Love stories of historical figures. Great love stories. Love story of Odysseus and Penelope

Who were they, famous lovers? Heroes of bright literary works, or real people? Now it doesn't matter at all! For they strive to be like them, their names are taken as pseudonyms, and, following their example, they perform genuine Actions. A dozen immortal love stories - only on the eve of the most romantic holiday in the world!

THE STORY OF ROMEO AND JULIET

This couple, with the light hand of William Shakespeare, has become simply synonymous with the word "love." Even though they real story incredibly tragic. Two loving teenagers managed to find the strength to oppose their feelings to the world, society, mortally hostile relatives. Little Verona became the backdrop for an epoch-making event. In its very center, in the fertile soil of two young hearts, a small seed of love at first sight was thrown. Soon it sprouted, turned into beautiful flower passionate feeling. And for such incredible love I just had to die! It is only regrettable that death in this case was not a pompous promise, but a tragic reality. However, the love and death of young Romeo and Juliet was able to melt the hearts of the warring relatives, to reconcile them. Perhaps it is thanks to such an incredibly tragic ending that Shakespeare's plot leaves a deep mark on the hearts and souls of many generations!

HISTORY OF CLEOPATRA AND MARK ANTONY

The intriguing love story of Antony and Cleopatra is still heard today. They fell in love at first sight, and became victims of tragic circumstances. Their relationship created a powerful foundation for the statehood and economy of Egypt. And it was this fact that caused confusion in the great and powerful state called Rome. Despite all the threats and prohibitions, Cleopatra and Mark Antony got married. Their wedding was the start great war between Rome and Egypt. In the midst of one of the great battles, false news was brought to Antony that Cleopatra had died. The glorious warrior, accustomed to always defeating even the most powerful enemy, could not survive the news of the death of his beloved. Heartbroken, he fell on his own sword. When Cleopatra found out about the death of Mark Antony, she also committed suicide. Indeed, great love requires very great sacrifices.

THE HISTORY OF LANCELOT AND GUINEVER

This time, a tragic love story took place in good old England, between one of the bravest knights of King Arthur's Round Table, Sir Lancelot, and the king's wife, Queen Guinevere. It so happened that the marriage of Arthur and Guinevere was only a mutually beneficial contract for their families. But you can't tell your heart! And it was the heart that led the once noble knight, Sir Lancelot, to her window. At first, he called her his Lady of the Heart, dedicated victories in jousting tournaments and real battles to her. Guinevere accepted all romantic attentions, but nevertheless tried to keep Lancelot at a distance. But soon her heart could not resist and a deep feeling flared up in it. Lancelot and Guinevere began to secretly meet. One of these dates became a trap for them. Lancelot managed to escape, and Guinevere was sentenced to be burned at the stake for adultery. However, Lancelot did not leave his beloved. He saved her, snatched her right out of the "paws" of the fire. The subsequent history of the lovers is not known for certain. But they say that Guinevere became a nun in one of the remote monasteries of England, and Lancelot wandered the world for the rest of his life.

THE STORY OF TRISTAN AND ISELD

Another, no less tragic story of great love with English roots. Middle Ages. England. The reign of King Arthur. Iseult was the daughter of the ruler of Ireland, and she was soon to be married to King Mark of Cornwall. King Mark sent his nephew Tristan to Ireland to accompany Iseult to Cornwall. But it so happened that during the trip the young people fell in love with each other. Although, following the duty of honor, she did marry Mark. Soon the king learned about the feelings of his nephew and wife. Scandal erupted. Pulling himself together, Mark forgave Isolde, and Tristan was banished from Cornwall forever.

THE STORY OF PARIS AND HELENA

Homer's Iliad glorified these two lovers throughout the world. However, many scientists consider the existence of Elena the Beautiful to be more of a fiction, a beautiful ancient Greek legend, than a real fact. Nevertheless, the story of great love, which became the beginning of the Trojan War, continues to inspire romantics, writers and directors to create new magnificent masterpieces of art.

Helen was the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. Paris is the son of the Trojan king Priam. The young man, once seeing Elena, a woman of unearthly beauty, fell in love. Burning with feeling from the inside, he kidnapped the Spartan queen and brought her home to Troy. Menelaus did not forgive such humiliation and betrayal, gathered a huge army and destroyed Troy to the ground. Helen was returned to Sparta. Menelaus, who sincerely loved her, forgave the traitor. The fate of Paris is not known for certain.

