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Dr Jonathan Spangler

@jspan.bsky.social
614 followers 337 following 178 posts

Historian of the history of monarchy, the court and the upper aristocracy of Europe. France, Louis XIV, heirs and spares, dukes and princes, sexuality. Loves to tell good stories. Senior Editor, The Court Historian

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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
My book on the Bourbons is coming out next month! Some of the material that didn't make it in includes two families with Bourbon blood, the dukes of Sueca and the dukes of Riansares, both descended from young men who caught the royal eye! dukesandprinces.org/2026/09/27/s...
dukesandprinces.org
Spanish Mavericks: Ripperdá, Godoy, Riánsares
Some of the most fun stories about dukes and princes in European history are about those who seem to come from nowhere, gain the very highest of noble titles for catching the eye and favour of a pa…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Check out a new blog post showing off the variety of our research for the Histories of RGSI: rgsi.mmu.ac.uk/2026/09/24/r...
rgsi.mmu.ac.uk
RGSI in the Archives—Annual Research Symposium 2026 - Histories of RGSI (Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Identity)
Reflections by Jonathan Spangler On Thursday 25 June, members of the research group Histories of RGSI (Race, Gender, Sexuality and Identity) met in the cool of the Grosvenor East Building […]
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Society for Court Studies @courtstudies.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
📣 On 2 October SCS will hold a one day symposium on the future of court studies followed by a reception to mark our 30th anniversary! 📍St Mary's University Twickenham AND Strawberry Hill House 🕑 From 1pm Event is free for members! Click below to register 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scs-30th-a...
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Society for Court Studies @courtstudies.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
📣 The Society's European Branch first 2026/27 virtual seminar will take place this week on Thursday 17 September at 6pm CET! Christian Kammann will present on their new book 'Hofkultur im weltlichen Hochstift. Landschaftsverbandes Stade, 2025' Register below www.eventbrite.fr/e/sept-vss-b...
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
After a recent visit to Książ Castle in Silesia, a post about its owners, the Princes of Pless, seems appropiate. It's a tale about 'black gold', a fascinating British-born princess named Daisy, and a sex scandal or two for extra spice: dukesandprinces.org/2026/09/13/t...
dukesandprinces.org
The Princes of Pless and the Wealth of Silesian Coal
One of the things I like most most about reading about Europe’s historic dukes and princes are the stories that completely transcend nationalism or political boundaries—and in particular those set …
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Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
Royal Studies @royalstudies.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
After a fantastic #KQ15, the Royal Studies Network is excited to announce the dates for Kings and Queens 16, in Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱 Join us from 7-10 September 2027 for our first conference in the Southern hemisphere! In 2027,the conference will focus on war and conquest.
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Dr Elena (Ellie) Woodacre @ewoodacre.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A few highlights from day 2 of #KQ15 from @jspan.bsky.social keynote this am to the wonderful concert that rounded off the day @royalstudies.bsky.social
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Today we start three days of royal history presentations in Prague
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I love this so much
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
What a wonder to see Matthias Braun's sculptures near Kuks in Bohemia. Carved straight out of the rock. This is St Onophrius
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Today the conference of @courtstudies.bsky.social visited the fantastic Ksiąz castle, once hometown Piast dukes and later princes von Plesse.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The House of Oldenburg has lost another king. RIP #Harald. In the widest sense, his dynasty includes the UK, Denmark, and pretenders to thrones in Greece and Russia. dukesandprinces.org/2020/12/21/d...
dukesandprinces.org
Dukes of Oldenburg and Schleswig-Holstein
The name Windsor was chosen to represent the royal family of the United Kingdom in 1917, taken, quite rightly, from the castle that had been at the centre of royal operations in England since the e…
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Society for Court Studies @courtstudies.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
📣 Registration to attend our 2026 Conference "Storytelling at Princely Courts: Narration, Performance, Social Discourse, c.1200-1800" ends TOMORROW! (15 August) Click the link below to register! Don't miss out! courtstudies.org/events/confe...
