The Long May They Reign Blog

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life of Isabella Clara Eugenia — a Habsburg princess who became one of the most powerful and respected women in seventeenth-century Europe. Born into the vast and intimidating world of the Spanish Empire, Isabella was raised under the watchful eye of her father, Philip II of Spain, one of the most formidable monarchs in European history. While many royal daughters of the era were kept distant from politics, Isabella became deeply

In this episode, we explore the remarkable yet tragically short life of Elisabeth of Valois, a French princess whose marriage united two powerful European kingdoms and whose quiet personality stood in contrast to the turbulent political world around her. Born into the glittering yet dangerous court of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici, Elisabeth spent her childhood surrounded by royalty, diplomacy, and court intrigue. Though naturally shy and reserved, she became on

In this episode of Long May They Reign, we explore the heartbreaking and politically turbulent life of Blanche II of Navarre — a woman born with a legitimate claim to a kingdom she would never truly possess. Blanche’s life unfolded during one of the most unstable succession crises in the history of Navarre. Though she inherited royal legitimacy through her mother, her path to power was blocked repeatedly by the ambitions of the men around her. Her marriage to the future Henry