected officials, both current and past.

Spanish King Juan Carlos I will not be at the ceremony but will be represented by Manuel Pradas Romani, the consul general of Spain in San Francisco and Luis Fernando Esteban, the honorary consul of Spain for Washington state.

The ceremony will also be broadcast live on TVW, the state’s public affairs network.

“Through the tireless efforts of these men, many thousands of citizens of Washington state and Spain have been given the opportunity to share their languages, history, culture and business opportunities,” said Esteban. “Together they have built a pathway of understanding and a peaceful and prosperous future.”

Examples of Spanish projects the two have helped foster cited by Consul Esteban include:

>> Securing the high speed Spanish Talgo train for Washington state in the early 1990s. As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, then senator Owen helped evaluate the train’s feasibility for Amtrak, even riding it at his own expense when it was being demonstrated in the state in 1994. Sanchez visited the production site and helped lead the effort to ensure that the train sets would be assembled in the state. Washington was subsequently the first state in the nation to purchase the train, which began service in 1998 and continues to draw record ridership a decade later.

>> Bringing renowned Spanish art to the state, including the “Catalan Masters of the 20th Century” to the Tacoma Art Museum in 1997 and 1998 and the “Picasso Exhibition” in 1998. Esteban describes work by Owen and Sanchez as “pivotal” in bringing to the state prestigious collections of Spanish royal art and artifacts in recent years, including “Spain in the Age of Exploration 1492-1819” to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) in 2004. That exhibit was visited by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain.

>> Coordinating a bilateral agreement with the Minister of Education of Spain and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to improve the skills and credentials of the 1,700 Spanish language teachers in Washington’s public schools. As a result more than 200 teachers were able to attend summer programs at the University of Salamanca west of Madrid. Owen attended the opening of the summer class in 2000 and gave a keynote address to more than 600 teachers from around the world.

>> A decade of collaborative work by Owen and Sanchez that culminated in the opening of the Cervantes Institute at the University of Washington. The institute, one of just four such programs in the U.S., promotes the Spanish language and culture from Spain and Latin America. Also developed and funded by Spain was the establishment of the Spanish library and Center for Spanish Studies at the UW.

>> The development of a memorial park in Neah Bay in collaboration with the Spanish consulate and the Makah Nation. Called Fort Núñez Gaona, the park commemorates the site of the first European settlement in Washington state 215 years ago and also serves as a veterans’ memorial. The park was completed in 2007 and will be dedicated later this spring.

>> Other work includes assistance with the development of a Microsoft research center in Spain and a $260,000 grant by University of Leon the University of Washington’s Department of Spanish and Portuguese to establish a teaching chair.

The title of knighthood has been received by only four other Washingtonians. They include Esteban; Mimi Gates, director of the Seattle Art Museum; former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro and Chiyo Ishikawa, chief curator for European art at SAM.

Elected in 1996, Lt. Gov. Owen is currently the longest-serving lieutenant governor in office in the country and, at 32 years, the second-longest serving elected official in Washington state government. He served two terms in the House then four terms in the Senate prior to his current position as second-in-command of state government.

Updated March 28. 2008 The Spanish ambassador is no longer able to attend the ceremony as was stated in the original version of this release.

Source: ltgov.wa.gov

House of Lords

The Lords work in Parliament’s second chamber – the House of Lords – and complement and operate alongside the business of the House of Commons. It is one of the busiest second chambers in the world. The expertise of its Members and flexibility to scrutinise an issue in depth means the Lords makes a significant contribution to Parliament’s work. The UK public does not elect Members of the Lords.

Making laws
Making laws takes up the bulk of the House of Lords time, and Members are involved throughout the process of proposing, revising and amending legislation. Some Bills introduced by the Government begin in the Lords to spread the workload between the two Houses.

Judicial work
The House of Lords is the highest court in the land: the supreme court of appeal. A group of salaried, full-time judges known as Law Lords carries out this judicial work.

