Who in European history ever gave up the throne for a woman?

It should be Edward VIII.

In 1936, Queen Victoria's great-grandson Edward VIII made a feat of "not loving the country but loving the beauty". Although the "beauty" had a bad temper, arrogance, and was accustomed to weakening the man's masculinity, Edward VIII did not find it difficult at all. In fact, he was content with the relationship.

Historians have worked hard for a long time to figure out what powerful means this woman named Wallis Warfield Simpson had that could make the king of a country do something for her. Give up the throne. This twice-divorced American woman is not only beautiful, but also an out-and-out shrew. There was also evidence that Mrs. Simpson had been experimenting on Edward with secret techniques she had obtained from an Oriental brothel, which made the whole thing even more ridiculous.

However, a somewhat reasonable explanation is that Edward himself wanted to be dominated by a powerful woman in the relationship between the sexes. Ulick Alexander, one of Edward VIII's courtiers at the time, believed that Edward had been controlled by "some sexual perversion and self-deprecation complex." One of Edward's former lovers, Freda Dudley Ward, agreed. She confirmed: "As long as I want to control him, I can control him easily. I can do whatever I want to him! Love is the spell on him. No matter who he falls in love with, he will become his slave wholeheartedly. Dependent on the other person. This is his nature. He can be regarded as a masochist. He just likes to be humble and lower his status. He wants this very much!"

If this is really Edward! sincere desire, then Mrs. Simpson is indeed his ideal companion. Her attitude towards the former king seemed to be educating an ignorant child, with a violent temper and harsh words. For the most part, she expressed her disdain for Edward in an unvarnished manner, often bringing Edward to tears. "My God, that woman is such a shrew!" Edward's friend Edward Metcalfe exclaimed: "She will send him to hell soon."

And she That's really all. Once, they invited a group of guests to dinner, and that group of guests happened to witness an ugly scene. Afterwards, someone told Edward's biographer Philip Ziegler: During the meal, the Duke of Windsor (Edward's title after abdicating the throne) asked the butler to send a message to the driver, informing him of the next day's plans. car plan. At this time, the Duchess of Windsor suddenly raised her hands and then slammed them on the table. In an instant, everyone was shocked, and the air was so silent that it seemed solid. "It's not your turn to give orders in my house!" she retorted. After calming down, she quickly explained to her neighbors: "As you all know, the Duke is usually the master of the house." At this time, Edward was still sitting in his seat and whispered an apology to her incoherently. Edward was used to such treatment even before the marriage. His attendant John Elder discovered that Edward had "completely lost his self-confidence and followed Mrs. Simpson like a dog" when he proposed to her. Under her influence, Edward's life became extremely empty.

For Queen Elizabeth I, celibacy is a satisfying lifestyle. If she married, she would have to share the rule with her husband, but her love for the title "Queen of England" made her reluctant to let others get a piece of the pie. She preferred sole control to ordinary domestic life, and eventually became one of the greatest monarchs in British history. She was keen to announce to the world: "I married England." Elizabeth I, the self-proclaimed "Virgin Queen", was intoxicated with the adoration of her subjects, but when her maid got something she could never get. Sometimes, she will express strong jealousy, which is the so-called "family joy". As Sir Edward Stafford later discovered, she was “incompatible with love.” At that time, if anyone could pass the selection process and become a palace maid serving the queen, she could achieve a leap in social status, but in order to obtain such a prominent position, she had to pay a heavy price. Elizabeth I required these maids to maintain a consistent lifestyle with herself, which meant getting up early every morning, working hard during the day, and guarding the empty room alone at night. Any maid who wants to get married must obtain the Queen's permission, and this jealous Queen will never grant generous favors. She will definitely set up many obstacles for them. A newlywed couple often has to wait for more than ten years for Elizabeth I's forgiveness and permission. Miss Arundel, a young lady in waiting, once told the Queen without any thought that she loved a man and that they could marry with her father's permission. To the surprise of everyone present, this time the Queen actually said kindly: "You are indeed very honest, and I will make a request to your father on your behalf." Such strong support made the girl happy, and she thought her father would never do it this time. Her request was dismissed. Immediately afterwards, the girl's father, Sir Robert Arundel, was summoned to the palace. He fearfully presented the marriage documents to the queen.

