Incredible love stories of famous people. Ten of the most famous tragic love stories. Vivien Leigh – Laurence Olivier

Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, takes deep roots into our entire being and often continues to turn green and bloom.
even on the ruins of our hearts.
Victor Hugo

On the eve of the coming spring, let's talk about the most famous love stories of worthy people.

Romeo and Juliet - eternal love

“There is no sadder story in the world than the story of Romeo and Juliet...” Why big love These two children, by our standards (Juliet was 13, her beloved Romeo was two or three years older) became a symbol of love of all times and peoples. What is the power and strength of this feeling of a timeless river?

It is possible that it was sung in the wonderful style of the great playwright William Shakespeare, or perhaps because love was a victim of the eternal squabbles of adults, the voluntary death of the heroes made the crowd shudder and melted the enmity of the hearts of the warring families of Montagues and Capulets... Who knows...

And even if the authenticity of the events described in the tragedy has not been confirmed, who will doubt the reality of the story, because the names Romeo and Juliet have become common names for beautiful, faithful love, and to this day they evoke admiration and admiration for two young hearts.

The love story of Odysseus and Penelope

Another no less famous love story from ancient times, sung by the ancient Greek - the great Homer. It is based on the marital relationship of Odysseus and his wife Penelope - an example of rare sacrifice in the name of love and the female ability to wait in spite of everything...

Odysseus, like a true warrior, leaves his young wife after the wedding and goes to war.

Penelope waited for his return for twenty long years, raised her son alone and during this time rejected marriage proposals from 108 men who, citing the death of her husband, sought to take his place.

No less faithful was Penelope and Odysseus, in their naval battles, trials and wanderings, remaining faithful and chaste to his wife. So, having met a beautiful sorceress who tried to seduce him and offered eternal youth in return for love for her, the hero of Hellas resisted the temptation. And the unfading light of his distant love Penelope helped him in this. And only 20 years later, loving hearts reunited against all odds.

Love To Kings of Great Britain Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

But now it’s completely modern history love worthy of talking about.

In 1930, the Windsor Palace in Great Britain stunned the world with exciting news: the heir to the royal throne, Edward VIII, had abdicated power. The reason was love for a young American woman and, moreover, married woman Wallis Simpson, far from being of royal blood.

The royal court was indignant and gave the heir a choice: either power or love for a commoner. Edward VIII, without hesitation, chose fiery love for a woman.

Having divorced their first husband, Walliss and Edward got married and lived for thirty-five years away from their homeland, keeping their love that was so dear to them.

“Love never dies,” wrote 84-year-old Wallis after the death of her husband. “It changes its course, it becomes softer and wider... Love is work. Women must bring their wisdom to the altar of family happiness...”

Alexander Griboedov and Nina Chavchavadze love story

This worthy love of our compatriot writer Griboedov for his wife: fleeting happiness in a few months and 30 years of mourning, as a symbol of fidelity and eternal love of a Georgian woman to a Russian writer.

33-year-old Alexander Griboyedov as ambassador Russian Empire, was sent to Persia. On the way, he visited the house of his longtime friend, Prince Alexander Chavchavadze. And from the first minutes his heart was conquered by the daughter of the owner of the house - fifteen-year-old beauty Nina. And the young princess could not resist the great feeling for the Russian writer that flooded like an avalanche: “It burned like a sunbeam!”, She confessed to her friend.

Having gotten married in the fall, the newlyweds went to Persia, and in January of the following 1829, Alexander was brutally killed by a crowd of Islamic fanatics. So short was the moment of captivating love.

Nina Chavchavadze-Griboyedova did not remarry and for almost 30 years, until the end of her days, she did not stop mourning. " Black rose Tiflis” - that’s what they called her in the city, she wrote on her husband’s tombstone:

“Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you?”

The burials of the Griboedovs are located nearby, in the city pantheon of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.

You can list and list beautiful stories like a triumph of great love. It's easy to love someone who shares your feelings. Where does love come from and what does it feed on when it is not divided, and sometimes even rejected? However, this does not make the feeling weaker, but perhaps, on the contrary, even more piercing and stunning in its strength.

Elbert Einstein and Margarita Konenkova

The history of these unusual relationship is not a romantically charged anthem devoted love, it is interesting only because it showed the only love of a brilliant scientist, which broke his heart.

