Margaret, Lady Brooke, Ranee of Sarawak (born Margaret Alice Lili de Windt; 9 October 1849 – 1 December 1936) was the ranee of the second White Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke. She published her memoir, My Life in Sarawak, in 1913. The memoir offers a rare glimpse of life in The Astana in Kuching and colonial Borneo. The Ranee became legendary during her lifetime as a woman of strength and intelligence, as well as on account of her status, which she shared with the other White Rajahs, of being at once an English subject and also an Asian monarch.
Born Margaret Alice Lili de Windt, she was the daughter of Captain Joseph Clayton Jennyns de Windt, of Blunston Hall, and Elizabeth Sarah Johnson. Her brother, Harry de Windt, was a well-known explorer. She married Rajah Charles at Highworth, Wiltshire on 28 October 1869. She was raised to the title of Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage. The marriage was arranged to solve the succession issue in Sarawak. She followed her spouse to Sarawak, where she became the first in her position, the previous (and first) Rajah being unmarried. The Astana was built specially for her as a wedding present by her spouse. Ranee Margaret Brook was described as intelligent, forceful, non-sentimental and with the ability to dominate by her presence and, though her relationship with Charles soon deteriorated, she secured an independent position for herself and left Charles in the 1880s.
Her first three children died within a week of each other on board ship in the Red Sea 1873, while returning to England with the Rajah. Once three more sons were born,[1] the couple separated again and lived estranged, with Rajah Charles living in Sarawak and Margaret in London, where she was at the centre of a social circle that included several of the leading literary talents of the 1890s, such as Oscar Wilde and Henry James.[2] She financed the education of her sons by pawning the diamond Star of Sarawak, and arranged the marriages of her sons by organising social events for the British aristocracy and introducing her sons to daughters of the British nobility to marry. Her title of ranee or queen gave her a position in London society and through it she gave prestige to Sarawak.[citation needed]
^Crisswell, C.N, Rajah Charles Brooke, Oxford University Press (1978), pp.108-109
^Mix, Katherine Lyon (1960). A Study in Yellow: The Yellow Book and Its Contributors. p. 261.
Sources
Koninklijk Genootschap voor Geslacht- en Wapenkunde, Nederlandse Genealogieen 11, Den Haag 1996 (Literature regarding Broek-De Wind)
M. R. H. Calmeyer, de Wind, de Windt, de Wint, Name: De Nederlandsche Leeuw; Location: The Nederlands; Date: 1981;, Pag 23. Co - Author Mr. O. Schutte.
margaret, brooke, margaret, lady, brooke, ranee, sarawak, born, margaret, alice, lili, windt, october, 1849, december, 1936, ranee, second, white, rajah, sarawak, charles, anthony, johnson, brooke, published, memoir, life, sarawak, 1913, memoir, offers, rare, . Margaret Lady Brooke Ranee of Sarawak born Margaret Alice Lili de Windt 9 October 1849 1 December 1936 was the ranee of the second White Rajah of Sarawak Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke She published her memoir My Life in Sarawak in 1913 The memoir offers a rare glimpse of life in The Astana in Kuching and colonial Borneo The Ranee became legendary during her lifetime as a woman of strength and intelligence as well as on account of her status which she shared with the other White Rajahs of being at once an English subject and also an Asian monarch MargaretRanee of SarawakTenure28 October 1869 17 May 1917BornMargaret Alice Lili de Windt 1849 10 09 9 October 1849Paris FranceDied1 December 1936 1936 12 01 aged 87 London England UKSpouseCharles BrookeIssueDayang Ghita BrookeJames Harry BrookeCharles Clayton BrookeCharles Vyner BrookeBertram BrookeHarry Keppel BrookeNamesMargaret Alice Lili de WindtHouseWhite Rajahs by marriage FatherJoseph Clayton Jennyns de WindtMotherElizabeth Sarah Johnson Contents 1 Life 2 Compositions 3 Legacy 4 Works 5 See also 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksLife EditBorn Margaret Alice Lili de Windt she was the daughter of Captain Joseph Clayton Jennyns de Windt of Blunston Hall and Elizabeth Sarah Johnson Her brother Harry de Windt was a well known explorer She married Rajah Charles at Highworth Wiltshire on 28 October 1869 She was raised to the title of Ranee of Sarawak with the style of Her Highness upon their marriage The marriage was arranged to solve the succession issue in Sarawak She followed her spouse to Sarawak where she became the first in her position the previous and first Rajah being unmarried The Astana was built specially for her as a wedding present by her spouse Ranee Margaret Brook was described as intelligent forceful non sentimental and with the ability to dominate by her presence and though her relationship with Charles soon deteriorated she secured an independent position for herself and left Charles in the 1880s Her first three children died within a week of each other on board ship in the Red Sea 1873 while returning to England with the Rajah Once three more sons were born 1 the couple separated again and lived estranged with Rajah Charles living in Sarawak and Margaret in London where she was at the centre of a social circle that included several of the leading literary talents of the 1890s such as Oscar Wilde and Henry James 2 She financed the education of her sons by pawning the diamond Star of Sarawak and arranged the marriages of her sons by organising social events for the British aristocracy and introducing her sons to daughters of the British nobility to marry Her title of ranee or queen gave her a position in London society and through it she gave prestige to Sarawak citation needed Compositions EditMargaret Brooke composed the national anthem of Sarawak the Gone Forth Beyond the Sea in 1872 Legacy EditFort Margherita also in Kuching was named after her Fort Margherita was erected by Rajah Charles and named after his wife the Ranee Margaret One of Oscar Wilde s fairy tales The Young King is dedicated to Margaret Lady Brooke The Ranee of Sarawak Works EditMy Life in Sarawak Methuen amp Co 1913 Impromptus Edward Arnold 1923 Good Morning amp Good Night Constable amp Co 1934 See also EditList of Sarawakian consorts White Rajahs Kingdom of SarawakReferences Edit Crisswell C N Rajah Charles Brooke Oxford University Press 1978 pp 108 109 Mix Katherine Lyon 1960 A Study in Yellow The Yellow Book and Its Contributors p 261 Sources EditKoninklijk Genootschap voor Geslacht en Wapenkunde Nederlandse Genealogieen 11 Den Haag 1996 Literature regarding Broek De Wind M R H Calmeyer de Wind de Windt de Wint Name De Nederlandsche Leeuw Location The Nederlands Date 1981 Pag 23 Co Author Mr O Schutte External links EditMargaret BrookeBrooke familyBorn 1849 Died 1936Regnal titlesNew title Ranee of Sarawak1869 1917 Succeeded bySylvia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margaret Brooke amp oldid 1152185089, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
