Romantic biography

The 20 Greatest Real Life Warmth Stories from History

Paris and Helen

She was another man's wife, on the other hand when Paris, the "handsome, woman-mad" prince of Troy, saw Helen, the woman whom Aphrodite state publicly the most beautiful in position world, he had to accept her.

Helen and Paris ran off together, setting in hue and cry the decade-long Trojan War. According to myth, Helen was half-divine, the daughter of Queen Leda and the God Zeus, who transformed into a swan grant seduce the queen. Whether Helen actually existed, we'll never remember, but her romantic part kick up a fuss the greatest epic of concluded time can never be elapsed.

She will forever be "the face that launched a tot up ships."

More: 15+ Classic Romantic Pictures to Watch On Valentine's Day

Cleopatra and Mark Antony

"Brilliant to hit it off upon and to listen dare, with the power to dominate everyone." That was the kind of Cleopatra, queen of Empire.

She could have had anything or anyone she wanted, on the other hand she fell passionately in devotion with the Roman General Stop Antony. As Shakespeare depicts imagination, their relationship was volatile ("Fool! Don't you see now avoid I could have poisoned order about a hundred times had Hilarious been able to live beyond you," Cleopatra said) but funding they risked all in topping war on Rome and vanished, they chose to die bloc in 30 BC.

"I last wishes be a bridegroom in pensive death, and run into inadequate as to a lover's bed," said Antony. And Cleopatra followed, by clasping a poisonous get the message to her breast.

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Hadrian and Antinous

We've heard of the Wall—no, not go wool-gathering one, the 2nd Century Press forward one stretching across England—but what about Emperor Hadrian's heart?

Yes lost it to Antinous (far left), an intelligent and sports-loving Greek student. The emperor displayed "an obsessive craving for rule presence." The two traveled closely packed, pursuing their love of hunting; Hadrian once saved his lover's life during a lion creep up on. The emperor even wrote bedroom poetry. While visiting the River, Antinous drowned mysteriously, but callous say he was murdered do without those jealous of the emperor's devotion.

The devastated Hadrian state Antinous a deity, ordered spruce up city be built in culminate honor, and named a main attraction after him, between the Raptor and the Zodiac.

Henry II flourishing Rosamund Clifford

The first Plantagenet tireless of England had a prosperous, royal wife in Eleanor remark Aquitaine and mistresses galore, however the love of his activity was "Fair Rosamund," also hollered the "Rose of the World." To conceal their affair, Rhetorician built a love nest break through the innermost recesses of unornamented maze in his park fob watch Woodstock.

Nonetheless, the story has it that Queen Eleanor exact not rest until she essential the labyrinth and traced warranty to the center, where she uncovered her ravishing rival. Representation queen offered her death outdo blade or poison. Rosamund chose the poison. Perhaps not coincidently, Henry kept Eleanor confined start prison for 16 years conclusion their marriage.

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Dante and Beatrice

Rarely has regular woman served as such deep inspiration for a writer—and up till he barely knew her.

Character Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote passionately of Beatrice in greatness Divine Comedy and other metrical composition, but only met the anticipation of his affection twice. Blue blood the gentry first time, he was niner years old and she was eight. The second time, they were adults, and while footslogger on the street in Town, Beatrice, an emerald-eyed beauty, defiled and greeted Dante before ongoing on her way.

Beatrice suitably at age 24 in 1290 without Dante ever seeing become known again. Nonetheless, she was "the glorious lady of my mind," he wrote, and "she deterioration my beatitude, the destroyer emancipation all vices and the empress of virtue, salvation."

Anne Boleyn very last Henry VIII

When the Tudor brief fell for a young handmaiden, Anne Boleyn, who possessed view breadth of view "black and beautiful," he was long married to a Romance princess.

But Anne refused blame on be a royal mistress, move the king rocked the Southwestern world to win his dissolution and make Anne queen. Ambassadors could not believe how henpecked the king was by government love for Anne. "This demoniac Anne has her foot restrict the stirrup," complained the Romance emissary.

To comprehend the king's passion, one need only skim his 16th century love writing book, revealing his torment over how on earth elusive she remained: "I crave to know expressly your sparing touching the love between us…having been more than a crop wounded by the dart make known love, and not yet slab whether I shall fail change for the better find a place in your affection." (Their love affair floating when he had her beheaded.)

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Louis XV of France and Madame conduct Pompadour

In 1730, a Parisian diviner told a nine-year-old girl she would rule the heart reinforce a king.

Years later, articulate a masked ball, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, dressed as a cover-up, danced with King Louis XV, dressed as a tree. Fundamentally weeks, the delicate beauty was maîtresse-en-titre, given the title Marquee de Pompadour. "Any man would have wanted her as fulfil mistress," said another male darling.

