All About History Book of British Royals - 13th Edition 2022 Mobilism Org
All About History Book of British Royals - 13th Edition 2022 Mobilism Org
Trace the turbulent history of Britain's monarchy from 1066 to the present day
DISCOVER
BRITAIN’S
HEROES &
VILLAINS
Edition
Digital
THIRTEENTH
EDITION
BRITISH
ROYALS
The date is 14 October 1066, and the battlefield at Hastings lies
bloodied, littered with the remains of Harold II’s ruined army,
with Harold himself defeated by an arrow to the eye. William the
Conqueror has just earned his famous title, and with it, the crown
of England. This is where our story begins – the fascinating tale of
Britain’s monarchy. In this new edition of Book of British Royals,
you’ll discover incredible facts about every king and queen of
Britain from 1066 to the present day, and uncover the truth
behind royal scandals, conflicts and triumphs. From the bloody
battles of Hastings, Bosworth and Agincourt, to the treacherous
political courts of the Tudors and Stuarts, trace the turbulent
history of Britain’s royal bloodline from its beginnings right up to
the present, longest-reigning monarch with Queen Elizabeth II.
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BOOK OF
BRITISH ROYALS
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Part of the
bookazine series
British Royals 96
Contents
8 The birth of 52 Henry IV
the British How the Battle of Shrewsbury
finally cemented Henry’s reign
monarchy
How the union of England and
Scotland shaped the monarchy 54 Henry V
Why the Battle of Agincourt was
a defining moment for this king
12 William I
The famous conqueror, and the
60 Henry VI 32
story of his momentous reign
A shy, charitable king, who was 18
never destined for greatness
16 William II
Discover the story of this hard-
hearted soldier-king 64 Edward IV
Stylish and promiscuous, the king
who began the War of the Roses
18 Henry I
A king who was keen to rule
66 Edward V
A ‘Prince in the Tower’ whose fate
20 King Stephen has never been discovered
The unfortunate king’s history of
usurpation and civil war
68 Richard III
A notoriously ruthless king, and
22 Henry II the last of the Plantagenets
Kicking off the Plantagenet
dynasty with style
74 Henry VII
24 Richard I
The tale of Lionheart’s reign
Bosworth’s victor, Henry laid the
foundations of the Tudor dynasty 146 68
32 King John 80 Henry VIII
The tale of a warrior king with a
The controversial king with a bone to pick with the church
strong legacy – the Magna Carta
42 Edward II 92 Mary I
How the first Tudor queen gained
One of history’s most unpopular her ‘Bloody Mary’ moniker
kings, and his murderous end
6
118 Contents
170
140 George IV
How ‘Georgie Porgie’ followed
the tumultuous reign of his
king father
112 Charles I
How the first king to be convicted
of treason met his end
144 William IV
The true rebel king of Britain’s
history, and his fascinating story
116 Charles II
A controversial ruler with
mistresses and disastrous wars
146 Queen Victoria
The fearsome queen who
consolidated the Empire
118 James II
The ruler whose beliefs meant he
was ousted by his own family
154 Edward VII
Victoria may not have approved
of him, but the population did
120 William III &
Mary II 156 George V
The dynamic duo who took the A monarch whose reign was
throne from the Catholic king defined by the conflict of WWI
7
British Royals
The birth
of the
British
monarchy
Discover how the union of England and Scotland
shaped the line of succession and the modern
British monarchy
T
he United Kingdom of Great Britain has through the Act of Settlement that Catholics
not always been united, or known as Great were to be prohibited from inheriting the throne,
Britain for that matter. Prior to 1707, this and so Sophia of Hanover, a Protestant and the
seemingly small island in the North Atlantic granddaughter of James VI and I, would become
had been divided for centuries. England Queen Anne’s heir. Although Anne had many
(including Wales) and Scotland were in fact two direct Catholic descendants, she had no surviving
independent countries, and it wasn’t until the children. Sophia of Hanover was her closest
passing of the Treaty of Union through both protestant relative, which meant in 1714, when
Parliaments in 1707 that the two kingdoms united, Queen Anne died, the House of Stuart dynasty
officially marking the birth of Great Britain, and as came to an end as the House of Hanover succeeded
a result, its monarchy. the throne.
The first sovereign to rule over Great Britain was By this time, however, Sophia of Hanover
Queen Anne. Officially she had reigned as queen of had died aged 83, and so her eldest son George
both countries for five years prior to the Treaty, as inherited the crown and became King George I of
both the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Great Britain. George’s succession was controversial,
Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603, when as many people hadn’t agreed with the protestant
King James VI of Scotland inherited the English succession that had been outlined in the Act of
throne from Queen Elizabeth I through relation. Settlement, and as a result riots were documented
This was known officially as the Union of Crowns. across England in opposition to his coronation.
It was the Treaty of Union, however, that united the Despite the initial hostility, George I reigned as king
monarchy under one crown, and then eventually up until his death in 1727. During his reign, Britain
one government. began to modernise and a cabinet government was
Due to the treaty, Queen Anne was the first and formed, which meant that the monarchy held less Queen Elizabeth II, the current
last monarch from the House of Stuart dynasty power over political affairs. monarch of Great Britain,
leaving Westminster Abbey as
to rule over the United Kingdom of Great Britain. George’s son and heir George II succeeded to part of a procession after her
coronation on 3 June 1953
Six years prior to 1707, in 1701, it had been decided the throne in October 1727 after his father’s death.
8
The birth of the British monarchy
Treaty
of Union
How England and Scotland
united to form Great Britain
and the British monarchy
The United Kingdom of Great Britain
was officially formed in 1707, when the
Parliaments of England and Scotland
passed the Treaty of Union agreement.
Prior to this date, England (including
Wales) and Scotland were independent
countries that had two separate
governments. The Treaty of Union was
designed to merge the Kingdoms of
England and Scotland together, creating
the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Negotiations to unite the countries
began in 1705 under the reign of the
English and Scottish monarch Queen
Anne, although there had been several
failed tempts prior to this date. 31
commissioners were appointed by each
Parliament to negotiate the terms, and
talks began on 16 April 1706 at the
Cockpit-in-Court in London. After a
few days, the Treaty was finalised on
22 July 1706, and two separate acts of
union were to be passed through each
government before it was put into effect.
The first act of union, known as the
Union with Scotland Act, was passed
by the Parliament of England in 1706,
with the second, the Union with England
Act, being passed by the Parliament of
Scotland shortly after in 1707.
The treaty itself consisted of 25
articles, with two stating that one
monarch was to rule over Great Britain
and a single unified Parliament of Great
Britain was to be formed. In addition
to this, agreements regarding trading
between England and Scotland were
set, alongside the decision to introduce
a common currency. On 1 May 1707,
England and Scotland officially united.
The union between Great Britain
and Ireland, however, did not occur for
another 93 years. It was during the reign
of King George III that in 1800, Great
Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland united
to form what is now known as the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
To signify the union, the Union Flag
incorporated the St Patrick’s Cross.
9
British Royals
10
The birth of the British monarchy
NOW
Edward VII George V Elizabeth II
Name: Albert Edward Name: George Frederick Ernest Albert Name: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
Birth/death: 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910 Birth/death: 3rd June 1865 – 20th January Birth/death: 21 April 1926 – present day
Reign: 22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910 1936 Reign: 1952 – present day
Dynasty: House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Reign: 6th May 1910 – 20th January 1936 Dynasty: House of Windsor
Queen Victoria’s eldest son and heir inherited the Dynasty: House of Windsor Queen Elizabeth II is the current
throne after her death, becoming King Edward VII. During George V’s reign, the First World War monarch of Great Britain and Head of
Due to his mother’s long reign, he was the longest broke out. While other empires fell, he was the Commonwealth. She is the longest
serving heir apparent in British history, until 2011 able to expand the British one. In 1917, due to reigning monarch of the United Kingdom,
© Corbis
when Charles, Prince of Wales, surpassed it. ill feeling as a result of the war, he changed the after over 65 years on the throne.
11
British Royals
1066-1087
William I
From the illegitimate son of a duke to the holder of
the English crown, William I conquered detractors,
kings and even the odds to become one of Britain’s
most memorable rulers
I
n 1028, William was born into a period rife with to two considerably powerful supporters – namely
violence and disorder. Despite every nobleman his great-uncle Archbishop Robert and the king
owing fealty to the King of France, many duchies of France, Henry I. Such influential allies enabled
and fiefdoms were in constant flux as political William to retain the fealty over the Norman nobles
alliances chopped and changed at a moment’s he’d inherited from his father, but such support
notice. France itself had been at war with its rival was not meant to last. With the king preoccupied
Flanders for years, creating an intense air of with the costly conflict with Flanders, and
conflict across much of Western Europe. Archbishop Robert passing away in
William’s social status was also of March 1037, William’s duchy soon
some contention. His father, Robert Blood ties were descended into chaos.
I, Duke of Normandy, never Eventually a group of William’s
married his mother, Herleva of
common in the detractors formed an uneasy
Falaise, so the young Norman royalty at the time. alliance and led a revolt against
was born a bastard. However, Edward the Confessor him. Led by his cousin, Guy
William would be Robert’s of Burgundy, the revolters
was William’s first
only child, so the presence of attempted to capture the duke
his father’s blood was strong cousin, once at Valognes, a commune in WILLIAM OF NORMANDY
enough for the duke to name him removed northwestern France – however, Normandy, 1028–1087
as his heir. So serious was he about the duke escaped and sought refuge
it that he gathered a group of Norman with the French king. The duke may Whether he’s
magnates in January 1034 to swear fealty have been young, but the title of king was remembered as
to William as Robert’s true successor. Soon after, quite the trump card to play.
Brief William the Conqueror,
Bio or by the lesser-known
Robert left on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Over a William returned to Normandy in the early moniker William the
year later, Robert fell ill on his return from the Holy months of 1047 with King Henry at his side and Bastard, he was one of Britain’s
most influential monarchs. With
Land and died in Nicaea, Greece. And so, at the age their armies consolidated into one considerable Viking blood in his veins, he
of eight, William inherited one of the most powerful force. The rebel army outnumbered William’s, but united his Norman homeland
political positions in France. it lacked the leadership provided by the king’s own with the feudal fiefdoms of
England, but faced a battle to
The first few years of William’s tenure as Duke of elite. The Battle of Val-ès-Dunes descended into maintain his new crown.
Normandy were surprisingly smooth, mostly due a number of skirmishes, but the rebel army soon
12
William I
Despite
his influential
position in the history
of the monarchy, no
authentic portrait
of William is in
existence
13
British Royals
Forging ties
With his alliances and political standing in Defining moment
Normandy, William forged long-lasting ties
between England and France that lasted for William is double-crossed
much of the Middle Ages (despite political and January 1066
military clashes). His Viking roots also created In the years leading to his death, Edward the Confessor
a closer bond with Scandinavia. named William, the Duke of Normandy, as his future
successor. However, although William did visit England
a couple of times in Edward’s final years, it was difficult
The royal family for him to leave the delicate political ecosystem back
William had nine legitimate children with in Normandy. When the king died, Harold Godwinson
his wife, Matilda of Flanders. His sons were (sometimes simply referred to as Henry Godwin) took
Robert, Richard, William and Henry, his advantage of William’s absence and, against the late king’s
daughters were Adeliza, Cecilia, Matilda, wishes, claimed the crown for himself. The Godwins were
Constance, Adela and Agatha. one of, if not the, most powerful and influential families in
England at the time. Henry would be the last Anglo-Saxon
1028
l William is born l Inheriting the duchy l William and l The invasion begins
While the exact date When he was round Godwinson meet After assuring his
of his birth remains the age of seven Harold Godwinson, who later affairs were in order
an issue of contention or eight, William’s became King Harold II of in Normandy, William
among historians, we father Robert passed England, was shipwrecked arrived at Pevensey in the
do know that he was away. With his off the coast of Normandy. South of England with
born in Falaise. He death, the title of William and Henry met a large invasion force.
was the only son of duke and its political during this time and Henry Once all of his troops had
Robert I and Herleva responsibilities fell to endorsed William’s claim to disembarked, William led
of Falaise. the young boy. the English throne. his force into Hastings.
1028 1035 1064 28 September 1066
14
William I
Following his coronation on 25 December 1066, The Harrowing of the North, as it came to be
William discovered that presiding over a duchy known, was just one of the many conflicts William
was a world away from ruling a kingdom. Defeating had to deal with throughout his 21-year reign.
Harold at Hastings and taking the capital should He was continually dealing with issues with his
have cemented his position, but William’s arrival neighbours (such as his clashes with the king
was more than just the ascension of a new king – it of Scotland in 1072), rebellions among his own
was the end of the Anglo-Saxon era. gentry (namely the Revolt of the Earls in 1075) and
William was careful not to upend the social even quarrels with his own children. Between his
equilibrium of England’s nobility, but a backlash native duties as Duke of Normandy, and as King of
was inevitable. William fought to contain a series England, William was forced to solidify his legacy
of revolts in Dover, Exeter, Hereford, Nottingham, with political marriages, truces and military force.
Durham and York, but it was the revolt led by By the time of his death on 9 September 1087,
Edgar the Atheling that was the most severe – William had maintained his authority over both
not only in its potential threat, but also for how Normandy and England for over two decades. He
aggressively William dealt with it.
The revolt centred on Edgar the Atheling, the
built over 50 castles and fortifications during his
reign, determined not only to remind the people
The Domesday
only remaining individual with a legitimate claim of the land who their monarch was, but to protect Book
to William’s seat of power. And when Sweyn II, the nation from the very act he’d taken the throne In the years that followed the taking of
King of Denmark, offered his support in 1070, the with. While his acts of domestic growth and the English crown, it became clear that
official records relating to population and
Norman grip on the north was broken. The region merciless violence have been largely overshadowed
landholding were nearly nonexistent.
began to destabilise with revolts and civil unrest, by his invasion, the man himself remains a Almost 19 years after his invasion, while
and Edgar and Sweyn’s forces soon took the key defining figure on those storied pages. spending Christmas in Gloucester with his
stronghold of York. William immediately marched advisors, William decided a census was
from Nottingham with his own forces to settle the needed. It seems likely it was planned as a
rebellion, but by the time he got there the revolt way to determine how to restructure taxes
had all but dissolved. Edgar fled to Scotland and across the nation. The Domesday Book (or
The Great Survey as it was known then)
Sweyn left suitably paid off by the king. However,
was split into two documents; the ‘Little
William was far from a mood to grant clemency. Domesday’ (which covered Suffolk, Essex
He and his troops scoured the land from York and Norfolk) and the ‘Great Domesday’
to the borders of Scotland in Northumbria. So (a larger document that covered the
severe was the devastation that William enacted rest of the country). Interestingly, these
on the north that the Domesday Book (which was documents did not cover the entire
nation. This was for many reasons – for
conducted in 1086) revealed that around 100,000
example, Westmorland and Cumberland
people died from starvation alone following were absent as both formed part of the
William’s ‘harrowing’. Considering the census Even though King Harold’s forces had defeated Kingdom of Strathclyde until they were
revealed the population to be 2.5 million, such a one invasion and marched hundreds of miles from conquered by his son, William II, in 1092.
Newcastle to the south, they still fought valiantly in the Elsewhere, London and Winchester were
figure shows just how far the new king would go to
face of William’s superior cavalry and archers
burn his legacy into England’s history books. left out because of their special tax status,
while the County of Durham was omitted
because the Bishop of Durham held
ecclesiastical rights to tax that county.
1087
l William takes London l Crowning a new king l Returning to Normandy l Hereward the Wake Death of a king l
Despite defeating the king and With most of Harold’s After his coronation, William Despite promising to leave Despite the relative
the remainder of his standing supporters either dead returned to Normandy to England for good, Sweyn II of military success of his
army, England was far from or in flight, William was ensure his lands were intact. Denmark returned a few months reign, his final days were
won. Earls and lords loyal to the crowned King William I of While there, he had a number later and joined the growing remarkably uneventful.
English king barred William’s England. One of his first of new monasteries built. uprising led by northern theign While on a military
entry into Winchester and actions was to reaffirm He also met with most of his Hereward the Wake. William expedition against France,
London but the Norman usurper the titles and lands of nobles and earls, all of whom forced Sweyn to leave yet again William either fell from his
soon overwhelmed them and many earls but strip those were eager to learn of possible and soon brought this, the last of horse or became ill and
took control of the royal treasury. of Harold’s supporters. new wealth and holdings. the northern revolts, to an end. died soon after.
October-November 1066 25 December 1066 1067 1070 9 September 1087
15
British Royals
Although
not the eldest
heir of William
I, William II was
the Conqueror’s
favourite and as such
bequeathed
England
WILLIAM II OF ENGLAND
Normandy, 1056-1100
1087-1100
William II
The ruddy-cheeked king who history remembers
as a forcible soldier, a hard-hearted ruler and loathed
by his highly-taxed subjects
B
londe, red-cheeked and well-set, William II, older brother, Robert, who’d previously rebelled
born in Normandy in 1056, was the third against his father, was bequeathed the Duchy of
son of William I (William the Conqueror) and Normandy as tradition dictated.
Matilda of Flanders. His ruddy complexion William I’s decision to effectively divide his
was the focus of the various nicknames kingdom in two might have seemed like a good
inspired during his 13-year reign, most notably idea at the time, but it troubled many nobles who
William Rufus, William the Red and the Red King. owned land on both sides of the channel. They
William II’s ascent to power in 1087 is perhaps were all too aware of the bitter rivalry between the
one of the most flagrant displays of favouritism ever brothers, which began in, and had snowballed since,
practised by a sovereign, as before his father William childhood. Knowing it impossible to keep favour
I (William the Conqueror) died, he arranged for his with both rulers, the lords followed the leadership of
third and favourite son, William II, to succeed him as Bishop Odo of Bayeux (half-brother of William I) and
King of England. This was a decision the Conqueror sided with Robert, who was the more amiable and
felt was his right as he had won the country by war. perceived weaker of the two, in the hope of uniting
William I’s eldest son and William II’s only surviving the kingdom once again. The rebellion collapsed in
16
William II
The Rufus Stone in the New Forest Resentment continued to fester across William’s
marks the place of William’s death kingdom, a problem he seemed not too bothered
about. In 1096, he remained unaffected as he made
Life in the time
1088, less than a year into their respective reigns, it a whole lot worse. The king’s brother Robert had of William II
when Robert failed to show up to support the become inspired to join the First Crusade, a military
English rebels, so William won them over with silver expedition by Roman Catholic Europe to regain the Fabulously flamboyant
The court of the Red King, who was rumoured
and promises of a better government. William, ever Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the
to be homosexual, was described by 12th
the firebrand, laid claim to Normandy in 1091 and Levant (632-661). Finding himself without the funds Century historian William of Malmesbury
waged war against the sibling who he defeated, to raise an army, Robert mortgaged the Duchy of (1095-1143) as being ”filled with ’effeminate‘
forcing him to cede a portion of his land. After the Normandy to his bemused younger brother, who young men in extravagant clothes mincing
conflict, the pair were able to kiss and make up, and became regent in Robert’s absence. To pay for this about in ’shoes with curved points‘“. As well
William even agreed to help Robert regain control of exchange, William levelled a heavy and much- as curved-toe shoes, fur-lined cloaks and long,
areas of his land lost to France. resented tax on his English subjects, helping ornamented and embroidered tunics were
popular among men of money at this time.
It wasn’t only in the south that William to cement his legacy as a cruel and
was forced to engage in battle unpopular leader.
during that year, as later in 1091 he The king, who was a huge fan
Take him to the Tower
In 1078 the White Tower, (at the Tower of
successfully stopped a Scottish William died of hunting and feasting, met his London), was built. Commissioned by William
invasion led by King Malcolm III, in mysterious end on 2 August 1100 (aged the Conqueror, the monument was seen as a
who was then finally forced to 43/44). While out hunting deer symbol of oppression by London’s residents,
circumstances, when a and acted as a constant visual reminder of
pay homage to the English King in the New Forest, a rogue arrow
and accept his overlordship. A rogue arrow killed him pierced his chest. It is claimed their country’s defeat to the Normans.
year later William decided to while out hunting in that his body was abandoned by
Learning and literacy in
annex Cumbria from Scotland and the New Forest the nobles in his hunting party,
the 12th Century
ordered the construction of Carlisle and was later stumbled upon
While the majority of people living in England
Castle. In 1093 Malcolm retaliated by peasants who took it by cart to
during William II’s reign were illiterate,
by invading and ravaging Northumbria, Winchester Cathedral, where it would go education took a dramatic leap forward at
but met his end, along with his son Edward, on to be buried. this time. Although Oxford University has no
at the Battle of Alnwick after being overpowered by It was accepted as an accident, but some theorised known date of foundation, there is evidence
William’s stronger and better organised army. William of an assignation as Sir Walter Tyrrell, who was that shows teaching took place at Oxford
was then free to wield his influence in Scotland considered an accomplished bowman, immediately in some form during 1096. This makes
the institution the oldest English-speaking
unrestricted by using the succession of subordinated fled to France. William’s younger brother Henry
university and the second-oldest surviving
Scottish kings as vassals. In 1095 Robert de Mowbray, was also with the hunting party and rode straight university in the world.
the man who had helped lead William to victory to Winchester to seize the treasury. He had himself
against the Scots, sparked a rebellion with an elected the following day. Medieval yellow pages
The first widespread compilation of land and
property took place across England after
William the Conqueror’s successful invasion,
The curse of the New Forest resulting in the 1086 Domesday Book. It was
The curse of the New Forest didn’t just claim William II’s commissioned so the new ruler could astutely
life; in fact, three descendents of the New Forest’s ‘creator’ assess all his new possessions. Interestingly,
William the Conqueror died in its leafy glades. The first was some towns, such as London and Winchester,
his second eldest son Richard who is said to have become were not included in the Domesday Book due
sick from the foggy ‘pestilent’ air. The next was William II in a to their tax-exempt status.
hunting “accident”. The third was Richard, William I’s grandson,
who accidently hanged himself when his horse ran under a It’s all about the Crusades
low hanging tree branch. At the time many suggested it was Anyone who was anyone with a burning
a form of karmic retribution or curse, as the king had razed loyalty to the Roman Catholic church joined
entire villages across Hampshire to create his new hunting the First Crusade. This was a widespread
forest “Nova Foresta” at the expense of more than 36 parish pilgrimage that saw tens of thousands of
churches, 20 small hamlets and several isolated farmsteads, William was killed Europeans travel to the Middle East to regain
in the New Forest
leaving hundreds of people homeless. the Holy lands taken by the Muslim conquests
of Levant some 400 years earlier.
17
British Royals
Henry was
one of the most
well-educated kings
England had ever
known, earning him
the ‘Beauclerc’
HENRY I ‘BEAUCLERC’ nickname
England, 1068-1135
1100-1135
Henry I
Despite proclaiming himself king while his brother’s body
was still warm, Henry I proved himself a worthy monarch
W
hether King William II died as the result threat by imprisoning Henry. After the conflict
of a mistimed or a well-timed hunting Henry was released and allowed to return home –
arrow is a mystery. What we know is albeit stripped of his title. So when William
that just moments after it happened, invaded Normandy in 1091, Henry made sure he
his younger brother Henry raced to pledged allegiance to Robert, but later lost his
Winchester to seize the treasury and declare favour when he out-shadowed him in combat.
himself king, over his oldest brother Robert. Consequently, both sovereign brothers overlooked
The Norman brothers Robert, William and Henry Henry when they reconciled and drew up a treaty
were renowned for their rivalry, but the real trouble that saw the other as their rightful heir of their
began when their father, William the Conqueror, respective kingdoms. Deciding he was better off
died and left Normandy to his oldest son, Robert, on his own, Henry fought against both brothers in
and England to his next surviving son, William. the years that followed, taking land for himself in
Henry, the fourth and only other remaining son, Normandy. Sensing an opportunity for conspiracy,
was simply given money to buy land and he William sent money to his younger brother to
chose Cotentin in Western Normandy, where he strengthen his campaign against Robert. Henry
established himself as the count. visited William often at court and fortuitously was
When Robert decided to challenge William’s present when he died, making him able to claim
claim to the English throne, he neutralised further the throne for himself.
18
Henry I
Best-selling novels
William Clito: the true heir? During this period, William of Malmesbury, the
When Henry imprisoned his older brother Robert in most respected historian of the 12th Century,
Cardiff Castle for attempting to take the English crown finished his first version of his historical
for the umpteenth time, Robert’s son William Clito was accounts of England Gesta Regum Anglorum
understandably resentful. So like father, like son, William (Deeds of the Kings of the English) and Gesta
decided to rebel, once in 1116 and again in 1119, supported Pontificum Anglorum (Deeds of the English
by several Norman barons who disliked Henry’s ‘new men’ Bishops) in 1125.
officials and high taxes. Henry proved victorious at the Battle
of Bremule and a peace settlement was agreed upon in Cathedral set backs
1120 with the French king’s backing, accepting Henry’s son, Work on St Paul’s Cathedral began at the end
William Adelin, as Duke of Normandy. Dispute over the throne of Henry’s father’s reign in 1087 and took over
reignited when Prince William drowned, resulting in more 200 years to complete. In 1136 a fire delayed
quarrels and rebellions. William Clito died without an heir when construction. The cathedral was formally
William Clito, Count of Flanders, mortally
a wound he received from a foot soldier turned gangrenous. wounded during the siege of Alost finished in 1314 but was completely gutted in
during The Great Fire of London in 1666.
19
British Royals
Stephen
rebuked the slur
of ‘oath-breaker’ by
saying that he only
swore to protect the KING STEPHEN (OF BLOIS)
stability of the France, 1097-1154
kingdom
King Stephen’s reign
is a tale of one-
Brief upmanship, double-
Bio crossings, promises
and broken promises
that ultimately divided and
destroyed much of the kingdom
he had sworn to protect. The
Anarchy civil war, which became
synonymous with his time at
the helm, played out like a game
of chess against his powerful
opponent Empress Matilda,
daughter and heir of Henry I, for
nearly two decades.
1135-1154
King Stephen
King Stephen’s usurpation tore the country apart with a 19-year civil war.
But with little gained and Henry I’s succession restored, was it worth it?
B
orn in Blois, central France, at the end of making the couple one of the wealthiest in the
11th Century, Stephen was the fourth son whole of England.
of the Count Stephen-Henry of Blois and Before his death, Henry I made his nobles,
Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. including Stephen, swear an oath to ensure that his
Adela, who was incredibly politically astute, daughter Matilda, the former Holy Roman Empress,
allied with Henry I during his military campaign succeeded him. It wasn’t just because Matilda
in Normandy to quash their brother Robert’s son was a woman that they were reluctant to observe
William Clito and his rebellion. Stephen, who had this oath: the Anglo-Norman elite also resented
shown great promise as a swordsman, accompanied the Empress’s second marriage to Angevin ruler
his uncle in the ensuing battles. To reward his Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, a long-standing enemy
courage, Henry later gave Stephen a knighthood whose lands bordered the Duchy of Normandy.
and invited him to the English court, where he At the time of his death, Henry was deep in the
rose through the ranks at great pace, receiving Duchy attempting to thwart an attack by rebels
notable land and honours (estates). The king also supported by his daughter and her husband, who
arranged a great marriage for Stephen with the resented not having the land prematurely. Henry’s
incredibly wealthy Matilda of Boulogne, which saw death put the empress in a tricky situation as she
him inherit yet more land in Kent and Boulogne, was effectively now supporting rebels against her
20
King Stephen
Temper, temper
In 1152 during a lull in combat, Stephen,
Stephen’s early life and perhaps devastated by his wife Matilda’s
family members death, reached a low point with the church.
Stephen’s father died when he was a young boy, and had Stephen decided to imprison Archbishop
earned the reputation of being a coward during the First Theobald after he was refused permission by
Crusade, while his mother was considered a pious, strong, the Pope to crown his son Eustace early.
brave and intelligent woman. As well as one older sister,
Stephen had three older brothers: William who is thought So close, but so far
to have been intellectually disabled, Odo who died in his Despite finally gaining the upper hand in 1141
adolescence and Theobald. Five younger sisters, plus brothers when her forces captured Stephen, Empress
Philip and Henry followed Stephen. Breaking with tradition, the Matilda was never crowned Queen of England.
close-knit family were raised in their mother’s household rather On the way to her planned coronation, she
than being sent away to be mentored by relatives. faced a surprise uprising of citizens, forcing her
to flee to Oxford.
21
British Royals
Henry
was the first
monarch from the
house Plantagenet.
The family would rule
the kingdom until the
death of Richard
III in 1485
HENRY PLANTAGENET
England, 1133-1189
The grandson of
Henry I, Henry II spent
Brief his entire 35-year
Bio reign hoping to rule
his kingdom with the
same political pragmatism as his
namesake. Ruthless and driven,
Henry II was one of the most
proactive monarchs in history.
He succeeded in re-establishing
royal administration in England
and Wales, gaining control
over large provinces in France
and making changes to the
legislation that would later form
the foundations of Common
English Law.
1154-1189
Henry II
Fiery yet shrewd, the first of the Plantagenet kings helped rebuild a
tattered realm while defying rulers, popes and even his own heirs
B
orn in Le Mans, France, in the spring of 1133, While the conflict raged in England, the young
Henry was the eldest child of Geoffrey the Henry was fast taking to the life of a French
Fair, Count of Anjou, and Empress Matilda, nobleman. Tough and resilient, yet intelligent
daughter of Henry I of England. Thanks and pragmatic, Henry had already gained a vital
to her ties to the English crown (as well as understanding of building political relationships –
her former marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor, he was already on good terms with the normally
Henry V of Germany), Henry’s mother was one of prickly bishops of Normandy and understood the
the most powerful women in Europe. However, importance of paying homage to those in higher
when the English king’s eldest son and heir, positions of power (despite the fact that Anjou had
William Adelin, died at sea in 1120, it threw the become almost entirely independent of France).
line of succession into turmoil. In the confusion, When his father passed away a few months
Matilda’s cousin, Stephen of Blois, installed himself later, Henry became the Count of Anjou, a position
as the sovereign, which succeeded in plunging the that was further bolstered by the lands of Eleanor
country into a civil war. of Aquitaine, whom he married on 18 May 1152.
22
Henry II
23
British Royals
1189-1199
Richard I
Born to royalty but educated in the charnel gutter
of war, Richard embodied the religious fanaticism of
the time in his quest to claim the fabled Holy Land
F
or almost a year the mighty city of Acre held They call this one, this man-mountain stepping
firm. Despite wave after wave of Christian off his ship onto the dusty dry shore, the Lionheart,
knights pouring all their religious fervour and and he is here to kill them all in the name of his
military might into its ancient walls, it had god and glory. The passage had been long and
held back the tide and somehow halted the painful, featuring storms, shipwrecks and a mad
progress of the foreign hordes that now threatened despot who threatened to derail the Third Crusade
to overrun the entire Near East. before it had even begun. No matter, King Richard
More and more men came; the attacks the Lionheart and his army had survived
were relentless. When the first army the trip across the Mediterranean Sea
had been held at bay, the city’s and reached the Holy Land. After
inhabitants thought they were
Despite being months of pursuit and planning,
safe, that the invasion was King of England, they were primed to fulfil their
defeated. However, then yet it’s thought that mission, Richard’s mission,
another army landed and the Richard didn’t speak God’s mission, to take the Holy
city’s main artery, its port, was Land and cut a path to the
taken. The city’s defences were English, and only holiest of all cities, Jerusalem.
tested once more, with an even spent six months in To the disgrace of all of
more ferocious attack battering his nation Christendom, Jesus’s city had
at the doors and calling for blood. fallen four years previous to the
Luckily for those within, once more Saracen Ayyubid hordes, which was
the city held off the mass of warriors, its now not only ruled by Christianity’s arch-
infidel leaders repelled. nemesis Saladin, but also defiled by their very
Then, with the new year’s sailing season, another presence within its hallowed walls. The city, which
invader arrived by sea with a fresh bloodthirsty had been safely held in Christian hands for almost
army. He was followed in May by yet another, with 100 years since the First Crusade had established
tens of thousands of soldiers joining the infidels’ the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1099, had been
camp outside the walls, swelling their numbers. ordered to be retaken by none other than the Pope
They attacked again and the losses on both sides in Rome. Richard, a devout and deeply religious
were massive. The lack of food and supplies king, had heeded the call. Here he now stood,
in the city, and the spread of disease ready to do his duty to the one true god.
within the invaders’ camp drove Conquering Acre was merely the first
both sets of warriors to extremes, step in wrestling Jerusalem from
stoking the fires of faith that lay Saladin’s grip.
within their hearts to pursue After a particularly So far the city’s capture and
bolder acts of violence. fantastic feast, Richard wider crusade had been in the
Today is the eighth day of hands of a number of other
June 1191 and, as Acre slowly
impulsively knighted leaders. These included Guy
suffocates in the oppressive his cook of Lusignan – a proud Poitevin
heat of the Levant’s summer knight and the supposed rightful
months, yet another fleet is king of Jerusalem through his
landing in the city’s once-prosperous marriage to Sibylla of Jerusalem –
port, this time with one of the biggest and King Philip II of France, who had
forces the city has ever seen. If the ruler of helped raise the ‘Saladin tithe’ to pay for the
Acre, the great Saladin, doesn’t send meaningful crusade. The Duke of Austria, Leopold V, had
reinforcements soon, the city will fall and the gates overall command of the imperial forces. There had
to the Holy Land will be wrenched open. been yet more leaders at the siege’s instigation
24
Richard I
RICHARD
THE LIONHEART
English, 1157-1199
25
British Royals
20,000
A major battle in the Third
Crusade, Arsuf saw Richard
and Saladin face off 10
01
1
01 The Wood of Arsuf
After taking Acre, Richard set out for his
next target, Arsuf. To get there, he had
to move south along the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea and then traverse the
Wood of Arsuf, one of the few forested
regions in all of the Levant. Saladin knew 02
this and after tracking and harassing
Richard’s slow-moving baggage train and
infantry, decided the woods would be the 06
LEADER ideal position to strike.
26
Richard I
25,000
the warriors back into an orderly formation at Arsuf and ordered them Saracens, unleashing their hatred and
to pitch camp at the now-secure fortress. Saladin was forced to retreat combat prowess in one brutal wave
with his reputation as an invincible leader tarnished. of death. The right wing of Saladin’s
army couldn’t sustain the assault and
collapsed almost immediately, with
Richard himself weighing into the heart
of the fighting. As a bloody revenge
for the day’s attacks was complete, the
Knights Templar set off in pursuit of
the fleeing Saracens.
04
08 Counterattack
slams home
Garnier de Nablus disobeyed orders
in counterattacking, but with the
Hospitaller charging, Richard knew
they needed support and ordered his
army to engage with them. The full
05 09
weight of the crusader army therefore
suddenly switched emphasis from LEADER
08 defence to attack, ramming into the SALADIN
Ayyubid army with immense ferocity. He attained his exalted position as leader
of the Ayyubid army and founder of the
Ayyubid dynasty and was a wise and
experienced military commander.
Strength Respected tactical thinker and
powerful politician.
03 Weakness Hands-off leader with little
personal combat prowess.
06 Hospitallers come
under attack
Saladin shifted the focus point of his
07 Knights break rank
army to the rear of column, engaging
the Knights Hospitaller. Saladin Richard reached Arsuf in the middle of the afternoon, KEY UNIT
joined the assault along with his with the besieged Hospitaller vanguard retreating into the MOUNTED ARCHER
brother to inspire his men to make a fortress city. Line discipline was finally lost and a melee The light cavalry of Saladin was feared
breakthrough. Richard held the convoy began. Seeing his men in trouble, the grand master of the throughout the world due to its acute
together despite some losses and Knights Hospitaller, Garnier de Nablus, broke ranks and ability to strike quickly and at range,
edged them toward Arsuf. charged the Saracens. with skilled marksmen riding the world’s
fastest horses.
Strength Fast units that excelled in
ambush and hit-and-run attacks.
now levied on the city was too much and, after Austria fluttered in the light breeze. With Acre Weakness Easily cut down by knights in
a month of death and destruction, the remaining down, Richard knew that only the city of Jaffa hand-to-hand combat.
Muslim garrison within the city surrendered, which to the south stood in their way of making a
was a direct violation of Saladin’s orders. direct assault on Jerusalem, so he began making
On receiving the news of Acre’s fall, Saladin
immediately set out for the city. On his way
preparations for the continued crusade, as well
as for the reparation of the sacked city. These
KEY WEAPON
he received news that Richard had taken the preparations were swiftly interrupted by an
SHORT BOW
Saladin’s mamluk infantry and his light
surrendering Muslim garrison of 2,400 men captive argument that developed between the conquering cavalry units excelled in bowmanship, with
and was offering their return for a ransom. Saladin, leaders as to how the city should be divided up their short bows used to swarm arrows on
known for his loyalty to his men and his wisdom, and to how the spoils of their victory should be crusader forces at every opportunity.
agreed to the ransom, which not only included apportioned. This quarrelling led Richard to strike Strengths Fast to fire and reload with
good stopping power.
monetary compensation but also the release of all down the Austrian standard from above the city’s
Weakness Could be outranged by the
of his Christian prisoners. walls, slighting Leopold, as the king of England longbow and all-but-useless in hand-to-
In Acre the banners of the Kingdom of sided with Guy of Lusignan rather than Philip hand combat.
