DOCSLIB.ORG

Medieval Kings with Mental Illness

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

M E D I E V A L R U L E R S W I T H MENTAL ILLNESS WWW.KIMVERMAAK.COM Have you ever wondered if some medieval rulers had a mental illness? Here I share a list of medieval rulers with mental illness and the conditions that scholars believed they had. Copyright: Kim Vermaak 2020 CHARLES VI OF FRANCE Lived: 1368–1422 Ruled: 1380–1422 Known as Charles le Fou ("Charles the Mad"), he suffered from bouts of psychosis, including glass delusion. Glass delusion is an external manifestation of people who feared they were made of glass and therefore likely to shatter into pieces. He refused to allow people to touch him and wore reinforced clothing to protect himself from accidental "shattering". HENRY VI OF ENGLAND Lived: 1421–1471 Ruled: 1422–1461 and 1470–1471 A breakdown in 1453 caused him to neglect state affairs for more than a year. A Lord Protector was appointed on that and two subsequent occasions to govern the kingdom. The ensuing succession struggles gave rise to the Wars of the Roses. www.kimvermaak.com JOANNA OF CASTILE Lived: 1479–1555Ruled 1504–1555 Known as Juana la Loca ("Joanna the Mad"), is believed by historians to have suffered from melancholia, psychosis or schizophrenia. Melancholia is the predecessor of the mental health diagnosis of clinical depression. Psychosis is an abnormal condition of the mind that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real.Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterised by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (often hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. ERIC XIV OF SWEDEN Lived:1533–1577 Ruled: 1560–1568 He developed paranoia and irrational, violent streaks later in his life leading to an erratic rule and the brutal murders of several real or perceived political rivals in the Sture Murders. Eric himself stabbed Nils Svantesson Sture to death. www.kimvermaak.com KING PHILIP V OF SPAIN Lived: 1683–1746 Ruled: 1700–24, 1724–4 He suffered from intense melancholia, a predecessor of the mental health diagnosis of clinical depression. QUEEN MARIA I OF PORTUGAL Lived 1734–1816 Ruled 1777–1816 Known as Maria, a Louca ("Mary the Mad"). Around 1790 Maria's long-expressed anxieties developed into religiously themed delusions. Her ministers determined that she was insane and appointed her son João to govern the kingdom. www.kimvermaak.com GEORGE III OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Lived 1738–1820 Ruled 1760–1820 He exhibited signs of mental disorder, in the form of logorrhea, as early as 1788. He fell into a profound depression after the death of his beloved Princess Amelia, and Parliament delegated his state duties to George, Prince of Wales. In psychology, logorrhea, also known as press speech, is a communication disorder that causes excessive wordiness and repetitiveness, which can cause incoherency. They often report this ailment as a symptom of Wernicke's aphasia, where damage to the language processing center of the brain creates difficulty in self-centered speech.and disorganized thinking. www.kimvermaak.com LUDWIG II OF BAVARIA Lived 1845–1886 Ruled 1864–1886 This ruler irritated his ministers with his uncontrolled spending on magnificent castles. With no end in sight, they arranged for a panel of psychiatrists to declare him insane and installed his uncle as regent. Although by political concerns, motivated ministers, scholars have offered medical explanations that include frontotemporal dementia, schizotypal personality disorder and Pick's disease. The frontotemporal dementias (FTD) encompass six types of dementia involving the frontal or temporal lobes. Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD), or schizotypal disorder, is a mental disorder characterized by severe social anxiety, thought disorder, paranoid ideation, derealization, transient psychosis and often unconventional beliefs. People with this disorder feel extreme discomfort with maintaining close relationships with people and avoid forming them, mainly because the subject thinks their peers harbor negative thoughts towards them www.kimvermaak.com CHRISTIAN VII OF DENMARK Lived: 1749–1808 Ruled 1767–1808 Although never completely incapacitated, Christian displayed severe emotional and moral instability, and members of his court and personal staff struggled to build a functioning government around him. OTTO OF BAVARIA Lived: 1848–1916 Ruled 1886–1913 Otto suffered from depression, anxiety and insomnia throughout his life. In 1886, the senior royal medical officer wrote a statement declaring that Otto was severely mentally ill. Scholars believe Otto to have suffered from schizophrenia. www.kimvermaak.com NEBUCHADNEZZAR II Lived 634 BC–c. 562 BCR uled c. 605 BC–c. 562 BC The Christian Bible describes him as displaying symptoms consistent with boanthropy Boanthropy 'still occurs today when a person, in a delusional state, believes themselves to be an ox or cow... and attempts to live and behave accordingly Alhtough this ruler is not from the medieval period, I have included him as he suffered from an erliest known form of a real condition that affected the next ruler on the list. MAJD AL-DAWLA Lived: 993–1029, Ruled 997–1029 He was suffering from boanthropy until Avicenna cured him, according to Persian traditions. Disclaimer: This information is to provide information for fellow authors and history fans only and not to provide any diagnosis. www.kimvermaak.com.
Recommended publications
  • Personal Agency at the Swedish Age of Greatness 1560–1720