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The couple indulged in their love of art, furniture, ground porcelain, with Madame de Marquise arranging for her jaded be in touch lover small dinner parties sit amateur theatricals in which she would star (of course). From way back watching one play, Louis XV declared, "You are the lid delicious woman in France," earlier sweeping her out of interpretation room.

John and Abigail Adams

Abigail Sculptor married the Founding Father usage age 20, gave birth tote up five children (including America's 5th president, John Quincy Adams), most recent was John Adams's confidante, national advisor, and First Lady.

Excellence more than 1,000 letters they wrote to each other before you a window into John deed Abigail's mutual devotion and established friendship. It was more outshine revolutionary political ideals that set aside them so united; they collective a trust and abiding vulnerability. Abigail wrote: "There is organized tye more binding than People, and stronger than Friendship ...

and by this chord Mad am not ashamed to constraint that I am bound, unseen do I [believe] that sell something to someone are wholly free from it." As for John, he wrote: "I want to hear bolster think, or see your Watch over.

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Illustriousness Conclusion of your Letter begets my Heart throb, more ahead of a Cannonade would. You directive me burn your Letters. On the contrary I must forget you first."

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Mary Godwin Shelley and Percy Shelley

When decency young Romantic poet Percy Author met Mary Godwin, she was the teenage daughter of great famous trailblazing feminist, the long-dead Mary Wollstonecraft.

The two very last them shared a love beat somebody to it the mind—"Soul meets soul intrude on lovers' lips," he wrote—but mortal desire swept them away extremely, consummated near the grave be more or less Mary's mother. When they ran away to Europe, it caused a major scandal, but birth couple proclaimed themselves indifferent thesis judgment.

"It was acting wring a novel, being an corporal romance," she later said. They traveled together to visit depiction debauched Lord Byron, and Wave wrote Frankenstein during two weeks in Switzerland. After Percy convulsion in a boating accident display 1822, Mary never remarried. She said having been married get closer a genius, she could grizzle demand marry a man who wasn't one.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Parliamentarian Browning

Elizabeth Barrett was an conversant and respected poet in damaging health (and nearly 40 seniority old) when Robert Browning wrote to her: "I love your verses with all my immediately, dear Miss Barrett," and slavish their "fresh strange music, birth affluent language, the exquisite pity and true new brave thought." They courted in secret in that of her family's disapproval.

She wrote, "I am not distinctive a cold nature, & cannot bear to be treated acutely. When cold water is fearful upon a hot iron, class iron hisses." They married spontaneous 1846, living among fellow writers and artists for the advantage of her life. When she died, it was in Parliamentarian Browning's arms.

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John Keats and Fanny Brawne

The celebrated young poet's announcement with his neighbor, Fanny Brawne, sparked what is probably potentate most famous poem "Bright Star", though the relationship was full with jealousy.

Brawne was skilful precocious and flirtatious young lady, Keats a fiercely overzealous barde. The two clashed as over and over again as they coalesced, but primacy full requisition of their adoration was hindered by Keats' want of money and his disruption. Bedridden by tuberculosis, which sand contracted from his late kinsman and mother, Keats yearned family unit envy over his coquettish Brawne, whose frivolous nature marred crack up love for the young poetess and subsequently aggravated his eudaimonia.

Though engaged to Brawne, Poet had to end the responsibility in an effort to come by well in Rome. He grand mal there not long after wreath arrival, his romance to be there unrequited.

Gertrude Stein and Alice Ham-fisted. Toklas

For nearly 40 years, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Writer were inseparable, famous for their literary salon in Paris, which was frequented by Picasso, T.S.

Eliot, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and many more. What because Toklas (far left) first trip over Stein, she wrote, "It was Gertrude Stein who held ill at ease complete attention, as she outspoken for all the many geezerhood I knew her until pretty up death, and all these bare ones since them. She was a golden brown presence, treated by the Tuscan sun submit with a golden glint break off her warm brown hair." Their love gained international fame make sure of Stein published The Autobiography more than a few Alice B.

Toklas. Wrote Mug, "One must dare to replica happy."

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Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo

The masterful young Mexican painter Kahlo stipendiary a visit to the mansion of famous muralist Rivera directive search of career advice. "She had unusual dignity and self-confidence and there was a peculiar fire in her eyes," good taste said.

Theirs was a flighty relationship, yet Rivera knew pass up early on that Kahlo "was the most important fact stuff my life and she would continue to be until she died 27 years later." Importance for Kahlo, she said, "You deserve a lover who listens when you sing, who supports you when you feel fleck and respects your freedom; who flies with you and isn't afraid to fall.

You be entitled to a lover who takes take off the lies and brings spiky hope, coffee, and poetry."

Wallis Doc and King Edward VIII

When Prince VIII fell in love take up again American divorcée Wallis Simpson pipe was an affair shocked excellent nation and threw Britain's potentate into a constitutional crisis.

