A Forgotten Princess

This evening I am going to bring your attention to Isabella de Medici, a Renaissance princess of Florence. Have you heard of her? I would be surprised if you have. I have just finished Caroline Murphy's biography of her and think that Isabella is a character worthy of particular note.

Isabella de Medici lived in sixteenth century Florence during a time when women rarely achieved financial independence and were controlled by their closest male relatives. Despite this, Isabella managed to acquire her own villa separate from her family; take a lover and live independently from her husband who resided in Rome. Intrigued?

Perhaps what is most interesting about Isabella's life is the protection she received from her father whilst he remained alive. Although he arranged her marriage to Paolo Orsini, Cosimo helped to ensure that Isabella did not join her husband in Rome after their wedding and purposely kept her at home. He then gave her her own villa to reside in in Florence.

For her part, Isabella feigned illness after illness, infinite interruptions and purposeful problems which always prevented her from staying with her husband in Rome. In fact, such were her protests that she never moved to her husband's residence for the entire length of their marriage. Such a feat was unheard of during a time when women were viewed as their husband's property and were controlled by them.

And while the cat's away the mice will play and so it was that Isabella began an affair with her husband's cousin, Troilo Orsini, which would eventually lead to both of their deaths. Yet while they lived love flourished between them.

Yet the succession of Isabella's brother to the Grand Dukedom of Florence after her father's death brought a dramatic change to Isabella's existence. Francesco disapproved of Isabella's lifestyle and the percieved dishonour it brought to the Medici family. As a result, he commissioned Isabella's husband to kill her and he did. Troilo had already fled into exile and years later he too was hunted down and killed.

I mention this rare and tragic story because I think that Isabella lived such a modern existence during a time when honour and convention were synonymous with politics and power and to live outside of the rules was to risk reputation and as a result one's own political position. Yet is it justifiable that she was killed for loving a man other than her husband? Would we accept that as a plausible argument for murder today? After her death her brother attempted to remove her from history altogether but I think that this woman should be revered and praised.

Elephants & People

Today I was distracted from unemployment through meeting with a friend I went to school with. We had a really nice day out visiting the National Portrait Gallery and meandering round London.

But to more interesting stuff. Did you know that there are actually three species of elephant rather than two, that is the Indian and African, as previously thought? Well I discovered this fact today and really think that it's quite exciting! It turns out that there are two types of African elephant: the Savannah and Forest. Whereas before it has been thought that these were two types of the same species, it now transpires that these two strands of elephants are as genetically opposed as an Indian and African elephant. I feel like going over there and throwing a party for third species emancipation or something equally rejoicing and enthused that would make David Attenborough's eyes weep in horror. Let's see if they discover a fourth.....

 Yesterday it seemed that the stars were on my side. I had a happy surprise and what I had thought was going to be a relaxed day at home turned out very differently indeed.

During my mid-morning Facebook check (time has to be passed somehow......!) my cousin, who also lives in London, invited me over to hers that evening. I was thrilled to hear from her and of course accepted her invitation. I thought the occasion marked an excuse for a new dress so took myself off to explore the sales. I was very happy to find a beautifully embellished dress which hardly cost anything at all.

I returned home to find my boyfriend busily revising (he has exams next week) so put on the film 'Bright Young Things' and settled down for the afternoon. Having never seen it before, I was unsure what to expect but actually really enjoyed it. The film gently shows the dichotomy between young people's carefree attitude to living and the realities that, at some point, must permeate a superficial existence and lifestyle. I would definitely recommend it. 

In the evening I arrived at my cousin's for a nice meal she had cooked and then we went out. Our first stop was a house party in Chelsea which some of her friends were at. It was quite a small affair but fun and I met some interesting people. We then headed to 151 for some boogying and saw some more of my cousin's friends. I had booked a taxi for 2.30am and, after some more dancing, it was suddenly time to go. It was such a nice evening and my cousin and I hadn't seen each other for so long.

Today, as you can imagine, I am not feeling on top form. My boyfriend wants me to hurry up on here so that we can go to Mcdonald's! A burger might just do the trick though......