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
Senior Editor, The Court Historian
So great to be back in Lund University! Lets plan for future collaboration adventures!
October 1, 2026 at 8:45 PM
So great to be back in Lund University! Lets plan for future collaboration adventures!
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
September 27, 2026 at 10:31 PM
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...
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 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 […]
rgsi.mmu.ac.uk
September 25, 2026 at 11:02 PM
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...
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
📣 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...
📍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...
September 4, 2026 at 9:45 AM
📣 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...
📍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...
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
📣 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...
Christian Kammann will present on their new book 'Hofkultur im weltlichen Hochstift. Landschaftsverbandes Stade, 2025'
Register below
www.eventbrite.fr/e/sept-vss-b...
September 15, 2026 at 9:38 AM
📣 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...
Christian Kammann will present on their new book 'Hofkultur im weltlichen Hochstift. Landschaftsverbandes Stade, 2025'
Register below
www.eventbrite.fr/e/sept-vss-b...
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...
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 …
dukesandprinces.org
September 13, 2026 at 9:39 PM
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...
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
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.
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.
September 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
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.
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.
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
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
September 3, 2026 at 7:25 PM
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
Today we start three days of royal history presentations in Prague
September 2, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Today we start three days of royal history presentations in Prague
I love this so much
September 1, 2026 at 11:44 AM
I love this so much
What a wonder to see Matthias Braun's sculptures near Kuks in Bohemia. Carved straight out of the rock. This is St Onophrius
September 1, 2026 at 11:37 AM
What a wonder to see Matthias Braun's sculptures near Kuks in Bohemia. Carved straight out of the rock. This is St Onophrius
Today the conference of @courtstudies.bsky.social visited the fantastic Ksiąz castle, once hometown Piast dukes and later princes von Plesse.
August 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Today the conference of @courtstudies.bsky.social visited the fantastic Ksiąz castle, once hometown Piast dukes and later princes von Plesse.
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
August 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM
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...
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
📣 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...
Click the link below to register!
Don't miss out!
courtstudies.org/events/confe...
August 14, 2026 at 2:53 PM
📣 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...
Click the link below to register!
Don't miss out!
courtstudies.org/events/confe...
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
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
"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
August 12, 2026 at 9:14 AM
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
"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
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
Reposted by Dr Jonathan Spangler
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. 🩷
Because of course they made it 9 to 5. That’s how you honor an icon. 🩷
August 26, 2026 at 3:24 AM
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. 🩷
Because of course they made it 9 to 5. That’s how you honor an icon. 🩷
A lovely reconstructed medieval castle in Poznań
August 26, 2026 at 2:16 PM
A lovely reconstructed medieval castle in Poznań
I'm excited to be travelling to Silesia tomorrow for this!
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!
🗓 27-29 August
📍University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
The conference programme is available below! We look forward to welcoming everyone to Wrocław soon!
August 24, 2026 at 10:48 AM
I'm excited to be travelling to Silesia tomorrow for this!
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
August 15, 2026 at 10:48 PM
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...
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...
@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...
Capítulo 13: La reina María Teresa de Austria y Felipe de Orleans, con Jonathan Spangler.
El legado de Carlos II · Episode
open.spotify.com
August 10, 2026 at 2:25 PM
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...
@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...
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
August 1, 2026 at 1:33 AM
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...
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
August 1, 2026 at 12:34 AM
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...
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
July 25, 2026 at 2:39 AM
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...
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...
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…
dukesandprinces.org
July 22, 2026 at 2:04 AM
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...