Checking the work of government
Lords check the work of the Government by questioning and debating decisions made by ministers and government departments.

Specialist committees
There are permanent committees investigating work relating to Europe, science and technology, economics and the constitution. Occasionally one-off committees are set up to deal with issues outside these areas.

Source: www.parliament.uk

Guide to the Honours

British honours are awarded on merit, for exceptional achievement or service.

Anybody can recommend a British national for an honour, which consist of life peerages, knighthoods, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry awards to servicemen and women and civilians.

Nominations, sent either by government ministers or by members of the public, are divided into subject areas and assessed by eight committees comprising both senior civil servants and independent experts.

Their assessments are passed to a selection committee that produces the list that is submitted to the Queen through the prime minister.

The Queen formally approves the list of recipients. The honours are published in the official Crown newspaper, the London Gazette.

Private nominations, made by individuals or by representatives of organisations to the Cabinet Office, traditionally make up about a quarter of all recommendations.

Honorary awards for foreign nationals are recommended by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Orders for chivalry are made after a personal decision by the Queen.

Life Peers

Life peerages are the only form of peerages regularly created by the Sovereign.

A life peer becomes a baron and sits in the House of Lords on conferment of peerage.

These are titles which they hold only during their lifetime and are not passed to their heirs.

Knights Bachelor

The honour of knighthood comes from the days of medieval chivalry, as does the method used to confer the knighthood: the accolade, or the touch of a sword by the Sovereign.

Although Knights Bachelor do not comprise an order of chivalry, knighthood is a dignity which has its origins in Britain in Saxon times. They are styled "Sir" (except for clergymen who do not receive the accolade) and their wives "Lady".

Women receiving the honour are styled "Dame" but do not receive the accolade.

The Order of the Bath

The Order of the Bath is an order of chivalry and was founded in 1725 for service of the highest calibre. The order has a civil and military division and is awarded in the following ranks: Knight Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) and Companion (CB).

The Order takes its name from the symbolic bathing which in former times was often part of the preparation of a candidate for knighthood.

Order of St Michael and St George

This Order was founded by King George III in 1818 and is awarded to British subjects who have rendered extraordinary and important services abroad or in the Commonwealth. Ranks in the Order are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG), Knight or Dame Commander (KCMG or DCMG) and Companion (CMG).

Order of the Companions Honour

This is awarded for service of conspicuous national importance and is limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name.

Orders of the British Empire

King George V in 1917 created these honours during World War 1 to reward services to the war effort by civilians at home and servicemen in support positions.



The orders are now awarded mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service or other distinctions and has a military and a civil division. Ranks in the Order are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE).



Royal Victorian Order

By 1896, prime ministers and governments had increased their influence over the distribution of awards and had gained almost total control of the system. Therefore, Queen Victoria instituted The Royal Victorian Order as a personal award for services performed on her behalf.

Today this honour is still awarded in recognition of services to the royal family. The ranks are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight or Dame Commander (KCVO or DCVO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO) and Member (MVO).

Royal Victorian Medal

Associated with the Royal Victorian Order is the Royal Victorian Medal which has three grades: gold, silver and bronze. The circular medal is attached to the ribbon of the Order.

More than one grade may be held by the same person and the medal may be worn along with the insignia of the Order itself.

Royal Red Cross

Founded in 1883 by Queen Victoria, The award is confined to the Nursing Services. Those awarded the First Class are designated "Members" (RRC): those awarded the Second Class are designated "Associates" (ARRC).

It is said that the suggestion for the founding of this decoration was made to Queen Victoria by Miss Florence Nightingale.

Queen's Police Medal

This is awarded for distinguished service to the police force.

Queen's Fire Service Medal

This honour is given to firefighters who have displayed conspicuous devotion to duty.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The Duchess

The Duchess is a 2008 British costume drama film based on Amanda Foreman's best-selling biography of the 18th-century English aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. It was released in September 2008 in the UK. Originally to be directed by Susanne Bier, The Duchess was directed by Saul Dibb.