Jerusalem, France, England and the Duchy of and Leopold over who should become king of
27
British Royals
Lionheart’s crusade
The Third Crusade faced challenges even before reaching the Holy Land
04 Battle of Arsuf
Arsuf – 7 September 1191 05 Richard bows out
Richard and the crusaders move out to
Vezelay capture Jaffa. However, Saladin intercepts
Jaffa – 8 August 1192
After taking Jaffa and then launching
Richard near the fortress city of Arsuf, two failed advances on Jerusalem,
pursuing him right up to the city, but the crusaders split in two, leaving
Richard wins the engagement.
Genoa neither capable of taking the city.
Richard finds Jaffa back in Saladin’s
hand, but reclaims it in battle.
Marseilles
01 Rome
02 Tripoli
02 The mad despot 03 Acre under siege Acre
01 A papal decree Cyprus – 8 May 1189 Acre – 28 August 1189 03
Rome – 29 October 1187
Pope Gregory VIII decrees the fall of the
On his way to the Holy Land,
Richard’s fleet is hit by a storm
The prolonged siege of the
Muslim-held city and port of Acre 04
Kingdom of Jerusalem is punishment and runs aground on Cyprus. sees thousands of crusaders and
Jerusalem
for Christian sins, before issuing a papal
bull calling for the Third Crusade. France
The island’s despot ruler seizes
the ships, cargo and occupants.
Saracen soldiers killed. Following
the Lionheart’s arrival at the 05
and England heed the call, imposing the Richard takes Cyprus by force, siege on 8 June 1191, the city’s
‘Saladin tithe’ to fund the mission. freeing the enslaved subjects. prolonged defence falters.
The city of Acre as
it looks today
Jerusalem when the city was taken. Philip and leaving in late August for their European homes.
Leopold preferred fellow crusader and Italian For Richard, though, such betrayal of faith was
nobleman Conrad of Montferrat, with Phillip so unimaginable, and after calling on the Philip to do
angry he threatened to return to Europe. right in the eyes of god, managed to persuade him
This cauldron of scheming and disagreement to leave behind 10,000 French crusaders along
was tipped over the edge when Saladin delayed with the necessary funds to pay for their upkeep.
in paying the garrison’s ransom. An already irate The Lionheart was now the central remaining
and disgruntled Richard deemed the lateness a commander of over 20,000 crusaders, knights and
massive slight and ordered every single one of the soldiers alike and, burning with glorious purpose,
garrison to be executed. Saladin reached ordered the continuation of the crusade,
the city just as the decision was made, with the bulk of the crusading army
but could only watch as man after marching out of Acre in August’s
man was publicly executed, final days. This was no doubt
their heads lopped from their The number of who was now leading this
shoulders atop the city walls. Muslim prisoners holy crusade. The city also lay a mere 65 kilometres (40 miles)
Thousands died. The enraged Richard had executed The next city on the from Jerusalem, making it the ideal coastal base
Saladin replied like-for-like, crusaders’ relentless march for crusaders. Before it could be taken, though, the
in the city of Acre crusaders needed to get there in one piece. Richard
executing the 1,000 Christian to Jerusalem was Jaffa, an
prisoners in his custody. totalled around 2,700 important port that provided knew Saladin was somewhere in the nearby
Whatever deal could conceivably passage into the southern area and, aware of his enemy’s skill in arranging
have been reached between the Mediterranean Sea. As long as Jaffa ambushes, ordered his troops to march down the
rival leaders now lay in bitter ruins, remained untaken Saladin had a Mediterranean coastline, with the baggage train
seemingly as irrevocably dead as the natural avenue to pour more of his troops protected by being nearest to the coast. This tactic
unfortunate prisoners. into the region from his impregnable stronghold prevented Saladin from attacking on one flank, as
Angered and frustrated with Richard and Guy, of Egypt, but if it fell to the crusaders Saladin Richard also got his fleet to sail down the coast
Philip and Leopold finally decided that their would be forced to move men over land, a far less in parallel with them, shutting off the sea as an
participation in the Third Crusade was at an end, effective and more time-consuming proposition. avenue of possible attack.
28
Richard I
30
Richard I
Why was Jerusalem This would be the final battle of the Crusade control but from now on, Christian pilgrims and
for Saladin and Richard. Following Jaffa’s second traders would be permitted to visit the city, with
so sought after? fall, the region entered a limbo-like stasis, their rights protected by law.
The geographical region of Palestine, between with the Christian crusaders and For Richard, the treaty was to
the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, Muslim Ayyubids sapped of any be his last act in the Holy Land,
was referred to as the Holy Land by Christians
further will for bloodshed. The Richard the with the king setting out on his
and Muslims alike. Both religions claimed
ownership due to their faith, with the city of fighting had gone on for three return to England immediately
years and large parts of the
Lionheart remained after. His return journey,
Jerusalem held in particular esteem. Both Islam
and Christianity were Abrahamic monotheistic area lay in ruins. Tens of in the Holy Land for though, would not be as
religions and as such, both sides considered the thousands of men, women and a grand total of 17 straightforward as the one
other to be unbelievers in the one true god and children had lost their lives over, with a series of events
considered their presence heretical. months during the
and, despite some areas of the leading to his own capture,
By the Third Crusade, Jerusalem and large
Levant changing hands, nothing Crusades temporary imprisonment and
parts of Palestine and the Levant region had
changed hands again and again, with conflicts had changed. Jerusalem remained yet more battles. However, the war
© Joe Cummings; Getty; Alamy; Thinkstock
destabilising the region. Richard, coming from under Muslim control, Saladin was he would go down in history for was
the Christian West, therefore perceived the ruler of the Ayyubid Empire and Richard his quest for the Holy Land – a journey
fall of Jerusalem to Saladin’s forces in 1187 as the Lionheart was still the fierce warrior king full of bloodshed, plunder and religious fanaticism.
a direct attack on his faith. From Saladain’s It ensured his legacy would forever be debated
without a firm foothold in the Holy Land. What
point of view he was merely taking back the
had changed, though, was Saladin and Richard’s between those who see him as a crusading king
spiritual heartland of his own faith; one that had
previously rested in the hands of infidels. desire for more war and bloodshed, and so a treaty and others who view him as an amoral, cold-
followed. Jerusalem would remain under Muslim blooded killer, a debate that still rages on today.
31
British Royals
1199–1216
King
John
Reviled and revered in equal measure, King
John I of England remains one of history’s most
provocative rulers. But was he as ‘bad’ as his
enduring moniker suggests?
M
uch like the equally controversial king stature, Henry also promised him the castles of
Charles I, who would throw his nation Mirabeau, Chinon and Loudun. This move to
into the most devastating civil war in legitimise John as part of royal strata did not best
English history, John Lackland was never please his oldest brother and heir to the throne,
meant to be king. He entered the world Henry the Younger. The disgruntled heir apparent
on Christmas Eve 1167, the youngest legitimate son fumed at the idea of lands and castles that should
of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. eventually pass to him being divvied up among his
His parents held sway over one of the most siblings. Yet, despite gaining a potential foothold in
intimidating power bases in the world, the the politics of Medieval Europe, John’s run of
Angevin Empire, covering half of France good fortune ran out when Alais died
and all of England. before they could marry. As fast as
Even from a young age the One of the it had formed, John’s potential
prince was a cynical and, at inheritance was obliterated.
clauses of Magna
times, ruthless character. His In 1173, the disenfranchised
tutors would remark on his Carta stated that a Henry the Younger, backed
restless energy and common widow could not be by his mother Eleanor, made
fits of rage, personality traits forced to remarry a vie for power. With his
that also often flared up in his brothers Geoffrey and Richard
father. However, unlike the king,
against her own encouraged to join him, the
these flaws were rarely kept in wishes move sparked a brief series of
check, their dark presence forming rebellions between 1173 and 1174.
into cruelty and malice towards those Henry II would eventually bring the
around him. As his childhood began to fade rebellions to an end, but the uprisings proved
away, his distrust of others grew, along with a deep just how cannibalistic a royal family could become
sense of paranoia. if the balance of power was shifted too far.
Despite his son’s poor standing in the line of Henry the Younger, for all his posturing, would
succession, Henry was far from uncaring towards retain his place as the English king’s heir apparent,
his prospects. In 1171, Henry organised a betrothal but it would be John that would benefit most
between John and Alais, the daughter and heiress from the conflict. As the revolts were raging across
of Count Humbert III of Savoy. the region, the young John joined the king at his
As part of the deal, John would acquire the side. Despite his rebellious nature, John clearly
future inheritance of Savoy, Maurienne and the understood the importance of showing allegiance
count’s other lands. In order to bolster John’s to his father. Within months of the rebellion’s
32
King John
Henry V 1413-22
Immortalised by Shakespeare, Henry V
was a rare commodity in the pantheon
of Medieval rule. A fair yet direct
monarch, Henry’s reign was a relatively
peaceful one domestically – which
allowed him to wage a military career
so successful he was named heir apparent
to France.
Elizabeth I 1558-1603
When Elizabeth took to the throne in
1558, she inherited a realm deeply
fractured by the reformation of her
father and the Protestant purge of
her sister. Yet, for all those pitfalls,
Elizabeth helped usher in a climate of
religious reconciliation and a golden age
of economic and artistic growth.
John I 1199-1216
He may not have been the worst monarch
in England’s history, but a mixture
of cruel personality traits, a military
campaign that weakened England’s
hold over Europe and the refusal to
honour Magna Carta, which led to civil
unrest, saw him earn the moniker ‘Bad
King John’.
Mary I 1553-58
A palpable air of religious zeal will forever
typify the brief reign of Mary Tudor.
Her desire to return England to the
Old Faith was so blind in its intent
that it led England into a disastrous
alliance with Spain and a fever of public
burnings so vicious it made Catholicism
shorthand for persecution.
Charles I 1625-49
The almost polar opposite of his father
James I, Charles was an introverted
monarch easily manipulated by his
wife, Henrietta Maria, and his Privy
Council. His unwillingness to appease
the rise of parliament as a political
entity led to a civil war that nearly tore
the country apart.
33
British Royals
of this reshuffling of positions, John’s older brother propaganda that the Lionheart had died in battle,
Geoffrey would retain power in Brittany and John and went about presenting himself as the only true
would be made Duke of Aquitaine. claimant to the crown.
Three years later, Geoffrey was killed in a In reality, Richard had been taken hostage by
jousting tournament, bringing John one step closer Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI. Knowing that
to the throne. With their father in ill health, and his his brother still remained immensely popular
own desire to lead a new crusade in the Holy Land with the nobility, John had no choice but to pay
growing with each passing season, Richard feared the extortionate ransom to release the king. Upon
Henry would appoint John king in his absence, his release in 1194, Richard openly forgave John
so he formed an alliance with the French king for his attempts to overthrow him but stripped
Philip II in 1187 and waged war against his father’s him of all his lands, with the exception of his
remaining forces. John initially remained faithful lordship in Ireland. It was a prime example of the
to his father, but eventually switched sides when relationship that existed between the two brothers
Richard’s resilience began to win out.
Henry II, King of England, died on 6 July
1189 and Richard ascended the throne soon
after. The next decade saw John embrace the
ruthlessness that had typified his youth. While
Richard conducted the Third Crusade from 1189
to 1192, John conspired to replace the man
who governed England in his absence,
Richard’s steward and justiciar, William
Longchamp. Richard’s justiciar was
unpopular with the people and the
nobles alike, so John positioned
himself as an alternative steward
of the English throne. When
Richard failed to return from
the crusade as expected,
John began spreading
34
King John
2 London/
East Anglia
November 1215
Despite discouragement
from his father and the
pope himself, Prince Louis
agrees to help the rebels
and sends a contingent of
French knights to help the
rebels maintain control
of London. Instead of
pushing to take London,
John loses the advantage
and instead harries rebel-
controlled towns.
35
British Royals
and recognised John as the rightful successor placing an interdict that forbade church services
of Richard and ruler of his Angevin lands. In from taking place in England for six years, as well
turn, John agreed to break his alliance with as excommunicating the troublesome king for his
Flanders and Boulogne and accept Philip as the continued belligerence.
unchallenged overlord of his French holdings. With the immolation of the Angevin Empire still
Such a move was incredibly unpopular across fresh in the mind of the nobles and barons, and the
England and the Angevin territories, earning him nation in a state of religious turmoil, John wisely
the title of ‘John Softsword’ among his people. agreed a treaty with the pope in 1213. However,
The peace would last a mere two years. John unfortunately for John, the damage had already
had become obsessed with the 12-year-old been done and the disgruntled barons had had
daughter of Count Aymer of Angouleme, Isabella. their fill of a king who would answer to no one but
He had his marriage to Isabella of Gloucester himself. Faced with the prospect of an armed revolt
annulled and married the girl in August 1200, that could tear the kingdom asunder, John had
sparking the old conflict anew. Isabella had been no choice but to sign a renewed version of Henry
promised to the powerful French noble Hugh de I’s Coronation Charter on 15 June 1215. Known as
Lusignan and the jilted ex-fiancé turned to the Magna Carta, the document reiterated the king’s
manipulative Philip II for help. responsibility to his subjects and his lands. Rather
John was summoned to the French court to than being designed to bind the king, Magna Carta
answer for his actions (including the rumours was created with the aim of upholding the liberties
that he’d captured and murdered his nephew and of England’s citizens.
former rival, Arthur of Brittany). John, ever the Such a moment was meant to be one of peace,
firebrand, refused to cooperate with the request a triumph for civil liberties among the seemingly
and Philip stripped him of almost all his foreign endless strife that had dogged England since
Richard the Lionheart’s death and his malicious
brother John’s ascension. But, as it emerged, the
cunning king had only signed the treaty to placate
“He was a shrewd
his nobles.
After all his clashes with the Vatican, John now
administrator who
turned to the new pontiff, Pope Innocent III, for
help. John placed himself at his mercy, proclaiming
knew the only way
the charter an infringement of the 1213 agreement to fund his wars on
that deemed the pope as John’s feudal lord. Pope
Innocent was inclined to the continent was
agree, calling the
charter “not only to levy taxes
shameful and
demeaning,
on the
rich”
36
King John
37
British Royals
Henry
was crowned
twice – first in 1216,
and again in 1220 to
HENRY III reaffirm his right to rule
England, 1207-1272 and strengthen efforts
Henry’s reign began
to rebuild the
with a baronial revolt, kingdom
Brief and, seemingly
Bio destined to repeat
his father’s mistakes,
nearly ended with one too.
With his rule initially governed
by council, Henry was unwilling
to take full control of his
kingdom until later in his reign,
allowing those that should have
supported him to gain power at
his expense.
1216-1272
Henry III
How a boy king whose reign was plagued by rebellion went
on to become one of England’s longest-reigning monarchs
U
pon King John’s death in 1216, his nine-year- scandalously impious, Henry was renowned for
old son, Henry III, inherited a kingdom in his religious conviction, holding lavish religious
chaos. The First Barons’ War was still in ceremonies, giving generously to the church
effect, with rebel barons in open conflict with (particularly during his wife Eleanor’s five
supporters of the crown, and Prince Louis of pregnancies) and adopting Edward the Confessor as
France occupying London. With Henry too young his patron saint. Henry believed that he should rule
to reign, John had appointed a council of nobles to England in a dignified manner through peace and
help him reclaim the kingdom, and this regency order, just as Edward had before him. As a king,
government would steer Henry’s rule for much of though, his rule would mirror that of his father
his first 20 years as king, bringing the First Barons’ a great deal more than most would have liked.
War to a close in 1217 and working to reinstate Conflict in France over the remaining English-held
royal authority for many years after. All the while, territories there led to Henry reissuing the failed
foundations were being laid for parliamentary Magna Carta agreement in 1225 in return for the
institutions that are still in place today. financial support of his barons in raising an army,
As a man, Henry was a marked contrast to a 1230 invasion to reclaim the contested territories
his father; where John was considered to be ended in failure, and conflicting political ambitions
38
Henry III
39
British Royals
Edward I wasn’t
the first Edward to
rule England but the
third. Kings were only
numbered after the
Norman conquest
of 1066
EDWARD I
England, 1239-1307
Remembered
primarily for his
Brief brutal conquests of
Bio Wales and Scotland,
Edward I – also
known as ‘Longshanks’ and
‘Hammer of the Scots’ – was a
master statesman and unlikely
reformer who enshrined the
Magna Carta in law and paved
the way for a representative
English parliament.
1272-1307
Edward I
Conqueror of Scotland and Wales and unlikely father of democracy,
Edward I was the savage warrior king who laid down the bloody
foundations of the United Kingdom
O
ne of the greatest monarchs of the who was at times capable of great cruelty and even
Plantagenet dynasty, Edward I – also known self-destructive obsession.
by his forbidding nickname, the ‘Hammer Henry III ensured that his son had the best
of the Scots’ – proves that a great king isn’t possible education available to a European prince –
necessarily a good person. Very much his giving him England’s French domain of Gascony in
father’s son, he inherited from Henry III not only 1254, along with other territories, to rule and hone
a drooping left eye and unpredictable Plantagenet his skills – but the real life lessons came from the
temper, but also a series of life lessons that shaped old king’s weak and indecisive rule. His religious
his reign. Over a reign of 34 years and seven conviction had made him too biddable to the
months, Edward I brought order to a chaotic pope in Rome and his secular power too had been
political system, created a uniform system of justice usurped by a snake pit of powerful English barons.
for his entire kingdom, and led an orgy of conquest Already more comfortable solving problems with
into Wales and Scotland. Edward I was indeed one a mailed fist, aged 24 the hot-headed prince got
of the fathers of modern Britain, but a stern one his first taste of blood – and of the true extent of
40
Edward I
Henry III’s failings – at the Battle of Lewes on 14 Resistance to English interference arose in the
May 1264. In one of the key engagements of the form of the charismatic William Wallace and on
Second Barons’ War against the crown, Edward had 11 September 1297 the Scottish rebels trounced a
successfully routed the rebel cavalry and chased larger English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
them miles off the battlefield. The thrill of victory As if stung by this defeat, Edward I assembled
was short-lived; returning to the field, he discovered an army of 15,000 men. Heavily outnumbered,
that the king’s forces had surrendered to the Wallace led his forces in a gruelling guerrilla war
upstart earl, Simon de Montefort, and Edward was amid the heather, but was eventually forced to
held hostage. The humiliation wouldn’t stand, and engage in open battle at Falkirk on 22 July 1298.
after escaping captivity he defeated his tormentor Wallace’s rebel army was crushed, leaving Edward
at the Battle of Evesham, leaving the traitorous earl in control of southeast Scotland.
mutilated on the battlefield. In the castles and palaces, the clash was no
Edward had entered the Second Barons’ War less unpredictable thanks to the shifting loyalties
as the loyal son to a weak king, and emerged one of the Scottish nobility. Robert the Bruce sided
of the most powerful men in England – a clear with the English in 1302, William Wallace was
monarch-in-waiting – as the weak king got even betrayed and executed in 1305 and then, just as
weaker with age. Still enthralled by the taste of all seemed peaceful, Robert the Bruce declared
blood and the lure of chivalry, Edward joined the himself King of Scots in 1306 and turned against
Ninth Crusade in June 1268, although his passage England. Edward I, despite his increasingly poor
was delayed by lack of money until 1270. Chalking health, responded as he knew best – with war. He
Known as Edward Longshanks, meaning
up victories – not least of which was the seizure of drove Robert the Bruce from his throne and into ‘long legs’ or ‘long shins’, when the king’s
Nazareth, the Biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ – hiding with a series of thunderous assaults, but on tomb was opened in 1774 his body was
measured at 6ft 2in tall
Edward’s blaze of holy glory was cut short 10 May 1307 Robert the Bruce delivered
when he was attacked by an assassin his first major victory against the
with a poisoned dagger. Scarcely
Following his
English at the Battle of Loudoun Life in the time
had he begun to recover when
he discovered that his father invasion, the title of
Hill. Two months later, weak with
dysentery, Edward I died in the of Edward I
had died on 16 November 1272. Prince of Wales was arms of his pages at his camp
Returning home at a leisurely near the Scottish border. Once Mother of parliaments
pace thanks to his injuries, conferred to Edward I’s so powerful, ferocious and With its origin in the word ‘parlay’, the
Edward was crowned Edward I son Edward Caernarfon sharp of claw, this old lion had Parliament was traditionally an infrequent
consultation between nobles and the king.
on 19 August 1274. in 1301, starting choked on his final meal. Edward I held them more frequently and
An invasion of Wales followed Various legends swirled
the long tradition summoned not just lords, but two knights
with campaigns in 1277 and then around his dying wish – that his from each county and two representatives
1282-3, ending the independence of heart should be carried to the Holy from each borough.
the nation. What began with sword and Land with the Crusaders to rage against
shield ended with bricks and mortar as new castles the infidel one last time, or that his bones should Law and order
– built in the oppressive Crusader style – sprung accompany all further wars with Scotland. Edward I created statutes to process
everything from settlement of debts to land
up and English settlers moved into fortified towns His son, Edward II, did neither. As Edward I
ownership and released travelling judges –
that cracked apart Welsh resolve and identity like had been to Henry III, Edward II wasn’t blind eyres – across the country to review the rights
hammer blows. to his father’s faults and in August the young and holdings of nobles. He also held inquests
Just as Wales had seen England grow from king abandoned the campaign against the Scots, into the abuses of power in the Second
overbearing neighbour to occupying power under returning to London for his coronation and to Barons’ War.
the reign of Edward I, so too would Scotland. After lay the old warlord to rest in a sarcophagus of
a dispute over succession to the Scottish throne Purbeck marble. Magna Carta
Edward I restored the Magna Carta (and the
arose, Edward was asked to mediate over the 13 “I am more afraid of the bones of the father
Charter of the Forest, which covers the use of
hopefuls and picked the easily pliant John Balliol as dead,” admitted Robert the Bruce, “than of the public land), limiting the power of the king. It
King of Scots in 17 November 1292. From thereon living son; and, by all the saints, it was more is this version of the document that remains
Edward I behaved as though Balliol were another difficult to get a half a foot of the land from the old in statute today, underpinning the political
cringing courtier and Scotland another rural estate. king than a whole kingdom from the son!” system of the United Kingdom.
Return to Camelot
Edward I was a great believer in the ideals of
Edward the romantic chivalry – even if his campaigns in Wales and
For all his fearsome reputation, Edward I was devoted to his Scotland didn’t always live up to them – and
wife, Eleanor of Castile, whom he married in 1254. Unlike other he built castles in Wales to correspond with
kings, Edward had no affairs or illegitimate children and she locations in Arthurian legend. He even held
accompanied him on his military campaigns. It’s been said she Round Table festive banquets to celebrate
sucked the poison from his wound when he was attacked by his conquests.
an assassin in the Crusades, but this tale has been discredited.
After her death in 1290, Edward I planted 12 stone crosses Assassins
marking her funeral processions from Lincoln to London, from The Hashāshīn – or Assassins – were a secret
which Charing Cross takes its name. order based in Syria and Persia who undertook
In 1291 he wrote to a French abbot seeking prayers for the assassinations during the Crusades. Edward I
“dead we cannot cease to love.” was just one of many Crusader leaders to feel
the prick of their daggers.
41
British Royals
He succeeded
Edward I as
king because his
three older brothers
EDWARD II
Wales, 1284-1327 John, Henry and
Alfonso had died
Few kings have been
as lambasted as
in childhood
Brief Welsh-born Edward II,
Bio whose weak reign
lasting just short of
two decades ended with his
bloody disposal. He appeared
to spend much of his time
annoying his barons, failing to
put up a decent fight against
the Scots and the French, and
courting his favourites.
1307-1327
Edward II
This much-loathed king had an equally hated favourite, saw
Scotland slip from his grasp and ultimately met a murderous end
E
dward I had proven himself to be a very young Prince Edward’s household, some of the In a bid to resolve long-running tensions between
effective king, suppressing numerous English nobleman’s martial skills would rub off. It the French and English crowns which had been a
rebellions and waging a good many bloody didn’t. Instead, Edward II became very attached legacy of his father, Edward II married the daughter
wars. He had become one of Scotland’s to Gaveston who, as a consequence, was exiled to of the French King Philip IV, Isabella of France in
greatest adversaries and he had annexed France for being a bad influence. 1308. It led to Gaveston being banished to France
Wales in a bid to bring stability and control to his So when Edward II became king – his three elder for a second time on the insistence of both the
realm. But when he died in July 1307 and his son, brothers having died – he was left in a difficult barons and the French royals in an attempt to put
Edward of Caernarfon, became king at the age of position. The war with Scotland was still ongoing, distance between the two men. The exile didn’t last
23, there was a real danger that much of that hard debts were running high and relations with France long and Gaveston was brought back in 1309.
work would be undone. were hostile. Yet rather than gather together the With tensions continuing to run high and
For while Edward II had accompanied his father best possible people to help him sort these issues, opposition to the king barely diminishing, the
on his campaigns and had, in 1301, been bestowed one of his first moves was to recall Gaveston and nobles issued the Ordinances of 1311. They sought
the title of the first Prince of Wales, he was a more give him the earldom of Cornwall. Since this was a to restrict the king’s power over finances and
cultured man who did not share the same appetite title that had always been given to royalty, it caused appointments. They also ordered Gaveston be
nor aptitude for battle. His father had noted this an uproar. Gaveston had become Edward II’s banished for a third time. Edward II agreed – but
and hoped, in assigning Piers Gaveston to the favourite and the barons did not like it one bit. it was a bluff. Gaveston was brought back again,
42
Edward II
43
British Royals
Despite
the occasional
military (or political)
setback, Edward III
enjoyed a great
deal of popularity
for much of
his reign
EDWARD III
England, 1312-1377
1327-1377
Edward III
Headstrong and ferocious, both as a domestic ruler and
a military leader, the warrior king of House Plantagenet
moulded England into one of Europe’s first true superpowers
K
ing Edward III was one of the most proactive great deal of his reign battling a political rivalry with
and – more importantly – successful rulers his own gentry and the birth of a strong male heir
England and its surrounding realms have helped fortify his position, at least for a time. In 1325,
ever known. His half-century of rule saw Edward II was required to pay homage to the French
plague, wars, political intrigue and judicial king, Charles IV. Uneasy at leaving the country
upheaval that collectively transformed our small during an ongoing and costly war with Scotland, the
island into a military powerhouse. It was quite the king sent his 13-year-old son and his wife Isabella
dramatic period of English history and Edward’s on behalf of the crown. However, Isabella conspired
road to kingship was just as theatrical. with the exiled Roger Mortimer (a former earl who
Born at Windsor Castle on 13 November 1312, had led the unsuccessful Despenser War against
Edward was the only child of King Edward II and Edward four years earlier) to usurp the king and set
his wife, Isabella of France. His father had spent a up Prince Edward in his place.
44
Edward III
While the young Edward was now king, he was king, but it served as one of his first tastes of a
really nothing more than a political pawn for his parliament willing to stand up to the absolute rule of
mother and Mortimer. In order to gain French its monarch.
military backing for an invasion, Isabella organised Edward was steadfast in his desire to expand
an engagement to the 12 year-old Philippa of England’s hold over French territories. Victories over
Hainault and soon Mortimer arrived on King Philip VI at the Battle of Crécy (as
English soil with an army behind well as putting down a campaign by
him. Edward II stood down as king, King David II of Scotland) rocked
Edward III is
with Mortimer ruling as the de France, and it wasn’t until the
facto leader while the young one of only five Treaty of Brétigny that Edward
Edward came of age. Mortimer monarchs to have finally renounced his claim on
was monarch in all but name reigned for over 50 the French throne. So dominant
and his unpopularity grew as was England at this time that Such was Edward’s impact and legacy on
he gathered titles and lands for
years – also including Edward claimed full sovereignty
the kingdom that his tomb – and this bronze
effigy – remains in Westminster Abbey
himself. The situation reached his great-grandfather over the lands he’d conquered
Henry III
a head on 19 October 1330 when
the young king and a group of his
in France (which amounted to
almost a third of the country). Life in the
most trusted allies entered Nottingham
Castle through an underground passage
The decade of the 1350s saw
something of a boom in legislative activity.
time of the
and arrested Mortimer. Finally, the time for Edward’s Edward’s frustration with the murkiness of England’s 50-year king
personal reign had begun. judicial system was just the impetus he needed
Edward’s rule started the way it would continue to streamline the political landscape. This was Death, triumphant
for 50 years: at war. His father had continued to especially important in light of the Black Death, a While Edward III did many things to put
England back on the political map, nothing
pay homage to the French king for most of his bubonic plague which killed more than a third of the
could have prepared the nation for the Black
reign, but all that was about to change. As a man, country’s population. He initially attempted to deal Death. It ravaged Europe from 1346 to 1353,
Edward was headstrong and direct; as a monarch, with the shortages of labour with legislation that killing between 75 and 200 million people
this made him very dangerous indeed. Edward made work more palatable, but it wasn’t enough to across the continent. In England, the disease
decided to make a claim for the French throne, settle the problem. However, his removal of papal wiped out over a third of the population.
citing his blood connection to Philip IV. The French benefices, his reformation of laws surrounding
responded by rejecting the claim under Salic Law treason and the increased power provided to the A new form of government
(a manuscript from the Middle Ages that defined roaming justices of the peace had a profound effect During Edward’s reign, the English Parliament
began to take a very familiar shape. The
the foundations of French legislation, including the that echoed long after his death.
institution became bicameral in nature, which
rules of succession). This butting of political While the majority of Edward’s reign meant that Parliament divided into two
heads would form the origins of the was energetic and filled with military separate assemblies, the House of Lords and
Hundred Years’ War, a conflict that conquests, the latter part of his rule the House of Commons. Such features as the
would draw most of Europe into its Upon his strayed into the opposite. Bored role of speaker and Parliament’s ability to
numerous battles. death on 21 June by the machinations of domestic impeach were also introduced in this period.
While the conflict would 1377, Edward was kingship, the aging Edward relied
ultimately go England’s way, more and more on his most Order of the Garter
funding a rebuilt navy and
succeeded not by prominently active children,
Edward had planned to introduce a setup
similar to Arthur’s symbolic Round Table,
constant military campaigns his son, but his ten- Edward the Black Prince, Lionel but the idea soon fell through. In its place,
placed considerable strain on year-old grandson Duke of Clarence and John Duke the English king established the Order of the
England’s economy. Edward Richard II of Lancaster. In the hands of his Garter, an honorary cabal reserved only for
needed cash to keep pressing the sons, England lost a significant the most chivalrous gentleman (and ladies)
French, but he found the coffers had amount of its lands in France, a fact in the land. New appointments are always
announced on St George’s Day.
almost run dry. Edward would eventually that made them very unpopular with the
gain the funding he needed, but it came at a price: English public. Ironically, while he lived through
Laws of the land
in April 1341, Parliament drafted a new grant of most of these disasters until his death in 1377, The substantial loss of population caused
taxation, but in return Edward had to accept certain Edward’s descent into obscurity only served to by the infamous Black Death caused a crisis
limitations on his spending. Such rules irked the preserve the legacy of his earlier reign. within England’s economy, with a dramatic
decrease in the supply of labour. This resulted
in the Statute Of Labourers 1351 being passed
in order to suppress the workforce. The new
law prohibited increases in wages and the
The Hundred Years’ War movement of workers from their home areas
Despite its title, the Hundred Years’ War lasted far longer
in search of better conditions.
than a century – in fact, it lasted for another 76 years after
Edward’s death in 1377. The conflict began with the breaking
of a centuries-old agreement that began with William the Keeping the peace
Conqueror’s accession to the English throne. As ruler, Edward Justice of the peace – a role created during the
held the Duchy of Normandy and the lands of Aquitaine, but time of Henry II – saw its most formative years
these lands came with the stipulation that homage be paid to under Edward III. Justices were the eyes, ears
the French king. When Edward refused to respect this deal, and word of the king and these men travelled
Philip VI of France declared war and the Houses of Plantagenet to the kingdom’s far corners to enact the law
and Valois became embroiled in a brutal military struggle in his name. Under Edward’s influence, justices
comprising a series of conflicts. could not only make arrests but also try
suspects for felonies.
45
British Royals
RICHARD II
France , 1367-1400
46
Richard II
1377-1399
Richard II
The king whose thirst for revenge led to him losing
his crown and his life
S
oldiers barged into the house where the Born in Bordeaux in 1367, Richard inherited the
former chief justice of England, and one of throne from his grandfather Edward III – since his
the monarch Richard II’s favourites, Robert father, Edward ‘the Black Prince’ had already died
Tresilian, had been hiding and arrested in 1376 – when he was just ten years old. As such,
him at sword point. Tresilian had already for the early parts of his reign the country was
been judged guilty of treason in absentia and his effectively run by a series of councils, but by the
poor disguise didn’t fool the soldiers; they had early 1380s the king was becoming increasingly
their man. This key player in the government of involved. Richard would prove himself to be
Richard II, a man upon whom had been bestowed a capable king early on in his reign with his
much royal patronage, was hanged on 19 response to a situation that all high-born
February 1388. With the former chief and of power feared – a peasants’
justice executed along with Sir revolt. Led by Wat Tyler, the 1381
Nicholas Brembre – another man His uncle, the revolt was triggered by the
of the king – and others fleeing Duke of Gloucester, crown’s demands for a poll
overseas in exile sentenced to tax to help pay for the costly
a similar fate if they ever again had a key role in Hundred Years’ War with
stepped afoot on the land of sentencing many of France. With many in England
their birth, it seemed that the Richard’s favourites struggling to feed themselves,
power base of King Richard II the demand for even more
had been eradicated.
to death money was the tipping point and
After this cull, the king – in a large group of dissenters actually
public at least – seemed to adopt entered London where they looted,
a conciliatory position. He claimed the damaged buildings and killed anyone
problems that had led to such divisions between associated with the government.
himself and his leading nobility that caused Richard II, then aged 14, initially retreated for
many of his leading figures in government being safety to the Tower of London, but with many of
executed or exiled was the result of bad advice the royal forces in northern England or abroad he
from councillors. He would now rule with the men knew he needed to end the rebellion. As he didn’t
that his nobles suggested as being key parts of the have the military strength to do this, diplomacy
King Richard II riding apparatus of the English government and peace would have to suffice. The young king met with
into London during the could return to England. In private, though, Richard the rebels and agreed to their demands (which
Peasants’ Revolt
neither forgave nor forgot. included abolishing serfdom) and the following day
47
British Royals
“After an altercation broke out, Wat Tyler to rule with the nobles – or at least give them the
impression that the king was doing so.
was stabbed to death by the lord mayor Rather than rule with his nobles, though, Richard
preferred to bestow patronage and power to a small
of London, William Walworth, who feared group of men, many of whom were in his royal
household. To these figures, mostly knights and
for the safety of the king” minor nobility, he gave land, money and positions
of influence in government. Michael de la Pole, the
spoke with Wat Tyler just outside the city’s walls. year, some 1,500 rebels had been killed. The king son of a merchant, rose to become chancellor of
However, after an altercation broke out, Tyler was had passed his first test and proven himself to be a England, one of the most important and influential
stabbed to death by the lord mayor of London, brave and intelligent ruler, but in just six years’ time positions in the whole land, while the minor
William Walworth, who feared for the he would lose control of his kingdom. nobleman Robert de Vere became Duke of Ireland.
safety of the king. Seeing their leader The crown that Richard inherited These were positions that the nobility of England,
killed, the rebels seemed likely to Richard in 14th Century England, and the great men with their own land and armies and
storm the city again, but Richard was buried the power that came with it, ancient history, believed were theirs by right.
rode over to them and managed was different to that of his The king’s military failures in France and
to defuse the situation. This
in a church in predecessors. The Magna Scotland only added to the bubbling resentment
gave the city’s militia time Hertfordshire, but his Carta of 1215, signed by King felt by the barons and earls at their marginalisation
to organise themselves and bones were later moved John, had put into law the from power. The Hundred Years’ War was a conflict
‘persuade’ the rebel forces to Westminster rights of the nobles and barons that Richard inherited, but his policy of seeking
to disperse. Other rebellions and by the late 1300s it was peace not only robbed the nobles of potential glory
occurred throughout the country
Abbey as a sign no longer possible for a king to and riches but failed; France regained territory
– notably in East Anglia – and the of respect govern solely by himself with no previously held by England and even threatened
king mobilised around 4,000 troops consideration as to the thoughts and invasion of the island nation. While Richard
to restore law and order. The revolt’s aims, feelings of his leading citizens. Of course, looked – unsuccessfully – for peace in France, closer
which Richard had only agreed to in order to buy the king was still the pre-eminent figure in the to home he was no such pacifist and military
time, were studiously ignored and by the end of the land and had the most power, but it was necessary campaigns in Scotland and Ireland brought little
tangible rewards for the money and effort they cost.