THE HISTORY OF ODYSSEY AND PENELOPE

Odysseus and Penelope are an example of a rare sacrifice in the name of love and the ability to wait. Immediately after the wedding, Odysseus was forced to leave his young wife and go to war. Penelope waited twenty long years for his return. During this time, she rejected the proposals of 108 men who sought to replace her husband. Odysseus, on the way, also remained faithful and chaste. One day he met a beautiful sorceress who offered him eternal youth in exchange for his love for her. Refusing such an offer, Odysseus underwent many trials and wanderings. But after 20 years, he, nevertheless, returned home to Penelope and his son.

THE LOVE STORY OF SCARLETT OHARA AND RETTA BUTLER

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is one of the few truly immortal literary works about love. All generations read it. At the same time, the girls strive to be like the explosive and passionate Scarlett. The girls are looking for their Butlers among the crowds of fans. They are looking for because the love of the main characters was great, stormy, passionate. She was born in the midst of the Civil War and was like a daily civil war that brought so much pain, loss, suffering and disappointment to both of them.

LOVE STORY OF SALIM AND ANARKALI

The son of the Mughal emperor Akbar, Salim, fell in love with the beautiful courtesan Anarkali. But the emperor could not forgive his heir for his love for a fallen woman, he considered it a shame for himself and for the state. Between father and son began real war. Salim was defeated in battle with the mighty army of the emperor and was sentenced to death. On the day of the execution, Anarkali appeared on the square, threw herself at the emperor's feet and said that she was ready to die, if only Salim would live. Akbar accepted such a sacrifice. In front of her beloved, the girl was immured alive in a brick wall.

THE LOVE STORY OF POCAHONTAS AND JOHN SMITH

This love story is famous legend from the history of America. Pocahontas was the daughter of an Indian chief of the Algonquian Indians. In May 1607, the girl saw the English for the first time. And among them - John Smith, who seemed to her very attractive. However, Pocahontes and Smith met in the midst of a war between ethnic tribes and conquerors. Captured British Indians succumbed to terrible torture. Pocahontas saved John, and an affair began between them. By virtue of her love, the girl converted to Christianity. She was baptized with the name Rebecca.

THE STORY OF QUEEN VICTORIA AND PRINCE ALBERT

A love story of crowned persons. Victoria was a lively, cheerful girl, in love with painting and the world. She ascended the English throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle, King William IV. In 1840 she married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. At first, the choice of Victoria was not approved by the people. But then Albert earned the deep trust and respect of people with his honesty, hard work and devotion to his family. Albert and Victoria had nine children. The queen in all public affairs listened to the opinion of her husband. When Albert died (1861), Victoria observed strict mourning and did not appear in public for three whole years. Three years later, returning to public duties, she continued to mourn for her beloved spouse. She did not shoot black for 40 years, until her death. Dikmi: All the famous lovers in the world have been different. Exactly the same as their ways of life, meetings, happiness and tragedy were different. But we have a lot to learn from them. Learn loyalty, devotion, courage and sacrifice. However, our time also raises its heroes. And who knows, maybe in 100 years, we will describe exactly your Love on the pages of publications! And we will admire the deeds for the glory of her name and devotion in her honor! And let the wise thoughts of famous connoisseurs of real feelings inspire you to great deeds!

Love is the most extraordinary feeling in the world. Throughout the history of mankind, it has inspired poets, writers and singers, and sometimes love even served as a pretext for crimes and wars between entire countries. In our today's selection - ten of the most famous couples, whose love story led to tragic consequences. Some of them are authentically existing historical characters, others we know 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, for whom she was forcibly given, Elena fled from Sparta along with the handsome Paris. However, in the midst of preparations for the wedding, Menelaus arrived with his troops to the walls of Troy, and a war broke out 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 stung by a snake and died. After that, Orpheus, unable to live without his beloved, descended into the mythical kingdom of Hades. He charmed the inhabitants so Underworld that Hades agreed to let Eurydice go, however, on the condition that Orpheus should not look back until they leave the realm 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 commander 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 from a medieval legend who fall in love despite the fact that Tristan's uncle, Mark, is supposed to marry Iseult. Nevertheless, Isolde was married to Mark, and Tristan was married to the daughter of the King of Britain, Isolde Beloruka. The story ended with the fact that Tristan was 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 Stories" - 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 found out about this, the bitter rivalry between him and Lancelot broke the unity of the knights. In the end, Arthur was killed, and Guinevere, out of grief, went to the monastery.


