The Crowned Heads Of Europe

One of the lesser known monarchs was Tsar Boris of Bulgaria. Here he is just before he and his crown were swept away in the convulsions following WWII.

stampgal & Conker - Thanks for your contributions! I have found that researching each of my stamps greatly enhances my enjoyment of our great hobby.

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting Philip of Alsace (1143-1191), count of Flanders from 1168 to 1191, designed and engraved by Jean De Bast after a painting by Belgian artist Louis Gallait (1810-1887), and issued by Belgium on September 25, 1947, Scott No. B438.

- nethryk

Philip II Augustus (1165-1223) was the last King of the Franks from 1180 to 1190, and the first King of France from 1190 until his death. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Philip Augustus in mounted combat during his great victory at the Battle of Bouvines (1214), designed and engraved by Albert Decaris, and issued by France on November 13, 1967, Scott No. 1199, Y&T No. 1538.

- nethryk

Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1896-1985), reigned from 1919 to 1964. Here is an image of a definitive stamp featuring a profile portrait of Charlotte, engraved and printed by American Bank Note Company, and issued by Luxembourg on November 10, 1926, Scott No. 169, plus a photo of the grand duchess as a young woman.

- nethryk

I love the history behind this stuff too. Here is King Michael of Romania who was also swept away after World War II




Considering he first showed up on Romanian stamps as a child in the 1920s it is quite amazing that he showed up recently on Romanian TV. (Very popular there apparently as they look for some stability in that country)

Conker - Nice stamp. But please, no more pictorials (stamps on which a monarch's inset portrait is merely a design element, and not the main subject of the stamp). Thanks!

Casimir III the Great (Polish: Kazimierz Wielki, 1310-1370) who reigned in 1333–1370, was the last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty. Here is an image of a stamp depicting King Casimir and a group of his courtiers at Kraków (Cracow) in 1364, designed by Polish artist Waclaw Boratynski (1908-1939), engraved by Jan Piwczyk, and issued by Poland on November 11, 1938, Scott No. 321, plus an image of a painting of the king (1864) by Polish realist painter Leopold Löffler (1827-1898).

- nethryk

Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Doamna Marica (Maria) Brâncoveanu (?–1729), wife of Constantin Brâncoveanu (1654-1714), Prince of Wallachia (1688-1714), designed by Romanian artist Aurel Bordenache (1902-1987), printed by photogravure, and issued by Romania on June 8, 1938 as one of a set of eleven stamps commemorating the 8th anniversary of the accession of Charles II, and benefiting the Boy Scouts' Fund, Scott No. B84.

- nethryk

Harald V (1937- ) is the King of Norway. Here is an image of a definitive stamp featuring a portrait of King Harald, designed and engraved by Knut Løkke-Sørensen, and issued by Norway on June 12, 1992, Scott No. 1020, Facit No. 1132a.

- nethryk

Frederick IX (1899-1972) was King of the Kingdom of Denmark from 1947 until his death in 1972. Here is an image of a definitive stamp featuring a portrait of King Frederik, designed by Danish artist Viggo Bang, engraved by Czeslaw Slania, and issued by Greenland on March 11, 1964, Scott No. 58.

- nethryk

Ferdinand the Catholic (1452-1516) was King of Aragon (as Ferdinand II), Sicily, Naples (as Ferdinand III), Majorca, Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, and jure uxoris King of Castile (1474–1504, as Ferdinand V, in right of his wife, Isabella I). Here is an image of an airmail stamp featuring a portrait of Ferdinand and a depiction of Christopher Columbus presenting Arawak Indians to him, engraved by José Luis López Sánchez Toda, and issued by Spain on October 12, 1952 as one of a set of five similar stamps commemorating the 500th anniversary of King Ferdinand and for Stamp Day, Scott No. C140, Edifil No. 1107.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Marie Aglaë, Princess Consort of Liechtenstein (1940- ), wife and cousin of Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein, designed by Liechtenstein graphic artist Hans Peter Gassner, combined engraved by Wolfgang Seidel and photogravure, and issued by Liechtenstein on September 2, 1991, Scott No. 967, plus a photo of Princess Marie.

- nethryk

Wladyslaw I Herman (c. 1044-1102) was a Duke of Poland from 1079 until his death. He was known as a tolerant ruler who encouraged Jews to migrate into his domains, and permitted them to settle throughout the entire country without restriction. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of the duke, designed by Stefan Malecki after a painting by Polish artist Jan Matejko (1838-1893), engraved by Jan M. Kopecki, and issued by Poland on October 18, 1989, Scott No. 2933, plus a monochrome image of Matejko's original artwork.

- nethryk

Frederica of Hanover (1917-1981) was Queen consort of the Hellenes as the wife of King Paul of Greece. Here are images of two stamps featuring a portrait of Queen Frederica, designed (and, most likely, engraved) by Greek artist A. Tassos (pseudonym of Anastasios Alevizos, 1914-1985), and issued by Greece on May 21, 1956, Scott No. 597, and on November 15, 1957, Scott No. 614, respectively.

- nethryk

Alfonso VII (1105-1157), called the Emperor, became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126. He was a scholar and a patron of poets, and during his reign the Toledo School of Translators began translating many philosophical and scientific works from classical Arabic, classical Greek, and ancient Hebrew. Here is an image featuring a portrait of King Alfonso VII and depicting a group of the school's translators at work, engraved by Julián González de la Lastra (1954- ), assisted by Pablo Sampedro Molero and Antonio Sánchez Gutiérrez, and issued by Spain on December 3, 1986, Scott No. 2503, Edifil No. 2872.

- nethryk

Daniil Aleksandrovith - the first prince of Moscow,



was the son of Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky.



Alexander Nevsky - one of the most famous Russian grand dukes, won some important victories and did much to preserve the independence of Russia from the Mongols. Alexander became a respected Russian saint.




Daniil became the ancestor of the Moscow princes and later Russian tsars.