Einstein fell in love with Margarita Konenkova (nee Vorontsova), the wife of a famous Russian sculptor, at the age of 56, as soon as he saw her. How different young Margarita was from his clumsy wife Elsa with a blurry figure and an exhausted face, whom he never loved, like his first wife Mileva, a Serbian! And here is a chiseled waist, beautiful breasts, graceful position of the hands - in order to preserve this beauty, the woman refused to have children. Her sculptor husband adored and idolized her and silently accepted her decision.

Konenkov the sculptor and his muse-wife Margarita Konenkova.

At first, Margarita treated Einstein as just another amusement; accustomed to constantly cheating on her husband with other men, she prepared herself for another flirtation. But she soon realized that her icy heart was beginning to melt from a hitherto unknown fiery feeling for the great genius.

A year later, Einstein's wife, Elsa, dies, and the shackles of marriage no longer fetter his love for Margot. Both of them don’t even try to hide her frequent visits to Princeton to the scientist’s mansion. And only Margarita’s husband does not seem to notice anything or pretends not to notice.... He is afraid of losing his Margarita - his muse and inspiration. And her caresses and tenderness were enough for many... Incredibly talented, smart, beautiful, she, like a lioness, easily conquered more and more new hearts, becoming the bohemian of America.

This relationship for three lasted a long time. While communicating, Margarita not only truly loved the founder of the theory of relativity, but also her homeland - USSR, she carried out tasks of the NKVD and learned from him all the secrets of the development atomic bomb. When Einstein found out about this, he couldn’t even yell at his beloved, he just went to the FBI to ask for mercy for his beloved and helped her return to her homeland.

IN last years before parting Margarita and Albert.

Upon the return of the Konenkov family to the USSR, the love relationship was put to an end. From that moment on, life for Einstein lost all meaning. He flatly refused to comply with doctors' orders for surgery on his heart, which was no longer able to withstand the cruel finale of separation.

Moreover, the authorities forbade Margarita's correspondence with Einstein, which caused incredible suffering for Albert. He wrote to her throughout the remaining years, but did not even have the opportunity to send letters. Even dying, 76-year-old Einstein could not send a farewell letter to his only beloved, with love in his heart for whom he left this world.

Without much torment, Margarita accepted the news of the death of her distant friend, although she was far from indifferent to him. Soon her husband, a sculptor, also died, and fate treated her incredibly cruelly in her declining years. Aged and unkempt, she lived in oblivion in her house-workshop, often falling into oblivion. Only the memories of her bright, only love for a man with eternally disheveled hair and a thick mustache brought her joy... She was dying of hunger, there was no one next to her except the devoid of virtue, an arrogant and cruel housekeeper who became the mistress here...

In 1980, in the center of prosperous Moscow, the body of an emaciated, once beautiful woman was taken out of a dirty apartment, on whose hand a gold watch, a gift from the Great Einstein, was ticking the last minutes. He personally put them on the wrist of the woman dearest to him when they parted.

Ivan Turgenev and Polina Viardot

The great Russian writer Ivan Turgenev and the famous opera diva of Spanish origin “with a French conscience and spirit,” as the newspapers of those times called her, Pauline Viardot-Garcia - a prime example dramatic love full of suffering throughout the writer’s life. Their relationship can rather be characterized as follows: one loved, the other only allowed herself to be loved... but there is no doubt that the friendship was sincere and strong.

In the outwardly inconspicuous, slightly stooped woman with bulging eyes, there really was something rough, gypsy, inherited from her Spanish father, singer Manuel Garcia. But according to contemporaries, as soon as the first notes fell from her voice, a spark ran through the audience, ecstasy seized those listening, and the appearance of the singer herself no longer mattered. Fascinated by the performer's voice, people fell into a kind of prostration, and there could not be one among them indifferent to this person.

Intoxicated at the first meeting by Polina’s enchanting voice, the Russian writer lost his head, and experienced a similar state for four whole decades until last days own life.

Viardot, being married to a man 20 years older than herself, felt only warm sympathy for Turgenev, the commonality of views and interests, the unity of spirit attracted him to him, and then she brought him closer to her, brought him into her home as a friend, a family member , beloved...

Polina Viardot-Garcia not only illuminated the writer’s soul with love, became his muse for many years, inspired his creativity, helped him with translations into French, honing his style, but was also by his side until his last days, dying of cancer far from his homeland. But Ivan Turgenev chose to love with unrequited love and be with her all his life, never having his own family and children.

