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Retro purple or white carrots might be all the rage at the moment but in 17 ^th century Europe it was fashionable - and politically correct - to eat orange ones.

The orange variety was brought to prominence from the original white and purple stock at the same time as the powerful dynasty led by William of Orange came to power, where they came to take on key political meanings, according to a historian at The University of Western Australia.

Winthrop Professor Susan Broomhall, an expert in the House of Orange-Nassau and its powerful women, suggests that while William of Orange and his sons were the prominent faces of the dynasty (Holland's royal family today), it was the wives and daughters of the regime who were the public relations gurus.

While Orange in south-east France was their original seat, the family came to control much of Europe and the women seized on the colour orange to advertise their leading edge.

They cultivated orange trees, were depicted by the best artists holding oranges or orange blossom, and gave candied peel and jars of marmalade to foreign dignitaries. They even painted their buildings orange.

Professor Broomhall said after a 12-year truce was signed with Spain in 1609, the dynasty entered a new phase of influence - one that continues to the present day.

"William's son Frederick Henry and his wife Amalia von Solms presided over an elegant courtly culture that was funded by a huge haul of gold from captured Spanish ships and imports from Dutch global trade," she writes in The Conversation .

"The glory of the Orange-Nassau family spread far and wide. Indeed, members of the dynasty became Kings of Prussia, England, Wales and Scotland well before they were invited in 1813 to become the monarchy of The Netherlands as well.

"It is through the dynasty and its association with Protestant politics of early modern Europe that the colour gained its religious, political and Dutch associations. It is now present in names and flags worldwide such as the Orange Free State in South Africa and the flags of New York and Ireland. Even the town of Orange in country NSW is named after a Prince of Orange-Nassau.

"So humble vegetables and exotic fruit may also be political weapons. Something to think about next time you crunch on a carrot," Professor Broomall writes.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Susan Broomhall (UWA ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions) (+61 8)  6488 1069

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716