Queen Elizabeth I was deeply satisfied with this and asked him to stand down, telling him: "I will take care of the rest." Then the Queen summoned Miss Arundel and told her father that she had agreed to the marriage. The girl replied happily: "If your Majesty is also happy, I will feel very happy." At this time, she still believed that the queen would allow her to marry the husband of her choice. "You should be happy, but it will never be because of this stupid marriage." The Queen's voice suddenly became stern. "Your father's marriage documents have been handed over to me, but I swear that I will not let you get it." It. I see you can't wait to join the ranks of idiots." This thunderous blow stunned the girl, and the queen waved her away. It is indeed difficult to get Elizabeth I's permission to marry, but for any maid who dares to hide the truth, what she has to face is not difficulty but disaster. When the news of the secret marriage between maid Mary Sheldon and James Scudamore reached the ears of Elizabeth I, the Queen was so angry that she strangled the bride to death and broke off her little finger. Eleanor Bridge believed that "no one paid the price that Mary paid for her marriage", but she and Elizabeth's cousin Catherine Grey, sister of the miserable "Queen for Nine Days" Jane Grey, (Katherine Grey) In comparison, this may not be truly tragic. During the palace coup a few years ago, Catherine Gray not only escaped unscathed from being executed along with her father and sister, but besides having her family property confiscated, her reputation remained innocent. "Bloody Mary" gained a very prominent position in the court of Mary I, and it was this queen who beheaded her relatives. However, after Mary I's sister Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, Catherine's status in the palace declined. The new queen just didn't like her cousin, finding her arrogant and disgusting. Therefore, Elizabeth I rarely allowed Catherine to approach her, but paid close attention to her every move. According to the decree of the late King Henry VIII, Catherine was second in the line of succession. If Elizabeth I had no heirs, Catherine would inherit the throne, so Elizabeth I must strictly monitor her.

Catherine Gray was proud of her Tudor ancestry, but she failed to inherit the family's wisdom. While serving the Queen, she fell in love with Edward Seymour, the son of the former Prince Regent. The former regent was beheaded for treason during the reign of his nephew Edward V (Elizabeth's brother). Catherine and Edward Samu, the two descendants of the criminal, unwisely began to secretly tryst and gradually planned a secret marriage. On the day of the planned wedding, Catherine and her future sister-in-law, Jane Seymour, both fell ill and were excused from accompanying her on that day's safari. As soon as the Queen and her entourage were gone, Catherine and Jane slipped out of the palace and rushed to Edward Samu's residence on the Thames in disguise.

Catherine and Edward were married in secret there, with the only witnesses being Jane and the priest who officiated the wedding, who was temporarily borrowed from Westminster Abbey. The two of them were so eager to get married that they even forgot to ask the priest's name. After the simple ceremony, the highly nervous Catherine slipped back to the palace with her accomplice Jane, also without anyone noticing. Incredibly, the marriage remained a secret for several months. But then Jane Seymour suddenly fell ill and died, and a month later, a transfer order sent Edward Seymour to France for diplomatic work. Not long after, Catherine found out she was pregnant. The secret husband is far away in France, one witness to the wedding is dead, and the other is unknown. These blows plunge the poor lady into boundless panic. Moreover, she had already lost her husband's property inheritance contract that legalized the marriage, which only made matters worse. Catherine, who was in great confusion, told the secret to another palace maid, Madame Saint-Lo. Madame Saint-Lo was also familiar with the Queen's ruthless temper, so she severely reprimanded Catherine for her stupid behavior, not only the secret marriage, but also the confession to herself this time, because it would also bring disaster to her. Frightened and angry, Mrs. Saint-Lo drove Catherine out. Tormented by fear and almost hysterical, Catherine went to the residence of Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I's favorite, and begged him to intercede for her. Since Elizabeth I would arrive here at any time, Dudley had to comfort the frightened Catherine as soon as possible, and promised to do his best to intercede for her, and then sent someone to send her out of the mansion. Finally, Elizabeth I learned the whole story from her dear Dudley, but this did nothing to make her act mildly. Instead, she was completely outraged. The contempt and deception of her shameless cousin was serious enough, but more importantly, Catherine's relationship with the throne was extraordinary, and any marriage between royal members must be unanimously approved by the Queen and Parliament. Therefore, Catherine's union with Edward Samu was charged with treason. Rather than saying that Elizabeth I was jealous of the happiness of marriage, it is better to say that she cherished the royal power in her hands more. Catherine Gray was immediately imprisoned in the Tower of London, and Lady Saint-Lo suffered the same fate because she failed to report the situation in time. Then, Edward Samu was recalled from France and thrown into the Tower of London together, where he was imprisoned separately from his wife without being allowed to see each other.