Poor artist Niko Pirosmani and French actress Margarita

Ah, Margarita again...

“A million, a million scarlet roses...” - who doesn’t know the chorus of this song about the incredibly poignant and unrequited love of a poor artist for a visiting actress. It is also based real events. Niko Pirosmani is a Georgian artist from a simple family, who lost his parents at an early age, was in constant need, he did not even have the opportunity to buy canvases, and he placed all his creations on walls, boards, and oilcloth on the table. He often made a living by making signs for drinking establishments.

The beautiful French actress Margarita toured the provincial town in which Niko lived and worked, and at the same time the heart of the aspiring artist. Pirosmani fell in love with her passionately, from the first minutes, with all his gut, but, unfortunately, this love did not evoke a reciprocal feeling. The poor artist's heart burned in the flames of passion.

On his birthday (it was spring), Niko Pirosmani filled several carts with fresh flowers and brought them to the windows of the house where Margarita was staying. Armfuls of lilacs, white acacia and snow-white roses (not scarlet) filled the streets of Tiflis with an incomprehensible aroma and laid a thick floral blanket on the square. It remains a mystery where the artist got these flowers...

Margarita’s heart, touched by the spectacle, trembled, she went out, kissed Niko and that’s it... The next day, the actress left the city forever. They didn't see each other again...

Nikola Pirosmanishvili did not become a great artist during his lifetime, his direction of primitivism in painting was not understood, he died at the age of 56, in complete poverty, until his last days, keeping the image of his beloved Margarita in his heart... The artist's works are kept in museums around the world.

Love is a great force that can transform the whole world, make a person better, stronger, higher, it is timeless. According to Turgenev:

“Only by her, only by love does life hold and move.”

And let it singe your wings with its flame at least once in your life! And may you be lucky in love!

And may you be lucky in love!!! Maybe you will be interested in reading about Valentine's Day, about falling in love and love in our lives in the article ( 1 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)

Incredible facts

Do you believe in true love? What about love at first sight? Do you believe that love can last forever? Perhaps the love stories below will help you strengthen your faith in this feeling or renew your faith in it. These are the most famous love stories, they are immortal.

1. Romeo and Juliet

These are probably the most famous lovers in the whole world. This couple has become synonymous with love itself. "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The story of two teenagers from two warring families who fall in love at first sight, then get married, and later risk everything for their love. Willingness to give your life for your husband or wife is a sign of real feeling. Their premature departure brought the feuding families together.

2. Cleopatra and Mark Antony

The true love story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most memorable and intriguing. The story of these two historical characters was subsequently recreated on the pages of William Shakespeare's work, and filmed by famous directors more than once. The relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra is a true test of love. They fell in love at first sight.

The relationship between these two influential people put Egypt in a very advantageous position. But their romance extremely outraged the Romans, who feared that as a result of it the influence of the Egyptians would significantly increase. Despite all the threats, Mark Antony and Cleopatra got married. It is said that while in battle against the Romans, Mark received false news of Cleopatra's death. Feeling empty, he committed suicide. When Cleopatra learned of Antony's death, she was shocked and then also committed suicide. Great love requires great sacrifices.

3. Lancelot and Guinevere

The tragic love story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere is probably one of the most famous of the Arthurian legends. Lancelot falls in love with Queen Guinevere, wife of King Arthur. Their love grew very slowly, since Guinevere did not let Lancelot close to her. In the end, however, passion and love overcame her, and they became lovers. One night, Sir Agravain and Sir Modred, King Arthur's nephew, who led a group of 12 knights, burst into the queen's room, where they found the lovers. Taken by surprise, they tried to escape, however, only Lancelot succeeded. The Queen was captured and sentenced to death for adultery. However, a few days later Lancelot returned to save his beloved. All this sad story divided the Knights of the Round Table into two groups, thereby weakening Arthur's kingdom significantly. As a result, poor Lancelot ended his days as a humble hermit, and Guinevere became a nun, and remained so for the rest of her life.

4. Tristan and Isolde

The tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde has been retold and rewritten numerous times. The action took place in the Middle Ages during the reign of King Arthur. Isolde was the daughter of the King of Ireland, and had just become engaged to King Mark of Cornwall. King Mark sent his nephew Tristan to Ireland to escort his bride Isolde to Cornwall. During the journey, Tristan and Isolde fall in love with each other. Isolde still marries Mark, but the love affair continues after her marriage. When Mark finally learned of the betrayal, he forgave Isolde, but exiled Tristan from Cornwall forever.

