Giuliana Maria di Grazia
A Small Glimpse Into My Life
I am a Florentine noblewoman living in my childhood home and the year for me, currently, is 1556.
My life has been peppered with many moments of despair, but I have also known great happiness. I have buried 2 husbands...one French, one Spanish… both under *slightly* suspicious circumstances. I bore each a daughter, and they are priceless treasures who have brought their Mother nothing but joy. Their sires? Not so much.
In 1537, after laying my not-so-dearly-departed 2nd husband to rest; I took ship from Cádiz with the intention to set sail for home. The plan was to make landfall west of Florence and travel overland the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the Barbary Pirates who captured our ship couldn't have given two flying florins for our plans or intentions. I ended up in a group of women who were destined for the slave markets in Algiers and while there; I was spotted by a Turkish gentleman who managed to acquire me. Shamir effendi, the learned gentleman in question, was a court noble and high in favor with Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha...he, who administered the region in the name of Suleiman I, called the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. This being so, my life wasn't as difficult as it might have been. Time passed, an affection developed, and in 1540, a son was born. I was at peace....or as much at peace as one may be in such an uncertain time and in such a place. I believe I always knew that our contentment couldn’t last for it was no surprise to me when we were forced to flee our home a mere 5 years after our son was born. You may wonder what could have occurred to make us relocate and start over in Florence. But that, Good Gentle, is a tale for another day.
My Arms
Registered to Laurel- July A.S. XL (2005): Per bend sinister sable and azure, on a bend sinister cotised argent three step-cut gemstones palewise azure.
Local Branch & Household Affiliations
- Barony of Wyewood
- Member of Clan Carn - Full Member: Autumn War, 9/10/2005 (AS XL), Clannet: Spring Feast, 2005 (AS XXXIX), Manrent: Wyewood FCS, 11/12/2004 (AS XXXIX)
- Member of Clan Blue Feather
Interests
- Garb: mid-16th century Florentine, mostly, though I'm interested in many areas of Europe during the same time period.
- Archery
- Heraldry
- Leatherwork
- Dance
Offices Held
Past Autocrat Staff Positions
- Kingdom Heraldic Symposium: Gate Coordinator : April 8th - 9th, 2006 (AS XL)
- Feast of St. Briarch XL/2005: Feast Pre-registration Coordinator : December 17th, 2005 (AS XL)
- Kent Canterbury Faire: Co-Autocrat: August 19th - 21st, 2005 (AS XL)
- A Celebration at Chepstow XL/2005: Pre-registration & Gate Coordinator : July 29th - 31st, 2005 (AS XL)
- Bubba’s Yule: Gate Coordinator : December 5th, 2004 (AS XXXIX)
- Kent Canterbury Faire: Co-Autocrat : August 21st - 22nd, 2004 (AS XXXIX)
- A Celebration of Chivalry/Mostly Fibers Too XXXIX/2004: Pre-registration & Gate Coordinator : July 23rd - 25th, 2004 (AS XXXIX)
- Kingdom Bardic I: Feast helper/Gate Assistant/ Site Guide : September 26th - 28th, 2003 (AS XXXVIII)
Armigerous Awards
- Goutte de Sang awarded by TRMs Cedric Blackwell Rolfsson & Elizabeth Yvonne Owles: 11/7/2009 (AS XLIV)
- Award of Arms awarded by TRMs Thorin Njalsson & Dagmaer in Hvassa: 9/5/2004 (AS XXXIX)
Recognition