The most famous love story, written by the famous Shakespeare, tells about the relationship between young lovers from two warring Italian families. Probably everyone knows how the story ended - 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 long time happy together until Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child. Devastated by grief, Shah Jahan could not recover for a long time, but found some solace in the construction of a luxurious mausoleum in memory of his wife. This mausoleum still stands today, it is known as the Taj Mahal.


The relationship between Napoleon and his wife Josephine was said to have been very turbulent, and eventually led to a 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 marriage. It all ended with the fact that the royal couple was killed by a group of military officers who were dissatisfied with their rule.


American robbers who organized a gang responsible for several armed robberies and murders. In spite of criminal activity According to eyewitnesses, Bonnie and Clyde loved each other very much and were inseparable. Gangster is over love story very deplorable - the police shot down their car from an ambush, as a result of which both died on the spot.

"Which Russian heart does not flinch, does not startle, listening to Tchaikovsky's romance "Among the noisy ball"?

Vladimir Stasov.


In the midst of a noisy ball, by chance, In the anxiety of worldly fuss, I saw You, but Your secrets covered my features.

Many people remember these verses by Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy (1817-1875) and the melody of Tchaikovsky's romance merging with them. But not everyone knows that there are living events behind the poem: the beginning of an extraordinary romantic love.

They first met at a masquerade ball in the winter of 1850-51 at the St. Petersburg Bolshoi Theater. He accompanied the heir to the throne, the future Tsar Alexander II, there. From childhood, he was chosen as a playmate of the Tsarevich and, secretly burdened by this, regularly bore the burden of being chosen. She appeared at the masquerade because, after the break with her husband, the Horse Guardsman Miller, she was looking for an opportunity to forget herself and dissipate. In the secular crowd, for some reason, he immediately drew attention to her. The mask covered her face. But grey eyes stared intently and sadly. Fine ashy hair crowned the head. She was slim and graceful, with a very slim waist. Her voice was mesmerizing - a thick contralto.

They did not speak for long: the fuss of the colorful masquerade ball separated them. But she managed to impress him with the accuracy and wit of her fleeting judgments. She, of course, recognized him. In vain he asked her to open her face, to take off her mask... But he business card she took it, making a sly promise not to forget him. But what would have happened to him, and to both of them, if she had not come to that ball then? Perhaps it was on that January night of 1851, when he was returning home, that the first lines of this poem formed for him: In the midst of a noisy ball, by chance, In the anxiety of worldly bustle, I saw You, but Your mystery covered the features ...


This poem will become one of the best in Russian love lyrics. Nothing is invented in it, everything is as it was. It is full of real signs, documented, like a reportage. Only this is a “reportage” that poured out from the heart of the poet and therefore became a lyrical masterpiece. And he added another immortal portrait to the gallery of "muses of Russian romances." The future was hidden from him. He did not even know if he would see her again ... Soon after that meeting at the masquerade ball, he received an invitation from her. "This time you won't escape me!" - said Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy, entering the drawing room of Sofya Andreevna Miller.


Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, who combined kindness, tenderness, delicacy and vulnerability of the soul with truly masculine beauty, heroic growth and physique and great physical strength, was a pure, chaste, direct nature. He was like that in love too - monogamous, who did not bow before his mother's imperious unwillingness to recognize this love, who waited twelve years until Sofya Andreevna received a divorce in order to finally unite his life with her forever. In 1878, three years after the death of Alexei Tolstoy, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the poems "Among the Noisy Hall", music as pure, gentle and chaste as poetry.

G. Ots, M. Magomaev, Yu. Gulyaev sing Material from the page of the St. Petersburg singer Sergei Rusanov.

Incredible Facts

The life of celebrities seems to us the ultimate dream, and their love stories are an incredibly beautiful fairy tale.

However, even for the beautiful and famous, not everything is so smooth and cloudless.

Sometimes even the most beautiful love stories, suddenly breaking off, find a tragic ending.

Here are 10 celebrity love stories with surprisingly sad endings:


The most tragic love stories

1. Simon Atli and Petra Nemkova



In a split second, a dream vacation turned into a nightmare for 25-year-old model Petra Nemkova and her 33-year-old boyfriend, photographer Simon Utley.

At the end of 2004, the lovers went to one of the popular resorts in Thailand. Vacation promised to be fabulous.