Tristan went to Brittany. There he met Isolde of Brittany. He was drawn to her because she looked like his true love. He married her, but the marriage did not turn out to be genuine because of his true love to another woman. After he fell ill, he sent for his beloved in the hope that she would come and be able to cure him. There was an agreement with the captain of the ship he sent that if she agreed to come, then the sails of the ship upon return would be white, if not, then black. Tristan's wife, seeing the white sails, told him that the sails were black. He died of grief before his love could reach him, and soon after Isolde also died of a broken heart.

5. Paris and Helen

Told in Homer's Iliad, the story of Helen of Troy and Trojan War is a Greek heroic legend that is half fiction. Helen of Troy is considered one of the most beautiful women in all literature. She married Menelaus, king of Sparta. Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, fell in love with Helen and kidnapped her, taking her to Troy. The Greeks gathered a huge army led by Menelaus' brother, Agamemnon, to bring Helen back. Troy was destroyed, Helen returned safely to Sparta, where she lived happily throughout her life with Menelaus.

6. Orpheus and Eurydice

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is an ancient Greek myth about desperate love. Orpheus fell very much in love and married Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. They loved each other very much and were happy. Aristaeus, Greek god of earth and Agriculture, became interested in Eurydice and actively pursued her. Fleeing from Aristeas, Eurydice fell into a nest of snakes, one of which fatally bit her on the leg. The distraught Orpheus played such sad music and sang so sadly that all the nymphs and gods cried. On their advice, he went to underworld, and his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (he was the only person who dared to take such a step), who agreed to the return of Eurydice to earth, but on one condition: when they reached the earth, Orpheus should not look back and look at her. Being extremely alarmed, the lover did not fulfill the conditions, turned around to look at Eurydice, and she disappeared a second time, now forever.

7. Napoleon and Josephine

Having married her for convenience at the age of 26, Napoleon clearly knew who he was taking as his wife. Josephine was older than him, a rich and prominent woman. However, over time, he fell deeply in love with her, and she with him, however, this did not stop both of them from cheating. But mutual respect kept them together, the passion that burned everything in its path did not fade away and was genuine. However, in the end they parted because Josephine was unable to give him what he wanted so much - an heir. Unfortunately, their paths diverged, however, throughout their lives they kept love and passion for each other in their hearts.

8. Odysseus and Penelope

Few couples understand the essence of sacrifice in a relationship, however, this Greek couple understood it best. After they were separated, 20 long years passed before their reunion. Shortly after marrying Penelope, war required that Odysseus leave his new wife. Although she had little hope of his return, Penelope still resisted the 108 suitors who sought to replace her husband. Odysseus also loved his wife very much and refused the sorceress who offered him eternal love and eternal youth. Thus, he was able to return home to his wife and son. So believe Homer, who said that real love worth the wait.

9. Paolo and Francesca

Paolo and Francesca are the heroes of Dante's famous masterpiece "The Divine Comedy". This real story: Francesca was married to terrible person Gianciotto Malatesta. However, his brother, Paolo, was the complete opposite, Francesca fell in love with him and they became lovers. The love between them became even stronger when (according to Dante) they read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together. When their affair was discovered, Francesca's husband killed them both.

10. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler

"Gone with the Wind" is one of the immortal literary works. Margaret Mitchell's famous creation is permeated with love and hate in the relationship between Scarlett and Rhett Butler. Proving that timing is everything, Scarlett and Rhett never seemed to stop "fighting" each other. Throughout this epic story, this stormy, fickle passion and their tumultuous marriage unfolded against the backdrop of events civil war. Flirty, fickle and constantly pursued by fans, Scarlett cannot decide among the numerous contenders for her attention. When she finally decides to settle on Rhett, her fickle nature pushes him away from her. Hope finally dies when their romance is never rekindled, and Scarlett says at the end: “Tomorrow is a new day.”

11. Jane Eyre and Rochester

In Charlotte Brontë's famous novel, loneliness is cured by being alone and having each other's company. Jane is an orphan who takes a job as a governess in the house of the very rich Edward Rochester. The couple quickly became close, as Rochester had a rough appearance turned out to be a tender heart. However, he does not reveal his penchant for polygamy, and on their wedding day Jane discovers that he is already married. Heartbroken, Jane flees, but then returns after a fire destroys Rochester's home, killing his wife and leaving him blind. Love triumphs, lovers are reunited and live out their days in each other's company.