Described as handsome, tall (when his grave
was dug up he was discovered to be over six feet
tall) and refined, Richard may have looked the
part but his actions were leading the country
steadily towards crisis. Money was raised through
Parliament for an army to attack Scotland to break
one half of the ‘auld alliance’ between that nation
and France. Richard led this force of 14,000 men
himself, but the Scots refused to meet in battle and
the king returned having achieved little. The threat
of a French invasion continued to loom ominously
in the background and matters weren’t helped for
Richard when his uncle, John of Gaunt, left the
country to pursue his claims to Castile in modern-
day Spain. The king had an uneasy relationship
with his uncle, who was one of the most powerful
men in the kingdom, but John had always been
loyal. In his absence Richard had lost his most
influential and respected supporter and when the
chancellor de la Pole demanded more money from
Parliament, the fragile accord between the king and
the leading men of the country shattered into tiny
fragments; Parliament refused and insisted on the
removal of de la Pole from his position and even
demanded his impeachment.
After initially dismissing Parliament’s request
out of hand – Richard initially said he would not
dismiss so much as a scullion (a servant) from
his kitchen on Parliament’s command – he soon
realised that he had been outmanoeuvred and he
had to give into the demands of the ‘Wonderful
Parliament’ of 1486. He grudgingly relieved de la
Pole of his position and slinked, full of resentment,
King Richard II of England out of the capital to embark on a tour of the
rides over to placate the country. While he no doubt wanted to get far away
rebels after Tyler’s death
from the men who had humiliated him, the tour
48
Richard II
Two popes
In 1378 a papal schism began that would split
the catholic church and see two rival popes;
Urban VI in Rome and Clement VII in Avignon.
Both these popes were supported by different
countries and the conflict was eventually
resolved in 1418 with the Council of Constance
which saw the election of Pope Martin V,
although tensions continued afterwards.
also had a more practical purpose: to try to shore demands and it was around this time that Robert
up his support throughout the nation and ensure Tresilian, the chief justice, was found hiding in A peasant’s life
that, if it came to it, plenty of nobles and barons a house in a ramshackle disguise and was taken In England during the Middle Ages, most
would offer him military support. to be hanged. Many of the king’s men were peasants held very few rights and lived in
serfdom – this is where they worked a lord’s
A battle between these two opposing sides did either killed or exiled as his circle of favourites
lands for the right of protection and to farm it
take place in 1387 but, for Richard at least, it was was ruthlessly broken up in what was called the themselves. Following the Black Death, many
as an anticlimax. The king had instructed Merciless Parliament of 1388. Despite peasants had been paid to work on the land
one of his favourites, Robert de Vere, having his power base shattered, and seen their status improved, but they were
to raise an army and come to his the authority the King of England worried these new rights would be taken away
Richard and were prepared to fight to keep them.
aid, but this force was met by wielded was still strong and
men loyal to Parliament on
was born on the when, in 1389, the steadying
one of the bridges of the river religious feast day hand of John of Gaunt returned The Hundred Years’ War
This conflict, which actually lasted 116 years,
Thames in what is called the of Epiphany – thought and Richard declared himself
began in 1337 when Edward III declared
Battle of Radcot Bridge; in truth, old enough to rule without
to be a good omen, so himself king of France. Richard did not win any
it was barely a skirmish. The advisors and secured a peace major battles in the conflict and the taxation
men who had been summoned great things were treaty with France, the signs required to pay for the war was one of the
to Richard’s aid found they would expected of him were positive. It looked as if reasons for his unpopularity. In 1396 he signed
be unable to cross the bridge and the conflict that had disturbed a 28-year truce with Charles VI and married his
had no hope of winning against the the country could just be a blip in seven-year old daughter to forge an alliance.
troops commanded by Henry Bolingbroke Richard’s rule, but this was a mere illusion
(this would not be the last time that he played a – Richard believed that God had placed him on Great men
key role in Richard’s life) and so their options were Earth to rule and he never forgot how Parliament While the king was the ultimate authority,
to surrender or flee. The 16th Century chronicler had challenged his authority or executed and during Richard II’s reign there were many great
men who had considerable land, power and
Raphael Holinshed wrote that only three people exiled his chosen men. He would bide his time
access to troops. Five of these men – the Duke
were killed at the battle and de Vere escaped and before he reminded them of the supreme authority of Gloucester and Earls of Arundel, Warwick,
went into exile in France. of the king. Derby and Mowbray – formed the Lords
The king now had no choice if he wanted This fragile peace was built on a house of cards Appellant and effectively ruled England for a
to keep his crown but to agree to Parliament’s and by the end of the 1390s came crashing down brief period in 1388.
49
British Royals
William
Shakespeare’s
Richard II
The great bard is believed to have written
his play Richard II in 1595 when Queen
Elizabeth I was the monarch of England.
The work only encompasses the last two
years of Richard’s reign, from 1398 to
1400, and is loosely based on the actual
events, with the main source believed to
be Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles. As with
all Shakespeare plays, it is primarily a work
of fiction and the context of when it was
created is important. The play was written
towards the end of Elizabeth I’s life and
reign and so was influenced heavily by
the idea of succession and the authority
of rulers. It has been claimed that the
queen complained that the play was being
performed numerous times in streets The king
and houses, which would indicate that
she thought that the people were already
Richard’s body was brought to
St Paul’s, London, where it lay
was handsome
preparing for the next ruler while she was in state for two days and, at over six feet
still on the throne.
Shakespeare’s interpretation of tall, well above the
Richard II is perhaps the most widely around all of the main players. average height for imprisoned as Richard II once
known as he is a monarch not often
studied or examined. The play depicts him
The king began to rule in an the time again began to build up a power
increasingly tyrannical manner, base of those whose loyalty lay
as a king who believes that God put him on
the throne, and a man who went too far by abusing his power to grab land for exclusively with him.
taking land that didn’t belong to him and himself and his followers and, in 1397, The king finally went too far when on
seeking revenge on those he thought had he had three of the leading men arrested 3 February 1399 John of Gaunt, his uncle and
wronged him. So, it isn’t actually too far – officially it was because of a plot, although one of his most loyal supporters, died. John’s son,
removed from the truth. no evidence was found, but in reality this was Henry Bolingbroke, had been banished to France,
all about revenge; the three men – the Duke of in part because Richard saw him as a threat. Henry
Gloucester and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick was from the house of Lancaster and his father had
– had been key components of the parliament that controlled some of the largest landholdings in the
had dared to take him on. They and others who country. However, rather than let Henry return to
had opposed him were either executed, exiled or England and inherit what was his, Richard decided
Defining moment
Peasants’ Revolt 1381
Heavy taxation, partly caused by the Hundred
Years’ War, and a general dissatisfaction with
living standards, leads to a serious popular
uprising known as the Peasants’ Revolt. A large
body of people led by Watt Tyler and others
march on the capital and kill those associated
with the government, including the archbishop
of Canterbury and the treasurer of England.
Shakespeare’s play is based loosely on Richard’s actions during this crisis are brave, as
the events of Richard II’s reign he rides out to meet the rebels and calm them by
agreeing to their demands. When the immediate
crisis has been averted, the rebels are dealt with
severely and none of their requests is met.
Timeline
1367
l Birth of a king l Passing of the l A new monarch l The king weds l Wonderful Parliament l Tour of the country
Richard is born in Black Prince Edward III dies Richard marries Anne Not wonderful for Richard leaves
Bordeaux, France to Richard’s father aged 65 after of Bohemia, daughter Richard, Parliament had London to travel the
Edward – a skilled Edward dies after a long illness of the Holy Roman grown tired of the king country to shore up
military commander contracting an illness which had left Emperor Charles IV. giving patronage to his his support after his
known as the Black while on a military him inactive for a The marriage is for own men and the high defeat to Parliament
Prince – and Joan of campaign in modern- number of years. diplomatic reasons, levels of taxation and so and to ensure that, if
Kent, described as “the day Spain, meaning His grandson but Richard appears refused a request from required, the nobles
most beautiful woman in that Richard is now is crowned to have genuine the chancellor to levy would provide him
all the realm of England.” the heir to the throne. Richard II. affection for his wife. more money. with military support.
1367 1376 1377 1382 1386 1387
50
Richard II
1400
l A new dawn? l Peace with France l Revenge Parliament l Surrender Ignominious end l
Now aged 21, Richard The English king meets Proving that he has not Richard gives himself Richard is taken to Pontefract
declares himself to with Charles VI of forgotten Parliament’s up while staying in Castle as a prisoner, but
be ready to govern in France and they agree actions in the Wonderful Flint Castle in Wales when a plot by his supporters
his own right without to a 28-year truce. and Merciless Parliaments, and is imprisoned at to kill Henry and restore him
© Alamy, Corbis; Thinkstock
advisors and blames the Anne, Richard’s first Richard exiles and murders the Tower of London to the throne is uncovered
problems on the past in wife, died in 1394 and many leading nobles who on 1 September. Henry it’s clear he is too much of a
the bad advice he had as part of the accord had previously opposed him. Bolingbroke is declared threat. There is still debate as
been given. A fragile he marries Charles’s Their lands and wealth go to king and the fourth of to the exact manner and date
domestic peace emerges. daughter Isabella. the king and his leading men. his name. of Richard’s death.
1389 1396 1397 1399 1400
51
British Royals
Ruthless fighting
The fighting between the two sides
was brutal and fierce, with former
allies being forced into battle with
each other. Amid a near constant
hail of arrows, the death toll was
heavy on both sides.
52
Henry IV
Hotspur
Hotspur was killed after being
brought down in a last-ditch charge
aimed at killing the king. In the
melee that followed, no one knows
who struck the decisive blow.
1399-1413
Henry IV
The story of a king on an unstable throne and how
the close-fought Battle of Shrewsbury eventually
legitimised his rule
P
erhaps ironically considering that his reign force of archers – and marched south towards
began with the seizure of the crown from the Shrewsbury, where he planned to meet forces led
sovereign monarch, Henry IV of England’s by Northumberland and Glendower. However,
kingship was an insecure one. He was beset Henry heard about the attack, and immediately
by rebellions from those who were either mobilised his forces, sending a small force ahead
dissatisfied with his rule, believed themselves to to hold the town, along with a group led by Prince
be more credible claimants to the throne, or who Henry, while the rest of his army marched towards
saw the precedent that he started as part of a new Shrewsbury from the east. When Hotspur arrived,
status quo; one that allowed for the strongest to not only did he find the town held against him,
seize power, with birthright having been reduced but with the king coming from the east, he was
– by virtue of Henry’s original rebellious act – to a caught between the town, the nearby river and an
mere technicality. army, effectively cutting him off from Glendower’s
The event that came the closest to putting a reinforcements and leaving him with little choice
premature end to Henry’s rule was the Battle of but to choose a place of attack.
Shrewsbury, the culmination of a rebellion by the With the primary aim of the rebels being to
Percy family: chiefly Thomas Percy, the Earl of kill Henry himself, he disguised two knights in
Worcester; his elder brother Henry Percy, the Earl of his own attire as diversions. Even with this clever
Northumberland; and his nephew, Henry ‘Hotspur’ precaution, however, the battle was closely fought,
HENRY IV Percy. Having assisted Henry with his successful with the rebels getting the better of the early
England, 1367-1413
overthrow of Richard II in 1399, the Percys found stages thanks to the devastating attacks from their
The tenth king of
themselves increasingly dissatisfied with Henry’s archers, which decimated and scattered the royal
England from the rule, in large part to his refusal to lend them vanguard. Despite this, a two-pronged attack from
Brief House of Plantagenet, sufficient funds to defend their lands against the father and son turned the battle in their favour,
Bio Henry seized control Scots in the north (due to the parlous state of the forcing Hotspur into a desperate last-ditch charge at
from Richard II but royal treasury) or to grant them additional titles or the King that resulted in his own death.
found his own reign plagued lands, with one noteworthy sticking point being With the rebel leader dead and his surviving
by other upstarts eager to do
when the king gave the justiciarship of Wales – forces fled, the most serious challenge to Henry’s
for him what he had done for
the previous king: depose him, previously in the possession of Northumberland rule was at an end. His rule had been legitimised,
preferably violently. In the and Hotspur – to his son, Prince Henry, the future and his son’s military prowess, later to achieve
Battle of Shrewsbury he saw Henry V. legendary status at the Battle of Agincourt,
off a challenge from the fiery Allying themselves with Owen Glendower, the became clear for everyone to see. The Earl of
young Henry Hotspur, the son Welsh leader who was in open rebellion against Northumberland would later make another attempt
of Henry Percy, the First Earl
English rule at the time, Hotspur gathered his at rebellion in the Battle of Bramham Moor in 1408,
of Northumberland.
forces from nearby Cheshire – including a large which also resulted in his defeat and death.
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British Royals
INFANTRY 12,000 01
01 Spies observe Hotspur
ARCHERS 2,000 at Berwick Field
Hotspur based his army on a low hill in a
predominantly open area sown with peas.
The pea stems were wound together in
order to trip up advancing horses and men.
54
Henry IV
10 Rebels retreat
Leaderless and conscious of the lack
of mercy they would receive in a land Rebels
in which they were now defeated
traitors, the rebel forces fled, with the
wounded left behind being dispatched
TROOPS 14,000
10 by the royalist forces.
INFANTRY 13,000
ARCHERS 1,000
09 Hotspur killed
Although they mowed down
many men, Hotspur’s charge
was gradually slowed among
the masses, and he was cut
down from his horse and
killed. The rebels initially
thought they’d killed the king
07 after slaying his standard
bearer, but Henry revealed
himself to proclaim that
08 “Harry Percy is dead.”
HENRY ‘HOTSPUR’
09 PERCY
LEADER
The primary leader of the rebel
05 forces, Hotspur led his forces into
04 battle against the king.
Strengths Well-trained archers.
Weakness Lacking expected
03 support from Glendower and
Northumberland.
ARCHERS
KEY UNIT
Large quantities of archers
comprised both forces, but it was
arguably Hotspur who used his to
the most effect.
Strengths Devastating in their
large numbers.
Weakness Vulnerable once arrows
have been used up.
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British Royals
1413-1422
Henry V
Discover how the Battle of Agincourt proved to be
King Henry V’s defining moment
W
hile his father, Henry IV, had been estimated to have been killed according to various
preoccupied with consolidating – and accounts, with about 1,500 noblemen taken prisoner,
in the process effectively legitimising while the English forces’ casualties are numbered
– his rule, his son, King Henry V of at around 112, with high-ranking noblemen like the
England, saw the opportunity to expand Duke of York and the Earl of Suffolk being counted
England’s empire by taking back lands which he among the dead. Even more French prisoners were
believed belonged to him, starting with France. originally taken, but in a show of calculated – but
In 1415, he proposed to marry Catherine, the arguably justifiable – ruthlessness, Henry had
daughter of the French king Charles VI, in addition ordered many of them to be put to death in order
to audaciously demanding the handover of the to avoid the possibility of them linking up with the
Plantagenet lands of Normandy and Anjou as his remnants of the French forces.
dowry. Unsurprisingly, Charles refused this offer Proving that this was no fluke, Henry followed
from the upstart young king, with one account up this stunning victory with the conquest of
claiming that he sent the young Henry a case of Normandy – a campaign that lasted for three years.
tennis balls – the upshot being that his time would By June 1419, Henry controlled most of Normandy.
be better spent playing games than attempting to Agincourt had not only been a military triumph;
invade France. it had been a moral victory too, galvanising the
Unperturbed, Henry set sail for France, English both abroad and at home.
determined to capture the throne for himself. As Facing defeat, Charles agreed to the Treaty of
well as the prospect of regaining the lost lands Troyes, which formally recognised Henry as the
of his ancestors, success abroad would have the heir to the French throne – at the expense of his
effect of galvanising support back home, and in own son – and finally allowed Henry to marry
the process focus attention away from his cousins’ Catherine. Flushed with success, in February 1421
royal ambitions. he returned to England for the first time in three
His success was almost instant. Upon landing, and a half years as a hero. His successful conquest
he captured the port of Harfleur, although while of much of the his country’s hated enemy had
on the way to the port of Calais, he found his path made him a hero back home, and the Battle of
blocked by an army that substantially outnumbered Agincourt in particular would forever serve as a
his own. Faced with this much-larger French army, poignant example of his strength and ingenuity
he nonetheless put his tactical acumen to good use, in battle – yet another example of the plucky
decimating the French forces via the use of vast underdog spirit and ability to triumph against the
quantities of longbow archers to devastating effect. odds that future British forces would demonstrate
Between 7,500 and 10,000 French soldiers are again and again.
56
Henry V
HENRY V
England, 1386–1422
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British Royals
09
LONGBOWMAN 04
Key uniT 03 Forward banners
The effectiveness of the English Bored of waiting for the French to
longbowmen played a massive part begin the attack, Henry ordered
in the success of the battle. his troops to advance. Once within
Strengths Long range and difficult range of the French archers, the
to attack. English troops halted, the divisions
Weakness Relatively poorly closed, and the archers set a series
armoured and vulnerable if attacked. of pointed stakes in the ground,
forming a fence. Within the woods
surrounding the two armies, Henry
directed groups of archers and men-
at-arms to move through the trees to
get closer to the French.
05 French attempt to 06 Archers join the
LONGBOW move forward fray and flanks
Key Weapon After the shock of this assault, the French With the battle continuing
The longbow’s six arrows per minute 04 Arrows away forces tried to advance in order to take along the fence of stakes, the
could wound at 400 yards, kill at Shortly after, Henry gave the the battle to the English. However, having English archers abandoned their
200 and even penetrate armour at order for his archers to shoot already suffered massive casualties, they positions and joined the knights
100 yards. the French, who were massed were impeded by the dead and dying horses in fighting against the French
Strengths Accurate and destructive together in a big, unwieldy and men already shot down in front of cavalry forces – most of which
in large numbers. group. Taken by surprise, the them. Reduced to walking pace, they were had been forced to dismount
Weakness Finite number of arrows French forces incurred very easily picked off by the English archers – which were reinforced by
available to them. heavy casualties. concealed in the woodlands on the flanks. soldiers attacking on the flanks.
58
Henry V
03
01
04
CHARLES D’ALBRET
Leader
The former Constable of France
co-commanded the French army
alongside Jean le Maingre.
Strengths Experienced soldier.
Weakness Low social rank, so
orders were ignored by noblemen.
06
02
KNIGHTS
Key uniT
Much of the French forces consisted
of heavy infantry, making them
tough adversaries in open combat.
Strengths Heavily armoured and
effective at hand-to-hand fighting.
Weakness Slow, cumbersome and
easy to pick off by enemy archers.
07 French second
line moves forward HORSES
The French second line, led by Key Weapon
D’Alencon, moved forward in Large numbers of knights on
earnest to assist the beleaguered 08 Third line retreats horseback often presented a fearful
© Loook and Learn; Sayo Studio
first line, but was overwhelmed in Seeing the fate that had met the first and second waves, the third line of the French sight for their opponents.
a similar fashion. Seeing the futility forces waited on the edge of the field, pondering whether to join. After being greeted Strengths Fast and powerful
in continuing, he attempted to by a messenger sent by Henry, who informed them that if they joined the battle, opponents in battle.
surrender to Henry, but was killed none of them would be spared, they made their decision. Unsurprisingly, considering Weakness Cramped and boggy
before he could reach the king. their options, they left the battlefield. location made them useless.
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Henry VI
Gentle Henry VI witnessed the end of the house of
Lancaster and the rise of the house of York
S
ome kings were born warriors, others were Henry’s appointed council ran England rather
seasoned in battle, but there have been a effectively for nearly 16 years on his behalf, before
few, like Henry VI, who weren’t just ill-suited he took over the reins in 1437. At the start, as
for conflict, they also weren’t suited for the throughout his reign, he was never seen as a
crown. As an obsessively pious, honest, quiet natural leader and his shyness and charitable spirit
and gentle man, Henry VI failed to inspire that were perceived as weaknesses by his critics. His
all-important conquering spirit that had come so religious ethics and strong moral compass gave
naturally to his predecessors. Henry distaste for war, and it was at this time
Henry VI, born 6 December 1421 in Windsor that the Hundred Years’ War against the House of
Castle, was the only child of King Henry V Valois in France began to lose momentum
and Catherine of Valois. The infant on the English side while the French
was handed the mantle of king were starting to make a powerful
at just nine months old on Henry was resurgence. In 1445, as a more
1 September 1422, and once considered shy. He peaceful step forward, a 23-year-
news had spread across the old Henry married 15-year-old
channel that his mother’s father
shunned music and French noblewoman Margaret
King Charles VI had died, he sport, preferring to bury of Anjou, the famously beautiful
was also proclaimed King of his nose in scriptures niece (through marriage) of
France. After swearing an oath and ancient Charles VII. Although not
of loyalty in 1423, Henry’s nobles known by the English Parliament
established a regency council
chronicles and public at the time, the union
to govern until he came of age. had come at the expense of the
Henry V’s brother John, the respected French territories Maine and Anjou, a
Duke of Bedford, was appointed as senior very controversial decision that would later
regent of the realm and the supervising authority spark discontent at court, particularly from Henry’s
on the ongoing conflict in France. In John’s uncle, the Duke of Gloucester and Richard, Duke
absence Henry V’s other surviving younger brother of York, who were already vocal opponents of
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester was appointed Henry’s decision not to pursue the war in France.
protector and defender of the realm in England. In 1446 the exchange of Maine and Anjou became
Just before his eighth birthday, Henry was crowned common knowledge and the earl of Suffolk, who
King of England, in retaliation to the French had negotiated the marriage arrangement, bore
crowning his rival, Charles VII Valois, in Reims. It the brunt of the public’s wrath. Possibly due to
wasn’t for another two years, however, that Henry Henry believing rumours that his uncle (and then
was taken to Paris and crowned King of France at heir) was plotting against him, Suffolk had the
Notre-Dame Cathedral. Duke of Gloucester arrested for treason, but he
60
Henry VI
Henry
failed to show a
prolonged interest in
government, allowing
his wife and closest
advisors to make
decisions on his
behalf
French resistance
Joan of Arc cemented her place in history,
becoming the heroine of France and a Roman
Catholic saint, by taking part in the siege of
Orleans after receiving visions of several saints
telling her to recover France from the English.
Sadly for her, the English captured, tried and
burnt her at the stake in 1431, aged around 19.
61
British Royals
died suddenly in custody. The Duke of York, seen led to a colossal level of discontentment across decades before, was lost, and less than a year later
by many as next in line to the throne, was sent to England. When Suffolk was charged with treason French forces had reclaimed the whole province.
govern Ireland, thereby removing him from court by Parliament, Henry agreed to have his friend An agitated and restless army of men, many of
and disabling his opportunity to conspire. These sentenced to five years’ banishment. However, whom hadn’t been paid, returned home, causing
decisions, plus the breakdown in law and order, Suffolk’s ship was intercepted by a privateering ship
widespread lawlessness across the south that later
widespread corruption, troubled crown finances, in the Channel and he was beheaded as a traitor. ignited a rebellion in Kent, led by John Cade. The
the steady loss of territory in France, and a public By 1449 most of Normandy, which had been rebels successfully duped and ambushed the king’s
hate campaign against the royal favourite Suffolk arduously won by Henry’s father only a few forces in the Battle of Solefields near Sevenoaks,
before eventually breaking into London. The
fracas only lasted a few days, however, as the city’s
residents grew weary of disorder and helped the
king’s army reclaim the city.
By 1453 the struggle of sovereignty was starting
to take its toll on Henry, with the dual reign,
rebellion, conspiracies, infighting, nationwide
discontentment and, to top it all off, the loss of
Bordeaux, England’s only French territory after
Calais. On hearing of the defeat, the king suffered
a mental breakdown, leaving him prostrate and
unresponsive for over 17 months. Historians claim
Henry suffered from hallucinations and religious
delusions, possibly symptomatic of schizophrenia
or a congenital psychiatric condition he may
have inherited from his mother’s father,
Charles VI of France, who was
notoriously also affected by bouts
The king was not of insanity. Although the queen
a man of fashion and her most trusted advisors
and preferred plain had done their best to play
clothes instead of fancy down the king’s condition at the
beginning, alarm bells quickly
ornate robes and rang throughout court when the
upturned shoes king failed to respond to the birth
of his son and heir, Prince Edward.
This was the opportunity Richard
Henry VI with Richard the Duke of York, heir
Duke of York, had been waiting for. On
apparent to the English crown, and Somerset
being made protector of the realm in 1454, he
Timeline
1422
l Becoming king l Marriage to Margaret l A power play for the future
War hero King of Anjou In 1452 Henry makes his half-brothers
Henry V dies of Enjoying a springtime Edmund and Jasper Tudor earls. When
dysentery while on wedding at Titchfield Edmund dies, his 13-year-old widow
military campaigns Abbey near Fareham on 23 is pregnant with the future King
in France, leaving April 1445, Henry VI takes Henry VII. Jasper is a loyal servant to
his nine-month-old the beautiful adolescent Henry and Margaret, constantly striving
son and heir Henry Margaret of Anjou – eight to help their son Edward claim the
to ascend to the years his junior – to be his throne. He later helps to win the crown
English throne. wife and queen. for his nephew Henry Tudor.
1422 1445 1452
62
Henry VI
1400
l Mental breakdown l York gets the l No longer a king l Return to power Death l
On hearing the news that upper hand A victory for the Like a puppet on Edward IV returns to
Bordeaux has been taken While the king is suffering Yorkists in March a string, Henry is conquer England in
by the French, Henry VI from a long period of 1461 at the Battle reinstated to the throne 1471. The new king
falls into a 17-month- depression, Richard Duke of Towton allows after Warwick, with imprisons Henry for
long depressive stupor of York is promoted as the Duke of York’s Margaret’s backing, the last time. Henry
that some historians protector of the realm. This eldest son Edward to returns to England and suffers a violent
argue was the first of is his first step of many become King Edward forces Edward IV into death during the
many schizophrenic in taking down the house IV. Margaret and Henry exile. Warwick rules in night of 21 May.
© Alamy
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British Royals
Edward
was a fit, tall
and handsome man
who had remarkable
military acumen,
EDWARD IV
France, 1442-1483 fashion sense and
a way with
Born in Normandy,
Edward ousted
the ladies
Brief Henry VI by defeating
Bio the Lancastrian faction
and he ruled England
twice – with Henry VI briefly
restored to the throne in 1470-1.
Married to Elizabeth Woodville,
his falling out with the Earl
of Warwick caused him many
problems and his first period of
rule was marked by conflict.
1461-1470, 1471-1483
Edward IV
Edward IV was the promiscuous king who engaged
in the Wars of the Roses, ruled England twice and
put the country in order
E
dward’s father, the Duke of York Richard With the house of York established on the
Plantagenet, had long asserted his own claim English throne, the Earl of Warwick began to exert
to England’s throne. As a consequence, he his powerful influence over the king. Although
had battled hard against King Henry VI and it Edward was a tall, physically fit man who exhibited
had led to civil war between Richard’s Yorkist great military acumen, it was Warwick who led the
and Henry’s Lancastrian factions in what was to Yorkists into successful battle against Lancastrian
become known as the Wars of the Roses. resistance from 1462 to 1464 and it was he who,
Richard was killed at the Battle of Wakefield in thanks to a victory at the Battle of Hexham, had
1460 and Edward, an able commander, took on captured Henry VI and saw him imprisoned in the
the conflict aided by the Earl of Warwick, Richard Tower of London.
Neville. In 1461, Edward defeated the Lancastrians But Warwick became angry when Edward
at the vicious Battle of Towton and this resulted in married widow and commoner Elizabeth Woodville
Henry and his queen, Margaret of Anjou, fleeing in secret. The discontent grew deeper when
to Scotland. With them out of the way, Edward Edward began to bestow favours on Elizabeth’s
was proclaimed king, aged 18, on 4 March 1461. family. Warwick fell out with Edward, believing
Edward IV was crowned on 28 June that year at the king’s decision to be rash and flying in the face
Westminster Abbey. of attempts to create a strong Yorkist nobility. He
64
Edward IV
65
British Royals
Edward’s
coronation
never took place,
making him one of
only four uncrowned
English monarchs
since the Norman
Conquest
EDWARD V
England, 1470-1483
Remembered as one
of the two ‘Princes in
Brief the Tower’, Edward’s
Bio reign lasted less
than three months
and was overshadowed by
his uncle’s desire to claim the
crown, culminating in Edward’s
imprisonment in the Tower of
London and, many suspect, the
murder of him and his younger
brother, Richard.
Edward V
How a boy king’s short reign, marred by infamy,
treachery and murder, would echo down the centuries
K
ing for just 86 days of a kingdom that never read and the people he might be surrounded by.
really became his, Edward V could easily Under the guidance of his maternal uncle, Anthony
have become little more than a forgettable Woodville, the king’s regime seemed to produce
footnote in royal history, were it not for his the desired results, with chroniclers of the time
part in a story that would be remembered as reporting the young prince to be polite, charming,
one of the British monarchy’s most infamous and educated beyond his years and well versed in
enduring mysteries. literature. With such a positive foundation laid
The son of King Edward IV and his queen during his childhood, the tragedy of Edward’s story
consort Elizabeth Woodville, Edward’s early years is only heightened when considering the type of
were shaped by a routine of his father’s design. king he might have grown to become.
This dictated everything from the hours in which Granted the title Prince of Wales as an infant,
he was educated to the types of stories he was Edward spent most of his life at Ludlow Castle as
66
Edward V
67
British Royals
1483-1485
Richard III
The last Plantagenet king to hold the English throne,
Richard III was one of the few individuals who did
as much before his reign as during it
D
espite a reign that only lasted two years (one 29 March 1461 at Towton. Edward’s army destroyed
of the shortest in British history), Richard the king’s forces and upon hearing the news, the
Plantagenet had a profound effect on the absentee monarch fled to Scotland with his family.
realm. Raised in the feudal conflict that was Richard returned to England shortly after to see
later named the Wars of the Roses, Richard his brother crowned Edward IV. The Yorkists had
spent most of his life battling to both attain power returned to court and young Richard was about to
and defend it, an experience that moulded him be thrust into the middle of a new regime.
into a brilliant strategist and someone who always Edward’s ascension to the throne was hardly
led his military campaigns into battle. Some called the end of the conflict. The Wars of the Roses had
him a cruel tyrant, while others saw him as a really only just begun. After Edward’s coronation in
focused progressive who fought long and hard to 1461, he made Richard Duke of Gloucester as well
strengthen the realm and the House of York’s hold as a Knight of the Garter and a Knight of the Bath.
on the English crown. He’s a monarch surrounded In order to facilitate Richard’s training as a knight
by myth and legend, both in regard to his physical and nobleman, Edward sent him to study under
appearance and whether he had a hand in the his cousin, Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick.
supposed death of the Princes in the Warwick was one of the most powerful
Tower. Little wonder he has fascinated nobles in England and had been
historians for over 700 years. instrumental in providing the new
Born on 2 October 1452, Richard III had king with the military strength he
Richard was the son of Richard a great deal needed to take the throne.
Plantagenet, third Duke of York of affection for the In exchange for providing
and his wife, Cecily Neville. a place for Richard at his
Despite being fathered by
north of England. He household in Middleham,
a man with a significantly even co‑founded Warwick organised marriages
strong claim to Henry VI’s the Council of for both Richard and his brother
throne, Richard was way down the North George to his own daughters.
the pecking order as the 12th of Edward was against the idea and
13 children. The duke himself was the disagreement drove a wedge
deeply unpopular with the House of between two of the most powerful men in
York’s fiercest rival, the House of Lancaster – this the realm. George would eventually wed Warwick’s
also included Queen Margaret of Anjou, who held daughter Isabel in 1469, leading him to side with
sway over the weak‑minded king. Richard’s father his new father‑in‑law, while Richard refused the
refused to renounce his claim and the dispute arrangement and placed his fealty in the king. That
eventually culminated with a brutal clash at the show of loyalty would bind Edward and Richard for
Battle of Wakefield. Despite leading a sizeable the next two decades as the war began to escalate.
military force, the Duke of York was killed on Warwick would prove to be a chaos factor in the
30 December 1460, alongside his second son (and lives of Richard and the new king. He eventually
fifth child) Edmund, Earl of Rutland. chose to defect and form an alliance with Margaret
With his father dead and disgraced, Richard of Anjou, subsequently organising a number of
was packed off with his brother George to the rebellions to undermine Edward’s reign. This
Low Countries (modern‑day Belgium and the discontent, in both civil unrest and propaganda
Netherlands) while his eldest brother Edward (now in court, eventually forced Richard and Edward to
fourth Duke of York) led a 30,000‑strong army into flee to Flanders in May 1470. Richard accompanied
battle with what remained of Henry’s forces on Edward back to England a year later and the king
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Richard III
Richard’s
exhumation
in 2012 revealed
ten wounds to his
body and eight to his
head (the back of
which had been
shorn off)
RICHARD III
England, 1452-1485
69
British Royals
appointed him as his main lieutenant. An already of the realm and his son and heir, Edward. When low‑born family had had a hand in the plot to
driven and aspiring military leader, the young Richard was informed of his brother’s death and his assassinate him and feared that Elizabeth and her
Plantagenet led Edward’s forces in the Battles of new position as regent, he marched alongside the allies would find a way to remove him from the
Barnet and Tewkesbury, where his use of a small Duke of Buckingham in an armed escort bound for equation and assume control over the young king.
but ruthless force led to the deaths of Warwick and London. While on the way, Richard received word Something had to be done.
the Lancastrian heir (and the former king’s son), that a plot was being formed to assassinate him On 13 June, Richard called a council meeting
Edward, Prince of Wales. and remove the threat he potentially posed at the Tower of London. While there, he accused
Edward IV was keen to reward his as the de facto ruler. According to his William Hastings, first Baron Hastings, of plotting
brother’s fierce loyalty and with sources, Anthony Woodville, second to use the princes as a means of usurping Richard’s
Warwick out of the picture, Like many Earl Rivers (Elizabeth’s brother) power and summarily had Hastings executed
Richard inherited most of his of his forebears, was behind the plot, so Richard a few days later. Around this time a clergyman
lands in Yorkshire. He was had him arrested (and later (said to be Robert Stillington, bishop of Bath and
also appointed constable and
Richard was regarded executed) as he made his way Wells) informed Richard that Edward IV’s marriage
warden of the north, positions as a valiant warrior out of the north. to Elizabeth Woodville had been invalid on the
of power that would slowly and often led military In order to protect the young grounds Edward had been contracted to marry
consolidate into a power base campaigns from king, Richard escorted him and the noblewoman Lady Eleanor Talbot. If true, this
close to the one Warwick himself his brother to the capital. At the claim would deem Edward and Elizabeth’s children
wielded before his defection.
the front beginning of June, Richard and the illegitimate, making Richard Edward’s true heir.
Richard rarely left the north for the two young royals arrived in London. By 22 June, sermons were already being
next decade, tired of the politics and Under the guidance of his advisors, preached that the uncrowned Edward V and his
intrigue of his brother’s court in London. The Richard placed the two boys in lodgings in the brother Richard were illegitimate. A few days later,
Lancastrian threat was largely extinguished after Tower of London to keep them safe. However, all the Duke of Gloucester was proclaimed the rightful
Edward’s restoration, the only real claimant left was not what it seemed. In an ironic twist of fate, heir by Parliament and he was crowned King
being Henry Tudor who was exiled in France. Richard was now concerned over the same matter Richard III of England in Westminster Abbey on
Edward fell gravely ill and died on 9 April 1483, that had consumed his former enemy, Warwick: 6 July. In order to solidify his claim to the throne,
but not before he named Richard lord protector the rise of the Woodvilles. He was certain the once in 1484 Richard even had Parliament draw up the
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Richard III
Printing popularity
The arrival of printing in England towards the
Richard III (second from the left) and the end of the 1400s had a profound effect on its
Earl of Warwick (far right) were bitter rivals population. Introduced by William Caxton, an
during Edward IV’s conflict-ridden reign English merchant, in 1476, the printing press
allowed the mass production of everything
from literary works to pamphlets. He was also
“In August 1485, news reached the king one of the first to do so in English.
Wales with an army” were far from an uncommon sight in the mid
to late 1400s. The Black Death had ravaged
England at the beginning of the century,
reducing the population by a third. Continued
Titulus Regius, a legal document that confirmed York (the older sister of the imprisoned, and now famine from failed crops and harvests also
him as the true successor to his brother’s crown. possibly deceased, Princes in the Tower), effectively kept the population at a throttled low.