    Personal Agency at the Swedish Age of Greatness 1560–1720

    Edited by Petri Karonen and Marko Hakanen Marko and Karonen Petri by Edited Personal Agency at the Swedish Age of Greatness 1560-1720 provides fresh insights into the state-building process in Sweden. During this transitional period, many far-reaching administrative reforms were the Swedish at Agency Personal Age of Greatness 1560–1720 Greatness of Age carried out, and the Swedish state developed into a prime example of the ‘power-state’. Personal Agency In early modern studies, agency has long remained in the shadow of the study of structures and institutions. State building in Sweden at the Swedish Age of was a more diversified and personalized process than has previously been assumed. Numerous individuals were also important actors Greatness 1560–1720 in the process, and that development itself was not straightforward progression at the macro-level but was intertwined with lower-level Edited by actors. Petri Karonen and Marko Hakanen Editors of the anthology are Dr. Petri Karonen, Professor of Finnish history at the University of Jyväskylä and Dr. Marko Hakanen, Research Fellow of Finnish History at the University of Jyväskylä. studia fennica historica 23 isbn 978-952-222-882-6 93 9789522228826 www.finlit.fi/kirjat Studia Fennica studia fennica anthropologica ethnologica folkloristica historica linguistica litteraria Historica The Finnish Literature Society (SKS) was founded in 1831 and has, from the very beginning, engaged in publishing operations. It nowadays publishes literature in the fields of ethnology and folkloristics, linguistics, literary research and cultural history. The first volume of the Studia Fennica series appeared in 1933. Since 1992, the series has been divided into three thematic subseries: Ethnologica, Folkloristica and Linguistica.
  • Daxer & Marschall 2015 XXII

    Daxer & Marschall 2015 XXII

    Daxer & Marschall 2015 & Daxer Barer Strasse 44 - D-80799 Munich - Germany Tel. +49 89 28 06 40 - Fax +49 89 28 17 57 - Mobile +49 172 890 86 40 [email protected] - www.daxermarschall.com XXII _Daxer_2015_softcover.indd 1-5 11/02/15 09:08 Paintings and Oil Sketches _Daxer_2015_bw.indd 1 10/02/15 14:04 2 _Daxer_2015_bw.indd 2 10/02/15 14:04 Paintings and Oil Sketches, 1600 - 1920 Recent Acquisitions Catalogue XXII, 2015 Barer Strasse 44 I 80799 Munich I Germany Tel. +49 89 28 06 40 I Fax +49 89 28 17 57 I Mob. +49 172 890 86 40 [email protected] I www.daxermarschall.com _Daxer_2015_bw.indd 3 10/02/15 14:04 _Daxer_2015_bw.indd 4 10/02/15 14:04 This catalogue, Paintings and Oil Sketches, Unser diesjähriger Katalog Paintings and Oil Sketches erreicht Sie appears in good time for TEFAF, ‘The pünktlich zur TEFAF, The European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht, European Fine Art Fair’ in Maastricht. TEFAF 12. - 22. März 2015, dem Kunstmarktereignis des Jahres. is the international art-market high point of the year. It runs from 12-22 March 2015. Das diesjährige Angebot ist breit gefächert, mit Werken aus dem 17. bis in das frühe 20. Jahrhundert. Der Katalog führt Ihnen The selection of artworks described in this einen Teil unserer Aktivitäten, quasi in einem repräsentativen catalogue is wide-ranging. It showcases many Querschnitt, vor Augen. Wir freuen uns deshalb auf alle Kunst- different schools and periods, and spans a freunde, die neugierig auf mehr sind, und uns im Internet oder lengthy period from the seventeenth century noch besser in der Galerie besuchen – bequem gelegen zwischen to the early years of the twentieth century.
  • The Pitfalls of External Dependence: Greece, 1829-2015