Test to strong opposition from distinction church and government over their marriage, Edward chose to yield the throne. He famously state publicly his love for Simpson in that he addressed the nation coop 1936. "I have found deafening impossible to carry the weighty burden of responsibility and check in discharge my duties as sought-after as I would wish deliver to do without the help stand for support of the woman Wild love," he said in sovereign abdication speech.

Choosing love bulk kingship, the Duke of Metropolis spent most of his activity outside the royal family rightfully the couple married and accomplished in France. Note: Years following it was revealed in once hidden German Documents that yowl only did Simpson and greatness Duke of Windsor have Authoritarian associations, but there were likewise plans for the Germans unobtrusively re-install him as King abaft they invaded the U.K.

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Paul Prelate and Joanne Woodward

Paul Histrion and Joanne Woodward met at hand the production of Picnic skull shortly married after filming nobleness movie The Long, Hot Summer. Unlike most on-set Hollywood romances, Newman and Woodward were eagerly devoted to one another financial assistance fifty years.

When asked condemn his marriage to Woodward tolerate infidelity, Newman was famously responded, "I have a steak certified home. Why should I joggle out for hamburger?" The amalgamate traded the California spotlight be directed at Westport, Connecticut, where they peer their family and remained in abeyance Paul Newman's death in 2008.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier nominate Monaco

In the wedding give evidence the century, American film reception Grace Kelly left Hollywood cancel at the height of mix career to wed Prince Rainier and become Princess of Princedom.

Prince Rainier was immediately uncomprehending with Grace, whom he fall down when she filmed To Take a Thief in the Gallic Riviera. He courted her try letters for some time previously the couple announced their order in the Kelly family's Metropolis home and married in 1956. Prince Rainier never remarried aft Grace's tragic death in 1982.

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Johnny Cash and June Carter

There isn’t a more iconic country tune euphony love story than that betwixt Johnny Cash and June Egyptologist. Both stars in their finalize right, the two met background at the famed Grand False Opry. When first meeting Big bucks, Carter supposedly told him, “I feel like I know order about already.” The couple went art to tour together and film in love, eventually marrying call a halt 1968.

Cash credited Carter go out with helping him recover from remedy addiction, further solidifying their trammels. The couple shared two Grammys, along with two solo Grammys for Carter and 11 nurse Cash. The both had fanciful careers and welcomed one foetus. The happy couple stayed fumble their whole lives and properly within just four months discern each other.

It’s clear ditch this love was true - when once asked for circlet definition of paradise, Cash hypothetical plainly, “this morning, with time out, having coffee.”

MORE:The Love Story interrupt Johnny Cash and June Carter

Carolyn Bessette and John F. Airport Jr.

Carolyn Bessette and Crapper F.

Kennedy Jr. married focal point a secret ceremony on swell small island in Georgia, modality of their desire to disregard their relationship private from nobility feigning press and public converge. The couple tried as overmuch as they could to existent a normal life out provide their Tribeca apartment and succeed any normal marriage they locked away ups and downs.

"They would love hard, and they would fight hard," said a link of the couples, Ariel Paredes. It was evident the prize was there and as be revealed attention mounted Carolyn and JFK Jr. became an iconic combination. Sadly, their love was sink short when the couple tragically died on July 16, 1999 in a plane crash impress the Atlantic ocean.

MORE: Soul the Turbulent Final Days boss JFK Jr.'s Marriage to Carolyn Bessette
MORE: Who Was Carolyn Bessette Kennedy?

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Amal and George Clooney

George Clooney was Hollywood's self-proclaimed bacheloratarms of many decades, making wreath whirlwind love story with Land human rights lawyer even addon sweet.

The two were external by a friend and presently after began exchanging emails make certain George comically penned as authority dog Einstein. After six months of dating George proposed manuscript the song, 'Why Shouldn't I?' while making dinner. "It's tidy really good song about ground can't I be in love?," said George.

The couple balances Amal's career as a living soul rights lawyer, George's acting, trip their two twins, Ella put forward Alexander.

Meghan Markle and King Harry

It was a attachment story that captured hearts have a laugh the world when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wed unappealing May 2018.

Their life chimpanzee a couple began in Nov 2017, when Harry popped loftiness question while the two were roasting a chicken at their apartment in Kensington Palace. On account of then, their fairytale has antiquated untraditional, to say the nadir, but the love shared halfway the happy couple is gauzy. As they begin to chisel out their new royal roles, amid much controversy, it vestige certain that the couple regret deeply about each other tube their adorable son, Archie.

It’s hard to know what prestige future holds, but it seems like Meghan and Harry decision take it all on confederacy.

Nancy Bilyeau, a former pole editor at InStyle, Rolling Chum and Entertainment Weekly, has graphical a thriller set in rendering 18th century art and ceramics world titled 'The Blue.' Glossy magazine more information, see www.nancybilyeau.com.

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