When a deadly tsunami hit the island, thousands of human destinies were broken in an instant.

Petra escaped certain death by clinging to the branches of a palm tree. For eight agonizing hours, the model stayed on the tree until rescuers finally rescued her.

The girl received a fracture of the pelvis and many other injuries, but she survived, and her lover died ...

Simon's body was found 6 months later near the place where the couple spent their holidays.

In memory of her dead fiancé, Petra founded a fund called The Happy Hearts Fund. This organization was engaged in helping the victims of the cataclysms in Haiti and the Philippines cope with the tragedies that fell upon them.



Michael Todd, perhaps, became famous for being the only husband of Elizabeth Taylor, whom she did not divorce. And it really was a feat.

After all, all 7 marriages famous actress ended in divorce. Marriage with Michael was the third for the Cleopatra star (she was married a total of eight times) and the third for Todd, a famous Hollywood producer.

Taylor was two years old younger than son Todd from his first marriage. However, the 23-year age difference did not stop the lovers. The relationship between Elizabeth and Michael was in the spotlight all the time and was surrounded by a lot of gossip and gossip.

6 months after the wedding, a daughter, Liza, was born in the family.

Despite the negative tabloid attention, the couple seemed genuinely in love and sincere.

Many have said that Elizabeth has never been happier than being paired with Todd.

Their fairy tale ended when, less than a year after their marriage in 1958, Todd's private jet, Lucky Liz, crashed. The plane's engine failed and it exploded on impact with the ground.

At the end of her life, Elizabeth called Michael "the love of her life" along with her 5th (and 6th) husband, Richard Burton, and, of course, jewelry.

Celebrity tragedy

3. Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love



Yes, their relationship was tumultuous, yes, the couple were notorious for both using illegal drugs.

In April 1994, the whole world was shocked by the news of the death of Kurt Cobain. The famous musician was found dead in his home. He died from gunshot wound to the head. The police stated the fact of suicide.

Kurt and Courtney met at a nightclub in 1990. They secretly married on a beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1992.

6 months after the wedding, daughter Francis Bian was born.

There are many versions regarding the death of Kurt. Some say it was murder. Others are convinced that Cobain committed suicide. But for what exact reason, no one knows.

At the time of his death, Kurt was only 27 years old. He was in the prime of his life and at the zenith of his glory...

4. Carole Lombard and Clark Gable



Hollywood Golden Girl Carole Lombard met her fate on the set of the 1932 film The Difficult Man. Her partner in the role was the famous Clark Gable.

But only in 1939, after seven for long years After they met, the couple got together. The life of Clark and Carol seemed like a fairy tale idyll.

They were madly in love, constantly surprising each other with unusual actions.

For example, after one of their quarrels, Lombard sent her husband a pair of doves as a sign of reconciliation.

Unfortunately, just two years after their wedding, Carol died in a plane crash. She flew to the shooting of an anti-fascist film. Her plane crashed, crashing into a mountain while climbing.

She was only 33 years old. Although Gable later married, those who knew him closely claimed that the actor never recovered from the death of his wife. Undoubtedly, Carol was the most big love in his life.

To forget himself, Clark Gable went to the front as a simple private, despite the fact that relatives and friends were against it.

At Clark's request, after his death, he was buried next to Lombard in 1961.

5. Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski



At first glance, it seems like Hollywood couldn't have written a better script: in 1964, a rising actress (Tate) meets a promising young director (Polanski).

And although these two did not immediately find mutual language, Polanski tries it out in his film ("The Fearless Vampire Killers").

They fell in love during their stay in Italy and on their return to London she moved into the director's house.

Four years later, Sharon and Roman got married and were expecting a child.

Their love story could be called a fairy tale with a happy ending... However, a fatal set of circumstances cut short this wonderful fairy tale.

Just two weeks before giving birth, Tate was brutally murdered by a criminal group known as the "Charles Manson Family". After being tied up at gunpoint, she was stabbed 16 times.

Sharon was only 26 years old...

6. Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed



Only one short month continued stormy romance Diana Spencer and her boyfriend, son Egyptian billionaire Dodi Fayed.

In August 1997, the world shuddered at the news that everyone's favorite princess and her new lover had died in a car accident while on holiday in Paris.

The lovers were in a terrible car accident. Dodi died instantly, while Diana was taken to the hospital with many injuries, where she died a few hours later.

Some sources report that the princess was pregnant at the time of her death, but this fact has not been officially confirmed.