    The Pitfalls of External Dependence: Greece, 1829-2015

    BPEA Conference Draft, September 10-11, 2015 The pitfalls of external dependence: Greece, 1829-2015 Carmen M. Reinhart, Harvard University and NBER Christoph Trebesch, University of Munich and CESifo DO NOT DISTRIBUTE – EMBARGOED UNTIL 1:00 PM EST ON 9/10/2015 This draft: September 5, 2015 The Pitfalls of External Dependence: Greece, 1829-2015 Carmen M. Reinhart (Harvard University and NBER) Christoph Trebesch (University of Munich and CESifo) Abstract Two centuries of Greek debt crises highlight the pitfalls of relying on external financing. Since its independence in 1829, the Greek government has defaulted four times on its external creditors, and it was bailed out in each crisis. We show that cycles of external crises and dependence are a perennial theme of Greek modern history – with repeating patterns: prior to the default, there is a period of heavy borrowing from foreign private creditors. As repayment difficulties arise, foreign governments step in, help to repay the private creditors, and demand budget cuts and adjustment programs as a condition for the official bailout loans. Political interference from abroad mounts and a prolonged episode of debt overhang and financial autarky follows. At present, there is considerable evidence to suggest that a substantial haircut on external debt is needed to restore the economic viability of the country. Even with that, a policy priority for Greece is to reorient, to the extent possible, towards domestic sources of funding. *We wish to thank the Josefin Meyer, Michael Papaioannou, Vincent Reinhart, David Romer, and Julian Schumacher for helpful comments and Jochen Andritzky and Stellios Makrydakis for sharing the data from their studies, which we cite here.
  • Ambassadors to and from England

    Ambassadors to and from England

    p.1: Prominent Foreigners. p.25: French hostages in England, 1559-1564. p.26: Other Foreigners in England. p.30: Refugees in England. p.33-85: Ambassadors to and from England. Prominent Foreigners. Principal suitors to the Queen: Archduke Charles of Austria: see ‘Emperors, Holy Roman’. France: King Charles IX; Henri, Duke of Anjou; François, Duke of Alençon. Sweden: King Eric XIV. Notable visitors to England: from Bohemia: Baron Waldstein (1600). from Denmark: Duke of Holstein (1560). from France: Duke of Alençon (1579, 1581-1582); Prince of Condé (1580); Duke of Biron (1601); Duke of Nevers (1602). from Germany: Duke Casimir (1579); Count Mompelgart (1592); Duke of Bavaria (1600); Duke of Stettin (1602). from Italy: Giordano Bruno (1583-1585); Orsino, Duke of Bracciano (1601). from Poland: Count Alasco (1583). from Portugal: Don Antonio, former King (1581, Refugee: 1585-1593). from Sweden: John Duke of Finland (1559-1560); Princess Cecilia (1565-1566). Bohemia; Denmark; Emperors, Holy Roman; France; Germans; Italians; Low Countries; Navarre; Papal State; Poland; Portugal; Russia; Savoy; Spain; Sweden; Transylvania; Turkey. Bohemia. Slavata, Baron Michael: 1576 April 26: in England, Philip Sidney’s friend; May 1: to leave. Slavata, Baron William (1572-1652): 1598 Aug 21: arrived in London with Paul Hentzner; Aug 27: at court; Sept 12: left for France. Waldstein, Baron (1581-1623): 1600 June 20: arrived, in London, sightseeing; June 29: met Queen at Greenwich Palace; June 30: his travels; July 16: in London; July 25: left for France. Also quoted: 1599 Aug 16; Beddington. Denmark. King Christian III (1503-1 Jan 1559): 1559 April 6: Queen Dorothy, widow, exchanged condolences with Elizabeth.
  • Wittenberg Influences on the Reformation in Scandinavia by Simo Heininen, Otfried Czaika

