Historical Who Am I Riddles

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

Charles Edward Stuart, the Bonnie Prince?

[Søren]

Charles Edward Stuart, the Bonnie Prince?

Very well done, yes.

It was indeed Bonnie Prince Charlie, the 'King over the Water' or the 'Young Pretender'.

Thanks to everyone else who attempted this, I guess it was fairly challenging on reflection.

Bonnie Prince Charlie

Remembering myself:
first breath formed softly in
this Eternal City

Weak by nature, blessed in aspect
A young child, driven to correct
The outcome of the sad pretence
by my father to take offence
at injustice, and try to fight
for what by God's grace is our right

So when grown up, I set my course
over the sea, keen to enforce
my principles in a new place,
but my efforts meet with disgrace

A new low, my plans in tatters
hopes butchered and all that matters
is my need for new direction
and can I win the affection
of a woman ready to hide
me from them all until the tide

Identity recalled,
my last breath flows from me,
between these seven hills

There were a bunch of leads here, but, if anyone is interested, I'll mention the ones to related figures. His father's pretence is about James Edward Stuart, Charles' father, the 'Old Pretender'. Butchered refers to the Duke of Cumberland, known as 'Butcher Cumberland', who defeated the Bonnie Prince at the Battle of Culloden. And the woman who helps to hide him is Flora MacDonald, who helped him escape in a boat after his defeat.

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

Thank you. Hopefully enjoyable although no rhymes:

I was born in a castle, which was rest for my family.
As young girl i was the favourite for a victorious queen.
But later married a king from a country with dark forests and fear of the Dead.
My only child died young and nothing, no poem could comfort me the rest of my life.
After a dispute i left my husband and went into exile for 6 long years.
I was the queen at the side of my husband for another twenty years and survived him for two more years.
I died during the first great fire, which ignites the world.
And finally found eternal peace with my daughter at my side.

[Søren]

Thank you. Hopefully enjoyable although no rhymes:

I was born in a castle, which was rest for my family.
As young girl i was the favourite for a victorious queen.
But later married a king from a country with dark forests and fear of the Dead.
My only child died young and nothing, no poem could comfort me the rest of my life.
After a dispute i left my husband and went into exile for 6 long years.
I was the queen at the side of my husband for another twenty years and survived him for two more years.
I died during the first great fire, which ignites the world.
And finally found eternal peace with my daughter at my side.

I think it must be Elisabeth of Wied? That was difficult and fun, it took me quite a while, but I enjoyed researching this, even though I went in the wrong direction most of the time.

I hadn't heard of her before, so I'll describe her briefly for the equally ignorant:

She was born in Castle Monrepos and favoured by Victoria. I actually thought this might be a reference to Victoria straightaway, but abandoned the idea too quickly after not finding anyone who fit. Should have figured Romania from the mention of the dead as well - I spent far too long on all kinds of medieval Polish/Bohemian/etc. queen consorts!

Not equally endorsed by Victoria's daughter, who gave this amusingly shallow take to her mother (who was keen to engage her to Bertie, the future Edward VII), "I do not think her at all distinguée looking—certainly the opposite to Bertie's usual taste", whereas Alexandra of Denmark is "just the style Bertie admires".

She wrote a lot under her pen name: Carmen Sylva. Apparently plays, novels, short stories, essays, poetry and collections of Romanian folk tales. This is one poem after the death of her young daughter:

“The chill frost came in the night, the night,
And my flower all withered lies.
His icy touch was so light, so light,
But it closed her fair blue eyes.

Ah me! is it thus that my joys depart,
While stricken and mute I stand.
O frost, let the fire that burns at my heart
Be quenched by thy cold, wet hand.

The exile was apparently her own choice due to the (actual) exile of one of her associates, the equally literary Elena Văcărescu.

The first great fire must then be the First World War. The phrasing reminded me a bit of a quote about Atilla/Genghis, but the Great War fits best.

She's a very interesting and appealing character. And very unusually for a royal, a Republican, saying:

"I must sympathize with the Social Democrats, especially in view of the inaction and corruption of the nobles. These "little people", after all, want only what nature confers: equality. The Republican form of government is the only rational one. I can never understand the foolish people, the fact that they continue to tolerate us."

