10 Surprising Acts of Love by Historical Icons

Swift Summary

• the article lists ten unusual ways historical figures expressed or pursued love, ranging from odd proposals to strategic romances:

– Evelyn Waugh proposed by warning his future wife against marrying him, citing his flaws (1936-1937).
– Charles Darwin made a pros-and-cons list before deciding to propose to Emma Wedgwood (19th century).
– Johannes Kepler evaluated candidates mathematically but eventually married based on emotions (early 1600s).
– Catherine the Great’s ex-lover Grigory Potemkin vetted her potential partners after their romance ended (18th century).
– Madame de Pompadour rode dramatically across King Louis XV’s hunting grounds to catch his attention (mid-18th century).
– Queen Victoria had no choice but to propose due to royal tradition forbidding offers made directly to a reigning monarch (1838 engagement: source).
– Henry VIII used a disguise for meeting Anne of Cleves, leading to miscommunication and eventual annulment from the marriage (1540: source).
– Salvador Dali painted Gala as the Virgin Mary and presented it to Pope Pius XII for religious marriage approval during their union’s civil phase (1958 ceremony read bio links via museum conserv pressure ‘new insights’.
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