Subsequently, a royal investigative team conducted a series of interrogations against Edward regarding his "immoral affairs with Lady Catherine Grey". However, under the unfavorable conditions of having no witnesses and no property inheritance contract, Edward really could not support his bold statement that the marriage was legal.

Catherine was also interrogated, but the inquiry was temporarily suspended on September 21, 1561, because she gave birth to a son that day. Eight months later, the investigation team continued the interrogation and announced: "There is no legal marriage between Edward Seymour and Lady Catherine Grey." In this way, their son was dismissed as an illegitimate child. According to the Queen's wishes, the family continued to be imprisoned in the Tower of London on the charge of "reckless and unlawful sexual intercourse". However, a kind jailer often arranged for the couple to meet. As a result, it was not long before Catherine became pregnant with another child. Catherine lost all hope of being pardoned. Although she was later released from the Tower of London and placed in the custody of her uncle, Lord John Grey, she was never reunited with her husband.

In 1568, Catherine, who had never been forgiven, died painfully of pneumonia. Catherine's tragic fate seems not to have deterred her dwarf sister Mary at all. In 1565, Mary secretly married Thomas Keyes, the captain of the palace guard who was much taller than herself. William Cecil, the Queen's chief adviser at the time, wrote: "This is truly the most unfortunate and ridiculous accident. The captain of the guard is the most honorable gentleman in the palace, yet he secretly married someone with a high status in the palace. The most humble Lady Mary Grey." The continuous betrayal of the two cousins ??made Elizabeth I furious. She imprisoned Keyes in Fleet Prison and exiled Mary to the countryside, and then coldly declared that she "will never allow her surname to be Key. Sri Lanka's illegitimate son" appeared in her country. After being widowed, Mary was later allowed to return to the palace. She still went her own way and signed her name as "Mary Case". Mary Case died in 1578, and Elizabeth I, who never married, showed no signs of mourning.

King George IV was always chatting and laughing with others. He had impeccable taste and was known for his elegant taste in art appreciation, architectural style, fashion and other aspects. He was also generous and affable. Even so, the early 19th-century king became the object of much public ridicule. Every time George IV drove on a tour, he would be ridiculed and ridiculed by the citizens. People criticized him because he lived a squandering and debt-ridden life, greedily coveted the throne when his father was seriously ill, and easily promised but never fulfilled the rewards during the war with Napoleon. His scandalous love affairs and extremely failed marriages will inevitably be criticized. But it was the portly sloven's penchant for heavy drinking, which he often drank opium, that attracted the most public criticism. Although George IV was not the fattest monarch in British history, he was definitely the best drinker - elegant and noble when sober, but ugly when drunk. George has been a companion of alcohol since he was a prince. Excessive drinking caused his appearance to age prematurely, making others snicker. In 1787, George's behavior at a ball given by Mrs. Hopeton was enough to illustrate his drunkenness. According to the records of people present: “He stood in the corridor, and in full view of everyone, he put his arms around the Duchess of Ankeste’s neck, gave her a fierce kiss, and stunned the passing guests. He was startled. Then he challenged Sir Galloway, threatening to tear off his wig and beat him to pieces. He crossed the carriage and carried him away from the scene."