Finally, in a mundane little coincidence, which I've only now found out, she is apparently unusually well-remembered in the Welsh seaside town of Llandudno, which named a few roads and a hotel after her, and took their town motto from one of her quotes.

Strangely this is where I've just spent my day:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

Yes it is Elisabeth of Wied aka Carmen Sylva.

I had fun to give little hints in the text ala Castle Monrepos (french = "My Rest") and i'm glad you decrypt them.

I like Elisabeth much as she was a educated, unconventional girl ("Elisabeth was spending the social season at the Berlin court, where her family hoped she would be tamed into a docile, marriageable princess") and even as adult a free spirit.

And the early death of her daughter affected me, as she obviously was a loving mother.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

For a short time Carmen Sylva even was my avatar name here.

Sadly we have not much things for her rememberance here in Neuwied a Carmen-Sylva-Park (boring english lawn, which could need some work) and a Carmen Slyva Middle School.

I didn't know, she visited Wales. Your photo is beautiful.

Your turn.

[Kilo11]

Hey Soren, just a reminder that the turn is yours

[Kilo11]

Bump.

The turn is still officially Soren's, but if anyone else has a riddle ready, feel free to post it.

[Søren]

Apologies for the delay. Here you go:

It was a cold day as I emerged,
while on my head three crowns converged,
some say I came to this too early,
though I can see my path more clearly.

My father strong as a lion, and regal,
My mother mad as an angry eagle
A childhood of scrapes and injuries,
But in my books I have my own victories.

But after many years of dreary learning,
Visions of another world keep returning,
So these frigid skies will leave my sight,
Another cross, another land will be my light.

My story winds on in this way,
And I won’t try to bore you,
With executions — justly given,
Tapestries and paintings.
Of red caps winged around me —
Theologies, mythologies,
A life of book and leisure.

So thrice buried, my role eroded,
Can my name now be decoded?

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

Born between November - February.

Three Crowns England Scotland and Irland?

Red Caps are this the blood thirsty spirits from the english - scottish border?

[Septentrionalis]

Some of these things work fine for Oliver Cromwell, but not all.

[Sar1n]

It doesn't have to be England. Many European kings acquired three or more crowns, especially those within Holy Roman Empire.

My first thought went to those few pre-Habsburg kings of Bohemia that obtained Imperial crown (lion is heraldic animal of Bohemia), but none quite fit.

It could be another emperor though...just a wild guess, Otto IV, the only emperor from Weif dynasty?

[Kilo11]

I don't know the history of European kings and emperors that well, but to me the clue that seems most likely to help is that the guy was thrice crowned at a very young age. I know boy kings/emperors weren't uncommon, but they weren't so common either, so that seems like a good first winnow for getting closer to an answer.

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

Frederick II King of Sicily, german and italian King, 1220 Emperor of the HRE?

Born on 26 December. Become King of Sicily at the Age of 4. His Father was Henry VI of Hohenstaufen, german and italian king, emperor of HRE. Heraldy of Hohenstaufen three black lions.

Frederick went onto a crusade to Jerusalem. And wrote a book about falconry.

[Søren]

Morticia's guess is strong as ever,
Deduction on point and rather clever,
Pleasing to see so many involved,
Yet my identity remains unsolved.

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

Charles V of Spain?

Born on 24. February, son of Philip the Fair, Duke of Burgundy, later Philip I of Castille, and Joanna the Mad of Castille.

After his fathers death Duke of burgundy with six, King of Spain with 16, Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria with 19.

Under his reign Cortez and Pizarro conquered the Empires of the Incas and Aztecs ("the new world under the cross").

[Søren]

My verse has now lead some astray,
so I'll emerge from sunken tomb to say,
three crowns had I, yet one domain,
I would not press another claim.

[Sar1n]

I'm going to give this another wild guess.

Henry IV of Salian dynasty, Holy Roman Emperor, do not confuse with any other Henry IV.

[Søren]

I'll now give you another clue,
Lest any seek to quit,
born during Edo bakufu,
though I knew not it.

[Septentrionalis]

Starts to remind me of Francis Xavier.

[Søren]

For clarity: they are also entirely unconnected to Japan, as the final sentence of the clue was meant to imply, although admittedly it could be taken multiple ways.