Set at the end of the eighteenth century, The Duchess is based on the life of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. While her beauty and charisma made her name, her extravagant tastes and appetite for gambling and love made her infamous. Married young to the older, distant Duke of Devonshire, who was blatantly unfaithful, Georgiana became a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator, intimate of ministers and princes, and darling of the common people. But at the core of the story is a desperate search for love. The film delves into Georgiana’s passionate and doomed affair with Earl Grey, the future Prime Minister, and the complex love triangle with her husband and her best friend, Lady Bess Foster.

Source: Wikipedia

The Young Victoria

The history books tell us that she was the ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain from 1837 to 1901. Her time in power was the longest of any ruler in British history and came to be known as the Victorian Era. With this, we immediately conjure up all those images of a frumpy over-weight woman dressed in black; but soon, the upcoming motion picture, "The Young Victoria", will present a different view of this dynamic British monarch. "The Young Victoria" will chronicle the early and often turbulent years, of a young girl who became queen of Great Britain. Victoria was a young girl of barely 18 when she was crowned, vivacious, fond of parties, and prone to flirting with the gentlemen of the court, and even her ministers. The film will focus on her storied romance and legendary marriage to Prince Albert. Martin Scorsese [American] and Graham King [British] have teamed-up again [The Departed, The Aviator and Gangs of New York] to retell the story of this famous queen with a little help from the outspoken Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Graham King told Variety Magazine, "We all think we know Queen Victoria from the latter part of her life, but in fact she was an amazing, dynamic, romantic personality from a very early age that is largely unknown. I had been searching for a British project for many years so I am just thrilled to bring her story to life." Although no names have signed yet, "The Young Victoria" will be a prestige production with a big-budget and big stars. Scorsese will co-produce.

Source: squidoo.com

Ted Kennedy to receive honorary knighthood

The US senator Ted Kennedy is to be given an honorary knighthood, Downing Street announced today.

The Queen will honour the 77-year-old brother of the former US president John F Kennedy for his services to the US-UK relationship and to Northern Ireland, officials said.

Gordon Brown will today formally announce the award during his address to both houses of Congress on the second full day of his visit to Washington.

Kennedy, who has been a senator for his home state, Massachusetts, for more than 46 years, is being treated for a brain tumour.

The most senior member of the famous Irish-American political dynasty, he was diagnosed with brain cancer last May. He has since had chemotherapy and radiation to treat the malignant glioma.

Kennedy suffered another seizure during Barack Obama's inaugural lunch in January, but was released from hospital a day later.

He is probably best known in the UK for his work on the Northern Ireland peace process, being intricately involved with province's politics during and beyond the Good Friday agreement.

He snubbed Adams during the latter's St Patrick's Day trip to the US in 2005 following the killing of Robert McCartney. The IRA was accused of involvement in the death.

Kennedy joins a select band of overseas nationals to be given an honorary knighthood.

The Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, the former president George Bush senior, the former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the film director Steven Spielberg have also received the honour.

www.guardian.co.uk

Immer ihrer Zeit voraus und nun für alle Zeiten verewigt: die neue Elfi-von-Dassanowsky-Stiftung

Wien/Los Angeles (ots) - "Ihre Arbeit wird weitergehen" ist mehr als nur ein Nachruf für die verstorbene österreichisch-amerikanische Kulturdiva Prof. Elfi (Elfriede) Dassanowsky, die international bekannte Filmproduzentin, Sängerin und Pianistin, die im Oktober 2007 im Alter von 83 Jahren in Los Angeles verstarb - es ist nun Wirklichkeit. Als ihr Sohn Dr. Robert Dassanowsky, Produzent und Professor für Germanistik und Film an der Universität von Colorado, Ende 2007 die Gründung der Elfi-von-Dassanowsky-Stiftung bekannt gab, erfüllte er den letzten Traum seiner Mutter.