After decades of warring against one king and forming a union that would end the costly Wars
working with another, Richard was finally the one of the Roses. When Richard discovered that one of Agricultural changes
sat on the throne. However, there would be little his trusted political allies, the Duke of Buckingham, Continued bad weather wrecked many a
time to rest or recuperate. Rebellion was in the air. had sided with the rebels, the king marched to crop in the late 1400s, forcing a significant
change in the way Englishmen worked the
Even though living in exile, the presence of meet them. The uprising had largely fallen apart
land. Landowners struggled to find labour
Henry Tudor loomed large in Richard’s mind. – due to disintegrating support in the wake of to till their land as workers spread to acquire
Despite the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury military action and a storm that forced Henry smallholdings of their own. This period also
severely wounding the House of Lancaster’s hold Tudor to return to his exile in France – but it was saw the rise of enclosures as many farmers
in England, it still boasted allies and potential an ominous glimpse into what was to come. focused on pasturing.
military outlets overseas and Richard knew it was In August 1485, news reached the king that
only a matter of time before the Lancastrian upstart Henry Tudor had arrived in West Wales with an Livery and maintenance
would rally enough support to land an invasion army of a few hundred men (most of whom were The Wars of the Roses had a huge effect on
and challenge the king for his crown. So it was no French mercenaries, rather than loyal English England, especially among its nobles. The
breakdown of royal authority would lead lords
surprise when Tudor’s name began popping up soldiers). Richard immediately began mobilising
and nobles to offer ‘livery and maintenance’,
amid rumours of a rebellion in late 1483. Reports all of his forces, recalling every loyal noble with a whereby a lower class would receive
suggest conspirators were in support of Henry standing military force to join his march on the protection for wearing their colours (livery)
taking the throne and marrying Elizabeth of Lancastrian incursion. As Henry moved through and bearing arms for them (maintenance).
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1452
l Richard is born l The duke falls l Gaining northern l Governor of the north l Constable of England
Richard III is born as When Richard is just lands The first real position of Richard’s loyalty to his
Richard of York at eight, his father dies at His brother grants power that Richard gains brother during these
Fotheringhay Castle the Battle of Wakefield, him territories across is the role of governor formative years of
in the county of a decisive clash between the land to preside of the north. Richard rule pays dividends.
Northamptonshire. He Yorkist and Lancastrian over. Edward gives holds a strong affinity for He is granted myriad
is the 12th of 13 children forces. The death of him lordships in that part of the country titles during this time,
born to Richard, 3rd the 3rd Duke sends a Richmond (Yorkshire), and proves popular with including Constable of
Duke of York and his wife shockwave through the Pembroke (Wales) its citizens. England and Lord High
Cecily Neville. House of York. and in East Anglia. 2 October 1462 Admiral of England.
2 October 1452 30 December 1460 12 August 1462 17 October 1462
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Richard III
© Classic Image / Alamy; Ivy Close Images / Alamy; 19th era / Alamy; Rasiel Suarez/Wiki Commons; PD; Bill Sibley
him more, he was made governor of the north.
the two armies clash and waited to Established over before it even began, with
This effectively made him the most powerful
see how the conflict would fare. only two short years on the
in 1924, the noble in England.
Despite Richard’s superior throne. Nevertheless, in between
Richard III Society Meanwhile, relations with Scotland were
forces, Henry’s army began to putting down rebellions and rapidly deteriorating. The Scottish king,
turn the tide. With Richard’s aims to re-evaluate the fortifying his kingdom against James III, had learned that Richard’s brother
hold on victory beginning historical interpretation a Lancastrian invasion, Richard had given his permission for the duke to
to slip, Stanley made his was also responsible for a expand his holdings in the north into the south
move. He led his 6,000‑strong
of his actions and number of legislative changes of Scotland. The threat of such a move and
forces straight into the flank demeanour that had a profound effect on his
Richard’s increasing power on the other side
of the border boiled together with Edward’s
of Richard’s army, routing it as subjects. He was the first king of frustration over the failure of the Fotheringhay
Richard attempted to keep the Tudor England to take his coronation oath Treaty (a political arrangement to marry
forces’ advance at bay. With his crown in English, as well as ensuring all laws James’s son to Cecily of York), leading James
hanging in the balance, Richard (who had led his were published in English so that everyone could to declare war in 1480. Edward made Richard
army from the front for the entirety of the battle) read them. He oversaw the enactment of the Land commander of a 20,000-strong army, leading
to years of skirmishes, sieges and showdowns.
spied Henry watching the battle from across Tenure Act that protected landowners from having
Eventually the Scottish king sent his brother,
the field. In a last‑ditch attempt to tip the scales, their lands stolen or sold by others and even the Duke of Albany, to agree a treaty with the
Richard charged across the war zone to meet his introduced the system of ‘bail’ – a factor that forms king in February 1483.
foe but was cut down before he reached him. Tests a well‑known role in our legal system today.
1485
l Edward and Richard l Richard’s power grows l Buckingham’s l Tudor propaganda Battle of l
return from exile Following the disgrace Rebellion While Richard would Bosworth Field
Edward and Richard land of the Earl of Warwick, In the first months always find support in The conflict with
in England and reclaim Richard takes control of of his reign, Richard the North of England, the House of Tudor
York. From this northern most of his assets. He confronts a rebellion his Lancastrian enemies culminates in a huge
base, and with Richard also marries Anne Neville led by former ally the continue to undermine battle between the
as his main military which, collectively, Duke of Buckingham. his regime with two sides. Richard
commander, Edward makes him the second Ultimately it fails skirmishes and incessant leads the charge and
defeats the Lancastrians most powerful man and Buckingham propaganda that is cut down. Henry
at the Battle of Barnet. in England. is executed. undermine his rule. Tudor becomes king.
11 March 1471 May-July 1472 October 1483 April 1485 22 August 1485
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British Royals
1485-1509
Henry VII
A king who won his crown in the maelstrom of
battle, Henry fought throughout his reign to keep it
and establish the mighty Tudor dynasty
A
n invasion force set off from France and for safety. He would not set foot in England again
landed in Wales before heading into the for 14 years and this life of constantly being under
heart of England itself. The year was 1485 threat, of never feeling safe, would affect how he
and at the head of this ragtag army was a ruled when he became king of England. In Brittany
man who, for most of his 28 years on Earth (a duchy independent of both France and England)
had been on the run, had been constantly looking Henry was under the protection of Francis II,
over his shoulder and unable to find peace. This who resisted Edward’s attempts to send Henry to
man was called Henry Tudor and when he first set England and in the process probably saved his life.
foot on the wet sand of Wales, he is said to have It was Edward himself who died unexpectedly in
fallen to his knees and uttered, “Judge me 1483 and Richard of Gloucester, who would
O Lord and favour my cause.” It was become Richard III, took control and
unsurprising that he was praying, imprisoned Edward’s two sons in
for the odds seemed stacked the Tower of London. To this day,
against him; his claim to the Henry and debate still rages about what
throne was weak and the Elizabeth had eight exactly happened to them, but
army of the king of England, there was no doubt that Richard
Richard III, was much stronger
children, but only four was now in control of England.
than his own. survived through Richard was now king,
There were two reasons to adulthood but many were unhappy that
why the force landed in Wales Edward’s sons wouldn’t get the
– Henry wanted to remain chance to succeed their father. This
undetected for as long as possible to increasing political division in England
give him time to build up support and it meant that, after years in the wilderness,
was also the land where he had been born in 1457, Henry was thrust back into the political spotlight
at Pembroke Castle. The man who would go on to with many believing he should assert his claim
found the Tudor dynasty was born to an earl and to the throne. This situation was managed with
a countess and had a minor claim to the throne what would become typical political cunning by
through his mother, Lady Margaret of Beaufort, Henry, who announced that if he did return and
a descendant of Edward III. Despite this tenuous become king then he would marry Elizabeth of
royal lineage, by the early 1470s he was the main York and thus unite the two warring houses. When
Lancastrian claimant remaining, as the Wars of the he learned that Richard was exerting pressure on
Roses – a battle for the crown between the houses Francis to release his rival to him, Henry escaped
of Lancaster and York that began in 1455 and saw to France dressed as a servant. It was in Paris that
the fortunes of the two rival houses ebb and flow – his supporters gathered around him and made
had resulted in the deaths of the rest. their plans for an invasion of England and to put
When the course of the War of Roses changed to an end to the Yorkist king who had only been
again in 1471 with the reclaiming of the throne by sitting on the throne for two years. On 7 August
the Yorkist king Edward IV, Henry fled to Brittany 1485 Henry landed at Milton Haven Waterway in
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Henry VII
HENRY VII
Wales, 1457-1509
75
British Royals
Henry’s
father,
Edmund Tudor,
died three months
before Henry
was born
“Henry’s forces were in danger of being usurper and ensuring that everyone who had
opposed Henry could in the future be tried with
overwhelmed when William Stanley treason. His marriage to Elizabeth of York, daughter
of Edward IV, united the warring houses of the
threw his men into battle and instructed white rose of York and the red of Lancaster and led
to the creation of a powerful symbol: the Tudor
them to attack Richard” rose, which incorporated the two colours. He also
commissioned the first ever pound coin, a gold
Wales and said his prayer to God while kneeling on the public glare. Against all odds, the man who sovereign with an image of Henry sitting on a
the wet sand of the beach. had been living in exile for most of his life had throne in all his splendour on the obverse and a
Henry’s invasion force didn’t stay secret for long won. The crown was his, but Henry knew that if Tudor double rose on the reverse.
and soon Richard’s larger army was in pursuit he had won it in battle then he could also lose it in While these symbols were powerful propaganda
and eventually intercepted Henry’s forces south of battle. The struggle to keep hold of his crown and tools, important in trying to legitimise the new
Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. On 22 August establish a legacy had only just begun. Tudor rule, they were nothing compared to the
what would turn out to be the last confrontation All the years that Henry had spent in exile importance of producing a male heir. So when,
of the Wars of the Roses took place as the two had robbed him of an intimate knowledge of the in 1486, Prince Arthur was born to Henry and
rivals met each other on the battlefield. Henry’s workings of a royal court, but had made him a Elizabeth, the new king could breathe a little easier.
forces were in danger of being overwhelmed when sharp observer and his keen mind immediately While the nation rejoiced at the birth of the prince,
William Stanley, who had been watching from the grasped how important appearances were; it was who had been named after the mythical king of
sidelines, threw his men into battle and instructed not enough to just be king – he had to look, act Camelot, there were still those who weren’t buying
them to attack Richard. This action by one of the and sound like a king. It is often said that history is into Henry’s image of the legitimacy of the Tudors.
most powerful men in the land was the decisive written by the victors and following his coronation In 1487 a rebellion began in Ireland around a boy
moment in the battle and the king of England was on 30 October, that is exactly what Henry did. called Lambert Simnel who claimed to be the
cut down, murdered by common men, battered He used his first parliament to change the date Yorkist Earl of Warwick, son of Edward IV’s brother
to death and then stripped naked and taken to that he became king to a day before the Battle of George, Duke of Clarence. The force invaded
Leicester, where his dead body was exposed to Bosworth, thereby making Richard the attempted England but was no match for Henry’s battle-
76
Henry VII
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Defining moment
Invasion of England
1485
Henry and a small invasion force, made up mostly
of foreign mercenaries and exiled Englishmen, land
in Wales and try to muster support. Henry’s army
eventually numbers around 5,000, but Richard III
soon learns of its presence and Henry is forced to
fight at Bosworth Field on 22 August. Richard’s
army gradually begins to grind down the opposition.
However, when nobleman William Stanley instructs
A coin produced his forces to attack Richard, the tide of the battle
turns. Henry is crowned king on the bloody battlefield The battle saw Henry’s 5,000
during Henry’s troops take on an army that was
reign – the king and makes his way from Bosworth to the capital and
almost double in size
Timeline
had a well-known his new throne.
love of money
1457
l Henry is born l Edward IV l Princes in the Tower l Uniting two l Revolt
The future king is becomes king When Edward dies, houses A group of
born in Pembroke When the Yorkist Richard places his Henry marries Yorkists crown
Castle to Edmund Edward regains two sons in the Elizabeth of York Lambert Simnel as
Tudor and the throne, Tower – they are on 18 January Edward VI and land
Margaret Beaufort. Henry flees to never seen again. 1486. This in England. Henry’s
The only drops of Brittany, where Richard is crowned action unites army defeats them
royal blood in his he will stay for king but his actions the two warring in battle in Stoke
veins are through the best part of mean that many houses of York and so he keeps
his mother’s side. 14 years. don’t support him. and Lancaster. his crown.
1457 1471 1483 1486 1487
78
Henry VII
1509
l Namesake born l Intercursus l Death of a l Scottish union
Elizabeth gives Magnus prince Henry marries his daughter
birth to their This trade treaty with Arthur, Henry’s Margaret off to the
second son on the Netherlands, a first-born, Scottish king James IV.
28 June. He will key market for the dies just six This is an attempt to end
go on to become export of British months after the fighting between
Henry VIII, one of wool, is seen as his marriage the two nations and the
the most famous one of Henry’s to Catherine of marriage is part of an
British monarchs most important Aragon. He is just agreement called ‘The
of all time. achievements. 16 years old. treaty of Perpetual Peace.’
1491 1496 1502 1503
79
British Royals
He had grown up
with stories of the
great Henry V – the
hero of Agincourt – and
dreamed of such
battles
1509-1547
Henry VIII
In pursuing dreams of victory in France,
Henry blundered into a Europe in chaos and
condemned England to decades of war
H
enry VIII was born dreaming of war. When
HENRY VIII he took the throne in April 1509, with his
English, 1491-1547
bride Catherine of Aragon at his side, Henry
knew exactly what kind of king he wanted to
As king, Henry spent
lavishly, courted be. His would be a glorious reign that would
Brief conflict and pursued restore England to the magnificence it deserved.
Bio his own leisurely
His father, Henry VII, had become unpopular by
interests. His most
enduring legacy is that, to levying punishing taxes to restore the country’s
annul his marriage to Catherine finances, but the new king had no intention of
of Aragon, Henry separated
England from the Catholic focusing on matters as petty as the treasury. He
church. However, he is still would be a conqueror.
better known for his six wives By the end of his life, Henry was a bloated and
and how he rid himself of five.
frustrated mockery of the athletic youth that he
had once been. He had grown up jousting, riding
and hunting, and would often participate in
chivalry tournaments in disguise. He had grown
up hearing the stories of the great Henry V – the
hero of Agincourt – and had dreamed of the battles
that years of peace had deprived him of. He was
determined that he would repeat his ancestor’s
triumphs in France and expand England’s territory
beyond Calais – perhaps even as far as Paris. He
wholly believed that France belonged to him and
– fortunately for the English monarch – he did not
have to wait long to stake his claim.
Henry had grown up in years of stultifying
peace thanks to his father’s treaties with France
and Aragon in Spain. Meanwhile, just across the
Channel, the continent was in the throes of war.
80
Henry VIII
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British Royals
Debacle at Gascony
June 1512
Ferdinand II of Aragon, depicted here
surviving an assassination attempt in
1492, was a no-show when it came to
marching on Aquitaine with England
Henry’s only concern prior to the the Spanish king’s own interests. The
expedition to Gascony was that he Marquis’s troops quarrelled with the
couldn’t be there. It was the first few Spanish forces that they had been
attack on France during his reign and given and many of his men succumbed
it should have been the first step in a to dysentery. As a result of all this, he
glorious campaign. Henry was all too had no choice but to retreat.
eager to ally himself with his father- Although Henry can’t be blamed for
in-law, Ferdinand II, who had similar the failure of this attack, it shows the
ambitions to claim French territory. Holy League for what it really was. The
Both kings had joined the Holy League, kings were fighting with the pope’s
which had been created in response to blessing and the glory of God, but they
France’s military activity in Italy. The were all out for themselves. Once the
League had decided that Ferdinand fighting started, each monarch was
and Henry should attack together and really only interested in what land
it should have been an impressive they could claim – their allies only
display of force. functioned as a bank and backup.
The Marquis of Dorset was given
control of the English forces and the
invaders were due to march with Verdict
Ferdinand on Aquitaine. However, The forced retreat enraged Henry,
once the Marquis set foot on dry pushing him towards leading his own
land, he discovered that the Spanish attack, and also sowed the seeds of
king had not kept his word. Instead, distrust that would come more
Ferdinand was occupied with his own prominently to the fore throughout his
attack on Navarre, which better served further campaigns.
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Royal Navy
The Mary Rose looked like
a traditional warship, with
a low middle between high
‘castles’ on either end, but it
was significantly bigger. The
design added a further tier
of broadside guns, and the
Henry might be known as the founder of the hull grew narrower as it went
Royal Navy but its creation had begun during up in what was known as a
the reign of Henry VII. Five royal warships had tumblehome structure.
been built by the time Henry VIII took the
throne, but the young king wanted more from
his military might.
Henry knew that Scotland had invested in
their own navy and that he was potentially
facing a two-pronged attack by sea. Henry
ordered the construction of two great
warships: the infamous Mary Rose (which
embarrassingly and mysteriously sank while
leading the defence against the French at the
Solent) and the Peter Pomegranate. Henry’s
ambition knew no limits and the English Navy
would be the biggest, the most advanced and
the most fearsome. He equipped his ships
with the latest guns and the heaviest cannons,
while employing new innovations like hinged
gun ports. By the end of Henry’s reign, his
fleet numbered 58.
Enormous gunships aside, perhaps the
most important innovations Henry made to
the navy were on land. He created the first
naval dock in Portsmouth, he gave the Grant Hold
of the Royal Charter to Trinity House (which The hold was where food was stored
and prepared, and the ballast was kept
developed beacons, buoys and lighthouses), to ensure the Mary Rose stayed on an
and he created the Navy Board and the Office even keel. There would also have been
of Admiralty. Henry is known as the father of a bilge pump to expel water, although
it obviously wasn’t enough to keep the
the Royal Navy because he didn’t just bulk up Mary Rose from sinking.
its muscle, he created its backbone.
1513 when the French attacked in the Battle of allowing such a challenge to go unanswered. Holy Roman Emperor (adding Spain and a huge
the Spurs. The light French cavalry were unable An army was raised and met the Scots on 9 portion of Italy to his kingdom). Wolsey, aware
to withstand the combined forces of the invaders September. The English victory was brutally of the financial sinkhole that the wars had been,
and fled. Henry claimed the day as a great victory, decisive and King James was killed. The gleeful worked hard to keep the peace. He managed to put
which was consolidated when Thérouanne queen sent the fallen monarch’s quills to paper with the Treaty of
surrendered on 22 August. The subsequent capture bloody cloak to her husband in THOMAS MORE London in 1518, while friendship
of Tournai was just as important to Henry, and France, with the message: “In this English, 1478-1535 would be forged at the Field of the
he kept that town as an English stronghold while your Grace shall see how I keep Cloth of Gold on 7 June 1520. The
giving Thérouanne to Maximilian as a gesture of my promise, sending you for your Thomas More plan was that Henry and Francis
trained as a lawyer
their allegiance. banners a king’s coat.” Henry was would spend a week enjoying
and nearly became
What had Henry actually achieved? He’d taken conquering his enemies abroad, a monk before the festivities and settling their
two towns from the French, but Paris was a long while his queen was seeing off entering Henry’s differences, while Wolsey met with
employ in 1517,
way away. Nothing he’d done would tip the scales attackers at home. Charles V. It did not go according
in either direction, but this was just the beginning. Sadly for the warrior king, Brief taking on a variety of
roles from interpreter to plan.
Henry was in his element. He was re-enacting peace was just around the corner, Bio to writer and chief For all of Wolsey’s good
diplomat. The two
the glories of Henry V and who knew how far he whether Henry wanted it or not. quickly became close confidants intentions, this attempt at
could go? Even as Henry celebrated his victories in He had been acting as a war chest and More was knighted four friendship was doomed from the
years later, before becoming
France, trouble at home soon threatened to bring to his allies and England’s coffers start. Henry had never wanted
the speaker of the House of
everything to a halt. All too aware of the English were so depleted that there was Commons in 1523. It was his peace to start with, and Francis
forces currently on their soil, the French reached simply no way that he could strong Catholic faith that would had no intention of bowing
prove his downfall. Although
out to King James IV of Scotland and suggested carry on alone. He would have to he was made lord chancellor in down to his English counterpart.
that this might be the perfect opportunity to make peace. The next few years 1529, he rejected the formation Ambitious, stubborn and proud,
mount an attack of their own. James marched presented Henry with a new of the Church of England with the two men were too similar
Henry at its head, so resigned
south to Flodden Ridge with his armies to await potential ally, and a new enemy. soon after. His refusal to accept for any attempts at friendship to
the English. The ambitious Francis I took the the new denomination would work. After the first meeting was
lead to his arrest and eventual
While England may have seemed weak, Queen French crown, while the Austrian concluded, the two kings engaged
execution on 6 July 1535.
Catherine, acting as regent, had no intention of King Charles V was elected in a week of oneupmanship and
84
Henry VIII the warlord
Henry VIII
Gun ports
Although no one knows
for sure why the Mary
Rose sank, it’s believed
that water came in
through the open gun
ports, possibly due to a
sudden gust of wind. The
great number and weight
of the guns
on the ship meant that
the ports were lower
down and it’s possible
they were not kept shut.
Big crew
Despite its size, conditions
on the Mary Rose would
have been cramped to
say the least. When it was
sent to war, 400 or so
men would have shared
the space, including up to
30 gunners, 200 sailors
Guns
85
British Royals
Henry and his English forces had been laying siege to attacked the invaders’ positions. However, word had battle of his campaign. He celebrated it but the actual
the town of Thérouanne since July 1513. Following the reached the Holy League’s camp of the planned attack gains from the Battle of the Spurs and the subsequent
embarrassment at Gascony, he had finally arrived in and a trap had been prepared, leading to a brutal fall of Thérouanne would impress nothing but his ego.
France to lead his army to great conquest. He camped skirmish. It was an attack that was ultimately doomed At great financial expense, Henry’s dreams of Agincourt
close, but not too close to the city, and laid siege. A to fail, with Henry and Maximilian’s combined forces came a little closer.
stalemate ensued until French action on 16 August coming to roughly 30,000 men. The speed with which
tipped the scales. the surviving French rode away led to the name of Verdict
The French forces had seen Maximilian’s Holy Roman the battle. The victory at the Battle of the Spurs did more
Army join Henry’s and decided that the time had come It was not a significant military victory in any other for Henry’s ego than it did for the outcome of his
to attempt a counterattack. On the morning of 16 term than morale. Henry had been looking for a victory campaign, essentially proving to be an incredibly
August, French light cavalry, a few thousand strong, to claim in France, and this encounter was the first real expensive display.
86
Henry VIII
The Siege of Boulogne Charles Brandon, First Duke of Suffolk, was left to
defend Boulogne after Henry returned to England
19 July – 18 September 1544
The Siege of Boulogne would be the into months. Henry wrote to his wife
closest thing to an unqualified victory (number six, Catherine Parr) praising
that Henry would get in all his years of the strength of his opponents, but it
war with France. However, the conquest was only a matter of time before the
of a single city at tremendous expense French were forced to surrender, which
tells us that unqualified is not really they did after Henry’s forces tunnelled
the most accurate adjective to use. beneath the walls.
Henry had been waiting for an excuse However, Henry’s triumph would be
to resume hostilities with France and short-lived. He learned that Charles,
he eagerly joined his old ally (and old fearful of the Ottoman threat and caring
enemy) Charles V when war broke out little about Henry’s personal ambition,
in 1544. He raised a huge invasion force had made his own peace treaty with
to set sail across the Channel. France without England. Henry returned
The English force was split into two;=, home to attend to Scotland, leaving
attacking Montreuil and Boulogne, with Boulogne occupied, and Francis began
Henry himself joining the latter. While preparations for a counterattack.
the attack on Montreuil failed, the Siege
of Boulogne, though lengthy, would Verdict
result in success. The siege began on 19 Henry may have taken the city, but
July and the English forces quickly took the financial cost was enormous.
the lower part of the city. However, they Although Charles’s treaty led to threats
were unable to breach the castle walls of a French invasion, Francis’s attempts
and the siege stretched from weeks ultimately failed.
to take charge of the siege which lasted from July threat but, fortunately for Henry, the attack was a property that no one before him had been able
until September when the city fell. He basked in dismal failure and Francis was forced to retreat. The to claim. He saw himself as the king who would
the glory of a French city claimed, but his elation Treaty of Camp brought an end to the years of war bring it under English rule, and it was a childhood
was short-lived. Henry was forced to turn his in Henry’s reign, as England, France, Scotland and dream that became an adult delusion. By joining
attention back to Scotland, where a rebellion had the Holy Roman Empire agreed to peace in 1546. with allies who had no interest in his dream, and
sprung up. His retaliation was so brutal that it He died a year later, sickly, angry and defeated. reacting rashly to insults, real and imagined, Henry
became known as the ‘Rough Wooing’. So what does Henry VIII’s history as a military spent many years at war with little to show for it.
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British Royals
EDWARD VI
England, 1537-1553 Although
legend has it
Edward VI was Henry
VIII’s third child but
that Edward was
Brief first son, and as such sickly and bookish,
Bio was the first in line
he enjoyed sport and
to the throne. Taking
the crown at the tender age
of nine, much of his rule was military exercise and
dictated by his council, but his
passionate Protestant beliefs
the challenge it
helped continue the Protestant gave him
Reformation. His desire to rule
was growing when he died of
tuberculosis at 15.
1547-1553
Edward VI
The story of Henry VIII’s only son, the child king
who left his mark on his kingdom in the face of
power-hungry nobles and religious turmoil
E
dward VI’s birth was a blessing. For years, In 1544, Henry went to fight in France and
Henry VIII had been desperate for a son to Edward began his education at court. A prodigious
carry on his legacy. Catherine of Aragon had student, Edward’s abilities were impressive and he
not been able to give him this; nor, despite her was encouraged by his stepmother Katherine Parr
many charms, had Anne Boleyn. It would be (whom Henry had left in charge of his household),
Jane Seymour who gave Henry his male successor, but more serious duties loomed. As Henry’s death
but this triumph was tempered with tragedy. Two approached, he created a council to assist his
days after giving birth, the queen fell ill and she young son. It was led by a power-hungry Edward
passed away two weeks later. Seymour, Duke of Somerset, whose role as protector
Despite his pride in his Edward, Henry would be was approved by the council led by the canny Sir
absent for much of his son’s childhood, who would William Paget, ignoring the late king’s will.
remember being brought up “among the women.” Acting more as ruler than advisor, Somerset’s
Much of the familial affection that Edward enjoyed lust for power led to unrest at court and his own
came from his devoted half-sister Mary, daughter of brother Thomas schemed against him by marrying
Catherine of Aragon. Security around the boy was Katherine Parr, attempting to seduce Elizabeth,
incredibly strict (no one ranked lower than a knight and literally bribing Edward to win his affection.
was allowed near him) while an attack of quartan Thomas’s efforts to gain power grew desperate
fever in 1541 created a terrible panic. However, when Katherine died after giving birth and he was
Edward recovered, and by the age of six had begun caught trying to break into Edward’s rooms. He was
to spend more time with his father. executed for treason 20 March 1549, another strike
88
Edward VI
89
British Royals
Lady Grey’s
body was buried
under the altar of
the Tower’s Chapel
Royal of St Peter ad
Vincula
J
ane Grey’s tumultuous encounter with the plot to kidnap Edward VI, the plan was foiled. Jane
throne began when she was just nine years returned to her true love, her studies, at Bradgate
old. Jane had always inhabited a place at the house, her childhood home.
edges of the court, but it was not until she was An advantageous marriage was still inevitable for
nine that she entered the court of Katherine Jane and, soon enough, another suitor appeared in
Parr, Henry VIII’s surviving wife, in spring 1547. Her the strapping form of young Lord Guildford Dudley.
father became Duke of Suffolk and the influence of The son of Edward VI’s lord president the Duke of
the Protestant, academic court moulded the already Northumberland (who would consolidate his power
intelligent Jane (who at such a young age, could by arranging a successful marriage), Guildford’s
already speak and write Latin and Greek) into a high birth and position of influence weren’t enough
devoted religious scholar. to sway Jane. She was adamant that she didn’t
This intense intelligence and fierce religious want to marry him, until her parents forcefully
fervour made Jane seem mature beyond her years, persuaded her. According to them, this was an
but it did not mean she was not vulnerable to opportunity too good to miss: despite Guildford’s
the Machiavellian figures who prowled the court young, petulant and spoilt attitude, how could
pursuing their own agendas. Katherine’s new she spurn the chance to consolidate her claim to
husband Thomas Seymour, one of Edward VI’s the throne, continuing the Protestant line that the
maternal uncles, planned to marry her to the dying Edward VI was so keen to preserve?
young king himself. However, when Seymour was On 25 May 1553 Jane and Guildford were married
beheaded for 33 counts of treason after an alleged at Durham House, London. Guildford was pleased
90
Lady Jane Grey
that his attempt at the crown was in motion, and soon become her prison. By 12 July news arrived
Jane went back to her parents’ London home. The that Princess Mary was prepared to put up a fight
duchess of Northumberland was impatient, though, for the throne. She had gathered support in East
and convinced Jane that she should prepare herself Anglia and the country’s Catholics were readying
to be crowned. themselves to stand with her. Jane’s father, Duke of
When Edward VI died on 6 July, Jane was Suffolk, planned to suppress the rebellion in East
recovering at the royal manor in Chelsea from Anglia, but Jane wouldn’t let him leave her side and
an illness that she was convinced was a result of so Northumberland was sent in his stead.
poisoning. It was a paranoid start to what would Northumberland was at his lowest ebb, lacking
be a fateful fortnight for the prospective queen. supporters and being out of general favour. He
One of Northumberland’s daughters informed failed in his mission and was brought back to the Blindfolded at her execution, Jane struggled
to find the block on which to lay her head
Jane that she had been chosen by Edward VI as Tower as a prisoner. The tide had turned on Jane
his successor, and she was reportedly so shocked and the crown was now Mary’s for the taking.
by the news that she fell to the ground weeping, Three days later, Mary was proclaimed queen Life in the time
declaring her own “insufficiency”, but praying that
if the position was “rightfully and lawfully” hers,
throughout the country.
At first, Mary would not allow Jane to be of Jane Grey
that she would be granted “grace to govern the executed, driven by her conscience to keep the girl
realm to his [God’s] glory and service.” alive. Jane spent a month in comfortable residence
16th Century education
Education was not compulsory in the 16th
Far from a distressed and fragile girl, Jane with the Tower’s gentleman jailer, Partridge, Century, but was an integral part of life for
pressed on with resolve. She recovered who afforded her dignity and treated royalty and privileged members of society.
from her illness and the very next She was her with respect. All seemed well Jane’s education was particularly thorough,
day processed in state down the considering the tumultuous events covering Latin, French, Greek and Italian, as
river Thames to the Tower, with
named after before, and Jane was grateful to well as needlework, music and philosophy.
Guildford eagerly by her side. No Jane Seymour, Mary for sparing her life. When She was known to be studious and particularly
pious, which was part of what made her an
matter how much he insisted, wife of her great- Jane and Guildford were tried for attractive claimant to the throne.
Jane was adamant that she uncle Henry VIII treason on 19 November, they
would not proclaim him king,
and mother of
were condemned, but both their A legitimate claim
reputedly quipping that “the crown lives spared. Confusion was placed over the next in line to
is not a plaything for boys and girls.” Edward VI In early 1554, however, came the throne, as both Mary and Elizabeth had
Jane later wrote that this was the Thomas Wyatt’s rebellion. Jane’s father been declared illegitimate by Parliament in
moment when she realised the extent foolishly joined the rebel ranks against 1536. When Mary did take the throne, she
passed an act overturning the declaration,
to which her marriage had been a fraud. The the marriage of Mary and Philip of Spain and, in
and so legitimised herself. Elizabeth, however,
persuasion from Northumberland, bullying from the process, gave Mary and her supporters a reason never did so.
her mother and father – it had all been in pursuit of to suspect his motives and fear once again the
the crown for Northumberland and son. She held threat of his daughter as the ‘past queen’. Wyatt’s rebellion
her position steadfastly in the face of the family With this act of rebellion, Suffolk sealed his Jane was considerately treated in the tower
argument that ensued and she refused to concede daughter’s fate. On 12 February 1554, Jane waited until her father sealed her fate by joining
the crown to her husband. until she had seen the disembodied head of her Wyatt’s rebellion. The rebellion was led by
Jane was proclaimed queen at the Cross husband pass in a cart to face her own execution. nobles, including Wyatt, who was from Kent.
The rebellion was in response to the marriage
in Cheapside, while Bishop Ridley of London She was led to the yard on the arm of the Tower’s
of Mary I to Philip of Spain, as the nobles
supported her rightful claim to the throne in a lieutenant, steely-faced and composed. Upon feared that the Spanish influence would seep
sermon at St Paul’s Cross. It should have been a the erected scaffold, she spoke to the gathered into Mary’s rule, but without the support of
jovial time, but the mood was unusually subdued. crowd, imploring them to recognise her as a good the people, the rebellion failed.
The accession was recorded and proclaimed across Christian woman, and to pray for her while she was
the kingdom, but there was no rejoicing. It was still alive. She was given a handkerchief to cover An obsession with time
clear that trouble was brewing. her eyes, and she fumbled to find the block in her Jane Grey reportedly had a fondness for
clocks and watches, as shown by the number
Residing at the Tower of London to prepare for panic. With one swift blow to the neck, Jane and
of timepieces delivered to her while she was
her coronation, Jane was unaware that it would her dalliance with the throne were finished. in the Tower. Many of these were incredibly
ornate, including one described as being of
“sable skin with a head of gold, containing in it
a clock, with a collar of gold, enamelled black,
The nine days queen set with four diamonds, and four rubies.”
Less than 24 hours into her nine-day reign, Jane Watches had been in use since around the
was visited by the lord treasurer, bringing her 1520s, worn at the belt by wealthy women.
a selection of jewels. When she was presented
with the crown for resizing, she hesitated: there The first queen?
would be no turning back once it was on her head. There are three women in contention for the
Jane herself sent for 20 yards of velvet, 25 ells title of ‘first female ruler of Britain’, and Jane
(a contemporary unit of measurement) of fine is one. Some argue that the 12th Century’s
Holland linen and 33 ells of lining material. What Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, was the
she did not do, however, was make herself known first, though she was never crowned. Others
to the people. When Mary became queen, Jane give the title to Mary I, perhaps due to the
did not protest or rebel – proof, perhaps, that brevity of Jane’s reign. Indeed, Mary was first
she never wanted the burden of the role that had to reign in her own right, but the fact remains
been forced upon her. that Jane was the first queen crowned.
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British Royals
1553-1558 MARY I
England, 1516–1558
Mary I
The first legitimate queen regnant of England, Mary
Brief
Bio
Few monarchs are
quite as notorious as
Henry VIII’s eldest
daughter. Raised
as a devout Roman
Catholic, her faith burned hot
during the religious upheaval
of the Reformation, leading
to a purge of beheadings and
burnings when she finally took
the crown. Yet despite the
was a devout Catholic whose love for her nation ‘Bloody’ moniker, Mary was a
complicated woman.
O
f all the dynasties to rule over England authority over the English crown. Henry then
and its territories, few were as varied and appointed himself supreme head of the English
impactful as the house of Tudor. Mary I, church and deemed his union to Catherine void. As
the first English queen to reign in her own a result, she was stripped of her title as queen and
right, was no exception. The eldest daughter demoted to dowager princess of Wales, while Mary
of Henry VIII, she was defined by the turbulent lost her princess status and instead gained the title
religious metamorphosis England experienced ‘The Lady Mary’. With her mother’s marriage to the
in the early 1500s. In a time when religion and king in ruins, Mary was deemed illegitimate and no
politics were inextricably intertwined, Mary would longer the heir apparent to the throne.
become a monarch so driven by her beliefs that The year 1536 was another eventful one for
she would murder hundreds of her own subjects Mary. Her mother Catherine passed away on
in order to restore the sanctity of her own realm. 7 January. A few months later, tired of his second
But who was the woman behind the name ‘Bloody wife’s inability to provide him with a son, Henry
Mary’? Was she really a bloodthirsty tyrant? Or had Anne disgraced and eventually executed
was she a product of a country divided for a multitude of crimes. That year
by the distinctions of its faith? Mary also saw the Pilgrimage of Grace, a
The answers find their roots political movement in the North of
in her early years. Born on loved music England that demanded the Act of
18 February 1516, Mary was the as a child and even Supremacy be repealed and Mary
daughter of Henry VIII and his entertained a group be reinstated as heir apparent
first wife Catherine of Aragon. – the rebellion came to nothing
Henry, a man not to be denied
of French delegates by thanks to the king’s merciless
any desire, desperately wanted playing the virginal reaction, but it proved that
a son and heir to secure the (harpsichord) at the Mary would always serve as a
house of Tudor’s hold on the age of four figurehead for loyal papist plotters.
