But You See It’s Not Me, It’s Not My Family In Your Head, In Your Head They Are Fighting With Their

The four children of Count Fredrik Axel von Fersen and Hedvig Catharina de la Gardie.  All siblings held high positions within the swedish court, due to their father’s position as leader of the aristocratic party.

Hedvig Eleonora (von Klinckowström) von Fersen, 1753 - 1792, was described as reserved and disliked the court life, but accepted a position as lady in waiting to queen Sofia Magdalena for her husband’s sake. She was close friends with king Gustav III, but was one of few who dared to disobey his orders. It’s said that the king demanded everyone at court to partake in the gambling games, but when Hedvig refused he did not object.

Hans Axel von Fersen, 1755 - 1810, is without a doubt the most famous of the siblings. Predestined to inherit his father’s titles and goods, he made a name for himself during his Grand Tour in Europe, as well as during the American Revolution, Gustav III’s Russian War and later, the French Revolution, where he struggled to rescue Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who he is rumoured to have had an affair with. He was brutally murdered by a mob following a false accusation that he assassinated the swedish crown prince.

Eva Sophie (Piper) von Fersen, 1757 - 1816, is perhaps the second most famous of the four. Her affair with the swedish prince Fredrik Adolf was ended by her disapproving parents when she was unhappily married to Adolf Fredrik Piper. Over the years she formed an intimate (perhaps sexual) relationship with queen Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta, who would dedicate her memoirs to her. Sophie was accused for the same assassination as her beloved brother Axel, but was protected from the mob by Charlotta. 

Fabian Reinhold von Fersen, 1762 - 1818, became officer and politician at the swedish court. Just like his brother and sister, Fabian also had an intimate relationship with queen Hedvig Charlotta, and is rumored to have fathered a child which she miscarried. And just like his siblings, he was accused of involvement in the death of Crown Prince Karl August in 1810, but managed to escape the funeral procession where his brother was murdered. He resigned from his court position that same year, most likely in respect to his brother.

The von Fersen- line ended with Fabian’s two children, Axel and Hedvig, in 1839 and 1879. 

If Martin had finished the books earlier I think we’d all have a different opinion on different plot points, but because he waited so long we’ve just built things up in our heads for years now so that nothing he writes can live up to what we want. He’s essentially screwed himself on so many levels.

i feel like when/if twow comes out(when he’s not distracting himself) it’ll divide so many ppl who made theories thinking its canon and if anything contradicts this in a book that’s been cooking for more than a decade(not to mention grrm kinda went everywhere in his world building and characters) , the fandom is just going to go nuclear

Madeleine de Saint-Nectaire and other heroines of the French wars of religion

Between 1562 and 1598, France was torn by civil and religious conflicts between the Catholics and the Protestants. During this period, women distinguished themselves as spies, propagandists, political leaders or negotiators. Some of them even fought weapons in hand.

Agrippa d’Aubigné tells in his Universal history of Marie de Brabançon, widow of Jean de Barres, lord of Neuvy. In October 1569, the lady found herself besieged in her home by the king’s lieutenant who had 2,000 men and two cannons. She personally defended the most dangerous breach with a pike in her hand. Shamed by her example, her soldiers fought bravely. Observers recounts that they saw her defending the breach several times with her weapon. She nonetheless had to surrender in mid-November, but was allowed to walk away freely by the king’s command. Another lady noted for her military acumen was Claude de la Tour, dame de Tournon who defended her city against the protestants in 1567 and 1570. They couldn’t, however, breach her defense and had to leave.

Ordinary women also found themselves on the frontline. The city of La Rochelle was besieged between 1572 and 1573 and the townswomen fought in the defense. Brantôme tells that the besiegers saw a hundred women dressed in white appearing on the walls. Some of them performed support functions while others wielded weapons. Their bravery was confirmed by another account who tells that the women acted as “soldiers or new amazons” and that their courage led a street in La Rochelle to be called the “Ladies’ Boulevard”. Agrippa d’Aubigné similarly shows the women fighting with sword and gun. Brantôme adds that he heard that one of these women kept at home the weapon with which she fought and that she didn’t want to give it to anyone.