    Wittenberg Influences on the Reformation in Scandinavia by Simo Heininen, Otfried Czaika

    Wittenberg Influences on the Reformation in Scandinavia by Simo Heininen, Otfried Czaika Wittenberg was the most important source of inspiration for the Reformation in both of the Scandinavian kingdoms, the Danish kingdom and the Swedish kingdom. In both kingdoms, the authorities played a defining role in the Reformation, though it proceeded very differently in these two Early Modern states. The Reformation became securely established most quickly – both politically and in terms of church law – in the Danish core territory. Sweden, on the other hand, was de facto already a Lutheran country before 1550, though it did not become Lutheran de jure also until the last decade of the 16th century. Particularly in the peripheral parts of Scandinavia (especially Norway and Iceland), the Reformation went hand in hand with closer political integration in Scandinavia and it was therefore adopted rather reluctantly by the population. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Political Background 2. Denmark 3. Norway and Iceland 4. Sweden 5. Finland 6. Conclusion 7. Appendix 1. Sources 2. Bibliography 3. Notes Indices Citation Political Background From 1397, the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden were united in a personal union (the so-called Kalmar Union) under Danish control (ᇄ Media Link #ab). In the early-16th century, the union was approaching its end. There were increasing tensions between Denmark and Sweden, the latter being governed by regents from the House of Sture. In November 1520, Christian II of Denmark (1481–1559) (ᇄ Media Link #ac), the last union king, was crowned for a second time in Stockholm. After the coronation festivities had been concluded, a heresy trial was staged with the help of the Archbishop of Uppsala and the accused were the supporters of the Sture party.
  • BORDERLANDS of WESTERN CIVILIZATION a His Tory of East

    BORDERLANDS of WESTERN CIVILIZATION a His Tory of East

    BORDERLANDS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION A His tory of East Cen tral Eu rope by OSCAR HALECKI Second Edition Edited by Andrew L. Simon Copyright © by Tadeusz Tchorzewski , 1980. ISBN: 0-9665734-8-X Library of Congress Card Number: 00-104381 All Rights Reserved. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not he reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission in writing from the publisher. Published by Simon Publications, P.O. Box 321, Safety Harbor, FL 34695 Printed by Lightning Source, Inc. La Vergne , TN 37086 Con tents PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION 1 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 4 1 THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND ETHNOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND 9 2 THE SLAVS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS 19 3 TOWARD POLITICAL ORGANIZATION 33 4 THE HERITAGE OF THE TENTH CENTURY 51 5 INTERNAL DISINTEGRATION AND FOREIGN PENETRATION 67 THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE FOURTH CRUSADE IN THE BALKANS 77 6 THE HERITAGE OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY 93 7 THE NEW FORCES OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY 107 8 THE TIMES OF WLADYSLAW JAGIELLO AND SIGISMUND OF LUXEMBURG 135 9 THE LATER FIFTEENTH CENTURY 151 10 FROM THE FIRST CONGRESS OF VIENNA TO THE UNION OF LUBLIN 167 11 THE LATER SIXTEENTH CENTURY THE STRUGGLE FOR THE DOMINIUM MARIS BALTICI 197 12 THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 219 13 THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 239 14 THE END OF THE ANCIEN REGIME 261 15 THE PARTITIONS OF POLAND AND THE EASTERN QUESTION 289 16 THE NAPOLEONIC PERIOD 309 17 REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS UNTIL 1848 325 18 FROM THE CRIMEAN WAR TO THE CONGRESS OF BERLIN 353 19 TOWARD WORLD WAR I 373 20 THE CONSEQUENCES OF WORLD WAR I 395 21 THE PEOPLES OF EAST CENTRAL EUROPE BETWEEN THE WARS 417 22 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE WARS 457 23 HITLER’S WAR 479 24 STALIN’S PEACE 499 BIBLIOGRAPHY 519 INDEX 537 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION Polish born Oscar Halecki (1891 - 1973) was Professor of History at Cracow and Warsaw universities between the two world wars.
  • War in the Balkans, 1991-2002