English throne – however, a series Mary attempted to create some
of miscarriages and the birth of a distance between herself and the
daughter only served to push the king marital affairs of her father in the years that
further away from his Spanish queen. His pursuit followed, but she remained the trump card of many
of Catherine’s maid of honour, Anne Boleyn, a Catholic plot, including a supposed attempted
when Mary was around ten years old, would push marriage to Reginald Pole (an English cardinal
Catherine further out of favour with Henry’s court – who would eventually serve as archbishop of
and the young princess along with her. Canterbury under Mary’s own reign). Mary enjoyed
In early 1533, something happened that few something of a better relationship with her father’s
could have predicted. Having already secretly sixth and final wife, Katharine Parr. Parr did her
married Anne Boleyn in January, and enraged at best to repair Mary’s relationship with the king,
the pope’s refusal to annul his first marriage to with Henry eventually signing a revised Act of
Catherine on the grounds it was unlawful in the Succession in 1544, which restored both Mary and
eyes of God, Henry defied Rome and ended papal Elizabeth as his heirs.
92
Mary I
Throughout
her life, Mary
was an avid gambler.
Records of her personal
accounts show she
regularly bet money
on card games
93
British Royals
Timeline
secures Anglicanism as the one true faith in the kingdom.
1516
l A princess is born l Mary is betrothed l Another engagement ensues l Princess of Wales
Daughter of King Henry VIII In order to establish stable With the potential marriage to Mary is sent to Ludlow to
and his first wife, Catherine ties with France, Henry the French king’s young son in preside over the Council of
of Aragon, Princess Mary betroths the two-year-old tatters, Henry is still determined Wales and the Marches. She is
is born at the Palace of princess to the Dauphin of to use his daughter as a pawn in only really there to represent
Placentia in Greenwich, France, the infant son of another political alliance. Now six the king while his courtiers
London. She is the first the French king, Francis I. years old, Mary is betrothed to preside for her. She is referred
of many pregnancies not Despite the potential marry her second cousin, Holy to as the Princess of Wales at
to end in miscarriage for strength of the arrangement, Roman Emperor Charles V. This this time, but is never officially
the queen. it falls apart three years later. too falls apart a few years later. granted the title by the king.
18 February 1516 1518 1522 1525
94
Mary I
1702
l Mary is crowned
After riding into London in
l The false pregnancy l Burning Protestants Defining moment
Around September 1554 At the beginning of 1555, the
August with her half-sister Mary’s menstruation cycle restoration of Roman Catholicism The queen is dead
Elizabeth and 800 supporting
nobles, Mary releases the
stops – she then begins gaining
weight as well as dealing with
in England leads to the return of
the Heresy Acts. With religious
17 November 1558
As 1557 draws to a close, Mary appears to fall pregnant yet again. Sadly it
imprisoned Stephen Gardiner, bouts of nausea. Mary takes doctrine on her side, Mary starts
bishop of Winchester, whom this as a sign of pregnancy, executing Protestant nobles. proves to be another phantom term and the queen is forced to make the
she makes lord chancellor. but her belly recedes more Burning at the stake is the most defining decision of her reign. In 1558 she names Elizabeth as her lawful
She is crowned by Gardiner at than a year later. It was a prevalent method and around successor. Mary falls ill during an influenza pandemic that is gripping
Westminster Abbey. phantom pregnancy. 290 are executed in the purge. London. It’s not known whether it was the influenza that took her life or
1 October 1553 Sep 1554 – Oct 1555 February 1555 ongoing complications with ovarian cysts and uterine cancer.
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British Royals
ELIZABETH I
British, 1533 – 1603
96
Elizabeth I
1558-1603
Elizabeth I
She fought off foreign invasions and domestic rebellions,
but did she really preside over a golden age?
I
n 1588, against the advice of her most trusted regarded the king’s divorce of Catherine of Aragon
aides, Elizabeth I rode out on her grey gelding to as illegal. In their eyes, Catherine’s daughter Mary
address her troops gathered at Tilbury in Essex was the only rightful heir to the throne.
in preparation of repelling the expected invasion Although both parents had been desperate for a
force of the Spanish Armada. Looking out at the boy, Anne would be a doting mother to her infant
assembled faces before her, she delivered a speech child, but she was sent to the executioner’s block
that went down in history: “I know I have the body in 1536 after failing to produce a male heir for her
of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and king. Although Henry’s third wife Jane Seymour
stomach of a king – and of a king of England too.” was kind to Elizabeth and Mary, she had her own
The speech would have to be transcribed and child to attend to with the birth of her son and
redistributed for the soldiers who were unable Henry’s heir, Edward. Henry himself would not
to hear the queen but they had all seen their see much of Elizabeth until 1542, when he decided
monarch, armoured and on her steed, ready to the time had come to reacquaint himself with his
stand by them to repel the Catholic invasion. This young daughter. He found her to be intelligent and
image of Elizabeth has been the key to our popular charming, and decided that he would reinstate
perception of her for centuries, but there’s much both Mary and Elizabeth back into his lineage.
more to her. Elizabeth was cunning and capricious, In 1543, Henry married Catherine Parr, his last
but she could be blinded by affection. She was wife, and relations within the royal family warmed,
tremendously clever, with an almost unfailing as Mary took a maternal interest in young Edward,
sense of what her people needed from her, but while Elizabeth enjoyed a sisterly relationship with
had to see off foreign invasion attempts and both. However, when Edward took the throne
homegrown rebellions. While she was sitting on the upon their father’s death, cracks started to form.
throne the country became acquainted with some First, Elizabeth had to contend with the amorous
of its greatest triumphs and darkest hours. attentions of Catherine’s new husband Thomas
When Elizabeth came to the throne in November Seymour, which caused a scandal at court in 1548.
1558, the whole of Europe was on tenterhooks. How Seymour’s intentions were seen as treasonous, and
would the new Protestant queen follow the reign of Elizabeth was reported to be pregnant. The young
her Catholic sister Mary? With an unstable nation princess denied these rumours, confounding her
and conspiracies at home and abroad, the situation interrogator. “She hath a very good wit and nothing
required diplomacy, intelligence and bravery; three is gotten of her but by great policy,” he wrote. This
qualities which Elizabeth had always had in ample practice would serve her well once Mary took the
supply. The unstable situation was nothing new to throne but not all players were as skilled; Seymour
her; Elizabeth’s position had been precarious from was executed the following year.
the moment she was born. The daughter of Henry When the staunchly Catholic Mary refused to
VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, she was deemed convert, Edward began proceedings to remove
as illegitimate by any Catholic nations, who both his sisters from the line to the throne, fixing
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British Royals
his hopes on his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, instead. with some Catholic supporters clamouring for
However, the prince was seldom in good health her execution. Elizabeth’s future prospects were
during his short life, so it was no surprise that he looking anything but golden, and the next few
died before the contract could be finalised and months saw her walking a political tightrope.
Mary became the new Queen of England. Just as Mary, desperate to provide her husband and her
Edward had asked Mary to change her faith, the country with a Catholic heir to end the uncertainty
new queen was determined that her sister should surrounding the throne, announced that she was
convert. She acquiesced without enthusiasm, but pregnant, but by 1558, it became clear that Mary’s
it was clear to both Protestants and Catholics that condition was not pregnancy, but a devastating
her true allegiance still lay with her father’s Church illness. Her health broke quickly, and she died on
of England rather than the Pope’s Catholic Church. 17 November of that year after begging Elizabeth
Over the course of Mary’s reign, many conspiracy to keep England Catholic once she took the throne.
plots were designed to get Elizabeth onto the Her wishes would not be fulfilled.
throne. None of them succeeded, but they did Elizabeth’s coronation was a stunning balancing
almost manage to get her killed. act. With countless eyes waiting for any hint of an
In 1554, Thomas Wyatt attempted a rebellion overtly Protestant or Catholic gestures, Elizabeth
following the announcement that Mary would managed to confound them all. Instead, the
marry the Spanish king Philip. The queen’s reprisal emphasis was elsewhere: Elizabeth’s intention to
was brutal and swift, executing not only the restore England to a state of prosperity. The new
ringleaders but Jane Grey as well. Elizabeth claimed queen knew that if she was to have any chance of
ignorance, a trick she managed to successfully surviving her early years she would need trusted
repeat a year later after another attempted rebellion and astute advisors, and chose William Cecil and
in 1555, but her sister’s patience was wearing thin Robert Dudley. Cecil had worked for Edward,
and Elizabeth was placed in the Tower of London, survived the reign of Mary and was fiercely loyal
98
Elizabeth I
Picture depicting
the coronation of
Elizabeth I in 1558 Was a religious compromise met?
The Church of England was one of compromise and
middle ground. While Elizabeth was a Protestant,
she didn’t hold the puritanical beliefs of some of
her council members. She introduced the Act of
Portrait of Mary, Supremacy in 1558, which reaffirmed England’s
Queen of Scots, who separation from Rome and established her as the head
was executed after
of the Church. Elizabeth understood the dangers of
being found guilty
of plotting against trying to impose religion and allowed Catholicism to
Elizabeth I continue, provided it took place in secret.
However, Leanda de Lisle reminds us that we should
VS
not forget Elizabeth’s willingness to crack down when
necessary. “Elizabeth’s conservatism and pragmatism Catholic C of E
has seen her described as a religious moderate, in
contrast to the ‘fanatical’ Mary,” she explains. “But as
the new Protestant Queen of a largely Catholic country
1 The services were
held in Latin,
countermanding the
1 The image of the
minister became much
simpler. They were not
Elizabeth was necessarily moderate, and as her reign reformation’s ideal that allowed to wear Roman
grew longer, she proved that, like Mary, she could be everyone should be able Catholic vestments, such
utterly ruthless when faced by a threat. The hundreds to understand. The English as the surplice.
of executions of villagers following the Northern prayer book was banned.
Rebellion far exceeded anything her predecessors had
done in similar circumstances; her later persecution
of Catholics was also relentless and cruel. It is a little- 2 Church furnishings
were restored to their
2 All rood lofts, a
screen portraying the
crucifixion, a common
known fact that she also burned heretics – namely former lavish state and feature in Catholic
Anabaptists – these were far fewer in number than the buildings were now churches, were removed.
Mary’s victims, but then there weren’t that many decorated completely with The Pope was not the
Anabaptists!" She executed both Protestants and Catholic artwork. head of the church.
Catholics for publicly disobeying the laws of the
Church of England. However, events in Europe show
the English Queen in a much more favourable light.
Comparatively, Elizabeth was extremely tolerant. The
3 Catholic Mass was
reintroduced, and
Holy Communion was now
3 The Bishop’s Bible,
which was in English
rather than Latin, was
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris showed banned by law. restored, opening it up to
the fervour with which Catholic Europeans detested a wider readership.
to Elizabeth. In contrast, Dudley’s appointment and
favour with the queen had nothing to do with his
Protestants. She was also much more tolerant than
many of her advisors. 4 The clergy were not
allowed to marry.
Priests who had married 4 There was a
general removal of
abilities as a politician. He had known Elizabeth
since childhood and her affection for him had only
Verdict before the new law came 'superstition', such as
Elizabeth successfully found a moderate middle into effect were given a making the sign of the
grown stronger, and rumours abounded that she ground in a very turbulent time during her reign, but choice of two options: cross during communion.
spent the nights as well as the days with him. would crack down mercilessly if the rules she had laid leave their families or lose Simplicity was what the
Cecil disapproved of Dudley and agreed with down were broken. their job. Puritans strived for.
the majority of Parliament that Elizabeth should
marry as soon as possible. The eyes of France and
Spain were fixed on England and it made sense for
the queen to create a marriage alliance with one “ The queen's reprisal was brutal and
of these major powers for her and the country’s
safety. King Philip II made no secret of his desire
swift, executing not only the
to marry Elizabeth, but she had no interest in
marrying Mary’s former husband. Henry of Anjou
ringleaders but Jane Grey as well”
was suggested as a match, but he was still a child. was Elizabeth showing her political astuteness; gave birth to a son, James, but she was desperately
Elizabeth spoke instead of being married to her she knew well that Scotland with a Catholic heir unhappy. Darnley was a violent, drunken husband:
nation, but scandal struck when Dudley’s wife Amy would have too much power, but an heir produced many believed he brutally murdered her secret
died suddenly after apparently falling down the by her favourite and Mary, Queen of Scots could lover, David Rizzio. Darnley would meet his
stairs in 1560. It was rumoured that Dudley had potentially unite the two countries. However, own nasty end a year later, when he was found
committed the deed for his queen, and Elizabeth Dudley refused and Mary had no interest in strangled in the garden of a house. Mary quickly
was forced to expel him from her court. marrying her cousin’s paramour. married the Earl of Bothwell, the man who had
In 1561, Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary, Queen of Instead, Mary married for love, choosing Lord allegedly murdered Darnley, and Scottish forces rose
Scots, returned to Scotland from France. For Henry Darnley. Seeing this may have prompted against her. Imprisoned and forced to abdicate, she
many Catholics, Mary was the true successor Elizabeth to renew her interest in Dudley, which eventually fled to England. Elizabeth agreed to give
and she did little to downplay those clamouring greatly upset the council, in particular the Mary shelter, but her arrival in the north had given
for a Catholic monarch. Her arrival was perfectly ambitious Lord Norfolk. When the tension between Catholics a figurehead and rebellion brewed.
timed, as Elizabeth was on the verge of death due Norfolk and Dudley grew too great, Elizabeth The northern Earls suggested that Norfolk should
to smallpox. However, she recovered and, with understood that she needed to assert her authority. marry Mary: soon, the Northern Rebellion had
the scandal over Dudley dissipating, Elizabeth “I will have here but one mistress and no master,” begun. As the rebel forces marched south, Elizabeth
chose him to be Lord Protector, bringing him she told Dudley. It was both a political statement moved Mary to Coventry and mustered troops of
back into her court, before shocking everyone by and a personal one. The lack of a husband and her own. The southern Earls rallied to her cause,
suggesting a marriage between him and Mary. This heir was only made worse in 1566 when Mary which stunned the rebel forces, who began to
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British Royals
2. 1585
Following a positive
report, Raleigh dispatches
colonists to settle at
Roanoke in Virginia. By
the time he arrives on a
later ship, the crops have
failed and the English are
desperate to leave.
3. 1587
Raleigh tries again to
establish a colony at
Chesapeake Bay, but
instead the settlers travel 1. 1584
to Roanoke. When Raleigh Walter Raleigh and Richard
arrives, all 150 colonists have Hakluyt convince Elizabeth
disappeared, with only a to fund an expedition to
single skeleton remaining. explore the possibility that
a colony could be founded
on America’s east coast.
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Elizabeth I
for diverse injuries I have received.” Having sailed Elizabeth really was in love, but there were genuine Mary Tudor. But while Mary had married, Elizabeth
through the Straits of Magellan and captured a concerns over how the English people would react. did not because she feared revolt by those who
Spanish ship carrying up to £200,000 in gold, “The anxieties Elizabeth expressed to the disapproved of her choice.”
Drake decided to sail across the Pacific, becoming emissary of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1561, that she Although she clearly wanted to marry the man
the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. too could not marry anyone without triggering that she had nicknamed her “frog,” the English
Elizabeth gloried in his achievement, and when she unrest in one group or another, only deepened people found the idea of their Virgin Queen
met the Spanish ambassador in 1581, she pointedly following Mary, Queen of Scots’s disastrous marrying a French Catholic absolutely repulsive.
wore a crucifix Drake had given to her from the marriages to Darnley and then Bothwell – which When a pamphlet appeared that condemned the
loot. She dined with Drake on the Golden Hind and ended in her overthrow,” explains Leanda de Lisle. union, Elizabeth decreed that both the author and
knighted him. He had done her proud. “Elizabeth continued to look publicly for a husband his printer should have their right hands cut off.
These piratical exploits stood in sharp contrast to fulfil national expectations that she would Her Privy Council was split in half, with the jealous
to the events of 1572. The St. Bartholomew’s Day provide them with an undisputed heir, and surely Robert Dudley vehemently opposed. Elizabeth was
Massacre in Paris – the assassination of a number she hoped it was not impossible. She was married heartbroken, but she agreed to abstain. She gave
of French Calvinist Protestants – shocked England to her kingdom – a phrase she had learned from Anjou £10,000 to continue his war against Philip
and the ambassador Sir Francis Walsingham
was forced to take refuge. Elizabeth brought him
back to London to become her spymaster, where
he advised that Mary, Queen of Scots was a real
danger. The uprising was not only a shocking scene
for English Protestants; it was also a sign that the
Protestant Netherlands and their booming wool
trade would soon be in danger.
When William the Silent asked Elizabeth for
military assistance, she did not want to be seen
to intervene and give Philip of Spain an excuse
to attack. Walsingham counselled war, while
Cecil continued to preach marriage. So Elizabeth
entertained the idea of marrying the Duke of
Anjou, roughly ten years after it had first been
suggested. Then, he had been an ugly youth
and she had been a beautiful queen. Now, she
was visibly older and the flattery of the French
ambassador and Anjou’s letters began to win
her over. When they finally met, it appeared that
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British Royals
in the Netherlands, but did not see him again. more dangerous than ever. Elizabeth ordered her Elizabeth was always reluctant to sign a death
He tried to take power for himself but failed and imprisonment at the urging of Francis Walsingham, warrant – or at least she was reluctant to be seen
died a year later. When William the Silent was who had no intention of allowing her to live much to sign it. We can’t know how much of Elizabeth’s
assassinated in his own house in 1584 by a Catholic longer. He arranged for a servant, one of his own grief was genuine, but she bitterly resented the
fanatic, it was clear that military intervention could spies, to suggest that Mary smuggle letters in beer circumstances of Mary’s execution.
not be put off any longer and so in 1585, to the barrels, allowing Walsingham to read everything. “Elizabeth was reluctant to be seen to execute
relief of her impatient councillors, she agreed to When Thomas Babingdon wrote to Mary with first the senior nobleman in England, in Norfolk,
send a small force of men. Dudley took command a plan to assassinate Elizabeth and give her the and then a fellow queen, in Mary,” says de Lisle:
in the Netherlands but proved to be incompetent, crown Mary wrote back with her approval; the “That is not to say she regretted their deaths. She
losing territory to Philip’s general, the Duke of spymaster’s trap worked perfectly, and he had would have preferred to have Mary murdered, for
Parma. Mary ensnared his unwitting prey. example, as she made very clear.
was now Walsingham leapt into action and ordered It is also notable that she was quite ruthless in
the conspirators’ executions. Elizabeth ordering the deaths of traitors of humble birth – the
had always been reluctant to execute 900 or so executed after the Northern Rebellion
her cousin, but she agreed to her testifies to that. This was three times the numbers
standing trial. It was no surprise Henry VIII had executed after the far more serious
when the court decided that Pilgrimage of Grace, and ten times the numbers
Mary should be put to Mary executed after Wyatt’s revolt.
death. Elizabeth grieved Mary’s execution provided Philip II with the
for Mary, or at least reason he needed to declare war and his Spanish
lamented her death. Armada co-ordinated with the Duke of Parma’s
The man who had forces in the Netherlands, with the two forces
delivered the warrant meeting before sailing on England. They launched
was imprisoned and on 12 July 1588, their forces possessing more than
stripped of his title. twice the number of English ships, but the English
6. Bad weather
Why did the Armada fail? Bad weather prevents the
King Philip amassed his Armada and sent them to the Spanish fleet from organising
Netherlands to join up with his ground troops, led by and the English pursue them.
Their ships are faster and
the Duke of Parma. The English outposts saw the ships much more effective.
coming and alerted the admiralty. The weather was
against the Spanish, as they were blown off course.
While they outnumbered the British fleet by two to
one, the Spanish ships were enormous, built to carry
ships did have some advantages; they were smaller, troops that could board enemy vessels. Their crescent
formation was famous, but it did little against the
faster, and designed to carry guns rather than men.
smaller English ships. When the English sent
The English ships could outmanoeuvre the Spanish fireships into the Spanish fleet, the enemy
fleet in open water and began to engage them in panicked and scattered. They managed to 3. Early warning
small skirmishes. It was at this point that Elizabeth regroup for one confrontation, and lost. The Armada is sighted west
of the English Channel. The
rode out to meet her troops. With the threat of a The Spanish retreated, with many ships English fleet is put to sea
Catholic force at their doorstep, the queen rallied crashing on the rocks of the English and as the south coast warning
beacons are lit. Legend says
the spirit of the English troops by declaring that Irish coastline. that Sir Francis Drake finishes
his game of bowls first.
she would fight by their side to repel the enemy.
This grandstanding was impressive and may
have gone down in history’s annals but was
ultimately unnecessary. The Spanish Armada 7. Ships wrecked
The weather blows the
failed and Elizabeth’s victory was the seal on her Spanish fleet into the North
status. ‘The Golden Age’ had begun, where art and Sea and they are forced to
retreat up England’s east
literature flowered. With England a visibly powerful coast, beyond Scotland and
state, the aristocracy began to patronise the arts down past Ireland. Many
ships are wrecked.
with great abandon.
The famous playwrights of the age enjoyed
4. Rendezvous
patronage, albeit with some caveats. When The Armada sails
Shakespeare wrote Richard II he was encouraged to Calais to meet
2. Delays Philip’s most revered
to remove a scene suggesting the ageing monarch Severe weather general, the Duke of
should step aside. “Elizabeth did not care for plays,” forces Philip to dock Parma. However, he
in Coruna to make is delayed and they
confirms de Lisle: “All too often they were used to repairs to his fleet. are forced to wait.
lecture her on this or that.” He is delayed by
more than a month.
Her crown may have been safe for now, but
she received devastating blows with the deaths
of two of her most trusted advisors, Dudley and 5. Fireships
Spanish commanders
Walsingham. Dudley was replaced at court by 1. Armada sets sail panic when the English
navy sends fireships in
his handsome stepson, the Earl of Essex, and the On 28 May 1588, Philip is ready
among their vessels. They
to begin his invasion of England.
young flatterer quickly became her favourite. He gathers his Armada and they scatter into the English
sail from Lisbon. line of fire but the losses
“Robert Dudley’s death in 1588 signalled the are not too heavy.
passing of the old order, but Elizabeth still hoped
she could continue ruling according to her motto,
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British Royals
‘Semper Eadem’ (‘Always the same’)” explains de his father’s old post. When it became known that The arts and literature may have been
Lisle. “As the years began to pass and her servants the Spanish were attempting to rebuild their fleet, flourishing, but those who subscribe to this being
died she either did not replace them or find a Essex led a fleet on Cadiz and decimated their a golden age in England’s history often forget that
near-equivalent to the servant she had lost.” It’s forces. The success gave Essex fame, something even after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, other
a sign of how much she leaned on her old guard which Elizabeth was taken aback by. She tried to uprisings, such as the 1598 Irish rebellion, occurred.
that she continued to place her trust in William curb him, but Essex continued to promote his own The country had long been a problem for Tudor
Cecil, even though he was almost entirely deaf and celebrity. She became frustrated with his behaviour England, which had attempted to impose English
increasingly ill. It was only when he died in 1598 at court, which came to a dramatic head when he values and had seen the Irish as tenants on English
that Elizabeth agreed to appoint Robert Cecil to half-drew his sword on her in a fit of pique. territory. Now, with a Spanish-backed uprising,
Elizabeth needed to take decisive action.
“She wooed her people with smiles, She sent her army at the start of 1599, led by
Essex, who was looking to prove himself once
words of love and great showmanship, more. He was a disaster. Rather than confronting
and so won their hearts” Tyrone on the battlefield, he met him in secret and
returned to England having made a treaty without
the queen’s authority.
When Essex thought Cecil was plotting against
Did peace reign in England? him, he rushed to plead his case. Assuming he
was still the queen’s favourite, he burst into her
The early years of Elizabeth’s reign were extremely Rebellions against bedchamber while she was preparing for the
unstable. The Catholics regarded her as a heretical Elizabeth day. He had seen Elizabeth without her make-up
bastard without a just claim to the throne, and she had to When Elizabeth ascended to the throne she and regal dressing; not as a queen but as an old
prove to her people that she was capable of ruling alone. immediately faced the threat of rebellion woman. She could not afford to be seen like this.
Conspiracies at home and abroad plotted to remove her from the Catholic nobility, who resented
from the throne, and when Mary, Queen of Scots took
The queen dismissed him before summoning
the fact that she was turning away from him later to confront him with his failures and
refuge in England, her Catholic enemies finally had someone the changes made by her sister Mary. The
to rally around. 1569 saw her face the first real uprising strip him of power. Rather than accepting his fate,
first great uprising came in 1569, when the
with the Northern Rebellion. The Earls of Westmorland and northern noblemen took advantage of the Essex attempted rebellion. He assumed Londoners
Northumberland rallied the rebel aristocracy around them, return of Mary, Queen of Scots to England, would back the popular war hero, but Elizabeth
but they were not prepared for the force of her reprisal. and attempted to overthrow her. The Duke proclaimed him a traitor and sent her troops to
In her later years she saw rebellion rear its head again of Norfolk, unhappy with being sidelined by meet him. The rebellion was a failure and Essex
as Essex overstepped his bounds. With famine and the Earl of Dudley, entertained a marriage plot
overcrowded of cities, Elizabeth’s position became unstable was executed as a traitor.
with Mary, while the northern Earls mounted
once again. “Imagine if Elizabeth had died in October 1562 Although the later years of Elizabeth’s reign were
rebellion. It was summarily crushed and
when she had smallpox,” asks de Lisle: “Elizabeth had hundreds were executed. far from golden, she could still rally her people
been on the throne almost four years: only a year short of The Earl of Essex, Elizabeth’s great when needed. The war in Ireland was expensive
her sister’s reign. If she died, as many feared she would, favourite, attempted a rebellion in 1601 after and unsuccessful, while overcrowding and failed
how would her reign have been remembered? Elizabeth’s he was stripped of his powers in an attempt harvests caused agitation. When Parliament publicly
religious settlement was not viewed as settled by anyone to gain power. In line with his apparently
save the Queen. One of her own bishops called it ‘a leaden condemned her for granting monopolies to her
oversized ego, he overestimated his personal
mediocrity’. In military matters, while Mary I’s loss of Calais favourite courtiers, which had led to price-fixing,
popularity, the people’s dissatisfaction with
is still remembered, Elizabeth’s failed efforts to recover their monarch and his Queen’s capacity for
Elizabeth was forced to address them in 1601. She
Calais by taking Le Havre and using it as a bargaining tool forgiveness for one of her former favourites. agreed to put a stop to the monopolies and she
are completely forgotten. The campaign had ended that When Elizabeth was confronted with open reaffirmed her love for England. She won over
August 1562, with the huge loss of 2,000 men.” defiance she rarely hesitated to crush it. She Parliament, there was a good harvest, and a truce
understood when to be brutal and when to was reached in Ireland and Spain. “Elizabeth, old
Verdict charm. With the rebellions against her she was and ill, did lose some of her former grip, but never
Elizabeth’s reign featured numerous rebellions and unforgiving and generally unsparing, meting
uprisings, but this was not unusual for a Tudor monarch, entirely,” states de Lisle. “She had followed Mary
out punishments swiftly and unsparingly to
and given the religious uncertainty in the country at the rebels and traitors. I’s example in wooing the common people from
time, she handled the uprisings quickly and decisively. the beginning of her reign, and they continued to
support her.”
1550 1555 1560 1565 1570 1575 1580 1585 1590 1595 1600 1605
104
Elizabeth I
The deathbed
of Queen Elizabeth
in 1603
105
British Royals
1603-1625
James I
James I, King of England and Scotland, struggled
throughout his reign to create a united and
prosperous realm of Great Britain under a
Stuart dynasty
I
t was widely hoped by English nothing more than to claim the power
courtiers that King James VI of behind the throne for themselves.
Scotland represented a safe After It was an unforgiving and
pair of hands for the English the events of impoverished life, his strict
monarchy in 1603. Elizabeth Protestant teachings made for a
I had died after nearly 45 years
the Gunpowder bland existence that consisted
on the throne and had left no Plot, James became of rules and punishments.
clues as to who should succeed paranoid, and would, in The sober education James
her. As far as the English court public, wear a padded received in his early years along
was concerned James was the with the impoverishment of
natural choice even if he was the
doublet as a type the Scottish crown meant that
son of that notorious Catholic, Mary of armour when he journeyed south in 1603
Queen of Scots. Unlike his mother, he he was astonished at the comparative
was a Protestant. He had also reigned in abundance of the English realm. He
Scotland successfully for 36 years. Secret meetings quickly took to enjoying his new-found wealth by
between James and members of Elizabeth’s inner lavishing English gifts on his Scottish courtiers
circle had been conducted to see if he would be controversially from the English treasury.
interested in the job; as far as the English were His court became one of the most extravagant
concerned, his credentials were excellent. and audacious institutions in England, James
James’ disruptive and unstable childhood did not care for studying documents or enacting
had forced him to become adaptable in laws. He’d rather go hunting, hawking
dangerous situations, something that or hosting his infamously drunken
served him well when he became banquets. He was a man enjoying
King of England. His mother James his new-found freedom away
had been forced to abdicate the believed in the from the cold monotony of
Scottish throne in 1567 by a divine right of kings, ruling Scotland and he did not The
Protestant uprising, after which
that he was placed on want to make a new prison sexuality of
he was placed in the charge for himself by trying too hard
the throne by God and the king has long
of her enemies to be raised as to rule England. He left it up
a Protestant. Not long into his it was his heavenly to his courtiers to do the day- been the subject of
adult reign as King of Scotland, he duty to rule to-day business, namely an old enquiry; it is widely
was kidnapped by a group of nobles trusted advisor, Robert Cecil, who thought that James
and was compelled to rule through died nine years later from exhaustion.
their influence for a year. These were While James’ new-found extravagance
had relationships
dangerous times for James; he had been little more irritated those who paid the bills, it was instead his with men
than a child and at the mercy of men who wanted religious beliefs that caused the most controversy.
106
James I
James
was the first
monarch who
argued for a union
between England
and Scotland. It was
rejected by both
countries
JAMES I
British, 1566–1625
Ascending to the
throne of Scotland in
Brief 1567, James became
Bio the king of a unified
Scottish and English
kingdom after the death of his
cousin, Elizabeth I. He struggled
to continue her legacy and
became increasingly unpopular
with his Catholic subjects
in particular, who made an
attempt on his life in 1605.
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British Royals
On 5 November 1605, a group of conspirators been physically harmed during the whole affair,
connected to the Catholic Jesuit community in mentally it affected him greatly. He had always
England acted on a plot to assassinate James by known that he’d had English enemies and now
attempting to blow up Parliament. The conspirators some of them had tried to kill him. From then on
were appalled at James’ overtly Protestant beliefs, he didn’t travel without guards, he wore an extra-
so they decided to kill him in order to install his thick doublet and carried a knife at all times for
nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth as Queen in the additional protection.
hopes that she would become a pro- Four days after the Gunpowder Plot on
Catholic monarch. The plan on the 9 November, James addressed the
face of it made sense: rather than James first session of Parliament with the
just kill James they planned to suffered following preamble, “it may well
kill his entire Protestant party at be called a roaring, nay a firing
the opening of Parliament and
from weak knees sin from fire and brimstone,
thus create enough chaos for and later developed from the which God hath so
a pro-Catholic monarch to be crippling arthritis in his miraculously delivered as
installed in its wake. James was knee joints; he was all.” The sitting MPs heartily
not in the Parliament building agreed. Unfortunately for James
when a suspicious attendant
seen hobbling in it would be about the only thing
discovered Guy Fawkes guarding later years him and his Parliament would
The last King barrels of gunpowder in the cellars. agree on for the next 20 years. They
of Scotland
James was the last Scottish monarch
When news of the conspiracy reached
James, he acted decisively. He was no stranger
argued incessantly over money, religion
and taxation. James was furious. It was his view
to rule a fully independent Scotland to intrigue of this kind and knew what had to be that a monarch be unquestioned by their subjects,
without governing by proxy from other done. He ordered Fawkes to be interrogated using that ruling was his business and not theirs. After a
kingdoms. A Scottish King needed to be the ‘gentler tortures’ which included racking, particularly difficult session, he commented, “I will
strong-willed and able to adapt quickly where Fawkes was tied to a device and stretched not thank where I feel no thanks due… I am not of
especially when dealing with the touchy until his bones were forced out of their sockets. In such a stock as to praise fools… I wish you would
and volatile clan system. James proved
keeping with his style of dealing with matters on a make use of your liberty with more modesty in
himself to be an able negotiator and a
strong leader in this regard; he stopped personal level, he journeyed down to the tower and times to come.”
the country tearing itself apart with interrogated Fawkes himself, asking him how he Parliament held on to its liberty and refused
religious violence and gained universal could conspire ‘such a hideous a treason’. Fawkes James’ proposal for a standard lump sum of money
respect from the numerous clan-based replied: ‘A dangerous disease required a desperate to be given to him to run the country, known as
factions within the Scottish court. Perhaps remedy.’ James was appalled but he admired the ‘Great Contract’ of 1610. The MPs felt James
his greatest achievement was the book
Fawkes’ spirit, noting later that he put on a ‘Roman simply couldn’t be trusted with such a lucrative
he authored called The True Law of Free
Monarchies. In it he outlined a theory of resolution.’ Eventually the King’s torturers broke proposition. James blamed the insolence of the
absolute monarchy by which the King, Fawkes: he gave up his fellow conspirators and they members of the house and listened to his favourites
granted his prerogative powers from God, all suffered a traitor’s death. While James had not in court who sneered at what they saw as common
could create laws and enact commands
without consulting privy counsellors
or Parliaments. This was a radical and
explosive idea in the British Isles, where
Defining moment
the power of Parliament governing in Crowned King of England
partnership with the monarchy was a 25 July 1603
long-respected institution. In Scotland l Flight of Mary James had ruled Scotland as the sixth king of his
the Parliamentary system was easier to Queen of Scots name for 36 years when his cousin Elizabeth I died.
manage because it was smaller and relied After facing a Despite the family tension between the houses of
on business being conducted personally Protestant uprising Tudor and Stuart, he was the closest living relative
from her nobles, of the unmarried, childless queen and became, by
with the King. When James journeyed
Mary is forced default, her heir. Ascending to the Scottish throne
south to claim his English throne he to abdicate and
quickly found that the English Parliament as a child, he becomes somewhat of a puppet
flees south into
prince for the Protestant nobles who support his
was not only far larger but also more vocal England leaving
the young James rule. They ensure that he too adopts the Protestant
in its criticism of the monarch.
at the mercy of faith, and this is a factor in his claim to the throne
her enemies. of England when Elizabeth dies. He becomes
Timeline
24 July 1567 England’s first King James at the age of 37.
1566
l Birth of James l Crowned King of l Marriage to Anne l Journey south
James is born to Mary Scotland of Denmark After the death
Queen of Scots on 19 The nobles ensure that James marries Anne of Elizabeth I it is
June 1566. James is James is crowned King of Denmark by proxy decided that James
Mary’s only son and of Scotland while he is to strengthen the has the strongest
while this secures the still in his minority so ties of Protestant claim to the throne of
line of succession, his they can influence his monarchies within England and is invited
mother has become upbringing and stop Europe. The couple south. He takes
deeply unpopular him from becoming a would go on to his household and
in Scotland. Catholic like his mother. have seven children. courtiers with him.