Another valiant lady was Madeleine de Saint-Nectaire (c.1528/30-1588) who came from a prestigious military family. She married the lord of Miremont, gave birth to three daughters, but was widowed and had to defend her lands. Agrippa d’Aubigné tells that Madeleine led a troop of 60 cavaliers against her enemy Montal, lieutenant of the king. When she fought, Madeleine charged ahead of all others, with her hair unbound in order to be recognized by both friends and foes. In 1575, Montal lured Madeleine and her troops away from the castle and planned to seize the place. The lady returned, charged at the enemy and routed their cavalry. Montal was wounded in the ensuing fight and died a few days later.

Letters written by Madeleine have been preserved and reveal another aspect of her character. They show a modest, polite woman, who cared for her husband’s illegitimate children and treated them like her own. 

Bibliography:

Arnal J., “Madeleine de Saint-Nectaire”

Bulletin de la Société des lettres, sciences et arts de la Corrèze

D’Aubigné Agrippa, Histoire universelle

Lazard Madeleine, “Femmes combattantes dans l’Histoire universelle d’Agrippad’Aubigné”

Pierre Jean-Baptiste, De Courcelles Julien, Dictionnaire universel de la noblesse de France

Viennot Elianne, “Les femmes dans les « troubles » du XVIe siècle”

Let’s take a moment to appreciate David Benioff and Dan Wiess. I may not like everything about how Game of Thrones ended...but at least they finished something and completed the task they set out to do. 

Errr Jonsa?

Honestly...that’s perfect! 

…Mansfield Park from Edmund’s perspective might look a good deal like Emma, actually.

You’ve got the good sense, the quiet life, the being accustomed to having the best judgement in his little community; then the subsequent falling in and out of temptation and trials, his own judgement proving faulty, other people’s affairs going in unexpected directions; and finally, though unelaborated on, the “oh. OH” moment when Edmund realizes that Fanny has been RIGHT HERE the WHOLE TIME.

I think they know exactly what they’re doing. They know Martin’s endgame plans more than we do. Sure their writing has some flaws (every writer has flaws), but considering all the great scenes and characters this show has given us, I’m willing to suspend some of my disbelief for a fantasy series.

is the title of this episode “WE’RE ALL DUMB AS SHIT AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE’RE DOING” or is that just how we’re calling D&D now

Or a little pork pie, perhaps?

Fanny practicing her dance moves:

 ...and was actually practising her steps about the drawing-room as long as she could be safe from the notice of her aunt Norris...

Mansfield Park Memes, Ch 28

GAME OF THRONES

Has the best fucking writing I’ve ever seen if you know anything and I mean anything even if you haven’t read the books but just watched the show then you know how George R.R Martin is when it comes to writing which he helps in part with on the show.. “ they’ve ruined the show” like is anyone even watching? Honestly I feel like everyone’s just been skimming the fucking episodes because it’s a popular show but haven’t paid attention to shit! Whats wrong with Danny’s arch? She was a weak girl who hasn’t been taken seriously for the most part of the show and she proves them wrong but how does that then justify her as a proper ruler?? The more she loses the more mad she becomes and shes begins to get a tunnel vision but if you haven’t been following her or if your a human how would that not fuck someone up???? Every time she finds something borderline normal she becomes powerless and loses it to things beyond her control! She had armies of slaves she saved and watched them die in a battle for a man who could take it all from her if his truth surfaces! Oh and don get me started on the thing about the knight king and people being annoyed that he was killed easily like no he wasn’t?? They lost more than half of their army to him and he wasn’t even the real threat it was always Cersei and has always been cersi. How is that not amazing writing?? The whole time they had you thinking that the thing to end everything was the knight king, death itself, and it worked because you never looked at cerise and what she was truly all about. No matter the consequences she had to be in power or die she said it to ned stark! COME ON! How is that not perfect! And here you are on the fourth episode saying it’s all gone to hell and not watching anymore which is fine. Better off, if you didn’t understand it make no comment on it. If you actually had been watching the show you’d know that whoever wants power dies and those who don’t end up having to carry its weight. This show was beautifully written and anyone who try’s to argue can fucking fight me

Josh Radnor or Richard Armitage :)

You are pure evil!! I mean  there’s Josh Radnor looking hot and brooding in a cravat.

And then there’s Richard Armitage, who also looks smoking in a cravat…

So don’t get me wrong, I love me some Josh Radnor as Jed Foster, but… I’m going to have to go with Richard Armitage, because I have been attracted to him in everything I have ever seen him in. I mean  ….

Speaking of which, I should really watch Hannibal, obviously for plot reasons and not for the above picture….