courtstudies.org
Conferences - Society for Court Studies
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Society for Court Studies @courtstudies.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Save the date! For our 30th anniversary the Society for Court Studies will be holding a symposium on the question: "Where are Court Studies, now?" 📍St Mary's University Twickenham AND Strawberry Hill House 🗓 2 October 2026 🕑 From 2pm - times TBC More information will follow in September
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Euthyphro @euthyphro.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Noooo
Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness from Legend
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 26/08/2026
The Empire State Building went pink at exactly 9:25pm for Dolly Parton. Because of course they made it 9 to 5. That’s how you honor an icon. 🩷
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A lovely reconstructed medieval castle in Poznań
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I'm excited to be travelling to Silesia tomorrow for this!
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Love histories of micro-principalities? Try this for size--Massa and Carrara, the home of great marble, ruled by 'bad thorns' and the descendants of Innocent VIII: dukesandprinces.org/2026/08/15/m...
dukesandprinces.org
Malaspina-Cybo dukes of Massa and princes of Carrara
There’s a strange corner of northwest Italy where the Apennine mountain chain crashes into the sea creating narrow valleys and deep seaports that were contested by rival powers for centuries, at th…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Podcast alert! A lovely conversation with my colleague @Rochi_Saiyajin about Queen Marie-Therese, Infanta of Spain, the always-forgotten 'Sun Queen' at #Versailles. Thanks so much for the invitation! #Queens : open.spotify.com/episode/5qxO...
open.spotify.com
Capítulo 13: La reina María Teresa de Austria y Felipe de Orleans, con Jonathan Spangler.
El legado de Carlos II · Episode
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Congratulations #Manchester on a successful mayoral election. I could re-post a #dukesandprinces post about the Dukes of Manchester, but, more relevant, is an older post about the Dukes of Bridgewater...as in canals! The Egertons owned Heaton Park and Tatton too dukesandprinces.org/2020/05/01/d...
dukesandprinces.org
Dukes of Bridgewater
When it comes to name swapping within the British aristocracy, the Egertons are champions. At various times their surname has been Malpas or Grey or Tatton, or more recently Leveson-Gore or Grosven…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Following last week's #dukeandprinces, here are the Dukes of Buckingham & Chandos. One of Britain's great political dynasties, with more hyphens in their name than can be counted! Stowe House was almost a second capital for Grenvilles, Temples and Pitts. dukesandprinces.org/2026/08/01/h...
dukesandprinces.org
How Many Hyphens? The Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos
Once upon a time there was a man named Richard who had so many hyphens he didn’t know what to do. And so Lord Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville petitioned the King for a dukedom and g…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
A mostly forgotten dukedom, with a curious double name: Buckingham and Normanby. A title for the Sheffields, a prominent Tudor court family who two centuries later built a residence in London called Buckingham House, and eventually produced Samantha, Lady Cameron. dukesandprinces.org/2026/07/25/b...
dukesandprinces.org
Buckingham and Normanby: a Yorkshire dukedom for the House of Sheffield
In 2024, Emily Sheffield published an editorial in I (now The I Paper) commenting on what it was like to be former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron’s sister-in-law. She received a lot of flak on s…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
One of the first posts I did for #dukesandprinces back in 2020, now upgraded and updated. A perfect blend of country nobles in Cheshire and city nobles in London. dukesandprinces.org/2020/06/12/d...
dukesandprinces.org
Dukes of Westminster
What do rural Cheshire and the most fashionable neighbourhoods in West London have in common? Both have been part of the extensive portfolio of the Grosvenor family for centuries. The dukedom of We…
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Brepols @brepols.net · 08/07/2026
We are in Warsaw this week, for the 2026 Medieval and Renaissance Music Conference. A great occasion the discover our newest titles in the field! More Info: bit.ly/44Q4xvF #MedRen2026 #Medren26 #MusicSky #MusicHistory
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Following my trip to Latvia last week, may I present the dukes of Courland, with their amazing palaces at Jelgava and Rundale. The story of two ducal families, Kettler then Biron. dukesandprinces.org/2026/07/07/d...
dukesandprinces.org
Dukes of Courland: Kettlers and Birons
Can you think of a country in Europe that existed in the pre-modern period but vanished completely, leaving almost no trace? The Duchy of Courland is one of these. It was a semi-sovereign state fro…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Today #dukesandprinces visits the Palace of Mitau (today Jelgava, Latvia). The seat of the dukes of Courland, and temporary home of the French court in exile, 1798 to 1807.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Riga, even on a very very warm day, is lovely!