If his reputation was slightly better, the above scene would be considered weird but cute, or it would be kindly forgotten by everyone. . However, George was a really annoying guy with obvious shortcomings, so critics were merciless to him. The Times at that time described George as a super drunkard who spoke profanely and acted dissolutely. He also said that he "can ignore government affairs and advice for wine and women" and that all his pleasures are "overeating and risking his life in gambling." . The painter James Gillray once drew a caricature that described George as a glutton. This painting was widely circulated, causing Prince George's image in the public's mind to plummet. On the screen, after a full meal, George was picking his teeth with a fork, and his trousers buttons were open with his belly full of food. The table beside him was littered with cups and plates, and behind him was a mountain of medicines, some for hemorrhoids, some for bad breath, and two products that were specialized in treating venereal diseases at the time: Vino vegetable syrup and Lilac pills. George's relatives and friends felt that such ridicule was not enough, so they jumped in to add fuel to the fire. After a night of carnival and drinking, Princess Charlotte, George's only legitimate descendant, gossiped that "it takes so much oil just to light the lamps." And his fair-weather friend, playboy George Brian Blue Mel actually humiliated him at a dance. At that time, Brummel refused to show due respect to George, so George was dissatisfied and deliberately pretended not to see him, talking only to their mutual friend Sir Avanley.

Brummel shouted across the entire hall: "Avanli! Who is your fat friend?" In the early years, being so disrespectful to a member of the royal family was punishable by death, but whether George was the regent or not, he was punished by death. (his father, George III, had some mental defects and was unable to control the overall situation) and when he became king, his royal power seemed to be gradually disappearing. Our little George not only did not execute those who ridiculed him all day long, but was indifferent to those ruthless ridicules, perhaps because he knew that he was in the wrong. In 1812, The Examiner published an article that maliciously slandered Prince Regent George. The article not only said that he "broke his promises, was extravagant, and was in debt", but also described him as "not paying attention to the family at all." "Family affection" and other condemnations. This time, George ordered the arrest of the author of the article and his brother, the newspaper editor, and convicted them of "attempting to slander and slander His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Regent of England." The brothers paid a fine and went to jail for this matter. However, this sentencing did not save much face for the British royal family. People hated George more and more. During the same period, prose writer Charles Lamb's satirical doggerel about George became well-known to women and children: A unique, huge fish, swimming clumsily and difficultly in the Arctic waters. Just look at the flesh on his cheeks and his fat head, you can tell how much sea water he has swallowed... A dazzling array of fishes passed by him or retreated behind him. His status is unparalleled, like a ferocious monster dormant at the bottom of the sea... If you want to ask what his last name is, how do you rank him? He is the regent who dominates the ocean. He was huge and full of flesh, plump and fat. My eyes were really bright. He was the Prince of Wales. George IV officially came to the throne in 1820, but things did not improve, probably because he continued to provide critics with fresh material. Satirists of all stripes, including folklore writers, have drawn inspiration from the lives of George IV and his last mistress, Lady Conyngham. Someone wrote: Take a sip of red wine, kiss your lips, and touch each other's thick buttocks. The dissolute life seriously damaged George IV's physical and mental health. At the end of his life, he simply lived in seclusion at Windsor Castle and no longer appeared in public. Still, his appetite was good. His court biographer, Lady Arbuthnot, considered his lifestyle "unbelievable". The Duke of Wellington was one of the frequent visitors to Windsor Castle and once saw George IV's breakfast recipe. That morning, the king's breakfast consisted mainly of pigeons and steaks. He enjoyed "two pigeons, three steaks, a large bottle of Mosel dry white wine, a glass of dry champagne, two glasses of port wine, and a glass of brandy!" I took laudanum several times last night and this morning." As expected, George IV went to see the King of Hell not long after. The life of George IV showed the world that man has unlimited potential for indulging his appetite. Critics obviously won't let this go. "The Times" wrote in an article published on the second day of the state funeral: "Except for the king who died, no one felt that this was a regrettable thing. Except for the mourners who paid for it, no one in the country cared for George IV. This royal beast has shed a tear? Who has ever felt grief?"