"Angesichts des Wiederauflebens des österreichischen Films hatten wir noch zu ihren Lebzeiten über ein Stipendium oder Beihilfeverfahren für Film- und Musicaldarstellerinnen in Österreich gesprochen. Sie wollte Frauen ihres Heimatlandes zu ähnlich bahnbrechenden Schritten ermutigen, wie sie sie selbst unternommen hatte", erinnert sich ihr Sohn. Elfi Dassanowskys Mitbegründung der Belvedere Film 1946 in Wien, die noch heute als Produktionsgesellschaft besteht, ihr Wirken in der Kulturdiplomatie als Musicalstar und Pädagogin in der Nachkriegszeit, ihre Jahre in Hollywood sowie die Würdigung ihrer Karriere durch Österreich, Frankreich, die USA und die UNESCO machten sie zu einem einzigartigen Vorbild für Frauen in der Kunst, wie die Presse es häufig nannte.

Dieser Elan lebt in ihrem Sohn weiter, dessen wissenschaftliche Arbeit ebenfalls zum Verständnis der Filme und Kultur Österreichs im Ausland beigetragen hat. "Meine Mutter erzählte mir von der Kunst als Kraft der Menschlichkeit und Veränderung, und ich habe ihr sehr genau zugehört", so Prof. Dr. Dassanowsky, der mit seiner Fortführung der Stiftung das Engagement seiner Mutter am Leben erhalten möchte. Die erste Phase des Konzepts ist nun abgeschlossen.

Während die mit einem Startkapital für Filmmacherinnen dotierten Auszeichnungen eher eine Investition in die Zukunft darstellen, gewährt der Stiftungsfonds Elfi von Dassanowsky bereits ab Februar 2009 auf Empfehlung von Beratungsgremien gemeinnützigen Organisationen in den USA und in Europa Fördermittel für Kunst, Ausbildung, Frauenfragen und die österreichische Kultur.

www.elfivondassanowsky.org

Eine Frage, Herr Knigge - Welche Umgangsformen brauchen wir noch?

Die große Sammlung alltäglicher Lebenssituationen, in denen Sie sich schon mal gefragt haben, wie benehme ich mich jetzt am besten: Vom Leben in und neben dem Fettnapf, von den Wasserspielen auf dem Klo, peinliche Stille im Lift, die Fallstricke des Flurfunks, das Handy und die schnurlose Verlautbarung und, und, und. Alles nicht dramatisch und doch wäre man in diesen Situationen gerne etwas sicherer. Moritz Freiherr Knigge und Michael Schellberg haben hier den vielleicht ersten ernst zu nehmenden Knigge geschrieben, der amüsant zu lesen ist.

2008, 333 Seiten, Maße: 19 cm, Taschenbuch, Deutsch
Lübbe
ISBN-10: 3404664183
ISBN-13: 9783404664184


Wer - wie ich - den Namen Knigge trägt, den beschleicht das Gefühl, das, was landläufig unter Knigge veröffentlicht wird, macht den Umgang eher komplizierter bei all den Fettnäpfen, die überall lauern. Als allzu steif und realitätsfern erscheinen einem die Verhaltensempfehlungen der “Benimmexperten”.

Aber mal ehrlich: Weder sind wir täglich auf dem Wiener Opernball, in “besternten” Hotels oder Restaurants, noch droht uns die gesellschaftliche Isolation, wenn wir keinen Handkuss beherrschen, unseren Mitmenschen “Gesundheit” wünschen oder am Abend braune Schuhe tragen.

Vielmehr werden unsere Manieren doch im Taxi, in der Kaffeeküche im Büro, im Urlaub mit Freunden oder im Supermarkt auf die Probe gestellt. Da hier ebenfalls gutes Benehmen gefragt ist, habe ich mich außerhalb der “Sissy-Welt” auf die Suche nach manierlichen Antworten begeben.