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
#Dukesandprinces visits Ireland this week for one of the very few Irish dukedoms: Ormond. Ceremonially butlers of the king from the 12th century, they dominated Kilkenny and Tipperary for centuries, sometimes pro-England, sometimes fiercely against. dukesandprinces.org/2026/06/27/d...
dukesandprinces.org
Dukes of Ormond: The Butlers, managing the King’s wine since the 12th century
In the historic Kingdom of Ireland there were two types of nobility: the ancient native Gaelic aristocracy, descended from kings and clan chiefs, and the Anglo-Norman nobles who arrived in the wake…
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The Delicious Legacy Podcast @deliciouslegacy.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Nature reserve. Haven for birds and sealife. Uninhabited beauty of nature. And they want to destroy it all make it private luxury resort because the "fell in love" with it spiritually? Barbarians, all the awful developers. Especially anyone associate with trump. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Look at the protests Jared Kushner has caused in Albania. This could be a shining light for Europe | Lea Ypi
The slogan ‘Albania is not for sale’ reveals a nation that respects itself, and will not sell its soul for investment, says author and academic Lea Ypi
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
So, #NicholasGalitzine has a new movie this weekend. Instead of watching, I thought I'd research the Golitsyn family--no relation--the most powerful princely family in Russia, with prime ministers, patrons, collectors, even the 'Queen of Spades'! dukesandprinces.org/2026/06/06/g...
dukesandprinces.org
Golitsyn Princes: Russian ministers from Peter the Great to Nicholas II
The Russian Empire in all its vastness had many, many princes. Some became fairly well known while others came and went in prominence in Russian history. One of the most enduring—with historical fi…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
RIP #LadyPamela Hicks née Mountbatten, one of the last members of the princely house of Battenberg. Here is her family's story, written back in 2020. dukesandprinces.org/2020/11/16/p...
dukesandprinces.org
Princes of Battenberg
In a dramatic intimate moment of the first episode of the new season of ‘The Crown’, Prince Philip says to his daughter Princess Anne, “A Battenberg refuses to give in”. Who were the Battenbergs an…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
The Dukes of Galliera: an Italian duchy held by Genoese aristocrats then Orleans princes who act as Spanish infantes. Along the way, a Princess of Monaco and the owner of the Hotel de Matignon. In Two parts: The Brignole-Sale family and the Dukes of Montpensier dukesandprinces.org/2026/05/24/g...
dukesandprinces.org
Galliera (Part I): Brignole-Sale and the most amazing palazzi in Genoa
Once upon a time there was a shining city by the sea: Genoa. A fair city built on bustling trade with the eastern Mediterranean, its merchant-oligarchs created a republic in which a select number o…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Enjoy Philippe d'Orleans on You're Dead To Me? Want to know more? Here's me a bit racier and less polished, discussing his sex life and the show #Versailles Enjoy! open.spotify.com/episode/2AdM...
open.spotify.com
Spotify – Web Player
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Come along if you’re in the area!
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Two weeks ago #dukesandprinces explored parts of Wales once ruled by the princes of Gwynedd. Here is their story--full of fratricide, betrayal ... and stunning castle ruins. dukesandprinces.org/2026/05/11/p...
dukesandprinces.org
Princes of Gwynedd: the last bastion in Wales
Since 1301, the heir to the English throne has borne the title Prince of Wales, but this title had been forged by several previous generations of native Welsh princes, notably of the House of Aberf…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Arms of Duchy of Lorraine spotted today in Stirling Castle. They put a white label on to represent the Guise. I wrote to Lord Lyon to say it should be red. He said I was wrong and referred me to a heraldry manual from 300 years later.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
#QueenCamilla is in the headlines today, so I’ll reshare a piece I wrote on her ancestry at the time of her husband’s accession. dukesandprinces.org/2023/09/08/a...
