Dr Jonathan Spangler

Dr Jonathan Spangler

@jspan.bsky.social

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

619 followers338 following181 posts

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

This weekend saw the release of 'Ghosts' at #Buttonhouse, filmed at West Horsley Place, once owned by the Duchess of Roxburghe. This week's #dukesandprinces looks at her husband's family, longtime guardians of the Scottish Borders. dukesandprinces.org/2026/10/26/d...

dukesandprinces.orgDukes of Roxburghe: Guardians of the BordersIn July 2014, one of the last grand dames of the aristocratic age of British society passed away, having lived nearly a century. Such was the world she inhabited that when the Second World War brok…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgSpanish Mavericks: Ripperdá, Godoy, RiánsaresSome 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgThe Princes of Pless and the Wealth of Silesian CoalOne 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 …

Dr Jonathan Spangler reposted

Royal Studies
@royalstudies.bsky.social

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.

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgDukes of Oldenburg and Schleswig-HolsteinThe 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…

Dr Jonathan Spangler reposted

Society for Court Studies
@courtstudies.bsky.social

📣 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.orgConferences - Society for Court Studies
Society for Court Studies@courtstudies.bsky.social

Our 2026 Conference "Storytelling at Princely Courts, c.1200-1800: Narration, Performance, Social Discourse" will take place 27-29 August at University of Wrocław and online! Early bird prices available until 20 June! There are also SCS member rates! Visit 👇 courtstudies.org/events/confe...

Dr Jonathan Spangler reposted

Society for Court Studies
@courtstudies.bsky.social

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

Dr Jonathan Spangler reposted

Christopher Webb
@cwebbonline.com

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. 🩷

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

I'm excited to be travelling to Silesia tomorrow for this!

Society for Court Studies@courtstudies.bsky.social

Our 2026 conference "Storytelling at Princely Courts, c. 1200 – 1800: Narration, Performance, Social Discourse" takes place this week! 🗓 27-29 August 📍University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland The conference programme is available below! We look forward to welcoming everyone to Wrocław soon!

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgMalaspina-Cybo dukes of Massa and princes of CarraraThere’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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgDukes of BridgewaterWhen 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgHow Many Hyphens? The Dukes of Buckingham and ChandosOnce 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgBuckingham and Normanby: a Yorkshire dukedom for the House of SheffieldIn 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…

Dr Jonathan Spangler reposted

Brepols
@brepols.net

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

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

Their story also intersects with the history of the Caribbean (ever hear of 'New Courland'?), the reign of Empress Anna of Russia, and two intelligent sisters who helped shape the course of post-Napoleonic settlements at the Congress of Vienna: the Duchess of Sagan and the Duchess of Dino.

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

#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.orgDukes of Ormond: The Butlers, managing the King’s wine since the 12th centuryIn 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgGolitsyn Princes: Russian ministers from Peter the Great to Nicholas IIThe 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgGalliera (Part I): Brignole-Sale and the most amazing palazzi in GenoaOnce 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

Come along if you’re in the area!

thefriendsoftabley.bsky.social@thefriendsoftabley.bsky.social

Our talk on 20 May 2026 is A Historical Heated Rivalry more details here tinyurl.com/TableyDucPhi... about Philippe, Duc d'Orléans the fascinating brother of Louis XIV of France by the brilliant @jspan.bsky.social with tea and cake provided #Cheshire #Knutsford #Tatton #Arley #Tabley

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgPrinces of Gwynedd: the last bastion in WalesSince 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…
Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.

Dr Jonathan Spangler
@jspan.bsky.social

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.orgMontesquiou: The oldest noble family in France made popular by musketeer d’ArtagnanIn 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…