    War in the Balkans, 1991-2002

    WAR IN THE BALKANS, 1991-2002 R. Craig Nation August 2003 ***** The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This report is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. ***** Comments pertaining to this report are invited and should be forwarded to: Director, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 122 Forbes Ave., Carlisle, PA 17013-5244. Copies of this report may be obtained from the Publications Office by calling (717) 245-4133, FAX (717) 245-3820, or be e-mail at [email protected] ***** Most 1993, 1994, and all later Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) monographs are available on the SSI Homepage for electronic dissemination. SSI’s Homepage address is: http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ssi/ ***** The Strategic Studies Institute publishes a monthly e-mail newsletter to update the national security community on the research of our analysts, recent and forthcoming publications, and upcoming conferences sponsored by the Institute. Each newsletter also provides a strategic commentary by one of our research analysts. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please let us know by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (717) 245-3133. ISBN 1-58487-134-2 ii CONTENTS Foreword . v Preface . vii Map of the Balkan Region. viii 1. The Balkan Region in World Politics . 1 2. The Balkans in the Short 20th Century . 43 3. The State of War: Slovenia and Croatia, 1991-92.
  • Germany Series 1, 1906–1925 Part 1: 1906–1919

    Germany Series 1, 1906–1925 Part 1: 1906–1919

    Confidential British Foreign Office Political Correspondence Germany Series 1, 1906–1925 Part 1: 1906–1919 Edited by Paul L. Kesaris Guide Compiled by Jan W. S. Spoor and Eric A. Warren A UPA Collection from 7500 Old Georgetown Road • Bethesda, MD 20814-6126 The data contained on the microfilm is British Crown copyright 1995. Published by permission of the Controller of Her Britannic Majesty’s Stationery Office. Copyright © 2005 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ISBN 1-55655-530-X. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Scope and Content Note ........................................................................................................ v Source Note ............................................................................................................................. ix Editorial Note .......................................................................................................................... ix Reel Index FO 566 Registers of Diplomatic Correspondence Reel 1 1906–1907 ................................................................................................................... 1 1908–1909 ................................................................................................................... 1 Reel 2 1910–1911 ................................................................................................................... 1 1912–1916 ................................................................................................................... 1 Reel 3 1914–1916 ..................................................................................................................
  • Reflections on Denmark As It Was, and Emigration to America by ARLOW W

    Reflections on Denmark As It Was, and Emigration to America by ARLOW W

    The Bridge Volume 9 Number 1 Article 6 1986 Reflections On Denmark As It as,W And Emigration To America Arlow W. Andersen Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thebridge Part of the European History Commons, European Languages and Societies Commons, and the Regional Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Andersen, Arlow W. (1986) "Reflections On Denmark As It as,W And Emigration To America," The Bridge: Vol. 9 : No. 1 , Article 6. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thebridge/vol9/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Bridge by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Reflections On Denmark As It Was, And Emigration To America by ARLOW W. ANDERSEN In the late medieval and modern periods the histories of Denmark and Norway paralleled each other. During much of that interval the Union of Kalmar (1397-1523), which included also a dynastic tie with Sweden, practically insured common political, economic, and religious development. On the threshold of the modern age Sweden broke away from the Union (1523), but Norway was obliged to remain under Danish rule until 1814. For the Dano-Norwegian realm the transition from medieval to modern was marked by the official acceptance of the Lutheran Reformation in 1536 and by the strengthen­ ing of the royal Danish government, which henceforth exercised authority in matters both temporal and spiritual. There was no violent break with Roman Catholicism. Nearly all of the prelates and priests remained in their offices and parishes .
  • A Short History of Germany