12. Leili and Majnun

Renowned classic of Persian poetry and one of the most famous poets of the medieval East, who complemented Persian epic poetry colloquial speech and realistic style, Nizami of Ganja became famous after he wrote his romantic poem “Leyli and Majnun”. Inspired by Arabian legend, Layla and Majnun are tragic story about unattainable love. For many centuries it was told and retold, and the main characters were depicted on ceramics and written about in manuscripts. Leili and Kays fell in love while studying at school. Having noticed their love, they were forbidden to communicate and see each other. Qais then decides to go into the desert to live among animals. He often goes undernourished and becomes very emaciated. Due to his eccentric behavior, he becomes known as Majnun (madman). In the desert, he meets an elderly Bedouin who promises him to win back his Leili.

The plan fails, and Leili's father continues to refuse to let the lovers be together because of Majnun's insane behavior. Soon he marries her to someone else. After the death of Leili's husband, the old Bedouin facilitates her meeting with Majnun, however, they were never able to completely get on the same page and understand each other. After death they were buried next to each other. The story is often interpreted as an allegory of the soul's desire to connect with the divine.

13. Heloise and Abelard

This is the story of a monk and a nun whose love letters become world famous. Around 1100, Pierre Abelard went to Paris to study at the Notre Dame school. There he gained a reputation as an outstanding philosopher. Fulbert, a high-ranking official, hired Abelard as a tutor to his niece Heloise. Abelard and Heloise fell in love, conceived a child, and married secretly. However, Fulbert was furious, so Abelard hid Heloise in a safe place in the monastery. Believing that Abelard had decided to abandon Heloise, Fulbert had him castrated while he slept. Heartbroken, Eloise became a nun. Despite all the troubles and adversities, the couple continued to love each other. Their passionate love letters were published.

14. Pyramus and Thisbe

A very touching love story that will not leave anyone indifferent who reads it. Their love was selfless, and they were sure that even in death they would be together. Pyramus was very handsome man and from childhood he was friends with Thisbe, a beautiful maiden from Babylonia. They lived in neighboring houses and fell in love with each other as they grew older. However, their parents were strongly against their marriage. One night, just before dawn, while everyone was sleeping, they decided to sneak out of the house and meet in a nearby field near a mulberry tree. Thisbe came first. While she was waiting under the tree, she saw a lion approaching the spring located near the tree to quench his thirst, his jaw covered in blood.

Seeing this terrifying sight, Thisbe rushed to run to hide in the depths of the forest from the lion, but on the way she dropped her scarf. The lion followed her and came across a handkerchief, which he decided to taste. At this time, Pyramus approached the place, and seeing a lion with bloody jaws and with the scarf of his beloved, he lost the meaning of life. At that moment, he pierces himself with his own sword. Unaware of what had just happened, Thisbe continued to hide. After some time, she came out of hiding and discovered what Pyramus had done to himself. Realizing that she has no reason to live, she takes the sword of her beloved and also kills herself.

15. Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy

In fact, Jane Austen embodied two attributes human nature pride and prejudice in its heroes Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy belongs to high society, he is a typical educated representative of the aristocracy. On the other hand, Elizabeth is the second daughter of a gentleman of very limited means. Mr. Bennett is the father of five daughters who received the right to grow up the way they want, who did not receive school education and were not raised by a governess.

Elizabeth's very indulgent mother and irresponsible father never thought about the future of their daughters, believing that it was self-evident that they would be fine. “Everything is fine” in the understanding of the girls’ mother meant marrying a rich and prosperous man. For a person like that social status which Mr. Darcy possessed, the shortcomings of Elizabeth's family were very serious, and absolutely unacceptable to his polished and refined mind. He falls in love with Elizabeth, but she turns him down, but later she realizes that she cannot love anyone but Darcy. The story of their unification and the birth of love is very interesting.

16. Salim and Anarkali

Every lover knows the story of Salim and Anarkali. The son of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar, Salim, fell in love with an ordinary but very beautiful courtesan Anarkali. He was captivated by her beauty, so it was love at first sight. However, the emperor could not come to terms with the fact that his son fell in love with a courtesan. He began to put pressure on Anarkali, using all sorts of tactics to make her fall in the eyes of the loving prince. When Salim found out about this, he declared war on his father. But he failed to defeat his father's gigantic army; Salim was defeated, captured and sentenced to death. At this moment, Anarkali intervenes and gives up her love in order to save her beloved from the clutches of death. She was buried alive in a brick wall in front of Salim.