Wer also also wissen möchten, was es bei der Rede zur Hochzeitsfeier seiner Tochter oder Sohnes zu beachten gilt, wie man sich den Titel “König Kunde” redlich verdient, wie man sich gegenüber geschwätzigen Zeitgenossen verhält, was eine Freundschaft aushält oder warum Großzügigkeit ein Merkmal wahrhaft höflicher Menschen ist, der wird in “Eine Frage, Herr Knigge” Antworten finden.

Sollten Sie danach dem Klappentext zustimmen, es sei mir und Michael Schellberg gelungen, “den vielleicht ersten ernst zu nehmenden ‘Knigge’ geschrieben zu haben, der amüsant zu lesen ist”, dann würde uns das freuen. Wären wir doch dann der Verhaltensempfehlung Adolph Freiherr Knigges nachgekommen, nach der man nicht vergessen solle, “dass die Leute unterhalten und amüsiert sein wollen; dass selbst der unterrichtendste Umgang ihnen in der Länge ermüdend vorkommt, wenn er nicht zuweilen durch Witze und gute Laune gewürzt wird.”

Moritz Freiherr Knigge in qulturszene.at

Schijn van partijdigheid bij benoeming rijksarchivaris

De Nationale ombudsman, Alex Brenninkmeijer, constateert in een vandaag uitgebracht rapport dat er sprake is geweest van schijn van partijdigheid bij de benoeming van de rijksarchivaris in 2007 door het Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap. Het ministerie heeft die indruk gewekt door het diplomavereiste in de vacaturetekst af te zwakken en door het moment waarop het ministerie de regelgeving op dit punt heeft aangepast.

De benoemingsprocedure voor een nieuwe rijksarchivaris heeft vorig jaar in de archiefwereld tot opschudding geleid. In mei 2007 heeft het Ministerie van OCW een vacature opengesteld voor de functie 'algemeen rijksarchivaris tevens directeur Nationaal Archief'. In strijd met de Archiefwet bleek een archiefdiploma in de vacaturetekst geen vereiste. Op dezelfde dag dat het ministerie de benoeming van een kandidaat bekend maakte, werd ook een wijziging gepubliceerd van het Statuut van het Nationaal Archief gepubliceerd in de Staatscourant. Deze wijziging maakte het mogelijk om iemand zonder diploma te benoemen als directeur, en niet tot rijksarchivaris. En zo gebeurde het ook. Zodra deze kandidaat het vereiste diploma behaald zou hebben, zou hij ook benoemd kunnen worden tot rijksarchivaris. De gang van zaken leidde tot een klacht bij de Nationale ombudsman.

Princess Christina uses tax loophole

Labour and Socialist Party MPs have criticised a member of the Dutch royal family for avoiding taxes by putting her money in an offshore tax haven, reports the Volkskrant.

Princess Christina, who is the sister of queen Beatrix but renounced her rights to the throne when she became a Catholic, is said to have inherited tens of millions of euros from her parents, queen mother Juliana and prince Bernhard.

The princess lives in London, but by putting money in a trust on the Channel Island of Guernsey avoids having to pay British taxes. The trust is managed from Paleis Noordeinde, the queen’s work palace in The Hague.

Although the Guernsey trust is not illegal in itself, MPs say Christina should act as a role model. ‘She should not be looking for financial loopholes to avoid paying the full amount of tax,’ the paper quotes Labour MP Diederik Samsom as saying.

Socialist MP Ronald van Raak has asked prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende to reveal if other royal family cash is also being put through tax havens.

© DutchNews.nl

Ursula den Tex - Erfgenamen

Echte mannen waren het, hoewel in hun stand de term ‘heren’ gebruikelijker was. Machtige mannen. Ze behoorden tot de kleine kring van families die generaties lang vooraanstaande posities bezetten in het Amsterdamse stadsbestuur, de magistratuur, de handel, en in de landelijke politiek. Ze woonden in de grootste grachtenhuizen en ’s zomers ging het naar de weelderige buitens in het Gooi.