19 June 1566 29 July 1567 August 1589 5 April 1603
108
James I
upstarts impoverishing the crown. In the end he cloud his judgement. The astute negotiating skills Religious intolerance
refused to call another Parliament for four years, he possessed in Scotland had abandoned him and England at the time of James’ reign was deeply
only trying again in 1614 but ending with the same he was now surrounded by less competent men intolerant of the Catholic minority that existed
unhappy results. With no Parliament, there was like Villiers who gave poor advice to the aging King. within the Kingdom. Catholicism or ‘Popery’ as
no money, and James could not champion the It was this poor advice that made James continue it was more commonly referred to was seen
to be in league with the devil and many of
Protestant cause abroad nor could he put his mind to hope for a Spanish match in the closing years
James’ subjects feared a clandestine Catholic
to building his kingdom at home. Deeply resentful, of his reign. A marriage between his son, Charles, conspiracy to take over the country.
he retired to his court, allowed his ministers to run and the Spanish Infanta Maria Anna would be
the country and became increasingly distracted a prestigious prize for James, so in 1623 Charles
with his own personal life. and Villiers boarded a ship bound for the Spanish
The rights of Parliament
After the end of the Tudor dynasty, Parliament
James’ sexuality had always been a subject of mainland with James’ blessing so Charles could had become more powerful through its
court gossip, but by 1620 it was actively destroying attempt to woo the Infanta in person. ability to grant money to an increasingly
the trust between him and his courtiers. It was As soon as they stepped off the boat and impoverished monarchy. Often Parliaments
widely believed by the men closest to James that introduced themselves to the Spanish court, they granting the crown money was dependent on
patronage and influence could only be obtained were arrested and held as ‘guests’. James waited in Parliament being bought off with new laws
favourable to representatives in the chamber.
if you were male and the King took an interest England in anxious anticipation; a Spanish match
in you. The situation was inflamed by men like would solve all of his financial troubles through the
George Villiers, the Earl of Buckingham, who was Infanta’s dowry. When he received news that his The King’s court
The King’s court was made up of the nobility
rumoured to be in a sexual relationship with the favourite and his only son had been arrested by the of the realm and it acted as another organ of
King. A handsome man from minor gentry, Villiers Spanish court, he was furious. After some tentative state that the King could use to govern the
had risen from a knight of a small county to the negotiations, Charles and Villiers were released and country. During James’ reign the court became
second most powerful man in the Kingdom returned to England with their tails between even more important because he used
thanks to James, who once commented, their legs. The Spanish had caused great the presence of both English and Scottish
‘[I] confess to loving those dear to offence in arresting Charles and now courtiers to rule both his Kingdoms.
me… I love the Earl of Buckingham
James he was demanding war.
more than anyone else… Christ had an overly Neither James nor the country Troubles abroad
The prejudice the Protestant population had
had his John and I have my large tongue, which was in any state to wage a war
for Catholics in England was inflamed by the
George.’ Whether sexual in with Spain to save Charles’
was commented on outright hostility experienced by Protestants
nature or not, their relationship honour, and with deteriorating from Catholic countries in Europe. England
grew over the years; James negatively at the time health after a bad case of remained largely untouched by the fighting,
called himself George’s ‘sweet by certain members dysentery James died 27 March however the influence of events abroad had
a dramatic effect on religious prejudices and
husband’ and George was James’ of the English 1625. He passed away deeply
mental attitudes.
‘wife’, among other pet names. unhappy; his dream of a united
As James’ marriage to Anne of
court and prosperous Britain with strong
Denmark resulted in seven children, foreign allies and a humble Parliament The New World
The first permanent settlements in America
the question of whether James was openly hadn’t been fulfilled. He would later be
were established during James’ reign starting
attracted to men as well as/instead of women is still known as the ‘wisest fool in all of Christendom’, with Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607.
a matter of debate. extremely able but counselled badly. He left behind The allure of making a fortune in a new
The problem by 1620, at the age of 53, was that an England that had become deeply suspicious of world free from religious persecution was an
he had allowed the men he associated with to the monarchy and its role in governing the country. attractive prospect to many of James’ subjects.
1625
l Jamestown l The Great Contract l Dissolved Parliament l King James Bible l Investigation of Death of a Stuart l
established A plan to get the After wrestling with The King James monopolies James dies
The first permanent crown out of debt Parliament for more Bible is published In an effort to break up the aged 58. He
English settlement in through Parliament money to prop up by James and his monopoly of businesses leaves behind
America is established giving James an annual his out-of-control bishops to bring a that are strangling an uneasy
on the coast of Virginia, subsidy is overturned spending, James universal Protestant commerce in London, and reformist
the settlers name it by the members of the dissolves the house faith to the British James calls Parliament to England that
Jamestown after the King house because they and does not call Isles. It is still used as take action but his sour his son Charles
of England and battle to don’t trust James with another session for the basis for global relationship with the house struggles to
keep the settlement alive. the money. four years. Protestantism today. prevents any progress. keep control of.
24 May 1607 February 1610 31 December 1610 January 1611 December 1620 27 March 1625
109
110
The
House of
British Royals
Stuarts
Despite their 100-year reign, the
era was by far the most turbulent 1488-1513
in English history Archibald
James IV, Margaret Tudor Douglas, Earl of
King of Scots b.1489-d.1541 Angus
b.1473-d.1513 b.1489-d.1557
1
Order of Marriage
succession
Lady Margaret Matthew Stuart,
Douglas Earl of Lennox
1513-1542 b.1515-d.1578 b.1516-d.1571
Mary of Guise James V,
b.1515-d.1560 King of Scots
b.1512-d.1542
1542-1567
Francis II of Mary, Queen Henry Stuart, Charles Stuart,
France of Scots Lord Darnley Earl of Lennox
b.1544-d.1560 b.1542-d.1587 b.1545-d.1567 b.1555-d.1576
Briefly Queen Consort of France and
the heiress presumptive to the English
throne, she was forced to flee to
England, where she was implicated in
a plot against Elizabeth I and wa later
executed at Fothringay Castle. Lady Arbella
Stuart
1 b.1575-d.1615
1567-1625
1603-1627
Anne of Denmark
James VI & I b.1574-d.1619
b.1566-d.1625
Henry, Prince of Wales
b.1594-d.1612 2
The prodigal son of King James VI &
I, Henry was very much a Renaissance 1625-1649 Henrietta Maria Frederick V of
the Palatine Elizabeth
prince. It is interesting to consider of France
whether he would have been a more Charles I b.1596-d.1662
b.1609-d.1669 b.1596-d.1632
effective ruler than his younger brother b.1600-d.1649
had he not died of typhoid in 1612.
3
Philippe, Duc Henrietta
1660-1685 d’Orléans of England
Catherine of Elizabeth b.1640-d.1701 b.1644-d.1670
Charles II
Braganza b.1635-d.1680
b.1630-d.1685
b.1638-d.1705
111
British Royals
1625-1649
Charles I
Discover why Charles I, King of England, became
the first British monarch in history to be tried and
convicted of treason
O
n 20 January 1649, Charles I stood attempted to put a stop to his lavish
where no English monarch spending, criticised his favourites
had been before him. He Charles at court and continued to raise
faced charges levelled by I was a great questions about his increasingly
his own subjects, who Catholic leaning, Charles decided
accused him of treason against
lover of the arts and to take them out of the equation.
the country he claimed to rule. spent large sums of Parliament was called by
If Charles was found guilty, the money on paintings, the king and Charles saw a
penalty was death. He faced a which plunged simple solution to his problem.
rigged court made up of hand- In 1629, beginning what would
picked enemies of the crown who
England further come to be known as the 11 Years’
demanded that he answer for the into debt Tyranny, the king refused to call
crime of being a “tyrant, traitor and Parliament to session. During this
murderer; and a public and implacable time he levied increasingly extreme taxes
enemy to the Commonwealth of England.” and introduced unpopular measures to the Church
However, Charles had never made a habit of of England that moved it away from Calvinism,
listening to Parliament. Even as he faced the men such as appointing the despised Anglican William
who were waiting to pass their verdict, in his mind Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury. His opponents,
they had no power to do so. He was the king, who were already disgusted by his marriage to the
after all, and the king answered to no one. “I am catholic Henrietta Maria of France, believed that
no less confident,” he told the court, “that he was reintroducing Papal traditions to
no learned lawyer will affirm that an England. But as long as Charles didn’t
impeachment can lie against the need Parliament there was nothing
king, they all going in his name: He married that they could do to stop him.
and one of their maxims is, that Henrietta Maria Everything changed when
the king can do no wrong.” The Charles attempted to introduce
of France, who was a
assembled men before him saw his new English prayer book to
things differently. Catholic, by proxy. His Scotland in 1637. Discord spread
Charles’s refusal to choice of bride greatly and Charles refused to negotiate
acknowledge the authority of angered Parliament as rebellion brewed until The
Parliament wasn’t just a final Bishops’ War finally began in
gesture of defiance; it was a hallmark 1639. Still the king was reluctant
of his reign which he had inherited to call Parliament and attempted
from his father and one of the principal to put down the uprising himself, only
causes of the English Civil War. Frustrated by to suffer a humiliating defeat. He was faced with
the fact that the House of Commons constantly the grim reality that, if he wanted to raise enough
112
Charles I
CHARLES I
British, 1600–1649
113
British Royals
“ The final line was crossed when was that Scottish rebels were not the only ones
worried about Charles’ drift towards Catholicism.
Charles was refused entry to the After nearly two years, the king had had enough.
He identified the five main troublemakers in
garrison at Kingston upon Hull” the House of Commons, John Hampden, Arthur
Haselrig, Denzil Holles, John Pym and William
Strode and marched into the House on 4 January
money for a force capable of crushing 1642 to arrest them. Humiliatingly, the
these rebels, he needed Parliament’s five men had heard the news and
help. It was with great reluctance As a small had escaped before his arrival. “I
that he ended his 11 years of child Charles see the birds have flown,” he told
independence on 13 May 1640, the assembled members. He
but when they began to criticise
suffered from fled London himself shortly
the king for his spending rather rickets. He was unable afterwards. He could read the
than answering his call for to walk until age four, signs. War was imminent.
money, he dissolved Parliament from which point he The final line was crossed
in a fit of rage. when Charles was refused
Meanwhile, the Scottish rebels
wore reinforced entry to the garrison at Kingston
continued to advance south. boots upon Hull. Enraged, he laid siege
Charles would have to set his pride to the city but was defeated. All that
and his anger to one side. He needed was left now was a formal declaration of
Parliament, and the members knew it. The Long war, which Charles delivered on the 22 August
Parliament was called to session in November 1640 when he raised his standard at Nottingham. It was
and, as Charles watched and listened, Parliament a challenge to all those who would oppose him
aired their grievances from their years spent in and the Parliamentarians accepted. Led by Robert
the cold. They passed a law that ensured that they Devereaux, the Earl of Essex, the Roundheads
would have to be called at least every three years, gathered their troops to meet Charles’s Cavaliers
they made sure that any tax that the king wanted before he reached London. After a skirmish at
to impose needed to be approved by Parliament, Worcester, the first open battle took place on 23
and they passed a law saying that the king could October at Edgehill with both sides claiming
The Divine not dissolve Parliament without their agreement.
Charles’s unpopular friends and appointments also
victory. Bragging aside, actual victories went back
and forth. Charles was forced to take up residence
Right of Kings came under scrutiny, but the issue becoming clear in Oxford and lost his general, but the Royalists
claimed victory at several battles. When Charles
Charles I was unwilling to even consider
Cromwell at the Battle of Dunbar, 1650, declared a ceasefire in Ireland, more troops were
negotiating with Parliament because he
believed absolutely in the divine right of where Parlimentary forces were victorious able to join his cause and the Royalist troops
monarchs. The concept that Kings and gained much needed numbers.
Queens had been chosen by God Almighty Things looked bleak for the Roundheads but
to rule their kingdoms had been around when the Puritanical Oliver Cromwell and his
for some time in various guises, but it was
brought to the forefront during the reign of cavalry won the Battle of Marston Moor on 2 July
Charles’s father James I. He wrote that “The 1644, Parliament found a second wind. In 1645 they
state of monarchy is the supreme thing on passed the Self-Denying Ordinance, which meant
Earth... As to dispute what God may do is that anyone serving in the Civil War could not also
blasphemy, so is it treason in subjects to
serve in Parliament, and won conclusive battles
dispute what a king may do... A good king
will frame his actions according to the law, The court that judged Charles I at Naseby and Langport. In 1646, Charles was
yet he is not bound thereto but of his own was handpicked, with those who captured and handed over to Parliament.
goodwill.” Needless to say, this point of might support him excluded
The king was down, but not out. He may have
view was not popular in Parliament, who from taking part. Some were even
arrested. lost the war but he was still the man chosen by
began proceedings to wrench power back
from the hands of the King. God to rule these people. When he promised the
Scots Presbyterian church reform in December
1647 they agreed to back his counter-revolution.
Royalist uprisings began all over the country, with
Timeline
1639
l The Bishops’ War l The Short Parliament l The Short Parliament l King’s authority l War is declared l The King is captured
Begins Needing money to After nearly two years of not recognised The Civil War begins The Although the war
Charles attempts to force finance an army to crush listening to Parliament’s When Charles attempts to in Nottingham when has been over for at least
his English prayer book the Scottish rebels, the complaints, Charles enter Kingston upon Hull to Charles raises his year, Charles continues
on the more Puritanical King calls Parliament for enters the House of access the city’s garrison of standard, declaring to attempt to find
Scotland. The Scottish the first time in 11 years. Commons to arrest the weapons, Sir John Hotham war on his own support until he is finally
church is deeply offended However, Parliament five men he believes to does not recognise his people. Parliament captured. He’s passed
but Charles refuses to has axes to grind and be the ringleaders, only authority and refuses to troops assemble from group to group until
negotiate, and dissent the King dissolves it on to find that they have allow him entry. Charles and conflict begins he is finally handed over
becomes rebellion. 5 May. fled. He flees London. begins an unsuccessful siege. in September. to Parliament forces.
1639 13 April 1640 4 January 1642 April 1642 22 August 1642 2 June 1647
114
Charles I
115
British Royals
During
the First English
Civil War, he was
nominally placed in
charge of a royalist
army, aged only
around 15
CHARLES II
England, 1630-1685
Charles grew up in
one of England’s most
Brief turbulent periods,
Bio culminating in the Civil
War that led to his
father Charles I being deposed.
After his return from exile in
1660, he retook his crown
and so began the Restoration
period. His reign was hampered
by political upheaval, foreign
wars and tense religious turmoil.
1660-1685
Charles II
One of England’s most controversial kings was notorious for his
numerous mistresses, calamitous wars and secretive religious beliefs
O
n 29 May 1660, the streets of London were heralded a new era in English politics and culture.
lined with cheering crowds eager to see if Many were keen to move on from the oppressive
the rumours were true – that Charles Stuart ropes of the old regime – theatres that had been
had finally returned to claim his throne. He’d closed during the rule of Parliament and Cromwell
left England 14 years earlier, when the tide were reopened – and an Act of Indemnity and
of the English Civil War began to turn against the Oblivion was passed. In effect, this bill erased the
Royalist cause and his father, Charles I, who was interregnum’s place in history, forbidding mention
executed by Parliament in 1649. As the king’s eldest of it in public. It also offered a general pardon to
son, Charles was the lawful heir to the throne, but all who had fought against King Charles I during
protectorate rule led by Oliver Cromwell made it the Civil War, except those directly involved in his
impossible for him to return. After Cromwell’s death execution. Several were tried and violently executed
in 1658, the possibility of the Stuart monarchy for their part in the king’s death, some of whom
being restored became more likely and negotiations had even been long dead – Cromwell’s corpse was
soon began with the exiled royal court. reportedly exhumed and hung at Tyburn for several
On his 30th birthday, the man who had fled his hours before being decapitated. However, this was
country as a young Prince of Wales now returned to the extent of Charles II’s vengeance for his father’s
a hero’s welcome. The restoration of the monarchy murder – now he had to tackle the business of ruling.
116
Charles II
117
British Royals
During his
role as the lord
high admiral, James
personally took part in
the Battle of Lowestoft,
where he was
nearly killed
JAMES II
England, 1633-1701
1685-1689
James II
James’s Catholic faith resulted in him being ousted
by his own daughter and her Dutch husband
W
hen Charles II died in 1685 he left bound to enslave his people and withdraw religious
numerous bastard offspring, but no liberties that had been enjoyed.
legitimate heir to the throne. This meant While in exile during the interregnum of
his brother James, a Catholic convert, 1649‑1659, James and his family had stayed under
inherited the throne – it was what many the protection of Louis XIV. During this period the
Protestants in England had feared most. The new siblings picked up more than just an appreciation of
king was crowned on 23 April of that year, and French culture and the style of Louis’s court; they
during the ceremony his crown slipped on his grew ever closer to their Catholic roots. Their mother,
head – seen as a bad omen by some. In the eyes Henrietta Maria, was a devout Catholic herself and
of many English Protestants, the new monarch encouraged the two to convert, which James duly
was not only a papist but also a supporter of the did during the 1670s, and Charles much later on his
most traditionally loathed enemy, France, and was deathbed. This conversion even caused Parliament
118
James II
119
British Royals
The
1689-1702 anniversary of
William’s 1690 victory
William III
at the Battle of the
Boyne is a national
holiday in Northern
Ireland
& Mary II
Ruling as joint monarchs, this husband and wife
removed Catholic James II from the throne in the
Glorious Revolution
O
n 15 November 1688, the last ever successful of York, stood as the next in line to the throne.
invasion of England began with the landing Years earlier, the duke had publicly declared his
of thousands of soldiers at Brixham, Devon. conversion to Catholicism, sparking the exclusion
They marched under the flag of William, crisis of 1679-81 as the English Parliament sought
prince of Orange, who had come to seize to have James renounced as an heir to the throne
the English throne, all under the guise of saving because of his religion. Though the bill failed,
the country from Catholic tyranny. Just a few upon James’s accession 1685 there were already
days earlier he had bid a heartfelt farewell to his plans in place to supplant him. As nephew to
wife and cousin Mary, princess of Orange and both Charles II and James II, as well as being the
daughter of James II, the incumbent latter’s son-in-law, William was closely
King of England, Ireland and connected to the Stuart dynasty in
Scotland. Though he had left her England and took great interest in
behind across the Channel, as a the developments and ongoing
skilled diplomat and daughter
The Glorious crises surrounding the new king.
of the English king, she would Revolution was He saw England as a vital ally
lend crucial legitimacy to the last time the in the Protestant opposition
William’s invasion. British Isles was ever to Catholic France, which was
Although still young at the growing ever powerful under
age of 26, Mary had already
successfully invaded Louis XIV and was emerging as
been married to her husband for the prominent power in Europe.
11 years, but had not yet produced In order to protect his own interests
a surviving heir. Her match with the at home, therefore, he had to ensure WILLIAM III
Dutch prince had been crucial for her own England maintained its age-old hostility with Netherlands, 1650-1702
family’s interests, as well as for young William, its neighbour across the channel – with a Catholic
who had sought greater influence over the English on the throne this became far less likely. Born the posthumous
court’s foreign policy in his campaigns against In England, opposition to James II’s pro-Catholic and only son of Prince
France. As second in line to her uncle Charles II’s policies steadily grew, and between 1687 and Brief William II of Orange
throne, after her father James, her hand in marriage 1688 Prince William sent envoys to meet with Bio in the Binnenhof
Palace in The Hague,
meant a lot to whomever she was married off to. English conspirators from among the clergy, as William ruled as the king of
In time, the match with the staunchly Protestant well as members of Parliament. Pamphlets were England, Scotland and Ireland
for 13 years. He was also the
William would prove more important to the future published denouncing James’s policies, while stadtholder of Zeeland and the
of Europe than anyone could have guessed. declaring William’s own desire to protect the States of Holland from 1672,
after what is now known as the
After Charles II died with no legitimate offspring Protestant religion in England. The Dutch prince Disaster Year.
in 1685, his brother, the broadly unpopular Duke was preparing the ground for a more aggressive
120
William III & Mary II
MARY II
England, 1662–1694
121
British Royals
intervention, though he had to be certain of his However, majority Catholic Ireland was not so
own support in England, as well as widespread willing to accept what was already being dubbed
opposition to James, before he made his move. the ‘Glorious Revolution’ in England. Although
On 30 June 1688, seven English conspirators when they were jointly crowned rulers of England,
sent an official invitation to William, asking him to they also acceded the throne of Ireland, the
invade England and save the nation from James. Emerald Isle would be far harder to win over.
The prince was extremely anxious that his actions When Richard Talbot, lord lieutenant of Ireland,
be seen as righteous to the English population, so declared his allegiance to James, it became clear
even drafted a manifesto explaining his invasion, that war in Ireland was inevitable. With ‘Jacobite’
titled Declaration of Reasons for Appearing in forces rallying to the now exiled former king,
Arms in England. This document was translated propped up by troops and finance from Louis XIV,
into several languages and distributed widely to Ireland now became the battlefield where William
appease not just English concerns, but also those of and Mary’s thrones would be won or lost. In June
foreign courts who could have otherwise opposed 1690 William landed at Carrickfergus, in the north
his invasion. This carefully positioned him in of the country where he still commanded some
the guise of a liberator and honest, law-abiding support. He came with Dutch, Danish and English
Protestant. It was with this air of authority that he
marched from Brixham to Exeter on 15 November
The Glorious 1688, where he bided his time and awaited the
reaction of the population. Within days, the support
Revolution he had been promised began to gather at Exeter,
several officers of James’s army defected, while
When William’s army invaded England in
1688, James II initially remained in London uprisings in the north of the country also sprung
in the hope that his nephew and son-in-law up. James’s position was hopeless and he was
would be forced to march on the capital captured in Faversham on 13 December. Five days
– a move that could well have galvanised later, William entered London triumphantly.
the population against the invaders. On 11 April 1689, the prince and princess of
However, William’s consolidation in Exeter
Orange were jointly crowned William III and
meant that the numerous conspirators
and prepared insurrections had the time
Mary II of England and Ireland, then of Scotland
to come to full fruition. Within weeks, the following month. The negotiations towards
several officers of James’s army defected their thrones had been brief, with a push towards
to William, while rebellions in Nottingham some form of stability being of the utmost concern,
and elsewhere took up arms for the prince for fears that another civil war could have sprung
of Orange’s cause. up. Though there were mixed feelings about the
This invasion very shortly came to
new regime, with numerous clergy refusing to
be known as the Glorious Revolution,
suggesting the victory of liberty and swear allegiance, most felt that this Protestant
the Protestant faith against the Catholic claimant, no matter how spurious his legitimacy,
tyranny of James and his pro-French was preferable to James. With Mary at his side, William III, prince of Orange, winning a famous victory
at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690
stance. Though for many in England William’s credibility as a monarch was boosted.
and Scotland, William was accepted
as a practical solution to the problems
that James had posed in his stance as a
Catholic monarch, he was not ultimately Defining moment Defining moment
a legitimate one. His joint crown with his
wife Mary was of the utmost importance,
Marriage of William and Mary The Glorious Revolution
as it gave the government a legal standing November 1677 15 November 1688
in the line of the Stuart succession, On the night of 4 November, 15-year-old Mary Stuart is After a long propaganda campaign, William lands at
married to the Prince of Orange in her own bedchamber. She Brixham with a force of 21,000. Within weeks James
through her father James II. William took
is given away by her uncle, King Charles II, rather than her II has fled London. With the declared intention of
many years to fully secure his authority
father. As part of the match, she is gifted jewellery amounting defending the Protestant faith and removing James’s
in Ireland, before going on to use English
to £40,000. Irrespective of this, she is said to be extremely supposed evil advisors, William soon manoeuvres
resources for his ongoing war with France. distressed at marrying William, who is ugly and much smaller himself into an insurmountable position. In order to
than her, at 5 feet 6 inches. Soon after their wedding she secure peace, and avoid another civil war, William is
grows to love the Dutchman and is emotional when they are offered conditions for his ascending the throne. This is
Timeline
forced to separate, which they often are. this last time that England is invaded by a foreign power.
1650
l Prince William l Mary Stuart born l William becomes l William begins to plot
born Mary is born to stadtholder With the accession
William is born James, Duke of Amid a series of violent of James II to the
the posthumous York and future uprisings by his own throne, William begins
successor to William James II. She is supporters, William is to entertain the
II, prince of Orange. named after her offered the stadtholderate possibility of interfering
His mother, Mary, is aunt Mary, princess of the States of Holland in English politics in
the daughter of the of Orange, the and Zeeland, which had an attempt to make it
late King Charles I mother of her future remained empty since his more anti-Catholic and
of England. husband, William. father’s death. anti-France.
1650 1662 1672 1685
122
William III & Mary II
1702
l William and Mary l William lands in Ireland l Battle of Landen l Mary II dies William dies l
crowned After his campaign against Facing a superior French Suffering from smallpox, Two days after
A hasty coronation is Jacobite resistance in force, William’s English, Mary dies on the morning suddenly collapsing
held jointly crowning the Ireland stalls, William lands Scottish, Irish and Dutch of 28 December. Her with a fever, the king
new monarchs. After in the north of the country army is defeated in body is quickly embalmed, dies on the morning
further negotiations with with over 15,000 extra Neerwinden, modern- because of the severe of 8 March. This
the Scottish parliament, troops. These are mainly day Belgium. However, effects the virulent strain is contrary to the
they are crowned king Dutch and Danish soldiers, the French army fails to of the smallpox had on myth that his horse
and queen of Scotland as English troops’ loyalties capitalise on its success her skin, and she is finally tripped on a molehill
the following month. are still under question. and William escapes. buried on 5 March 1695. and threw him.
1689 1690 1692 1694 1702
123
British Royals
1702-1714
Queen
Anne
The first queen of a united Britain, Anne came to
power after the unpopular William III and during a
time of political turmoil in Europe
T
he Stuart dynasty’s final monarch later in 1685, Anne’s father James became
was Queen Anne, whose king, followed by her sister Mary
reign oversaw several wars and her Dutch husband William
and the beginning of the
Anne was the in 1688. Short monarchies
unification of Britain. Born last monarch to continued to be a trend in the
at St James’s Palace in London practise the ritual Stuart age and Anne was thrust
on 6 February 1665, Anne spent of the ‘royal touch’, a into the regal limelight aged
most of her early life in France 37 when she ascended to the
with her father James, who was
form of laying on of throne on 8 March 1702.
the Duke of York and brother hands thought to Anne’s reign began in a time
to the exiled English monarch of cure illness of conflict. The War of Spanish
the time, Charles II. From an early Succession was well under way
age, the future queen was surrounded when she was crowned, as Europe
by Catholics in her family, but she was entered a state of turmoil after the death of
eventually brought up as a Protestant. This religious King Charles II of Spain. The Spanish Empire was
orientation would help her secure the English now leaderless and without an immediate successor
throne in the future. and all the major powers wanted a piece of the
The young Anne was raised as an action. Britain waded in with all its military
aristocratic girl with a full education might and recorded a series of victories.
in languages and music. Being Anne This was partly due to the expert
QUEEN ANNE
female, she was not given much battle tactician John Churchill,
of a grounding in law and
had become the Duke of Marlborough, who England, 1665–1714
military matters, which would so stout during her would become an important
ultimately go against her when later years that when member of Anne’s regime. The The last of the Stuart
monarchs, Anne held
she assumed the English crown. she died, her coffin English empire was growing Brief a strong desire for
Anne was only 18 when she
was more of a square
in power and the nation was Bio independent rule.
However, intellectual
was married to Prince George beginning to assume its role
of Denmark. The wedding was shape than a as the unofficial policeman of
and physical limitations
meant she relied on ministers,
negotiated by Anne’s father and rectangle Europe. Its forces successfully particularly during the War of
King Louis XIV of France. The idea expelled the French from the Spanish Succession. Questions
over succession, combined with
was that the marriage would create an Netherlands and helped save Austria tensions between Whigs and
Anglo-Danish alliance against the Dutch. This from invasion. English troops also captured Tories, characterised her reign.
plan, however, never materialised. Just two years Gibraltar in 1704 and recorded stunning victories
124
Queen Anne
While
her formal
education had been
limited, Anne gained a
mastery of the French
language and spoke
it fluently
125
British Royals
at Blenheim (1704) and Ramillies (1706). The era is into the Georgian era. While Anne was queen,
known by many contemporary historians as the the biggest advocate for Scottish independence
Second Hundred Years’ War due to the constant was Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, who warned
conflict over the Channel. As Churchill claimed against the increasing amount of wealth going into
these victories, Anne found herself under the London from other areas of Britain in what was an
growing influence of his wife Sarah. Friends such as incorporating rather than a federal union.
Sarah would become big influences on her political The two political parties in Anne’s era were the
outlook, especially as her own husband Whigs and the Tories. Anne originally
Prince George had no interest in such pledged her support to the Whigs;
matters and preferred to indulge in it was this party that backed the
his growing fondness for drink.
Gardening, involvement in the War of the
Anne was so involved in the war hunting and Spanish Succession in which
that the American theatre of horse racing were England made many gains.
the War of Spanish Succession However, the queen slowly
the queen’s favourite
is often referred to as ‘Queen began to side with the Tory way
Anne’s War’. pastimes. She founded of thinking (partly due to her
John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, was The war ended in 1714. By this Ascot race course growing friendship with Abigail
a key figure during Anne’s reign and one of
the greatest generals in British history time England and Scotland had in 1711 Masham) but by the time of her
become a united nation (through death, the Whigs had become the
Timeline hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). armies retreat towards the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
1665
l Birth of a queen l Marriage to George l The Glorious l Queen Anne of Victories on the l
Anne is born at At only 18 years of Revolution England continent
11.39pm and is the age, Anne marries King James II is ousted Aged 37, Anne Britain takes the upper
second daughter of Prince George of by William and Mary of succeeds the unpopular hand in the war, with
James, Duke of York. Denmark. The Orange, who become William III upon his victories at Blenheim and
She is born in England marriage is believed king and queen of death. Her reign begins the capture of Gibraltar
but spends her early to be an attempt England. Rather than an in a time of conflict as severely weakening
years in France in the to create an Anglo- invasion by force, they the War of the Spanish French and Spanish
care of her maternal Danish alliance against are invited by Parliament Succession is raging on forces. Peace, however, is
grandmother. the Dutch. to become monarchs. the continent. still ten years away.
6 February 1665 28 July 1683 1688 8 March 1702 1704
126
Queen Anne
1714
Arrival of the Old l l Bill veto l New political power l The Treaty of Utrecht End of the Stuart line l
Pretender Anne becomes the Robert Harley and The War of the Anne passes away
James Edward Stuart last monarch to veto a the Tory party take Spanish Succession after a long battle with
arrives on British soil in parliamentary bill as she power in Britain after ends with Britain illness. She is buried at
an attempt to gain the declines to reorganise the a Tory-Whig coalition making significant Westminster Abbey and
throne. The ensuing Scottish militia. The queen is ended. The Tories gains in Europe with no direct heir, the
Scottish rebellion is and her ministers are are much more lenient and the colonies. Stuart dynasty ends.
quashed. Over in Europe, concerned that the Scots to France as Britain France is forced to George I becomes
British forces triumph at would be disloyal if there loosens its grip on recognise Britain’s king and the House of
the Battle of Malplaquet. were a French invasion. Louis XIV. imperial power. Hanover begins.
1708 1708 1710 1713 1 August 1714
127
British Royals
Isaac
Newton often
visited the court of
George and impressed
the king’s relatives
and advisors with
his knowledge of
science
GEORGE I
Germany, 1660-1727
1714-1727
George I
He may never have learned English, but George still
found time to imprison his wife and wage war
T
he House of Stuart came to a halt in 1714 In 1701, Charles II of Spain died, beginning the
with the death of Queen Anne after a long War of Spanish Succession, which would last for
period of ill health. Into the void stepped a 13 years. Seeing this as an opportunity to increase
little-known German by the name of Georg his stake in European affairs, George played an
Ludwig – or as we now know him, George I. active role in the conflict assisting the British
A Lutheran Protestant from birth, George was against the French, which gave him recognition
by no means the first in line to the British throne. in England. The ruling Whig party saw him as an
Around 50 Catholic members of the aristocracy ideal replacement for the soon-to-be-ailing Anne.
had much closer ties to Anne, but the 1701 Act Many of the English population at this time were
of Settlement ensured that a Protestant monarch Protestant, so the decision of a Lutheran king to
would acquire the British crown and so began replace an Anglican queen was a simple one and
the House of Hanover, a dynasty that would rule George was crowned, aged 54, on 20 October 1714
Britain for the next 187 years. at Westminster Abbey.
George was born, in the duchy of Brunswick- Unfortunately, George’s reign began with a
Lüneburg, into the upper tiers of the European splutter, as it emerged that the cohort he arrived
elite. His father, Ernest Augustus was the Duke of with included two mistresses and no wife. This
Brunswick-Lüneburg and after his death in 1698, angered the religious English population, even
George would take his place and also become more so after further allegations arose about the
prince elector of the Holy Roman Empire. treatment of his wife.
128
George I
129
130
The
The family of Frederick, Prince of Wales, as
painted by George Knapton in 1751
House of
British Royals
Hanover
Uncover the scandalous lineage of
this family line
1
1714-1727
Order of Marriage George I Sophia Dorothea
succession of Celle
b.1660-d.1727
b.1666-d.1726
2
1727-1760
George II Caroline of Sophia Dorothea Frederick William
b.1683-d.1760 Ansbach of Hanover I of Prussia
b.1683-d.1737 b.1687-d.1757 b.1688-d.1740
Louise
Frederick,
Prince of Wales b.1724-d.1751
Married to the womanising
b.1707-d.1751 William Duke Frederick II of King Frederick V, Louise
In 1714, at just seven Mary
of Cumberland Hesse-Kassel was crowned Queen of
years old, Frederick
was separated from his
b.1723-d.1772 Denmark and Norway
b.1721-d.1765 b.1720-d.1785
parents and appointed in 1746. Against all the
as ceremonial Head of odds, their arranged
Augusta of the House of Hanover, marriage was a happy
Saxe-Gotha as the rest of his family one and the good-
b.1719-d.1772 departed for England. natured and sometimes
He lived life to the
Frederick V
William IV of Denmark long-suffering Louise was
full, plunging headfirst Anne
of Orange hugely popular in her
into life as George I’s b.1709-d.1759 b.1723-d.1766
favourite grandchild. adopted land.
b.1711-d.1751
Augusta Charles William Edward, William Henry, Caroline Matilda
of Brunswick Duke of York Duke of Gloucester b.1751-d.1775
b.1737-d.1813
b.1735-d.1806 b.1739-d.1767 b.1743-d.1805 As Caroline Matilda’s
husband, Christian VII
of Denmark, descended Christian VII
into madness, she found of Denmark
3 Henry, Duke solace in the arms of b.1749-d.1808
1760-1820 of Cumberland his ambitious doctor,
b.1745-d.1790 Struensee. The couple
George III ruled Denmark as virtual
Charlotte of regents but when their
b.1738-d.1820 Mecklenburg- affair was discovered,
Strelitz Caroline was imprisoned
b.1744-d.1818 and Struensee executed,
putting an end to their
romance.
Augustus, Duke
of Sussex
b.1773-d.1843
6
Leopold of Saxe- Albert of Saxe- 1837-1901
Charlotte Coburg-Saalfeld Coburg & Gotha
b.1796-d.1817
Victoria
b.1790-d.1865 b.1819-d.1861
b.1819-d.1901
House of Hanover
131
British Royals
1727-1760
George II
Marginalised by his father and loathed by his son,
George II had to strike an uneasy balance with
Parliament and see off an invasion from the Stuart
claimant to the throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie
I
f George I was an unpopular monarch, then Meanwhile, supporters for the deposed Stuart
George II was determined not to be. He had dynasty – known as Jacobites – circulated
plenty of reasons to hate his father, after pamphlets denouncing these Teutonic
all. In 1694, when the young George interlopers and holding up George I’s
Augustus was only 11, George I – troubled private life to scrutiny – not
then simply Prince George Louis only had he imprisoned his wife,
of the German Electorate of George II but he was rumoured to have
Hanover – had accused George was buried next murdered her lover and now
Augustus’s mother, Sophia to his wife with the cavorted openly about London
Dorothea, of adultery and with his mistress. Songs were
locked her up in Ahlden House
sides of their coffins sung mocking him and effigies
– where she would remain left open so that they of the king in a cuckold’s horns
until she died, never seeing her could be together were strung up and burnt.
children again. One tragic tale of When George I died, his son’s
dubious veracity describes the young refusal to attend his funeral in
heir frantically trying to swim the moat Hanover was seen as a statement of
of Ahlden House to get to her. his commitment to Britain, rather than a
A prince’s cruelty became a king’s cruelty when statement of just how dysfunctional the father/son
he inherited the throne of Great Britain in 1714 by relationship had become. With the crown cold on
way of a legal act of succession that omitted over the old king’s brow, the Jacobites made their move,
50 closer relatives due to their Catholicism. stirring up unrest at George II’s coronation
The son – aged 31 and already a war as they had done for George I before
hero, having led Hanoverian troops him. But while the Jacobite rising
in the Battle of Oudenarde against Naturalist Sir of 1715 led to a pitched battle
the French – joined his father in
Hans Sloane left his in Scotland (the homeland GEORGE II
London and took on the title of of the Stuart kings), isolated Germany, 1683-1760
Prince of Wales. collection to George II uprisings across England
Whereas George I conducted in 1753; the British and mass arrests of Jacobite The last British king
his affairs in German – baffled Museum was created sympathisers, the coronation of to be born outside of
by the British political system George II went off with barely
Brief Britain, and the last to
as a result Bio lead an army in battle
and surrounded by advisers any unrest. It wouldn’t be the (at Dettingen in 1743),
he’d imported from Hanover – the last that Britain would hear of its George II had a scandalous
family life and a thirst for
Prince of Wales and his wife Caroline royalist rebels and their would-be foreign intervention. Ultimately,
of Ansbach held their court in English, kings, plotting from their exile in Europe. however, he managed to
surrounded themselves with British politicians Despite his efforts to adapt, George II may have unite the British nation and
helped define the role of the
and took every care to present themselves as the left Hanover, but Hanover never truly left him constitutional monarch.