17. Pocahontas and John Smith

This love story is a famous legend in American history. Pocahontas, an Indian princess, was the daughter of Powhatan, who was the leader of the Powhatan Indian tribe, who lived in what is now the state of Virginia. The princess first saw Europeans in May 1607. Among all, she drew attention to John Smith, she liked him. However, Smith was captured by members of her tribe and tortured. It was Pocahontas who saved him from being torn to pieces by the Indians; later the tribe accepted him as one of their own. This incident helped Smith and Pocahontas become friends. After this incident, the princess often visited Jamestown, conveying messages from her father.

John Smith, seriously injured after an accidental gunpowder explosion, returned to England. After another visit, she was told that Smith was dead. Some time later, Pocahontas was captured by Sir Samuel Argall, who hoped to use her as a link between him and her father so that the latter would free the English prisoners. During her captivity, she decides to become a Christian and, taking the name Rebecca, is baptized. A year later, she married John Rolfe (John Rolfe). Having gone to London after a certain time, she and her husband met his old friend John Smith, after 8 long years. This was their last meeting.

18. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

In 1612, teenage girl Arjumand Banu married 15-year-old Shah Jahan, ruler of the Mughal Empire. Then she changed her name to Mumtaz Mahal, bore Shah Jahan 14 children and became his beloved wife. After Mumtaz died in 1629, the grieving emperor decided to create a worthy monument in her honor. It took 20,000 workers, 1,000 elephants and almost 20 years of work to complete the construction of this monument - the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan never completed the construction of a black marble mausoleum for himself. Overthrown by his own son, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort in Agra, where he spent lonely hours looking across the Yamuna River at the monument of his beloved. He was subsequently buried next to her in the Taj Mahal.

19. Marie and Pierre Curie

This is a story about partnership in love and science. Unable to continue her studies in Poland because universities did not accept women, Marie Skłodowska-Curie came to Paris in 1891 to attend the Sorbonne. Marie, as the French began to call her, spent every free moment in the library or laboratory. The hardworking student one day caught the eye of Pierre Curie, the director of one of the laboratories in which Maria worked. Pierre actively courted Maria and proposed to her several times to marry him. Finally, in 1895, they got married and began working together. In 1898, the couple discovered polonium and radium.

Curie and the scientist Henri Becquerel received Nobel Prize in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity. When Pierre died in 1904, Marie promised herself to continue their work. She took his place at the Sorbonne, becoming the school's first female teacher. In 1911, she became the first person to win a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry. She continued to experiment and teach until her death from leukemia in 1934, driven by the memory of the man she loved.

20. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

This is a love story English queen, who mourned her dead husband for 40 years. Victoria was a lively, cheerful girl who was interested in drawing and painting. She ascended to the English throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle King William IV. In 1840 she married her cousin Prince Albert. Although Prince Albert was initially disliked in some circles for being German, he later came to be admired for his honesty, hard work and devotion to his family. The couple had 9 children, Victoria loved her husband very deeply. She often used his advice in state affairs, especially regarding diplomatic negotiations.

When Albert died in 1861, Victoria was devastated. She did not appear in public for three years. Her prolonged seclusion drew public criticism. There were several attempts on the queen's life. However, under the influence of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Victoria returned to public life, opening the session of Parliament in 1866. However, she never stopped mourning her beloved husband, wearing black robes until her death in 1901. During her reign, which was the longest in English history, Britain has become a world power on which “the sun never sets.”

Love is the most extraordinary feeling in the world. Throughout human history, it has inspired poets, writers and singers, and sometimes love has even served as a reason for crimes and wars between entire countries. Our selection today includes ten of the most famous couples whose love stories led to tragic consequences. Some of them are reliably existing historical characters, others we know about mostly from legends and myths.

10 PHOTOS

According to legend, Paris was a Trojan prince, and Helen was the wife of Menelaus, the ruler of Sparta. Not finding mutual understanding with her husband, to whom she was forcibly married, Elena fled from Sparta along with the handsome Paris. However, in the midst of preparations for the wedding, Menelaus arrived with his troops at the walls of Troy, and a war began in which many Trojans died, including Paris. Elena had to return back to Sparta.