Alle Coo’s waren overtuigd liberaal. Ze studeerden vanzelfsprekend rechten. De laatste drie Coo’s waren bovendien jonkheer. Dat was te danken aan de prestaties van Koo den Tex (1824-1882), die het tot burgemeester van Amsterdam bracht en in de adelstand werd verheven. Ursula den Tex noemt haar familie ‘Amsterdamse geldaristocratie’.

Natuurlijk, vrouwen waren er ook in deze familie. Maar ze speelden geen rol in het openbare leven. Ze baarden nazaten, bestierden het personeel en brachten kapitaal en goede connecties in. Dat ging eigenlijk vanzelf. De 19de-eeuwse Amsterdamse elite kwam bijeen op diners, danspartijen, huwelijksfeesten en in Felix Meritis, het genootschap van de gegoede burgerij. Zo vonden jonge mensen vanzelf de ‘juiste’ partner.

In de loop van de negentiende eeuw groeide het fortuin van de familie Den Tex. Om alle Co’s te onderscheiden duidt de schrijfster ze aan met hun beroep. Koo ‘de burgemeester’ was de zoon van ‘de professor’, de Amsterdamse hoogleraar Den Tex (1795-1854), een sobere intellectueel. Van diens zeven kinderen was Koo de lastigste. Hij was de eerste die flink fortuin maakte, allereerst door te trouwen met een rijke vrouw. Het burgemeesterschap verhinderde hem niet om in het Duitse Ruhrgebied, waar zijn vrouw een kasteel had geërfd, met succes te investeren in de staal- en kalksteenindustrie.

Coo den Tex (1854-1907), de grootvader van de schrijfster, kreeg met recht de naam ‘de bestuurder’. Dankzij het familiekapitaal kon hij zich helemaal wijden aan talloze bestuursfuncties en commissariaten. Een netwerker die veel invloed uitoefende.

Diens zoon Co (1889- 1964) kreeg geen bijnaam van de schrijfster – hij is haar vader. Hij had ‘de militair’ kunnen heten, want hij was dol op wapens, cavalerie en marcherende regimenten. Hij trouwde met Anna baronesse Bentinck, werd burgemeester van Bloemendaal en kreeg drie dochters. Geen zoon, tot zijn spijt, zodat de rij van Co’s abrupt werd beëindigd.

De jongste, Ursula , werd geboren in 1933. Zij brak met veel familietradities. In de jaren zestig ging zij werken voor de PvdA; daarna werd ze journaliste bij Vrij Nederland. Na haar pensionering begon zij zich meer en meer te interesseren voor haar familiegeschiedenis. Ze schreef het levensverhaal van haar moeder, Anna baronesse Bentinck 1902-1989 (2003), en nu het verhaal van de vier generaties invloedrijke Den Tex-mannen. Zo werd zij, de schrijfster, de eerste vrouwelijke nazaat die ‘handelingsbekwaam’ was en in de openbaarheid trad, de hoedster van de familiegeschiedenis: ‘Vrouwen zijn niet alleen degenen die het leven doorgeven, zij zijn er in het algemeen ook beter in om het te handhaven, met weinig drama en volhardend.’ Volharding is zeker een eigenschap van déze Den Tex. Vele maanden moet zij hebben doorgebracht in het Amsterdamse Stadsarchief en de Universiteitsbibliotheek. Zij vond persoonlijke brieven, zakenbrieven, dagboeken, kinderbriefjes, officiële stukken, en vele meters dagboek van haar vader. Zo reconstrueerde zij de geschiedenis van haar familie, die sterk verweven is met de ‘grote’ geschiedenis, die van industrialisatie en (de)kolonisatie, twee wereldoorlogen en een economische crisis. Het opkomende socialisme zou goeddeels een einde maken aan bestuurlijke almacht van mannen als de Den Tex’en.