dukesandprinces.org
Anatomy of a British Queen: Scotland, the Netherlands, and beyond
September 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of the reign of Charles III in the United Kingdom, and in the list of British queen consorts, adds the name of Camilla Shand. In the history of royal c…
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Marc Morris @marcmorris.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
TLDR:
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Criccieth Castle today, one of the last seats of the Princes of Gwynedd. ##dukesandprinces
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
To follow up on last week's visit to Eggenberg Palace, the short but dramatic story of the Eggenberg princes. dukesandprinces.org/2026/04/19/e...
dukesandprinces.org
Eggenberg: The rise and fall of a princely house
In the world of dukes and princes, most family histories stretch across centuries. Families usually needed to accumulate stories of valorous deeds and a reputation of living like princes before the…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Today's #dukesandprinces visit was to the palace of the princes of Eggenberg. An amazing tale of social rise from rich burgher to master of finance to imperial prince...to extinction. In only a few generations.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
While visiting Ljubljana, #dukesandprinces had to pay a visit to the old palace of the princes of Auersperg, now the city museum.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
In recent news, the body of d #Artagnan may have been found. Through his mother, the real Gascon Musketeer was related to the Montesquious, one of France's most ancient noble dynasties, connected to Blaise de Monluc and the dukes of Fezensac. dukesandprinces.org/2026/04/05/m...
dukesandprinces.org
Montesquiou: The oldest noble family in France made popular by musketeer d’Artagnan
In June 1673, the French Army laid siege to the Dutch city of Maastricht, a key crossing point of the river Meuse—they would take and hold the city for several years, aided by an English force comm…
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thefriendsoftabley.bsky.social @thefriendsoftabley.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
The latest Friends of #Tabley Newsletter full of #TableyHouse stories. Plus details of coming events with our fabulous speakers from @jspan.bsky.social @suewilkesauthor.bsky.social @eilzabethgaskellsh.bsky.social details to follow but for now tea, cake and #Cheshire #Knutsford #stories
A cup of tea and piece of lemon drizzle cake, vintage porcelain and copies of the March 2026 Friends of Tabley Newsletter showing the cover and one copy open with some of the contents displayed all arranged on a table.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
The Duke of Monmouth may have left a mark on the history of Great Britain, but so too have his descendants, the dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry, with the triple-barrel surname Montagu-Douglas-Scott. dukesandprinces.org/2026/03/29/s...
dukesandprinces.org
Scott of Buccleuch: an ancient Scottish clan coupled with an illegitimate royal line
Of all the grand aristocratic families with multiple titles and country houses in the United Kingdom today, one of the few who have also retained much of their ancestral lands is that of Montagu-Do…
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Will you be in Vienna this Spring? Come hear me speak at the Institute for Habsburg and Balkan Studies, on the topic of unmarried royal women at the court of France. Here's the details: www.oeaw.ac.at/fileadmin/In...
oeaw.ac.at
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
See if you find yourself cited in this article! Hot off the presses!
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
We have a cover! Just in time for Christmas! www.amazon.co.uk/Bourbons-Sai...
amazon.co.uk
The Bourbons: The Sons of Saint Louis in France, Spain and Italy (Dynasties)
Buy The Bourbons: The Sons of Saint Louis in France, Spain and Italy (Dynasties) by Spangler, Jonathan (ISBN: 9781836392873) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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Dr Jonathan Spangler @jspan.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
For International Women's Day, I've written about Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the half-sister most people don't know Queen Victoria had. The princes of Leiningen have deep roots in the forests of the Palatinate and in the hills of the Vosges. dukesandprinces.org/2026/03/08/l...
dukesandprinces.org
Leiningen: A tiny principality with the grandest royal connections
Those knowledgeable about the dynastic details of the life of Queen Victoria will know that she had a half-sister, Princess Feodora. But her appearance in season three of the television series Vict…
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