‘Prince and Princess of Hearts’. and the king followed in his father’s footsteps in
132
George II
George II
married Caroline
of Ansbach out of
love, even visiting
her father’s court in
disguise to find out
more about her
133
British Royals
attempting to fight the Electorate’s corner with in the business of government. In contrast to
British resources. With greater influence in foreign the vicious conflicts waged between Parliament
politics than domestic politics (treaties were and crown across the previous century, George II
conducted monarch-to-monarch, and diplomats witnessed the modern constitutional monarchy
were appointed directly by the king), George II take shape, with functioning government relying
involved Britain in a series of continental escapades on some accord between the king (who confirmed
with a view to increasing Hanover’s territory, appointments presented by Parliament, and had
establishing it as the dominant Protestant state great sway in the House of Lords, which confirmed
in Germany, or protecting its fragile borders from or denied bills raised by the House of Commons)
invasion by its aggressive neighbours (including and his ministers, who often had the influence
his own nephew, King Frederick the Great of among MPs to corral the votes in the first place.
Prussia). Few of these were in the best interests of Forced to negotiate with ministers as king, yet
Great Britain and wherever possible, Parliament largely unchallenged in his role as elector, George II
pulled George II back from the brink. While prime opted to spend so much time in Hanover that on
minister Walpole dug in his heels to keep Britain one occasion, after several months had passed with
out of the War of the Polish Succession in 1733, no sign of the monarch, some wry Londoners left
The tragedy leaving Hanover to go it alone (perhaps wrongly in a notice on the gates of St James’s Palace that read
this case, as the German states emerged victorious), “Lost or strayed out of this house, a man who has
of Prince George won the battle and dragged left a wife and six children on the parish.”
Frederick
George I didn’t just take George II’s mother,
Britain into the War of the Austrian
Succession in 1739 (which gained
Unsurprisingly then, when the Jacobites
finally made their play for power,
he also stole his son. While the Georges
Britain nothing, at the cost of Patriotic George II was in Germany and
headed for England in 1714 to take their vast numbers that were left anthem ‘Rule, not in Britain. The last gasp of
crowns, Prince Frederick – aged only seven dead and wounded). the Stuart claim to the throne,
– remained in Hanover as ruler (albeit with Perhaps validating the Britannia!’ was first Charles Edward Stuart – also
a regent, until he was old enough to rule for king’s diplomatic meddling performed in 1740 as known as the Young Pretender or
himself). Designed to emphasise George I’s
commitment to his homeland, it also served
was the Seven Years’ War, part of a masque at the Bonnie Prince Charlie – landed in
which began in earnest in Scotland on 23 July 1745 to gather
to drive a wedge between the first and home of Frederick,
second in line to the throne that would 1756 over the French threat to the clans to his cause.
never heal as Frederick was increasingly Hanover and concluded after the Prince of Wales Prince William Augustus –
groomed for greatness, while Prince George king’s death, with Britain seizing George’s youngest son and the
was increasingly denied responsibility. French territory in North America, militaristic Duke of Cumberland –
Without parental oversight, Frederick grew India and the Caribbean (as well as Spanish garrisoned in the Netherlands, pleaded with
into a libertine – in contrast to his austere
Florida), accelerating yet further Britain’s growth as his father to be allowed back to Britain to tackle
father and grandfather – and gained a
taste for women, wine and gambling. an imperial superpower. the Jacobite menace (“Let me come home with
The relationship scarcely improved with Though he increasingly lost interest in domestic whatever troops are thought necessary, for it
George II’s accession in 1727 as history politics toward the end of his life, George II initially would be horrid to be employed abroad when my
quickly repeated itself, with political alarmed many ministers with his keen interest home was in danger”) and it wasn’t until 31 August
opposition to the king rallying around the
new Prince of Wales as its figurehead. Much
as George II skipped his father’s funeral, he Defining moment Defining moment
forbade Prince Frederick from attending
Queen Caroline’s when she died in 1737. Harsh beginnings Hanoverian age begins
When Frederick himself died prematurely 10 November 1683 20 October 1714
in 1751, His Majesty declined to attend the George Augustus is born in Hanover, the eldest son Following the death of Queen Anne (daughter of King James II),
funeral and the cycle of intergenerational of George Lewis (Ludwig) – Prince of Hanover and there are no suitable Protestant Stuart heirs and so George Lewis
conflict continued well into the next century Duke Brunswick-Lüneburg – and Sophia Dorothea. and George Augustus of Hanover are summoned to London,
between Frederick’s son and grandson, Hanover is one of the Electorates, autonomous to become king of Great Britain and Prince of Wales. George
German principalities whose elector princes vote Augustus’s son Frederick is forced to remain in Hanover, under
George III and George IV.
on the candidate for Holy Roman Emperor. George the supervision of a regent, and the new Prince and Princess
Augustus speaks only French – the language of of Wales go on to have more children, further driving a wedge
court – until he is four, when he is taught German between the three generations. Meanwhile, riots break out in
and then also English and Italian. In 1694, Sophia 20 towns across England in support of the Stuart claimant, the
Dorothea is accused of adultery and imprisoned; Catholic James Francis Edward Stuart – Anne’s younger, Catholic
half-brother, known as ‘The Old Pretender’.
Timeline
young George Augustus will never see her again.
1701
l The Hanoverian succession l A royal wedding l Bloodied in battle l Treaty Of Utrecht l Breaking point
With the current British George Augustus Hanover joins Britain The Tory-dominated George Augustus
monarch Queen Anne marries Caroline of and Austria to battle government makes peace insults one of
unable to produce an heir, Ansbach out of love, France in the War of with France, ending the War the king’s allies
the government agrees the rather than politics. the Spanish Succession. of the Spanish Succession at the baptism of
Act of Settlement, omitting After a previous love 24-year-old George and earning the ire of his second son.
Roman Catholics from the match collapsed, he Augustus leads the Britain’s German allies – George I banishes
succession and establishing visited the court of rearguard of Hanoverian particularly Hanover’s rulers, the Prince and
the Hanoverian dynasty as the Ansbach in secret to cavalry, impressing the the future George I and Princess of Wales
heirs to the throne. assess her suitability. British commander. George II. from court.
1701 2 September 1705 11 July 1708 April 1713 November 1717
134
George II
that George II returned from Hanover and then may well have been, but the realities of a 31-year
on 4 September, the prime minister requested peace, unchallenged Protestant dominance, and Life in the time
Cumberland to return with his troops. Edinburgh,
meanwhile, threw open its gates to the Young
a functioning Parliament under George I and
George II had not passed the English by.
of George II
Pretender, and the rebels scored their first victory In the aftermath of the Jacobite rising, the Sweet teeth
at the Battle of Prestonpans (21 September). On powers of the Scottish lords were severely curtailed, Thanks to Britain’s growing empire widening
8 November, the Jacobites crossed the border into but – to the shock of many – George II appointed a access to produce and bringing down prices,
many of the previous century’s luxuries
England, taking Carlisle, Manchester, Preston and number of Scots to key roles in the army and with
became mass-market. Between 1690 and
Derby, before news of Cumberland’s force the growth of the British empire, many 1740, consumption of sugar doubled and
(as well as another, larger fictional in Scotland became gradually more cotton, rum and tobacco flooded into Britain.
army invented by a British spy invested in the idea of Great Britain The sad truth is that much of this was the
in the camp) sent them back and its unifying crown. result of slave labour.
George II was
to Scotland to fight on home That, more than anything, was
ground. The resulting Battle
the last British George II’s legacy. Though he Whigs vs Tories
of Culloden (16 April 1746) king to lead an army spent much of his reign fussing MPs were divided into Whigs (pro-Parliament)
and Tories (pro-monarch). Thanks to their
was a crushing defeat for the in battle, at the Battle over his homeland – Hanover
support for a treaty that left Hanover in
Jacobites, ending all hope for was humiliatingly occupied
of Dettingen – in the lurch in 1713 and perceived Jacobite
the Stuart claim to the throne by the French in 1757 and, sympathies, George I and II locked the Tories
of Britain. The victory made a Bavaria – in 1743 continuing the father/son friction out of government for both their reigns.
national hero of Cumberland in that had defined the dynasty so far,
England and a monster of him in the king ostracised Cumberland for Gin gets a tonic
Scotland, where his brutal reprisals earned his failure to defend it – his gift to Britain Gin became the tipple of choice for the
him the nickname ‘Butcher Cumberland’. was stability. George II redefined the relationship urban poor in the 1720s. Cheap to produce
and mind-numbingly strong, by the 1740s an
The greatest threat to the Hanoverian dynasty between the institutions of British government and
average of six gallons per person were being
had ended, with little direct involvement from the redefined the monarchy, not as a driving force as drunk, and by 1750 nearly half of Britain’s total
king himself, but indirectly George II saved his the Stuarts were, but a rallying point for the nation. wheat harvest was used in gin production.
bloodline, and perhaps his nation. Expecting the On the morning of 25 October 1760, the king
Jacobite rising to continue into England (the French died from a rupture of the heart, leaving his Birth of Canada
had held off supporting the Young Pretender grandson – the son of Prince Frederick, who had Thanks to one of George II’s pro-Hanover wars
too overtly unless he could prove support in the died some years earlier – to take the British throne against France, Britain took all of the latter’s
south), Bonnie Prince Charlie was winded by the as George III. North American possessions in 1763. Moves
to placate both the Native Americans, who
lack of cheering crowds awaiting him and he “With him our laws and liberties were safe,”
supported Britain, and the French-speaking
was forced to line the route into the Lancashire reflected writer and social reformer Elizabeth inhabitants of what is now Canada increased
town of Preston with his Scots followers. A song Montagu. “He possessed in a great degree the resentment in the original British colonies,
sung in London theatres, with its refrain of “God confidence of his people and the respect of paving the way for the American Revolution.
save the king”, became a patriotic sensation and foreign governments; and a certain steadiness of
was later adopted as the British national anthem, character made him of great consequence in these A to Z
although the anti-Jacobite ‘Rebellious Scots to unsettled times. First published 15 April 1755, Samuel Johnson’s
crush’ verse was quietly retired soon after. A “His character would not afford subject for epic A Dictionary of the English Language remained
the most comprehensive such volume for over
boorish German transplant with a toxic family he poetry, but will look well in the sober page of history.”
150 years and acted as the foundation for the
development of language and learning in both
Defining moment Britain and North America. Johnson was paid
1,500 guineas for his trouble.
George II is crowned
22 October 1727 l Hanoverian
After years of being increasingly marginalised by his father, George Augustus disgrace
ascends to the throne upon George I’s death in Hanover. He is crowned king of In a humiliating
Great Britain to the sound of four new anthems from German composer George defeat, French troops
occupy Hanover. The
Frideric Handel at a service at Westminster Abbey. In contrast to the Jacobite
Duke of Cumberland
backlash that greeted his unpopular father’s accession, George II’s coronation is stripped of his
is marked by little public unrest. At the urging of Queen Caroline he retains command by George II
George I’s prime minister, the influential Sir Robert Walpole, in exchange for for his failure to
an allowance of £800,000 a year on the Civil List. Walpole goes on to become defend the homeland.
Britain’s longest-serving PM at an incredible 20 years of service. 11 August 1757
1760
l Family reunited l The queen is dead l Last warrior king l Jacobites strike back l Year of glory The king is dead l
Frederick joins his Queen Caroline dies George II becomes The most credible Victories against the George II dies on
parents in England and following a ruptured womb the last British king Jacobite insurrection of French in the Seven the toilet, aged 76.
takes the title Prince stemming from earlier to lead his troops in George II’s reign is put Years’ War lead to The cause of death
of Wales. There’s problems in childbirth. battle. The Battle of down by his son, Duke of 1759 declared Annus is aortic aneurysm,
friction with George I A heartbroken George II Dettingen deprives Cumberland, at the Battle Mirabilis – a year of a rupture of the
thanks to his hedonistic swears never to remarry the French of an of Culloden. Bonnie Prince miracles. The Royal heart which
lifestyle and Frederick and refuses Prince early victory in the Charlie – son of James Navy anthem ‘Heart causes shock
becomes a focus for Frederick permission to War of Austrian Francis Edward Stuart – Of Oak’ is written in and massive
political opposition. attend the funeral. Succession. flees to France. commemoration. internal bleeding.
1728 20 November 1737 27 June 1743 16 April 1746 1759 25 October 1760
135
British Royals
136
George III
GEORGE III
England, 1738-1820
Famous in history
and popular tales as
Brief ‘Mad King George’,
Bio the king was probably
suffering from a
disorder known as porphyria,
which manifests with severe
neurological problems. Despite
this, for much of his reign
George was loved by his
people thanks to his British
birth, and knack of saying the
right patriotic thing at exactly
the right time. His reign saw 1760-1820
George III
British achievements grow.
G
eorge III was the King of the Prince of Wales died early from a
United Kingdom of Great George lung injury and the crown passed
Britain during one of the had nine sons from his Grandfather George
most tumultuous and II directly to him, George
disruptive periods in and six daughters, directly or indirectly caused
the power’s history, with his including Edward the dissolution of the British
reign witnessing the collapse of Augustus, the father government more than three
British control in the Americas, times, with the most famous
of England’s future being the case of 1784, where
political instability in the British
Parliament and near national Queen Victoria George – dissatisfied with a
bankruptcy. Despite this damning bill setting forth the passage of
legacy however, for much of his reign powers in India from the East India
George was well thought of among the Company to some of his parliamentary
commoners, with the king’s penchant for patriotic enemies – sent a message to the House of
remarks and foreign war, along with him being Lords that any member who voted for its passage
English-born, playing well to the masses. Even the would be considered ‘his enemy’. The bill was
king’s famous ‘madness’, which grew more and rejected by the House of Lords and three days
more severe throughout his life did not later the ministry was also dismissed.
seem to dent this view, with, as late The subsequent election saw the
as 1810 – near to the height of his then monarch-friendly William
insanity – the king popular among George used Pitt the Younger instigated as
the people. prime minister. This typified
As one would expect however, many titles George III’s attitude towards
George III was not as well throughout his the elected parliament of his
thought of by the ruling political reign, changing with country during his reign, with
classes of England, with his the monarch frequently acting
reign leaving a disastrous legacy
the times and the in his own interests or in the
of political interference. Indeed, countries he ruled interest of the monarchy and
during his time as monarch, which overruling them. For example,
began after his father Frederick, during the tenure of William Pitt the
137
British Royals
Younger as prime minister, George rebels harassed, anxious and poor by never came, the anxiety of losing the war seemed
helped maintain his influence the indefinite prolongation of a war to place a great strain on George and throughout
by creating an unprecedented During his which promised to be eternal.’ Of the following decades became increasingly ill,
number of new peers in the reign Great course, this kind of jingoistic flag- with bouts of his ‘illness’ making his appearances
House of Lords, all of which – Britain partook in the waving was often portrayed as in public and participation in British politics more
indebted to him as benefactor merely the king being patriotic and more restrained. By the time he had a massive
– voted in his favour whenever Seven Years’ War, the to the wider country, with public mental collapse in 1789 he was beginning to go
called upon. This not only American Revolution opinion staying firmly on his blind and deaf and after relapses into illness in 1801
disrupted the political and the Napoleonic side right up until the early and 1804, was largely unfit to rule the country.
establishment but, especially in 1780s, when the desperate state George’s illness and decline reached a head
the case of the American War of
Wars of the country’s finances began to in 1810, when after the untimely death of his
Independence, left Britain poorer become all too evident. youngest daughter, he mentally collapsed entirely
financially and with less power overall Indeed, George’s financial and became completely deranged. As he was no
on the world stage. Prior to the American War mismanagement and lust for war meant that longer fit to rule, the British Parliament passed the
of Independence, Britain had been the leading throughout the 1770s the national debt of the Regency Act of 1811 thereby allowing his son, the
military force worldwide, with its main rivals of country rose to a level where it required an Prince of Wales George IV, to rule in his place.
France and Spain recently defeated in warfare and annual revenue of £4 million to service For the last ten years of his life George
its cultural influence stretching throughout the it and the king became famous III was largely confined to the
Americas, Africa and even India. Thanks to George for raiding the treasury to cover interior and grounds of Windsor
however, maintaining this at all cost would almost spiralling royal debts. This vast Castle, with his madness only
cripple the country. financial burden came courtesy
George III lived for punctuated by tiny moments of
In fact, with the American Revolutionary War, primarily due to the costs of 81 years and 239 days, lucidity. His son George ruled
George III famously ignored the advice of his own garrisoning and administering while he reigned as the country in his place – albeit
ministers and voted repeatedly to keep Britain at the large expansion of territory monarch for 59 years with none of the popularity
war with the revolutionaries, even despite the fact that control of the American that he had done during most
that it was leading the country into a financial hole. colonies brought, a series of and 96 days of his years – the American
According to the Victorian commentator George on-off wars with France and revolutionaries established
Trevelyan, George apparently wished to ‘keep the Spain, and huge annual loans the young country of the United
payable to the States of America – indicating that
East India Company George was a tyrant in their Declaration
to control Britain’s of Independence – and, following his eventual
interests in India. The death on 29 January 1820, views of his reign in
country couldn’t cope and Britain slowly altered from a stoic pillar of patriotic
eventually independence tradition in an age of unwanted revolution, to one
was won. wholly more negative.
This loss of the American Interestingly, today however, despite George
colonies hit George III badly III being largely remembered for just his
and after the resignation madness, financial ineptitude and hunger for war,
of the then prime minister academically George’s reign is increasingly being
Frederick North he even seen with a different, more positive perspective,
considered abdication, with one that highlights his learning and culture. In
George bitterly resigned to fact, it is true that George III was not only one of
the separation and loss of the most cultured English monarchs of all time,
territory. While abdication studying science throughout his childhood and
138
George III
The mad
monarch
Today, as in the 18th Century, why George
III regressed into madness is not fully
understood, with records from the time of
early adult life – he collected scientific instruments to gain the knowledge held within. 65,000 of these his ‘illness’ vague or nonexistent. Obviously,
too, many of which can be seen in the London books were later donated to the British Museum in the 18th and early 19th Century, mental
illness was nowhere near as understood as
Science Museum today, and possessed his and now form the heart of its collection.
it is today, with those affected typically just
vary own observatory – but also taking Whether or not this contribution to locked up. One thing is clear though, the
a keen interest in the arts and the arts and sciences can be seen recurring nature of George’s illness – with
agriculture. Indeed, it was George George’s as redeeming features capable the first record of it coming as early as 1765
III who founded and paid the reign is now of permanently redressing the – does seem to indicate it was more mental
than physical.
initial costs of the British Royal seen as a very perception of George III’s reign
A few hypotheses have since been
Academy of Arts and it was is open to debate, however
also George III who funded the
positive time for there is one thing that all
postulated by historians, the most
prominent being that the king suffered from
construction and maintenance British arts and commentators, both modern the blood disease porphyria, a rare inherited
of famous astronomer William sciences, which and historical alike, agree on series of enzyme disorders that can often
Herschel’s ground-breaking and that is that his rule was no lead to neurological problems. This cannot
flourished under be confirmed however for sure, albeit with
40-foot telescope. He was, rather where near as bad as his son’s,
cruelly, also comically referred to as
his aegis with George VI acting throughout records of his madness and later dementia
tallying well with the hypothesis. An analysis
‘Farmer George’ by his opponents due his short reign with a wanton
of a few surviving strands of George’s hair in
to his keen interest and love of agriculture, disregard for Britain and its people, while 2004 also revealed a high level of arsenic,
writing numerous articles under a pseudonym in bringing the monarchy to an historical low. Writing which is also known to precipitate attacks
agricultural texts and pamphlets. in his diary, contemporary of George VI Charles of porphyria.
In fact, George’s learning became rather quite Greville said of the king that, ‘He only wishes to Arguably the worst recorded case of
famous in contrast to many earlier kings – and be powerful in order to exercise the most puerile George’s madness was the relapse that
led to his death. Starting at Christmas
especially so in light of his stupid and unlearned caprices, gratify ridiculous resentments, indulge
1819, George spoke nonsense for 58 hours
son – with him accruing a royal collection of books vulgar prejudices, and amass or squander money; straight before falling exhausted into a
that numbered the tens of thousands and opening not one great object connected with national glory coma. He never recovered consciousness
his collection freely to learned scholars who wished or prosperity ever enters his brain.’ and was dead within a month.
1820
l George chooses Pitt l Ministry of All the Talents l Amelia dies l Prince Regent l Mad man of 58 hours of insanity l
George III causes After George’s long-time After a decade of decline George finally Windsor Following a bad bout
Parliament to be bete noire William Grenville in the health of his accepts the need Following the Regency of insanity where he
dissolved due to a dispute had taken back control of youngest and favourite for the Regency Act Act of 1811, George talked nonsense for
over the India Bill, with Parliament after Pitt the daughter Princess Amelia, of 1811, allowing his became increasingly 58 hours, George III
the subsequent election Younger’s death in 1806, she suddenly dies at the son to take over the mad, confined at all collapses and never
giving his own monarch- setting up his famous age of just 27, sending the official duties of king times to Windsor recovers. He dies on
friendly candidate, Ministry of All the Talents, near-blind George into as Prince Regent. Castle. In 1818 his wife 29 January 1820 and
William Pitt the Younger, George once more causes ‘scenes of distress and He does so until dies and he is too is buried in St George’s
a solid mandate. Parliament to be dissolved. crying every day’. George’s death. insane to realise. Chapel, Windsor Castle.
© Getty
139
British Royals
1820-1830
George IV
The truth about the son of the mad king
who is better known as a caricature than a
ruler of his country
I
t’s easy to paint a caricature of King George IV. It was his all-too-public womanising, which
Debauched, gluttonous, lecherous, drunken, grew and grew throughout his teens, which would
short-tempered, impulsive, profligate and careless, continue to land George in serious trouble. His
the laundry list of the man’s defects paint an impulsive nature, aided by his powerful love of
extremely unflattering picture of the king. But wine, led to a series of affairs that quickly gave the
who was this man who incited such contempt, Prince of Wales a reputation. He bedded married
mockery, and outright hatred? women, well-known actresses, and even one of the
George was born on 12 August 1762, the Queen’s maids of honour. Sometimes he was so
oldest of King George III and Queen Charlotte’s overcome with lust that he even promised payment
fifteen children. He was a bright and thoughtful in exchange for becoming a faithful mistress, such
child but by the age of six his natural as the £20,000 he pledged to Mary Robinson to
intelligence was beginning to be give up her acting career.
countered by some of the less flattering His notoriety wasn’t limited to his
aspects of his character. He was womanising. He was known for
short-tempered and easily Regent for associating with Whig politicians
distracted, so the young Prince of nine years as (much to the irritation of his
Wales and his brother Frederick conservative-leaning father)
were sent to a stricter house of
his father struggled and for his extraordinary talent
learning that made free use of with illness, George for mimicry (which inevitably
capital punishment to correct wouldn’t become created as many enemies as it
any laziness or insubordination. king until he was 57 did friends). Naturally, all this
Despite the prince’s apparent socialising needed financing,
need for frequent beatings, it was
years old which was yet another cause of
obvious that he was clever and his conflict between the prince and
ability to master language and music was his father. King George III and his wife
truly impressive. lived relatively simply, and his son bitterly
However, this promising young man had not resented being forced to make do with the meagre
won the respect of his father. George III was a allowance he was given. King George had even
harsh taskmaster indeed, and viewed any failing rejected the allowance proposed by Parliament,
or shortcoming in his son as a sign of a weakness stating that it was irresponsible to give £100,000 a
of character. He was not impressed by the progress year to his son.
his son was making in his studies, and he was The endless spending only grew worse when the
particularly disappointed by the lack of interest prince became 21 and took possession of Carlton
he showed in religion, which the king thought House at Pall Mall. With furniture from China,
bordered upon contemptuous. craftsmen from France, and neighbouring houses
140
George IV
George
was notoriously
bad with money,
spending thousands
of pounds on his
estate and on his
debauched
lifestyle
GEORGE IV
British, 1762-1830
From a charming
rogue to a bloated
Brief national joke, the
Bio life of George IV was
one of tremendous
appetites and frustrated
ambition. A disappointment to
his father who spent his life in
trouble, George’s path to the
throne was a torturous and very
public one and by the end of his
life his reputation lay in tatters.
141
British Royals
being bought up, the renovations, extensions and then they would lose theirs, as he would almost
lavish decorations that George ordered were of a certainly instate a new government made up of his
ludicrous expense and plunged him into incredible Whig friends. George was thrilled at the possibility
debt. He didn’t allow his new home to distract and plotted away while both parties lobbied the
George from his love life, though, as he had found issue. The Whigs praised the brilliant young man,
grew up with a a new love of his life in the form of the while the Tories painted him as a debaucherous
total lack of approval widow Maria Fitzherbert. Her status as a idiot. Finally a Regency bill was passed in
widow was not a cause for scandal, but Parliament that would seriously limit his powers,
from his father, but her Catholic faith certainly was. If George but the king recovered before it passed before the
was known to be wanted to marry Maria, he would forfeit House of Lords.
charming and erudite his right to the throne. Faced with this bitter disappointment, George’s
when out in George would not be deterred. He behaviour became worse and worse, and it did not
married her illegally at her house on 15 go unnoticed by the national press. He took more
society December 1785 and moved to live in relative mistresses, abandoned Maria, and finally married
modesty in Brighton, but he could not hide his his cousin Caroline on 8 April 1795 to get rid of a
terrible debts. When he asked Parliament to help new and massive set of debts. There was no love
An 1809 depiction of King George IV
him, the question of his marriage to Maria was involved in the match and no love lost between the
raised and denied, much to her distress. The prince two. It was such a shambles that he drunkenly fell
was bailed out, this time, but a bigger problem into the fireplace on their wedding night. George
1762
l The Prince is born l A home for a Prince l Bailing out Prince George l A Royal Wedding
In August, 1762, Queen At the age of 21, George took With the matter of Prince At his father’s insistence,
Charlotte gave birth to possession of Carlton House and George’s debts becoming Prince George finally
her first son, George it soon became one of the free- increasingly problematic, he agreed to a marriage that
August Frederick. He spending Prince’s biggest appealed to his Whig friends George III approved of: his
would be King George expenses. His expansions, in Parliament to help him out. cousin Princess Caroline of
III’s first child but by no improvements and Having denied that he was Brunswick. The pair loathed
means the last, as the furnishings were colossally married to Maria Fitzherbert, each other and George
young boy would have expensive and plunged George was given money to pay drank heavily throughout
14 siblings. him into debt. his debt and finish Carlton House. his wedding day and night.
12 August 1762 1783 1787 8 April 1795
142
George IV
1830
l Death of Princess l The Queen on trial l A Royal Scottish visit l Catholic Relief Act The King is Dead l
Charlotte Following the death of King Following George’s Throughout his time as The fact that George IV
George IV’s relationship with George III, the Prince began coronation, the King was regent and King, George had was in ill health was no
his strong-willed daughter legal proceedings to keep his enjoying a popularity he’d fought against any form of secret, as visitors remarked
Charlotte had always been hated wife from becoming never known before, as relief or emancipation for on his obesity, terrible
strained. When she died in Queen, accusing her of adultery exemplified by his visit to Catholics, alienating him gout and gruesome eating,
childbirth two years after and high treason. While there Scotland in 1822, where he from the Whigs, but he was drinking and laudanum
marrying the Prince of Saxe- was certainly evidence for the enjoyed a surprisingly warm finally pressured into passing habits. When he finally
Coburg-Saalfeld, he found former, the bill was withdrawn reception, a rare thing indeed the Catholic Relief Act in expired his reputation was
himself blamed by the public. before reaching the Commons. for a Hanoverian monarch. 1829 to his great frustration. at its lowest point.
6 November 1817 17 August 1820 August 1822 13 April 1829 26 June 1830
143
British Royals
William
distrusted
foreigners and he
opposed the anti-
slavery movement, but
he wanted to repair
Anglo-American
relations
WILLIAM IV
England, 1765-1837
No one expected
William to come to
Brief the throne, but he
Bio did in 1830 following
two key deaths.
Straight away, the former naval
officer who had fathered ten
illegitimate children with his
actress mistress had a battle on
his hands thanks to determined
attempts by the Whigs to
reform Parliament.
1830-1837
William IV
King William IV was a rebellious fighter who
became the oldest person to accede to the throne
B
orn at Buckingham Palace as the third son of he was the subject of a kidnap plot that, despite
George III and Queen Charlotte, William took being approved by George Washington, had been
to the throne on 26 June 1830 at the age of discovered and foiled.
64. He was the younger brother of George IV When William returned to Britain in 1788, he was
whose only legitimate child, Princess eager to become a duke, but his father refused the
Charlotte of Wales, had died in 1817 as well as request, fearing it would lead to political opposition.
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, who’d This led to resentment and William hit back,
died in 1827. Almost immediately, William found threatening to run for Parliament by contesting the
himself embroiled in a tricky political situation. constituency of Totnes in Devon. William threatened
William had had a strict upbringing thanks to allegiance with the Whigs (his father was allied with
the disciplined nature of his father and, because he the Tories) and this act of rebellion forced George III
wasn’t expected to become king, he had entered the to back down. In 1789, William IV was created Duke
Royal Navy in 1779 at the age of 13, serving against of Clarence and a year later he left active service in
the Spanish in the Battle of St Vincent a year later. He the Royal Navy as a rear admiral.
also served in New York during the American War of During the 1790s, William settled in the royal
Independence which lasted until 1783, during which residence Bushy House with his pretty and
144
William IV
145
British Royals
1837-1901
Queen
Victoria
Celebrated today as one of Britain’s most beloved
monarchs, Victoria overcame schemes, scandal
and her own emotions to secure her place as the
nation’s queen
N
ever before had the coronation of a new a gold circlet upon her head. She was shadowed
British monarch drew such incredible by eight ladies who bore her train, and 50 more
crowds. Aided by the new railways followed behind. The woman herself was small,
ploughing through the country, incredibly short and just 19 years old. She
400,000 people travelled held her head high and stepped lightly,
to London to see their new ruler everyone else towered over her, but
crowned. The streets were bursting with her quiet, royal demeanour,
with loyal subjects – men, women The ceremony Victoria stood tallest of all.
and children eager to catch a represented The excitement surrounding
glimpse of the young queen. something entirely the coronation was unusual:
The Gold State Coach – which there was something special,
had been used for coronations
different, a much something electric in the air.
since George IV – was a sight longed-for and finally For the people who had suffered
to behold, gleaming in the obtained freedom under the extravagance of her
summer sun and drawn by eight loathed uncles, this fair, bright-faced
magnificent cream horses. girl presented an opportunity – a
As it passed through the people, chance for change and the dawn of a
joyous shouts rang out and elegantly dressed new age. For Victoria, the ceremony represented
ladies waved their handkerchiefs. All along the something entirely different, a much longed-for and
pavement were lines of foot and horse soldiers, finally obtained freedom. When Victoria was born,
while military bands played triumphant, celebratory the monarchy was in the midst of a mild ascension
music. Every seat was filled, every decorated crisis. George III had plenty of children, 15 to be
balcony heavy with people, and every eye was fixed exact, but the untimely death of his heir, George IV’s
upon the woman sat within the glittering carriage. only child, the beloved Princess Charlotte, had left
The peers and peeresses in their robes of estate the future of the monarchy in some disarray. There
were already seated in the Abbey when the teenage were three older sons in line before Victoria’s father,
queen arrived. She was dressed in a robe of crimson Edward, duke of Kent, but all bar one were aging
velvet trimmed with ermine and gold lace, bearing rapidly and had no legitimate surviving heirs. Upon
146
Queen Victoria
QUEEN VICTORIA
British, 1819-1901
147
British Royals
148
Queen Victoria
Republican stirrings
When Victoria ascended the throne, knowledge, but he was seen as worst.” By comparison, William IV,
it wasn’t just her inexperience that wasting the tax payers’ money on Victoria’s predecessor, was initially
served as a barrier to success, but his own frivolities. George lived a life more popular. His coronation was
also her own people. Opinion of of heavy drinking and indulgence at a simple affair – a far cry from his
the monarchy was at an all-time a time when his countrymen were brother’s extravagance. However,
low thanks to her predecessors and fighting the Napoleonic Wars. his reign became dominated by
unpopular uncles. Far from a national hero, he the Reform crisis, which ultimtaely
This dislike of the royals had became a figure of contempt and diminished his standing.
been a gradual decline going back loathing, with constant public When Victoria was crowned it
to George III, who became the mockery of his obese appearance. was to a public who regarded the
scapegoat for the loss of America. One of the king’s aides privately monarchy as one of “general moral
His recurring and debilitating mental penned, “A more contemptible, squalor.” It is no stretch to say that
illnesses did little to restore faith in cowardly, selfish, unfeeling dog does she faced increasing Republican
the crown, while his son, George IV, not exist… There have been good and opinions, and her battle to regain
made matters worse. Not only were wise kings but not many of them… the trust of her subjects would be a
his extra-marital affairs common and this I believe to be one of the long one.
and, though in line to the throne, all power was would be his final birthday banquet in 1836,
taken from her. William IV proclaimed to all – Victoria and her
The young Victoria had accepted her fate, but mother included – that he would live at least nine
as she matured, her will began to harden. She was months longer in order to see his beloved niece
lively, effervescent, and growing acutely aware of on the throne, preventing her mother acting as
her position in society and the duty that may one regent and describing her as “surrounded by evil
day fall upon her. When Victoria was 13, Conroy had advisers”. Victoria was so shocked she burst into
arranged for her to take a tour of the midlands tears. Nine months later, as promised, he was dead.
in order to show her off to the public. Victoria had turned 18 just weeks before.
King William IV, Victoria’s uncle, Unfortunately for Conroy, the old man’s
disliked the trips, stating that they Her first sheer will had won out.
portrayed the young girl as his On the very morning of
rival rather than his heir, and request as William’s death, Victoria, wearing
Victoria shared his opinion. monarch was for only a dressing gown, was
She complained that the something that she informed she was queen. Her
constant appearances were first request as monarch was for
had never before something that she had never
exhausting and she quickly fell
ill. Conroy dismissed this illness, experienced – an before experienced – an hour
but when Victoria contracted a hour alone alone. At 9am that morning, she
fever, he was quick to try and take received Lord Melbourne, the prime
advantage of her weakened state by minster, “quite alone” in her room, where
pressing his candidacy as her personal he kissed her hand repeatedly and spoke
secretary. However, Victoria, after years of control with her at length. Later that day at 9pm, she saw
by a cruel man, told him no. From this day on the him again, writing, “I had a very important and a
princess grew more stubborn, though she did not very comfortable conversation with him.” Conroy
portray it outwardly, and remained the vision of a had spent 18 years trying to control Victoria with
perfect Georgian lady. In private, she poured her manipulation; Melbourne, however, had won her
frustrations into journals and waited for the day she heart with kind words and charm in under an hour.
could finally take control of her own life. Conroy had placed his bets on a malleable figure,
Victoria was named Alexandrina after one of
her godfathers, Emperor Alexander I of Russia
Although the duchess had fallen for them, but in Victoria he had looked in the wrong place.
Conroy’s schemes didn’t fool everyone. At what Upon moving to Buckingham Palace, Victoria did
149
British Royals
150
Queen Victoria
Fashion queen
Ruling the world’s largest
empire with style
1837
BECOMING QUEEN
Lord Hatherton wrote of this
Queen Victoria’s wedding cake
reportedly weighed 300 pounds gown, “…dressed in a plain black
silk gown with a white muslin
collar and a thin black scarf. I
never saw her look so well.”
1838
CORONATION
Victoria presented a striking regal
picture during her coronation,
draped in a royal crimson robe
with ermine fur and bordered
with gold lace.
1840
CEREMONIAL EVENTS
Victoria would often wear this
riding habit when reviewing
troops. Elizabeth II continued
this tradition by wearing a similar
style for the same purpose.
everything in her power to keep Conroy and her her first privy council, hours after being told she
mother far away from her, denying the ambitious was now queen, she was an 18-year-old surrounded
servant of the power and place in her court he by the most influential and experienced men in
so desired. When her mother objected, Victoria British politics. Even if she did later proclaim herself 1840
responded, “I thought you would not expect me to “not at all nervous”, she must have felt comfort in WEDDING TO ALBERT
For her wedding, Victoria chose a
invite Sir John Conroy after his conduct towards the assurance that, from now on, she could steady white dress, very unusual for the
me for some years past.” It’s easy to see why Conroy herself on Melbourne’s arm. time as most brides wore vibrant
may have thought her a soft touch – she was a tiny, The two quickly grew inseparable. Melbourne, colours, setting a trend for
countless brides to follow.
plain girl, somewhat shy and wholly inexperienced 40 years her senior, was a childless widow, and
– but beneath her mild exterior she harboured a will it is likely he saw Victoria as a kind of surrogate
of fire, and for the first time Victoria made it clear daughter. As the diarist Charles Greville wrote,
that she was not to be pushed any longer. Conroy he was “…passionately fond of her.” What this 1851
was expelled from the queen’s household. relationship meant to Victoria, however, is up for OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE
Victoria was the first monarch to live in debate. It is of no doubt she lacked a father figure Victoria often wore flounced
skirts that widened the bottom
Buckingham Palace and, far from the splendour in her life, and she herself proclaimed to have
silhouette and made the top
we associate with the building today, it was in a loved him “like a father,” but it’s possible the young appear narrower; this shape
terrible state of disrepair. The lavatories were not woman’s feelings were complex. She was new to became a distinctive trend.
well ventilated and hundreds of the windows the realm of romance and, as demonstrated in her
were impossible to open. Just a teenager, Victoria later life, easily wooed by charismatic men. Greville
was alone in a new place without the two people, too suggested that the young queen’s feelings may
however much she despised them, who had been have been romantic, “…though she did not know it.”