Their fleeting romance remained a beautiful, but unfinished story of great love.

7. John and Jacqueline Kennedy



It was love at first sight. John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier met at a mutual friend's party.

A year later, in 1953, the couple married. And eight years later, Kennedy became President of the United States of America, and Jackie became the third young First Lady in history. She was only 31 years old.

The tragedy happened 2 years after Kennedy was elected head of state. During a trip to Texas, he was killed in an open convertible by multiple shots to the head and neck.

And although Jackie remarried a few years after the tragic death of her first husband, she could not forget him until her death.

Nobody could compare to him.

She admitted this in one of her interviews, being already an elderly woman. She called the years spent in the White House the best in her life.

Tragedies of famous people

8. Pierce Brosnan and Cassandra Harris



When James Bond falls in love with someone, he gets married and wants to live with that girl for the rest of his life.

In 1980, Pierce Brosnan met Cassandra Harris. They were born common child(Cassandra had two children from her first marriage).

After several years of cloudless happiness, a woman was diagnosed with oncology. Brosnan remained with his wife to the last, supporting her in everything.

He went through all the circles of hell with his beloved: several operations, an extensive course of chemotherapy. The treatment proved to be ineffective. The disease won, and in 1991, at the age of 43, Cassandra died.

Brosnan shared that he continued to talk with his beloved even after her death. But the tragedies associated with diseases did not end there.

A few years later, Cassandra's daughter from Charlotte's first marriage was diagnosed with an identical disease.

Pierce Brosnan was next to his stepdaughter to the last, holding her hand.

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 stories love, 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. The willingness to lay down one's life for a husband or wife is a sign of real feeling. Their premature departure united the feuding families.

2. Cleopatra and Mark Antony



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

The relationship between these two influential people put Egypt in a very advantageous position. But their romance was extremely outraged by the Romans, who feared that as a result of it, the influence of the Egyptians would increase significantly. 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 sacrifice.

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, as 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, at the head of a group of 12 knights, broke 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. This whole sad story divided the Knights of the Round Table into two groups, thereby significantly weakening the kingdom of Arthur. As a result, poor Lancelot ended his days as a modest 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. Iseult 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 accompany his bride Iseult 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 found out about the betrayal, he forgave Iseult, but exiled Tristan forever from Cornwall.

Tristan went to Brittany. There he met Iseult of Brittany. He was drawn to her because she looked like his true love. He married her, but the marriage did not work out 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 sent by him that if she agreed to come, then the sails of the ship would be white upon return, 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 shortly thereafter Iseult died of a broken heart.

5. Paris and Helena



Told in the Homeric Iliad, the story of Helen of Troy and the Trojan War is a Greek heroic legend that is half fiction. Helena of Troy is considered one of the most beautiful women in all of 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 deeply 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 Aristaeus, 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 wept. 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: upon reaching 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 by calculation at the age of 26, Napoleon clearly knew whom he was taking as his wife. Josephine was older than him, a wealthy and prominent woman. However, over time, he fell deeply in love with her, and she loved him, however, this did not stop both of them from cheating. But mutual respect kept them together, all the burning passion in its path did not fade away and was genuine. Yet, in the end, they broke up, because Josephine could not give him what he so wanted - 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, it was this Greek couple who understood it best. After they were separated, it took a long 20 years before the reunion. Shortly after marrying Penelope, war demanded that Odysseus leave his new wife. Although she had very little hope of his return, Penelope still resisted 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 true love worth the wait.

9. Paolo and Francesca



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

10. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler



"Gone with the Wind" is one of the immortal literary works. Margaret Mitchell's iconic creation is laced with love and hate in Scarlett and Rhett Butler's relationship. Proving that timing is everything, Scarlett and Rhett never seemed to stop "fighting" each other. Throughout this epic story, this tempestuous passion and their tumultuous marriage took place against the backdrop of the events civil war. Flirtatious, fickle and constantly pursued by fans, Scarlett cannot decide among the many contenders for her attention. When she finally decides to settle for Retta, her mercurial nature pushes him away from her. Hope finally dies when their romance is never rekindled, with Scarlett saying at the end, "Tomorrow is a new day."