    A Short History of Germany

    CTV » |-aill|||lK-4JJ • -^ V •^ VmOO^* «>^ "^ * ©IIS * •< f I * '^ *o • ft *0 * •J' c*- ^oV^ . "^^^O^ 4 o » 3, 9 9^ t^^^ 5^. ^ L^' HISTORY OF GERMANY. A SHORT HISTORY OF GERMANY BY Mrs. H. C. HAWTREY WITH ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS BY AMANDA M. FLATTERY 3 4i,> PUBLISHED FOR THE BAY VIEW READING CLUB Central Office, 165 Boston Boulevard DETROIT, MICH. 1903 iTI --0 H^ THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Two Copies Received JUL to 1903 •J Copyrigiil Entry Buss OL XXc N» COPY B. Copyright, 1903, by LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. r t" t KOBERT DRUMMOND, PRINTER, NEW YORK. PREFACE. It would be absurd to suppose that a History of Germany could be written within the compass of 300 pages. The merest outline is all that could be given in this little book, and very much of vast interest and im- portance has necessarily been omitted. But some knowledge of the political events of former days is necessary for all persons—more especially trav- ellers—who desire to understand and appreciate the customs, buildings, paintings, etc., of any country, and it is hoped that short continental histories may be useful to many who have not time or opportunity for closer study. My aim in the present volume has been simply to give one marked characteristic of each King or Emperor's reign, so as to fix it in the memory; and to show how Prussia came to hold its present position of importance amongst the continental powers of Europe. Emily Hawtrey. iiL BOOK I. HISTORY OF GERMANY. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. The mighty Teutonic or German race in Europe did not begin to play its part in history until the decline of the Roman Empire ; but we must all of us feel the warm- est interest in it when it does begin, for it represents not only the central history of Europe in the Middle Ages, but also the rise of our own forefathers in their home and birthplace of Germany.
  • Sapientia Solomonis: Negotiating Early Modern Anglo-Swedish Relationships Through Court Drama

    Sapientia Solomonis: Negotiating Early Modern Anglo-Swedish Relationships Through Court Drama

    Kent Academic Repository Full text document (pdf) Citation for published version Stangel, Francisca Louse (2020) Sapientia Solomonis: Negotiating Early Modern Anglo-Swedish Relationships Through Court Drama. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis, University of Kent,. DOI Link to record in KAR https://kar.kent.ac.uk/84277/ Document Version UNSPECIFIED Copyright & reuse Content in the Kent Academic Repository is made available for research purposes. Unless otherwise stated all content is protected by copyright and in the absence of an open licence (eg Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher, author or other copyright holder. Versions of research The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record. Enquiries For any further enquiries regarding the licence status of this document, please contact: [email protected] If you believe this document infringes copyright then please contact the KAR admin team with the take-down information provided at http://kar.kent.ac.uk/contact.html Sapientia Solomonis: Negotiating Early Modern Anglo- Swedish Relationships Through Court Drama By Francisca L. Stangel Presented to the School of English at the University of Kent, in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Canterbury, July 2020 (Wordcount: c. 71100) Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest appreciation for Dr. Marion F. O’Connor and Dr. Sarah Dustagheer for guiding me expertly through the rollercoaster experience of a doctoral thesis project, for sharing my excitement for this little gem of a performance, and for their never-wavering support.
  • Historical Tales Vol. 9

    Historical Tales Vol. 9

    Historical Tales Vol. 9 by Charles Morris Historical Tales Vol. 9 HOW KING ROLF WON HIS BRIDE. At one time very many centuries ago, we cannot say just when, for this was in the days of the early legends, there reigned over Upsala in Sweden a king named Erik. He had no son and only one daughter, but this girl was worth a dozen sons and daughters of some kings. Torborg she was named, and there were few women so wise and beautiful and few men so strong and valiant. She cared nothing for women's work, but was the equal of any man of the court in riding, fighting with sword and shield, and other athletic sports. This troubled King Erik very much, for he thought that the princess should sit in her maiden chamber like other kings' daughters; but she told him that when she came to succeed him on the throne she would need to know how to defend her kingdom, and now was the time for her to learn. That she might become the better fitted to rule, she asked him to give her some province to govern, and this he did, making her queen of a third of his kingdom, and giving her an army of stout and bold warriors. Her court was held at Ulleraker in Upland, and here she would not let any one treat her as a woman, dressing always in men's clothing and bidding her men to call her King Torborg. To fail in this would be at risk of their heads.