According to Greek myology, Orpheus was a talented singer, and Eurydice was his wife, who was once bitten by a snake and died. After this, Orpheus, unable to live without his beloved, descended into the mythical kingdom of Hades. He charmed the inhabitants so much Underworld that Hades agreed to let Eurydice go, but on the condition that Orpheus should not look back until they left the area kingdom of the dead. But Orpheus could not stand it and turned around to see if Eurydice was following him, and she was taken back - to the kingdom of Hades.

The love story between the Roman general Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra is widely known for its dramatic ending. Both lovers committed suicide after their troops were defeated in battle against Caesar's army.

Characters of a medieval legend who fall in love with each other, despite the fact that Tristan's uncle, Mark, is supposed to marry Isolde. Nevertheless, Isolde was married to Mark, and Tristan was married to the daughter of the King of Britain, Isolde Belorukaya. The story ended with Tristan being wounded by a poisoned weapon, and Isolde, who did not have time to say goodbye to him, soon died of grief. In the ranking of free audiobooks “Romance Novels,” the novel Tristan and Isolde is one of the most popular.

According to legend, Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, was madly in love with Lancelot, one of the knights of the Round Table. When Arthur learned of this, the bitter rivalry between him and Lancelot destroyed the unity of the knights. In the end, Arthur was killed, and Guinevere went to a monastery out of grief.

Famous story Love, written by the famous Shakespeare, tells the story of the relationship between young lovers from two warring Italian families. How the story ended is probably known to everyone - Romeo poisoned himself, thinking that Juliet had died, and she, finding him dead, killed herself with a dagger.

Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal were for a long time happy together until Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child. Devastated by grief, Shah Jahan could not come to his senses for a long time, but found some consolation in the construction of a luxurious mausoleum in memory of his wife. This mausoleum still stands today and is known as the Taj Mahal.

The relationship between Napoleon and his wife Josephine, according to eyewitness accounts, was very stormy, and eventually led to divorce. However, when Napoleon died, last words The emperor was addressed specifically to Josephine, his first wife. The love between the young king and the widow, who is 12 years older than him, caused outrage and protest both from the public and from Alexander’s mother. However, he did not listen to anyone’s advice and insisted on getting married. It all ended with the royal couple being killed by a group of military officers dissatisfied with their rule.

American robbers who organized a gang responsible for several armed robberies and murders. Despite their criminal activities, according to eyewitnesses, Bonnie and Clyde loved each other deeply and were inseparable. The gangster love story ended very badly - the police shot at their car from an ambush, as a result of which both died on the spot.

On the eve of Valentine's Day, we decided to remember the stories of the great novels of the 20th century - those that shocked the world and, to one degree or another, influenced modern society.

The most touching and passionate, happy and unhappy novels famous people, stories mutual love and ostentatious prosperity, marriages of people equal in their greatness and the most famous misalliances.

Wallis Simpson – Edward VIII of England

The history of the most famous misalliance in modern history received incredible resonance as the English monarch Edward VIII (1894–1972) became the first and only king in English history to voluntarily abdicate the throne. The reason was a passionate love for a twice-divorced American woman.

It was not even a scandal - it seemed that the end of the world had come and the collapse of moral and ethical standards and foundations of secular society.

The heir to the world's premier monarchy was 36 years old when he met Mrs Wallis Simpson (1896–1986), née Warfield. The woman was married for the second time and lived in London with her husband, wealthy businessman Ernest Simpson.

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson Fateful meeting happened in early November 1930, when the Simpsons were invited to a dinner party where the Prince of Wales was to be present. Legend has it that the English prince was enchanted at first sight, even though Wallis was not even a beauty. According to the stories of her contemporaries, she was an unremarkable person at first glance, but in her interactions she had an amazing charm.

Amazingly, the lovers did not hide their feelings even despite the status of Edward and Family status Wallis. They appeared together on the streets, social events and in restaurants. The royal family did not even think that this shameful hobby would last long. But when it became clear that the affair was dragging on, attempts were made to hide the details of the prince's relationship from the public.

In January 1936, King George V of England died, and Edward assumed the throne. At the same time, Wallis filed for divorce. Neither the royal family nor parliament wanted to hear about Edward’s legal union with an American. Edward was given a choice: either the throne or Wallis. His choice was clear: the price for love was the abdication of the English throne.