11. Jane Eyre and Rochester



In Charlotte Bronte's famous novel, loneliness finds its cure in solitude by keeping each other company. Jane is an orphan who took a job as a governess in the home of the very wealthy Edward Rochester. The couple bonded very quickly 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. A heartbroken Jane escapes, but then returns after a fire destroyed Rochester's house, killed his wife, and left him blind himself. Love triumphs, lovers reunite and live out their days in each other's company.

12. Layli and Majnun



A well-known classic of Persian poetry and one of the most famous poets of the medieval East, who supplemented Persian epic poetry colloquial speech and realistic style, Nizami of Ganja became famous after he wrote his romantic poem "Layli and Majnun". Inspired by an Arabic legend, Layli and Majnun is a tragic tale of unattainable love. For many centuries, it was told and retold, and the main characters were depicted on ceramics and written about them in manuscripts. Leyli and Kais fell in love with each other while studying at school. Noticing their love, they were forbidden to communicate and see each other. Kais then decides to go into the desert to live among the animals. He is often malnourished and becomes very emaciated. Due to his eccentric behavior, he becomes known as Majnun (crazy). In the desert, he meets an elderly Bedouin who promises him to win back his Layla.

The plan fails to materialize, and Layla's father continues to refuse to be together with the lovers due to Majnun's insane behavior. Soon he marries her to another. After the death of Leyla's husband, the old Bedouin facilitates her meeting with Majnun, however, they could not fully be on the same wavelength and understand each other. After their death, they were buried next to each other. The story is often interpreted as an allegory for the soul's desire to connect with the divine.

13. Eloise and Abelard



This is the story of a monk and a nun whose love letters have become world famous. Around 1100, Pierre Abelard traveled to Paris to study at the school of Notre Dame. There he acquired 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 with each other, conceived a child and secretly married. However, Fulbert was furious, so Abelard hid Eloise 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 hardships, the couple continued to love each other. Their emotional love letters were published.

14. Pyramus and Thisbe



A very touching love story that will not leave indifferent anyone 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 up. However, their parents were strongly opposed to 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 a tree, she saw a lion approaching a spring located near the tree to quench his thirst, his jaw was covered in blood.

Seeing this terrifying sight, Thisbe rushed to run to hide in the depths of the forest from a lion, but on the way she dropped her handkerchief. 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 bloodied jaws and with a 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 a while, 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 the two attributes of human nature, pride and prejudice, in her characters 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 with very limited means. Mr. Bennet is the father of five daughters who were given the right to grow up as they wanted, who did not receive a school education and were not brought up by a governess.

Elizabeth's very indulgent mother and irresponsible father never thought about their daughters' future, taking it for granted that they would do well. "All is well" in the understanding of the mother of girls meant to marry a rich and prosperous man. For a person like this social status, which Mr. Darcy possessed, the shortcomings of the Elizabeth family were very serious, and absolutely unacceptable to his polished and refined mind. He falls in love with Elizabeth, however she turns him down, but she later realizes that she cannot love anyone but Darcy. The story of their union 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 fascinated by her beauty, so it was love at first sight. However, the emperor could not accept 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 prince in love. 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, who renounces her love in order to save her beloved from the clutches of death. She was buried alive in brick wall in front of Salem.

17. Pocahontas and John Smith



This love story is 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, and later the tribe adopted him as their own. This incident helped Smith and Pocahontas become friends. The princess after this incident often visited Jamestown, passing messages from her father.

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

18. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal



In 1612, a 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 did not have time to complete the construction of a black marble mausoleum for himself. Deposed by his own son, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort at Agra, where he spent lonely hours looking across the Yamuna River at the monument to 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 the universities then did not accept women, Marie Skłodowska-Curie came to Paris in 1891 to enter the Sorbonne. Marie, as the French began to call her, spent every free minute in the library or in the laboratory. The hard-working student once caught the eye of Pierre Curie, director of one of the laboratories in which Maria worked. Pierre actively courted Maria and several times proposed to her to marry him. Finally, in 1895, they got married and began working together. In 1898, the couple discovered polonium and radium.

Curie and scientist Henri Becquerel received Nobel Prize in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity. When Pierre died in 1904, Marie made a promise to 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 fond of drawing and painting. She ascended the English throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle King William IV. In 1840 she married her cousin Prince Albert. Although initially disliked in some quarters for being German, Prince Albert was later 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 matters of state, especially with regard to 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 a session of Parliament in 1866. However, she never ended her mourning for her beloved husband, wearing black robes until her death in 1901. During her reign, which was the longest in English history, Britain became a world power on which "the sun never sets".



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