February 1, 2012

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Revisionism has somewhat tarnished the romantic portrait. The dashing Duke and Duchess were Nazi sympathizers, and Elizabeth, the current queen’s late mother, is said to have blamed them bitterly for hastening the death of her own beloved husband, George VI, who succeeded to the pressures of the throne in depressed, soon-to-be wartime England.

But without Edward and Mrs. Simpson, there might not have been Queen Elizabeth II and Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Is it not terribly ironic that Diana should be visiting the Windsors’ former home in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne with her own inamorato, Dodi Fayed, on the day she died?

After all the innuendoes, intrigues and recriminations, a visit to a temple of a world well lost seemed a sadly fitting end.

But that’s not really the end is it? Because this past year, we witnessed a truly satisfying wedding, in which Diana’s engagement ring and favorite hymn, “I Vow To Thee, My Country,” were an integral part.

Diana’s golden boy and his winning bride, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have brought us full circle.

Maybe, just maybe we’ll get our happy ending after all.

Tag Topics: Antony and Cleopatra, Charles and Diana, Edward and Mrs. Simpson, Georgette Gouveia, Henry VIII, Liz and Dick, the six wives of Henry VIII

by Georgette Gouveia

February 1, 2012

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Olympias Defamed

Alexander killed Daddy. Much was made of Philip wearing white robes. Rig a dummy with white robes. Grab a knife. Stab. Hit anything vital? Alexander was beside Philip when he fell, knife in back. It was up to the loving son to twist the knife caringly enough to make sure it killed. WHY? Because a man in his mid-40s with an injured arm and only one eye wasn't going to make it back alive from Persia.In which case, what would happen? Macedonian kings received their legitimacy from the acclamation of the army. The army would be in Persia. Who would they acclaim to succeed the throne? The strongest general there. Who would then send assassins to kill Alexander and all his family. Just as Alexander sent assassins to kill that likely general and all his family as soon as Philip was dead. Two members of that family were the mother and son Olympias is accused of killing and maybe she did...but it was simply common practice to leave no threat alive.

History is written by the winner. It was unthinkable that Alexander the Great was a patricide. Blame mum. Blame black magic. Blame sex. Blame anyone but the man beside Philip when he was stabbed. But look up the odd reaction of Alexander's old tutor, Aristotle, when he was asked about it. No "Of course he wasn't involved!" More a wandering catalog of the Everybody Does It variety. And then there's the two-Pausanias nonsense. They tried to say Philip's devoted bodyguard Pausanias did it. But there must have been strong pushback from some source because next they said THAT Pausanias died and a bad mad one took his place after which the story was sexually embroidered first with gang rape by members of Philip's staff which was later changed to Philip himself bring the rapist thereby becoming responsible for his own murder.

HOWEVER, how does that explain the immediate execution of the two Lynkestis brothers? What did they have to do with it? Wasn't Alexander of Lynkestis the very first to proclaim Alexander king? Think: quid pro quo.

Because Philip wore white, NOBODY SAW HIS KILLER. Stage trick: the eye follows white. A man dressed as Philip's bodyguard comes from behind, stabs the king in the back "under his ribs" and runs out. Alexander's friends pursue him. The body of Pausanias, dead or near dead, is brought into the arena. KILLER CAUGHT. Lynkestis proclaims Alexander king. Alexander executes Lynkestis' brothers as being part of the "plot" removing rivals for the Lynkestis domain. Murder solved, life goes on.

A few years later Alexander the Great arrests Alexander of Lynkestis for plotting to kill him and keeps him in prison for years. Wonder why he thought the guy was into killing kings.

It had to be done and sex had nothing to do with it. A man with a blind side was dead meat in battle and Alexander and everyone related to him was dead if Philip died in Persia. But history couldn't cope with that.

Posted by Abigail Quart May 22, 2012 00:31:50

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