Over die grote geschiedenis en die van deze familie komen we in dit uitstekend gedocumenteerde en prettig geschreven boek veel te weten. Toch zijn de eerste hoofdstukken rommelig en verwarrend. Het ‘verhaal’ dat in de ondertitel wordt beloofd, komt niet van de grond. Dat komt misschien doordat de schrijfster veel bladzijden kwijt is aan het uitleggen wie nu wie is, en over welke bronnen ze beschikt. Daardoor lijken de eerste hoofdstukken van dit chronologisch geordende verhaal eerder op het commentaar bij bronnen. Soms wordt de inhoud van een hele doos even samengevat, ook als deze documenten ‘miniem feitelijke notities over gebeurtenissen van alledag’ bevatten. Alsof wij per se overal getuige van moeten zijn en de schrijfster ons vooral niet wil uitleveren aan haar verbeelding.

Die ordenende schrijfster zit haar verhaal aanvankelijk hinderlijk in de weg. Als lezer weet je te weinig van de ‘ik’ die je aan het werk ziet, om nieuwsgierig met haar mee te zoeken. Je weet nog niet wat de familieband voor haar betekent. Pas aan eind van het boek valt alles op zijn plaats. Naarmate we de twintigste eeuw naderen, wordt deze geschiedenis meeslepender. De personages krijgen gezichten, hebbelijkheden, een karakter. De mannen en vrouwen die de schrijfster als klein meisje aanstaarden vanaf hun schilderijen, komen tot leven.

De laatste delen zijn schitterend. Den Tex vertelt daarin over haar eigen vader. Het is een schrijnend portret, van een man die nooit werd die hij had willen zijn: een huzaar, een dapper militair, een koelbloedig leider – een ideale man volgens Kipling, zijn lievelingsschrijver. Zo dapper was hij niet. Hij was een conservatieve liberaal, die alles wat ‘rood’ was levensbedreigend achtte, maar zelf in de jaren dertig dweepte met het fascisme. Die burgemeester van Amsterdam had willen worden, maar in Bloemendaal bleef hangen, waar hij een Burgerwacht opzette. Tijdens de oorlog was hij lid van de Ordedienst – reden waarom hij twee jaar in een kamp in Sint- Michielsgestel werd vastgezet. Een lastige vader, op wie de dochter niettemin ‘verliefd’ was.

Het is jammer dat dit boek niet andersom geschreven is: beginnend bij dit portret, het spoor terugvolgend. Wel maakt het benieuwd naar het vervolg: hoe de adellijke burgemeestersdochter, opgegroeid tussen pistolen, stallen en schilderijen, zich staande hield tussen de losgeslagen meisjes en jongens van Vrij Nederland.

Bron: De Volkskrant

Heerlijkheden in Nederland

Welke namen van heerlijkheden worden nog gevoerd sinds 1848?

C.E.G. ten Houte de Lange,
m.m.v. V.A.M. van der Burg

ISBN 9789087040802
geïllustreerd (deels in kleur)

In vroeger tijden werd het land niet alleen bestuurd door plaatselijke, regionale en landelijke overheden, maar werd een deel van de bestuurlijke, wetgevende en rechterlijke macht uitgeoefend door particulieren. De gebieden waarvoor dit gold, worden heerlijkheden genoemd. De wortels van dit systeem zijn gelegen in het middeleeuwse leenstelsel. De vorst gaf een deel van zijn bestuurlijke en juridische bevoegdheid in leen aan een leenman, die in ruil daarvoor bepaalde diensten moest verrichten. Langzamerhand kregen deze lenen het karakter van eigendom. De Grondwet van 1848 maakte een einde aan het verschijnsel dat bevoegdheden van lokale overheden in particuliere handen waren. Dit boek beschrijft de ontwikkeling van de heerlijke rechten door de eeuwen heen. De toegevoegde lijst van heerlijkheden beoogt enig inzicht te geven in de ligging van de heerlijkheden en de eigenaren.

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