On December 10, 1936, Edward VIII made his famous speech to the people: “You all know the circumstances that forced me to abdicate the throne. But I want you to understand that in making this decision I have not forgotten my country and empire... But you must also believe that it is impossible for me to fulfill my duty as a king as I would like to, without help and support of the woman I love..."

The couple lived happily ever after, traveled, and wrote memoirs. Their family idyll lasted until 1972, when Edward died of cancer.

Vivien Leigh – Laurence Olivier

The most famous couple British theater and film actors Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier challenged the Puritan England of the 30s when they stopped hiding their stormy romance. The difficulty of the situation was that both were married. The spouses did not give them a divorce, and the need to live in sin, deception and an atmosphere of general condemnation forced Vivien Leigh to give frank interview Times magazine, where she honestly outlined the details of her personal drama. The public unexpectedly met the public's favorites who were leaving for America - it was there that Vivienne won her right to play Scarlett O'Hara in the film adaptation of Gone with the Wind.

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were not just movie stars, but intellectual actors who achieved the status of great performers. Both shone in theater and cinema, and their love story unfolded on stage and in life - unlike most acting couples they worked well together on camera and on stage. Thus, they played together in the film Fire Over England (1937) and the classic film version of Lady Hamilton (1941), where Lawrence played the role of Nelson and Vivien played Emma Hamilton. In addition, they were united by a huge number of joint theatrical works. Their tandem was recognized in their homeland as the most outstanding theatrical duet. Lawrence was called “the king among actors,” and Vivien became national treasure after winning two Oscars for her roles as Scarlett in Gone with the Wind and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. Her international fame was gaining momentum. The image of the first world beauty and the main British actress, as well as a marriage that was called the happiest among acting unions - all this seemed like a dream come true for millions of viewers.

But there was no happy ending in this love story. Bright life two wonderful actors was not so cloudless. As you know, Vivien was a woman of incredible inner strength, achieving what she wanted at any cost. All biographers vied with each other to tell how she twice made fateful promises to herself. For the first time - without anyone yet famous actress who saw the famous Laurence Olivier. After the first meeting, Vivien decisively told everyone she knew that she would marry him. At the time it seemed pure madness. The second time she made a loud promise was on the eve of the filming of Gone with the Wind, when the most ambitious film casting in US history was gaining momentum. The first Hollywood beauties dreamed of playing Scarlett; no one believed in the success of the visiting Englishwoman. “Larry won’t play Rhett Butler, but I’ll play Scarlett!” – Vivien announced then.

They said that Vivien was more practical in all matters than Larry, but how true woman, created the impression that all decisions were made by the husband. A strong character, however, was also her problem - like many great actresses, she had an extremely flexible psyche. Each absence of her husband for filming could end in depression for her, and work on the role could result in attacks of obsession. Her genius, turning into whims and capricious attacks, began to irritate her husband.

After 17 years spent together, Lawrence left her, unable to withstand another attack of hysteria. She was already seriously ill. Many fans of the actress consider Olivier, first of all, not a brilliant actor, but a cowardly traitor - depression aggravated the course of the disease, and Vivien Leigh died of pulmonary tuberculosis in the summer of 1967 in her home in Iten Square in London.

Eva Duarte - Juan Peron Evita is a household name in Argentina and the most famous first lady of the twentieth century. The second wife of the 29th and 41st President Juan Peron, Eva Duarte was an example of an ideal communicator, diplomat and ideological inspirer of the first person of the state.

She was born in poor family and devoted her whole life to the fight for better life. Legend has it that the young actress and the colonel became lovers on the very first day they met. Peron, who initiated the military coup, might not have had so many ambitions if not for Eva, who made him believe that he would definitely become the head of government. Perón appeared openly with his young girlfriend, shocking the officers with his relationship with the actress.

After Peron's arrest, October 17, 1945 happened - this date went down in the history of Argentina as the day of “the liberation of Peron by the people.” 5 thousand workers and their families gathered in Buenos Aires' May Square in front of presidential palace, demanding “the return of the colonel.” After such support, Peron began to prepare for presidential elections, having previously married Eva, who immediately left her job in cinema and joined the headquarters of his closest assistants. Peron relied on feminist slogans, and therefore wanted to have a wife next to him, a presidential candidate, personifying the increased role of women in the modern world.