If Edward VIII is indeed a Nazi collaborator as the outside world says, it at least shows that he at least abdicated in 1936. Did something. However, it turned out that such rumors were pure fiction, as the rest of the former king's life was wasted from then on. Edward VIII, who did not love his country but loved his beauty, did not hesitate to abdicate and demoted himself to the Duke of Windsor in order to marry the woman he loved. After their marriage, under the control of the domineering Duchess Wallis Warfield Simpson, the Duke of Windsor lived a life of idleness. The two spend their days traveling among the wealthy circles of New York, Paris and Palm Beach in an effort to win favor with the world. The only thing the Duke can really be responsible for is probably taking good care of his wife's group of pugs. Edward gave up the career he was born to do, but there was nothing to fill the void. However, he still maintains the dignity of a royal member and enjoys privileges, and he hopes that his wife will also receive such preferential treatment. His servants still wear palace uniforms, and wherever portraits of royal ancestors are displayed in their well-appointed homes or apartments, portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor hang. Since they could not rule the country, Edward and Mrs. Simpson commanded the servants, chauffeurs, and cooks in their own homes. In addition to continuously squeezing money from the British government, Edward probably only paid attention to one thing, and that was to spare no effort to obtain a royal title for his wife. When Edward married Mrs. Simpson against all odds, the British royal family was determined not to accept this twice-divorced, bad-tempered woman from Baltimore as a member of the royal family, let alone grant her the title of "Her Royal Highness." This slight made Edward very painful, so whenever he had the opportunity, he would find a way to compensate his wife. The relationship between the Duke of Windsor and the royal family was already in jeopardy due to the abdication incident. The British royal family was determined not to accept Mrs. Simpson, and his uncompromising attitude in fighting for the title of Mrs. Simpson further worsened the tense family relations. Edward's mother, Mary, wrote to her other son, Edward's brother George VI, in a letter: "Do you know that he broke my heart for this title of 'His Royal Highness'?

Once the title is awarded to that woman, outsiders may think that we have admitted this terrible marriage, which will be a fatal blow to us in any way. "During World War II, Britain suffered a violent attack from Nazi Germany, and Buckingham Palace was bombed. Even under such a severe situation, the Duke of Windsor still did not forget to ask the royal family for a title for his wife. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was directing the war for a hundred years. While busy, he gave Edward some advice: "Since your Excellency has stepped down from the most noble throne in the world, you should do more for your rights and dignity instead of worrying about vain fame. " Alas, that was not the case. During the war, apart from securing a title for his wife, Edward probably did not put so much effort into anything else. In fact, he was once appointed Governor of the Bahamas. In the face of a national crisis, This was really not a critical task, but Edward complained a lot when he took office and asked to leave immediately. It was August, and living in a tropical island country might make people feel a little uncomfortable, but Prime Minister Churchill thought Edward's request to resign was ridiculously naive. . Walter Monckton wrote to Edward: "He is saddened by your decision. "The British people are enduring the ravages of war, and Churchill hopes that the Duke of Windsor "will put aside his personal comfort and hold on in this position until the weather turns cooler."

Out of patriotic duty, Edward He reluctantly took office, but he repeatedly complained about the unacceptable living conditions in the Bahamas. "This Government House is simply uninhabitable," Edward told former Governor Bede Clifford. "This week. Since then we have had to escape and sleep outside in the open air, and there are sandflies everywhere. "The money Edward received to repair the house was not enough for him to spend extravagantly, so he applied for more money from the colonial governor George Lloyd for him to decorate the official residence. Churchill's instructions in the memorandum showed his intention His clear stance on the matter: “It’s not necessary. "The trip to the Bahamas kept the Duke and Duchess of Windsor very busy, so after the war they felt that they should relax completely. This relaxation does not matter, the rest of their lives will just pass by. If the weather is good, Edward will play a few rounds of golf, and the weather If not, he would take a nap and then drink some wine. But at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, he would have to get busy, either conveying the lady's instructions to the people, or running errands for the lady himself. At this time, the Duchess was busy. Preparing for a dinner or social event that evening. Edward seemed to be willing to enjoy this wasted life. Once, he inadvertently revealed his mentality when talking to the wife of an American diplomat: "How did I spend my day? Woolen cloth? I got up a little late in the morning and went out with the Duchess. She bought a hat and I admired it. On the way home I got off at Boyce and watched a GI football game for a while. Later I wanted to take a walk, but it was too cold... When I got home, the Duchess was taking a French class, so there was no one to chat with me. Just last week, my mother sent me some cardboard boxes, so I I took it apart and looked at it. Hey, what's inside is a composition I wrote when I was learning French as a child. It was during the First World War... As you know, I've never been a fan of reading.

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