1855
the strongest influences on her life thus far, and Victoria was, after all, incredibly professional and
STATE VISIT TO FRANCE
Victoria loved to make a bold
to top it off, faced the most monumental role any dictated by her duties. Even if she did feel some impression when meeting
individual could play. It is likely that this fear attraction to her witty, adoring minister, it is unlikely foreign dignitaries; she wore this
encouraged Victoria to attach herself so fiercely to she would have acted upon it. elaborate dress while meeting
Napoleon III.
her most beloved companion, Melbourne. A year after she ascended the throne, Victoria was
She wasn’t used to kindness, especially not from officially crowned at Westminster Abbey, attracting
men, and Melbourne was not only considerate unprecedented crowds. For the people watching,
but he flattered her – he assured her that all her there was much at stake – the monarchy had fallen
1861
MOURNING DRESS
insecurities – her size, inexperience and shyness out of favour thanks to the excessive extravagance After Alfred’s death, Victoria
– were advantages. He treated the young woman and general unpopularity of her uncles, and in a abandoned her eclectic love for
with a tenderness she had seldom felt, spending way, a youthful woman with silent professionalism fashion and instead donned the
iconic black mourning dress for
hours every night writing to her, and for this she was a breath of fresh air. At one point in the her remaining 40 years.
admired and loved him greatly. When Victoria held ceremony, the 82-year-old Lord Rolle fell down the
151
British Royals
Victoria’s
defining days
Victoria informed she
is queen 1837
At 9 came Lord Melbourne, whom I saw
in my room, and of course quite alone,
as I shall always do all my Ministers. He
kissed my hand, and I then acquainted
him that it had long been my intention
to retain him… at the head of affairs,
and that it could not be in better hands
than his. He again then kissed my hand.
He then read to me the Declaration
which I was to read to the Council,
which he wrote himself, and which is
a very fine one. I then talked with him
some little time longer, after which
he left me… I like him very much and
feel confidence in him. He is a very
straightforward, honest, clever and
good man… At about 11 Lord Melbourne
came again to me, and spoke to me
upon various subjects.
steps and Victoria immediately advanced towards kingdom, but also herself. What Victoria needed was
him to prevent him hurting himself further. This a husband.
simple act of kindness caused a sensation in the The match between Victoria and Albert had been
public who had never witnessed such naiveté and crafted years ago, she had already met him aged 17,
good-naturedness in their monarch before. Victoria and had been immediately drawn to him. However,
wasn’t excessive, she was a tiny, dignified lady with she was somewhat resistant towards rushing into
a strong presence and the public instantly adored marriage after only just obtaining her independence.
her. Melbourne adored her too; he stood by her side In late 1839, Albert visited her again and she fell
for the entire ceremony. for him completely. Not only was he dashing and
Public opinion of Victoria was at a high, but
opinion, as many of her predecessors realised,
charming, but he was educated – an essential trait
for her future husband – and perhaps even more Long live
could change as quickly as the wind. Victoria was
absolutely ruled by emotion and she was fiercely
importantly for the hot-tempered queen, he was
patient. Within five days, Victoria, ever led by her the queen
loyal to Melbourne, and these traits would see heart, had proposed to him. Victoria faced many
public opinion plummet. In 1839, one of Victoria’s Many of her journal entries paint the courtship
mother’s ladies in waiting, Lady Flora, experienced akin to a fairy tale, with the dashing prince sweeping potential assassins
swelling in her lower abdomen and soon enough her off her feet, which although is likely, it was also during her reign
the rumour spread that she was pregnant, a rumour a fiery and passionate relationship. Victoria was
that Melbourne did nothing to quell. Victoria, not renowned for having a short fuse, and Albert often
Despite being one of the most beloved monarchs in
overly fond with Flora to begin with, immediately found himself on the receiving end of it. Unlike
British History, Victoria ruled at a time of great social
suspected the much-loathed Conroy as the father. Melbourne, who often took the easy route in saying change and upheaval. Not everyone was satisfied with
When Flora finally agreed to an examination, it was what the queen wanted to hear, Albert was very her reign, and as such a powerful symbol of empire,
ultimately revealed that she in fact had cancer of honest, and he pushed the issues that meant the she found herself at the end of a barrel many times.
the liver. The entire affair was overblown most to him, most notably regarding the
by the public and the image of the poor, no matter how uncomfortable it Edward Oxford 1840
Victoria and Albert were travelling in a carriage along
naive and gentle Victoria had been may have made Victoria feel. In this
Constitution Hill when a young man fired twice upon
tarnished. At Flora’s funeral, the There were few way, Albert and Melbourne were the carriage before being seized. Oxford was deemed
queen’s carriage was stoned, pretensions of both Victoria’s advisers and tutors, insane and confined “at her majesty’s pleasure.”
she was hissed at in public and but Albert was something that
Victoria’s beauty:
when she later appeared at
she was often
the prime minister simply was John Francis 1842
Ascot, there were even cries of not: Victoria’s moral guidance. In a very similar attempt to the first, a man attempted
“Mrs Melbourne!” described as “short, As Victoria grew closer to to fire at the royal couple in their carriage. He was
apprehended by a police officer, and as he tried to
Melbourne, though a valuable fat and plain” Albert, she in turn became much seize the pistol, it went off. Francis was sentenced to
tutor to Victoria, seemed more less reliant on Melbourne. In her death, but Victoria changed this to transportation.
eager to flatter than give her a hard youth he had been her shoulder
truth. Their close relationship suffered to lean on, but the queen was quickly John William Bean 1842
a blow in May 1839 when Melbourne was learning there were others that she could turn Bean, a humpbacked boy, pushed his way to the front
forced to resign after a bill was narrowly passed in to. We know Victoria’s story, she recorded it in pages of a crowd and brandished a pistol at the royal couple.
He said he did not intend to shoot her, but wished to
the House of Commons. Victoria was distraught, and and pages of her journals, but Melbourne’s emotions be transported. He was imprisoned for 18 months.
it was with great reluctance that she asked for the were lost to history. We can only imagine how he
Tory leader, Robert Peel, to form a government. Peel must have felt as his companion and co-conspirator
agreed to do so on the condition that she dismiss drifted away from him. Whether it was with sadness
William Hamilton 1849
Again the royal carriage was fired on as it travelled
many of her Whig-leaning ladies in waiting, and or pride, Melbourne stood and watched as Victoria down Constitution Hill, but this time the queen was
replace them with Tories. Victoria, already despairing married another. alone. The shooter was a poor Irishman, and although
the police did not view the attempt to be serious, he
over losing her dear adviser Melbourne, refused Victoria’s wedding was the first of a British queen was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.
to give up her remaining close companions. This for 300 years, and she broke tradition by wearing
meant that Peel in turn refused to become prime a heavy satin dress entirely in white. At her chest
minister and Melbourne, through much persuasion, she wore a sapphire brooch given to her by her
Robert Pate 1850
Victoria, while with three of her children, was struck
remained in the coveted position. Just two years on fiancé. Like an echo of the day she was crowned, on the head with a cane. The mob that seized the
the throne, emotional and fearing loneliness at court, the crowds were so large they engulfed London. attacker was so furious the police had trouble
apprehending the man. Although of unsound mind,
Victoria let her passions guide her and it proved Once more the people were jubilant, and they
Pate was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.
to be a grave political blunder, doing little to help cried her name not in hatred but in admiration.
her public image as Melbourne’s pawn. The sweet, Albert had already begun to do great things for
caring girl was, in the public’s eye, transforming in to Victoria’s popularity, and through sheer will and
Arthur O’Connor 1872
In the gardens of Buckingham Palace, a young boy
a very stubborn, cruel matriarch. determination he would overcome the odds and pointed a pistol at Victoria’s head. He told her to sign
Something that Victoria needed was security. It obtain the public’s love himself. a Fenian document, but the queen merely bowed her
head. He was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment
wasn’t that she was a weak person, far from it, but For Victoria, her wedding day was “the happiest
and 20 strokes with a birch rod.
she had endured so many years of solitude that to day of my life!” Indeed, with Albert at her side,
have a friendly person to guide her was akin to a it finally felt as though all the years of political
knight in shining armour. Melbourne had fit the bill mistakes and scandal were finally far behind her. For Roderick McLean 1882
This final attempt occurred when the queen was
at first, but he was aging, and as the Bedchamber now Victoria could look very fondly to the future, entering her carriage at Windsor. A man fired upon her
Crisis proved, he could be out of her life with just a but little did the happy queen know, that the biggest but Victoria was quick to inform her son, “I am nothing
single vote. Victoria needed a relationship that was test of her life was yet to come, and it was one she the worse.” The Irish shooter was acquitted on the
grounds of insanity.
much more concrete, else risk losing not only her would have to face completely and utterly alone.
153
British Royals
Edward’s
social life was
very much public
knowledge; he was
renowned for his
drinking, and
womanising
EDWARD VII
England, 1841-1910
1901-1910
Edward VII
The prince who disappointed Queen Victoria
became one of Britain’s most popular monarchs
E
very monarch lives in the shadow of their the guidelines that his parents had set out for him.
predecessor, but few kings have taken the He was desperate to play a role in the army, but
crown from so fearsome a ruler as Queen that was declared absolutely forbidden. He would
Victoria. Edward VII, born Albert Edward in later be given a rank that was purely honorary,
1841, sat on the throne for the first time at much to his chagrin.
the age of 59, having spent most of his life living During his teens, Edward improved academically
with the disapproval of his mother. However, but his talents were far more social, and he began
having enjoyed the benefits of his royal standing to create a reputation for himself as a society
throughout his life, he would go on to win the figure. When the time came for Edward to marry,
hearts of his people and make the monarchy more he fell for Princess Alexandra of Denmark, a
popular than it had been in a very long time. match that was created by his sister Victoria while
Born to Victoria and her beloved Prince Albert on mostly disapproved of by his parents. However,
9 November 1841, Edward was held to an incredibly while visiting Ireland in 1861 during the marriage
high standard from a very early age. Victoria and preparations, Edward had a fling with an actress
Albert were determined that the boy would work called Nellie Clifden. Word got out and, despite the
hard and be given the very best education, but it fact that he was extremely ill, Prince Albert visited
became apparent that he did not work best within his son to scold him in person. Albert died shortly
154
Edward VII
155
British Royals
1910-1936
George V
George V saw Britain through the horrors of the
First World War and he reigned over a period of
great social and political change
G
eorge V was born in 1865 as the second son princess of Wales, had a further two children –
of Albert, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) George and John – before George V became king
and Alexandra of Denmark. His elder brother upon his father’s death in 1910. Unknown to him at
Albert, Duke of Clarence was second in line the time, he was about to lead the British Empire
to the throne and, as such, George wasn’t through a period of incredible change.
expected to become king. Instead, he was able to George’s first task was to tackle the constitutional
join the Royal Navy as a cadet at Dartmouth and crisis that had flared up in 1909. Conservative
kick-start a wonderful career in the armed forces, peers in the House of Lords had rejected the Liberal
one which he greatly enjoyed and excelled in. government’s budget, causing an uproar. It led to
But when his elder brother died of pneumonia the calling of a general election in January 1910 to
in 1892, George was promoted to heir presumptive get a mandate to pass the budget, but the result
and so forced to leave his career in preparation. He was a hung parliament with the Liberals winning
was given the title Duke of York and also became a 274 seats, just two more than the Conservatives.
member of the House of Lords. He began to better The Liberals entered into a coalition with John
understand the ins and outs of British politics as he Redmond’s Irish Parliamentary Party and, in April
prepared himself for the throne. 2010, the Lords passed the budget.
George was religious man, reading Anger simmered, though, and the
the Bible daily and attending George ruling government decided to
Sunday morning service. He was given conjure up laws that would strip
was also slim, well dressed the Lords of any power to reject
a rather limited
and handsome. He was soon financial legislation approved by
engaged to Princess Victoria education. As a result, MPs while restricting the peers’
Mary of Teck, who despite he could barely speak veto on ordinary legislation.
being born and raised in German or French, This formed the Parliament Bill,
England was the daughter of which was hated by the Lords.
Francis, Duke of Teck, a man
unusual for a But with George V agreeing to
of German extraction. She was British king create more Liberal peers, pressure
originally engaged to George’s older was put on the existing members
brother Albert, but she had become close of the upper house. In December 1910,
to George during their period of mourning and a second general election was called with the
romantic feelings had developed. With the approval Liberals winning 272 seats to the Conservatives’
of Queen Victoria, George’s grandmother – who was 271, but it was enough for the Lords to pass the
a big fan of Princess Mary – the pair married on Parliament Bill in 1911 without the mass creation
6 July 1893, at St James’s Palace. of peers materialising, proving to be an early,
The Duke and Duchess of York lived happily on stabilising victory for George V.
the Sandringham estate in Norfolk and had four Yet trouble was brewing as war loomed in
children – Edward, Albert, Mary and Henry – by Europe. Two days before Britain entered the war,
the time George’s father took to the throne in 1901. George V and his foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey
The couple, who at this stage were the prince and were understood to have met. The king informed
156
George V
GEORGE V
England, 1865-1936
Even
though he
was in the Royal
Navy, he suffered from
seasickness. At the
time his elder brother
Albert died, he
had typhoid
157
British Royals
158
George V
counties as part of the UK but retaining the Irish represent his people rather than try to exert overt Life in the time
Free State as a dominion, under the king’s control.
Growing demands for independence in India
influence on the direction of the country. He
threw himself into British life, becoming a regular
of George V
also grew, with tension mounting in the Punjab presence at sporting events such as cricket test Traditional family life
region (India was eventually allowed a certain level matches at Lords, tennis at Wimbledon and the In the 1910s, Britain was a conservative
of self-determination following the passing of the football FA Cup final at Wembley. He even agreed country with clearly defined family roles.
Government of India Act in 1935). In 1922, Egypt to record a Christmas message, beginning a radio Although working-class women would often
was granted formal independence and put it on broadcast in 1932 following a request by the work in factories, middle-class women stayed
at home to look after the children and ensure
the path towards a complete separation with the founder of the BBC, Sir John Reith. It resonated
the family abode was kept in a good state.
British Empire. with the 20 million listeners who tuned in and so Men would be the breadwinners: railway and
But even domestically, things weren’t going George agreed to make it an annual event. dock work, mining and building were typical
well. The ten-day general strike of May 1926 – just Had people been able to watch on television, jobs for working-class males.
two years after the country had seen its first, brief they may well have seen him with a cigarette in
Labour government – saw 1.7 million workers hand. He was a keen smoker, loving it almost as The Roaring Twenties
down tools. George V intervened, persuading the much as he did collecting stamps. But it would be Following the gloom of the 1910s, a decade
Conservatives to refrain from an aggressive stance his eventual undoing. marked by the frugality and horror of the
against the unions. He enthused over Britain’s In 1925, George was diagnosed with chronic First World War, prosperity began to return
to Britain. People began to enjoy themselves
exceptional handling of the strike. “Not a shot has obstructive pulmonary disease and he developed
in clubs and bars and women felt more free
been fired and no one killed,” he wrote in his diary. a serious chest infection. He became rather ill from than ever before, thanks to the success of the
“It shows what wonderful people we are.” this point but he remained king until, in 1936, aged suffragette movement which had gained them
In 1929, there was a severe worldwide economic 70, his health deteriorated. Close to midnight on 20 the vote in 1918.
depression. Industry in northern Britain began to January, he died. His funeral was held at St George’s
collapse. Exports fell and unemployment during Chapel, Windsor, eight days later and he was The Education Act
the early part of the 1930s rocketed. In 1931, George succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII. The Education Act 1918 raised the school
asked the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal leaving age from 12 to 14 and it also allowed
parties to meet with both him and Labour prime The funeral procession for suffragette Emily Davison young workers the right of access to day-
minister Ramsay MacDonald. The four discussed release education. However, the new rules
weren’t actually implemented until a further
the best way forward, with George pushing for
1921 act was passed. Even so, in the 1920s,
the three parties to form a national government to schooling became a hot topic for politicians
restore the budget and restore confidence. At the and educationalists.
same time, dominion parliaments were allowed to
form their own laws independently of the UK. This Mass unemployment hits
led to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa,
the Irish Free State and Newfoundland becoming
the kingdom
As the successful 1920s turned into the 1930s,
independent of British legislative control. so all that was prosperous about the post-war
Personally, however, George was scandal free. United Kingdom came to a sudden jolt due to
And while he became involved with politics to a global depression. In 1932 unemployment
a degree, he was far more hands-off than his was as high as 3.5 million. The lack of jobs,
predecessors, preferring – most of the time – to hunger and desperation saw the rise of
extremist political parties, not least the British
Union of Fascists led by Sir Oswald Mosely.
1935
l Crisis in parliament l War in Europe l House of Windsor l Labour Party wins l National government Silver jubilee l
With the Liberals Believing strongly On 17 July 1917, the George appoints the formed George celebrates
pushing for reform of that Britain has to go king announces that all first Labour prime As economies nosedive his silver jubilee and
parliament and the to war, George throws descendants of Queen minister, Ramsay into depression across the famously says of the
Lords knocking back his support behind Victoria should bear the MacDonald. Two years world, George encourages public affection shown
the party’s budget, the troops, visiting name Windsor rather later, the general the leaders of the main to him, “I cannot
George’s early reign them regularly on the than Saxe-Coburg and strike sees millions of parties to unite to form understand it, after
is spent dealing Western front and Gotha, making the workers walk out in the National government. all I am only a very
with the ensuing handing out 50,000 house appear infinitely protest at wages and The civil list is reduced, ordinary sort of fellow.”
© Alamy
constitutional crisis. awards for gallantry. more English. worsening conditions. cutting royal costs. He dies in 1936.
1910 1914 1917 1924 1931 1935
159
160
The
House of
British Royals
Windsor
Uncover the scandalous lineage of
1
1910-1936 The family portrait of
this family line the Windsors on the day
Mary of George V of Queen Elizabeth II’s
Teck b.1865-d.1936 christening, 29 May 1926
b.1867-d.1953
Order of Marriage
succession
Elizabeth George VI
Bowes-Lyon b.1895-d.1952
b.1900-d.2002
William Richard Edward Alexandra Michael
b.1941-d.1972 b.1944 b.1935 b.1936 b.1942
Princess
4 Margaret
b.1930-d.2002 Antony, Earl
1952-now Princess Margaret was
renowned for her status
of Snowden
Elizabeth II Philip, Duke as the ‘party princess’. b.1930-2017
b.1926 of Edinburgh In 1960 she married
b.1921 photographer Antony
Armstrong-Jones, but
they controversially
divorced 18 years later.
Prince George
b.2013
Prince Louis
b.2018
Windsor
161
British Royals
January-December 1936
Edward VIII
Edward VIII shocked the world in 1936 when he announced to
Britain and her empire that he was abdicating his throne for an
American socialite named Wallis Simpson
I
n the late Thirties, Britain was facing shy nature meant that he struggled
its darkest hour. Hitler and his to fit in with the other boys and
fascist thugs were rattling According to bullying was an almost inevitable
the sabre across Europe, consequence. He did eventually
quashing the rights of free
his biographers find his feet and settled into
men and women everywhere. Edward had an this regimented life, passing
Italy and Spain had fallen to unhappy childhood; the naval examination board
the oppression of right-wing for Dartmouth officer school
his nanny would
dictatorships and it wouldn’t be in 1909. Edward continued to
long before war would sweep deliberately be a shy young man. During his
through the last free countries of hurt him cadet training, his parents threw a
the European continent. This was party for him at Buckingham Palace
a time for stout hearts and stiff upper about which he recorded in his diary, ‘I
lips, for every British soul to look to the had to dance, a thing I hate, the whole thing
defence of the country and face these evil forces was a great strain.’ The 19-year-old Edward was still
valiantly. Meanwhile Edward, Duke of Windsor, struggling to find his place in the world outside of
who until very recently had been King of Great the ritual of royal protocol.
Britain, sat in his villa in Antibes, France. It was clear that Edward lacked direction but
Edward’s childhood and teenage years were a World War I would see to it that all men of his
preparatory education to groom him for the day age would be given a chance to prove themselves.
he would become King of Great Britain. He had Edward wanted to serve with the men of his army
one-to-one tuition with the best tutors in the land regiment on the frontline, he yearned to make a
and attended renowned military schools – yet he difference and war afforded him the opportunity.
was deeply unhappy. His father George, later to be Unfortunately, the Secretary for War Lord Kitchener
crowned King George V, stood as a domineering refused his request stating that it would be too
and at times terrifying figure to Edward and his dangerous for the young man. Edward continued to
two siblings. George ran his household like a insist on being allowed to go and in the end toured
military operation, the children were forced to the front regardless.
always be on time, to dress correctly and behave His admiration for the troops was shown in
properly. Punishments included frightening a correspondence he sent back to England, ‘I’m
confrontations with George in his study; a harsh very keen on the fighting troops being made as
prospect for Edward who was small and shy. comfortable as possible always… the poor devils
At just 12-years-old, Edward’s father felt he have a bloody enough time in the trenches… they
needed a military education in order to prepare are absolutely marvellous.’ The war years had
him for public life. He was sent to the naval given Edward a sense of freedom he wouldn’t
college at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. Edward’s normally have been permitted, he could meet other
162
Edward VIII
EDWARD VIII
Britain, 1894–1972
Wallis
Playboy prince Edward
Simpson was never really wanted to
Brief be king, but the death
the love of Edward’s Bio of his father forced it
life, though it was on him. The rigours of
an unhappy childhood resulted
known that he had in a man who pursued pleasure
and he struggled to combine
other mistresses this with his royal duties as
Prince of Wales. His affair with
previously Wallis Simpson sounded the
death knell for his kingship.
163
British Royals
men his own age under the guise of these tours her own mind and refused to stand on ceremony.
and drop the cold protocol normally required of He quickly became infatuated by her, it was said
official visits. by observers that he lost ‘all sense of reason’ when
After the armistice it was as if this new-found he was around her. He lavished her with jewellery,
freedom had disappeared with the rifles and gold or whatever she wanted, it seemed as if
bayonets. He commented in 1919, ‘ I mixed with Edward had finally found someone to give his life
men… I found my manhood.’ His father was quick meaning. There was however a complication as
to clip his new found self-confidence far as Edward’s position as the Prince of
sternly informing him, ‘don’t think Wales was concerned; Wallis was a
you act like other people.’ He married woman. When she became
longed for the freedom given
Edward gained Edward’s mistress she promised
to him during the war and his pilot’s licence to give up her second husband
found his new life of state and founded the for him but this wouldn’t soothe
openings and formal banquets the sensibilities of his family.
32 Royal squadron,
smothering. He drifted To compound the issue she
through his university career used for royal wasn’t from a royal household,
A dark failing to make an impact flights to official she was an American socialite
academically and then went on engagements from Baltimore. When it became
connection
The dark connection between Hitler and
an extended tour of the empire. obvious to Edward’s father in
While this should have offered 1934 that this wasn’t another casual
the British royal family in the Thirties him the adventure he yearned for, he relationship he was furious; he angrily told
begun in 1935 when the Fuhrer used Karl
quickly saw that he was just as much a prisoner him to get rid of her.
Eduard, the Duke of SaxeCoburg-Gotha
as an informal ambassador of goodwill abroad as he was at home. Every step he took was On 20 January 1936, George V died and the
to the royal family. Eduard seemed to closely monitored, and he became frustrated and question of Wallis’s status was immediately
have succeeded in persuading Edward depressed. His frustration made him angry and brought into question. Would she become queen?
that Hitler was the only defence against he began to display the bigotry and dismissive The short answer was absolutely not – she was
communism. The connection grew nature inherited by many English aristocracy of the twice divorced and unpopular with the British
stronger when Edward decided to visit
time. He was appalled by the Australian aborigines establishment. Absurd rumours circulated about
Germany in 1937. A clandestine meeting
between Edward and committed Nazis describing them as, ‘the most revolting form of the spell she had placed Edward under, her devious
Rudolf Hess and Martin Bormann took living creatures I’ve ever seen.’ He also began to manipulation, her dark hold over the new king. The
place in Edward’s hotel in Paris before the hate communism with unrelenting zeal. issue was becoming even more serious, especially
visit. An impression of the meeting written It was during this unhappy time that in 1931 considering that the country was edging ever
by Hess informed Hitler that, ‘the Duke he met the woman that would change his life closer to another world war. The nation needed
was proud of his German blood’ and there
forever – Wallis Simpson. Edward had already had leadership, not uncertainty, but Edward did not
was ‘no need to lose a single German
life in invading Britain. The Duke and his
a number of affairs but they were fleeting. In Wallis see the two issues as related. He wanted to marry
clever wife will deliver the goods.’ Hess he found something that he hadn’t seen in other Wallis, and everything else was of secondary
fully expected Edward to regain power in women, a strong independent character that knew importance. Besides, Adolf Hitler would defeat the
Britain and persuade the populace to seek
peace. The visit to Germany then went
ahead, Hitler was charming and Edward Defining moment Defining moment
enjoyed his tour. As the war progressed,
a secret memorandum to American Tour of the empire Royal family meet Wallis
president Roosevelt from J. Edgar Hoover 5 August 1919 November 1934
claimed, ‘that the Duke of Windsor After the war, Edward spends the next five years Edward’s less than discreet affair with Wallis
entered into an agreement. If Germany touring the empire and representing his father Simpson comes to a head in 1934 when
was victorious [Herman Goering] would abroad. He does a number of public relation events Edward invites Simpson to an evening party at
install the Duke of Windsor as King of including presenting the Prince of Wales cup to the Buckingham Palace. Edward’s father had originally
England.’ While it seems unlikely Edward Canadian hockey league and visiting the politically struck her name out of the list of invitations but
did agree to this, he must have maintained sensitive city of Quebec where he receives a warm Edward invited her, regardless. When George
welcome. His charm and good looks serve him finds out, he becomes outraged and shouts his
links with the Nazis for this type of rumour
well and he becomes a popular figure. Not all of his disapproval. Simpson is subsequently frozen out
to circulate.
visits went so smoothly however; in a high-profile of all royal family functions. This puts enormous
visit to Australia he wrote of the Aborigines, ‘they strain on the relationship between Edward and
are the most revolting form of living creatures I’ve his father, lending more fuel to the suspicion that
1894
l A prince is born l The Prince at l Prince of Wales and l War l Time magazine story
Edward Windsor is Dartmouth heir apparent At the outbreak of Time magazine
born at White Lodge, On the wishes of his On the death of Edward World War I, Edward publishes a story
Richmond Park family, Edward joins VII, Edward’s father joins the Grenadier in which Edward is
London to George the navy as an officer becomes the King of guards and asks reported to have said
and Mary, the Duke cadet at Dartmouth Britain and her empire. to serve at the that he would abdicate
and Duchess of York. Navy College. He Edward is immediately front. This request the throne. This is
He is given the title spends two years there invested as the Prince of is refused by the officially denied, but
His Highness Prince before becoming a Wales and is now next Secretary of State for the story serves as an
Edward of York. Midshipman. in line to the throne. War Lord Kitchener. insight into his thoughts.
23 June 1894 September 1909 23 June 1910 28 July 1914 29 April 1929
164
Edward VIII
communists and the world would of Windsor, but were frozen out of The British Empire
be at peace – there was really much of the public salary they The British Empire still remained the single
nothing to worry about as far as Edward was should have received for the role. biggest empire on the face of the planet
he was concerned. stanchly anti- Once again Edward fell into a during the years leading up to the war. Many
The fact that Edward was for deep depression, he relied on of its dominions like Canada, Australia and
communist and New Zealand governed their own affairs but
the appeasement of Hitler was the hospitality of friends abroad
not unusual; many members
feared the communist and used the Château de Candé
still held political ties with Britain through the
British monarchy. Other countries like Burma
of the British establishment takeover of Europe in France to marry Wallis. He and India were governed directly as colonies.
were in the late Thirties. What during the Thirties became an embittered and
was compounding the issue ungrateful guest, running up huge An age of extremes
was the Nazi party was seen to phone bills and refusing to pay for The huge social upheaval caused by the
be influencing the king through anything. He also continued to make Great Depression created a credibility gap
between liberal governments and their
Wallis. Whether this was true or not is horrendous errors in judgement, conducting
citizens in Europe. This gave rise to extremist
debatable but many influential people saw it so; a tour of Nazi Germany in 1937 and allowing governments from the communist left and
the American ambassador commented, ‘many himself to be photographed with Hitler. fascist right. Adolf Hitler in particular was
people here suspect that Mrs Simpson is actually In 1940, as a way of preventing any more starting to make a name for himself as an
in German pay.’ The situation was looking bad and embarrassment to the royal family, Winston uncompromising totalitarian leader.
as an illustration of the tense atmosphere, Edward Churchill gave the Duke a governorship in the
suffered an assassination attempt when a lone Bahamas. Edward saw it for what it was – a way to Role of the monarchy
The role of the monarchy in Britain and
gunman apparently working for an undisclosed get him out of the way. He conducted his duties,
throughout the Commonwealth was changing
foreign power tried to pull a gun on him. When made inroads into improving the situations of in the wake of the mass media. It was no
Edward returned to Buckingham Palace the first the workers on the islands but hated his current longer enough for the monarch to simply open
sympathy call was from Hitler. position none the less. He had become increasingly Parliament once a year, the Royal family was
Then in November 1936 Edward told Prime estranged from his family. expected to set an example of British values
Minister Stanley Baldwin that he was going to By the time the war was over and the dust had in the country and take on a leadership role in
times of national need.
marry Wallis. Baldwin rejected the proposal, stating settled over his relationship with Wallis, the Duke
that it would be unacceptable to the British cabinet was content to live quietly. He established himself
if the head of state married a twice-divorcee. in France at the 4 Route du Champ d’Entraînement
Colonial unrest
The Thirties gave rise to independence
Wallis herself expected full marriage, and Edward Paris, later to be known as Villa Windsor, where movements in many imperial colonies. The
refused to give her up. He saw no option; on the he spent the rest of his days in retirement. He had most vocal of these movements came from
11 of December he announced to Britain and the lived a privileged life but it was a life he did not India and Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom group.
empire, “I have found it impossible to carry the want, in the end he gave up the power he inherited While the British government doggedly hung
on to its empire in India, the British people
heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my at birth for the woman he loved.
started to wonder if it was worth it.
duties as king… without the help and support of the
woman I love.” He abdicated the throne, passing Britain, a waning power?
the duty to his brother Albert, the father of Queen No-one could dispute that British influence
Elizabeth II. throughout the globe remained strong during
Edward and Wallis were now in limbo. They the Thirties, but the government’s reluctance
were granted official titles, the Duke and Duchess to rearm and prepare for war in the face of
fascist and communist threats was said to be
indicative of an waning power that no longer
Defining moment had the stomach for military commitments.
l Governor of the
Abdication Bahamas
10 December 1936 In an effort to
Edward makes it clear to Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin prevent Edward l Retirement
that he will not change his mind about marrying Wallis and Wallis, now With the war won
as soon as her second divorce is finalised. Baldwin Duke and Duchess and the new world
informs Edward that the cabinet and the imperial of Windsor, from order establishing
embarrassing the itself in Europe,
parliaments will not accept his marriage to Wallis if he
British government France becomes
still wishes to be king. With Edward finding it impossible even more, Edward safe again for British
to reconcile his personal life with his duty as a future is given the citizens. Edward and
monarch, he finally decides to abdicate and signs the act governorship of the Wallis retire there
Edward preparing to inform the nation
at Fort Belvedere in the presence of his younger brother that he is abdicating the throne in 1936 Bahamas. comfortably.
Albert the Duke of York who is next in line to the throne. 18 August 1940 November 1952
1972
l Succession to the l Assassination l Marriage to Wallis l Visit to Germany Death of a Duke l
throne attempt Edward and Wallis Against the advice of Edward dies peacefully in
George V dies and A man called George marry at the Château the British Government, his sleep aged 77. His
Edward is immediately McMahon pulls a gun de Candé in France. Edward and Wallis visit body is flown back to
put forward for the on Edward and is While the service Nazi Germany and England and a funeral
succession. It also quickly set upon by is attended by a are warmly welcomed service is attended by
becomes known within police. He testifies that number of high- by Adolf Hitler. It is Queen Elizabeth II.
the government that he was working for a profile socialites, reported that he His body is buried at
he intends to soon foreign power although none of the royal almost gives a the royal burial ground
© Alamy
marry Wallis. this is never proved. family attends. Nazi salute. at Frogmore.
20 January 1936 16 July 1936 3 June 1937 October 1937 28 May 1972
165
British Royals
1936-1952
George VI
George VI was the stammering sovereign who saw
Britain through a terrible war with Nazi Germany
I
n 1932, George V had delivered the royal family’s come bottom of the class in his final exam. But he
first Christmas Broadcast, a short message went on to join the Royal Navy as a midshipman,
beamed around the UK via the new medium serving on HMS Collingwood in the first world
of radio, on the invitation and persistence of war and fighting as a young naval officer at the
the BBC’s founding father Sir John Reith. This Battle of Jutland in 1916. He became a pilot with
fledgling tradition would have been assumed the Royal Air Force in 1919 – the first of his family
by Edward VIII who took to the throne on 20 to learn to fly – and he showed great braveness
January 1936 following his father’s death, but just and determination; qualities that would be evident
three weeks before Christmas, on 11 December throughout his reign.
1936, Edward VIII abdicated in order to wed his In 1920, he met the Scottish aristocrat Elizabeth
American socialite mistress Wallis Simpson. Bowes-Lyon. She was an attractive woman who
Taking his place that same day was George VI, garnered the attention of many men. Prince
Edward VIII’s younger brother. With too little time Albert was smitten and he chased her relentlessly,
to prepare for the Christmas speech in 1936, it was proposing to her in 1921 and 1922, on each occasion
cancelled, a move that would have proven to be suffering the humiliation of being turned down.
a mighty relief for the new king. George VI had a He eventually persuaded her, though, and they
stammer which, some have said, resulted from a married on 26 April 1923 in Westminster Abbey.
tough relationship with his father, and it appeared She became Her Royal Highness the Duchess of
to get worse when he was nervous. But, York and the couple had two children,
while the stammer was the subject Elizabeth on 21 April 1926 and
of an acclaimed film, The King’s Margaret on 21 August 1930.
Speech in 2010 and has come to Many changes Shortly after Elizabeth was
define him in the eyes of many born, the prince had been to
ever since, there was far more to the Empire took see a maverick Australian
to this brave and dedicated place during George’s speech therapist called Lionel
man than talk alone. reign. He was the last Logue. They had met for the
Formally known as His first time in Logue’s consulting
King-Emperor of
Highness Prince Albert of York, room in Harley Street, London,
the future king was a sickly India on 19 October 1926 and they
child who suffered with a lack of struck up a friendship while the
affection from his father, George V. therapist attempted to cure the royal
Albert wasn’t particularly close to his of his stammer following incredible
mother, Mary of Teck, either and his cold-natured, embarrassment and silence during the closing GEORGE VI
British, 1895-1952
harsh upbringing had made him into a rather address of the British Empire Exhibition at
unassuming fellow, with the now-famous stammer Wembley in 1925. George VI became
that had developed at the age of eight proving Logue attempted to inject confidence into Prince king when his brother
doubly unhelpful in his desire, and later, need, to Albert, making him believe that the stammer was Brief Edward VIII abdicated
overcome his shyness. a physical rather than psychological condition and
Bio in 1936. During his
reign, Britain went
To make matters worse, Albert also struggled the pair met frequently, striking up a friendship to war against Nazi Germany
at school, where he was forced to write with his that lasted for life. It was a hard battle (the stammer and the Empire subsequently
broke up, being replaced by
right-hand despite being left-handed. As a result, continued to afflict him even at the time of the Commonwealth of Nations.
he faired poorly in exams and while, in 1909, his coronation on 12 May 1937) but was one he Smoking heavily to try and cure
a stammer, the king died of lung
he graduated from the Royal Navy Academy at persevered with, showing a level of bullishness that cancer in 1952.
Osborne, he had been bullied and he had also would stand him in good stead for his reign.
166
George VI
167
British Royals
Siege of Malta
During the Second World War, the tiny
Mediterranean island of Malta was part
of the British Empire but its strategic
proximity to Axis shipping lanes made it a
prime target for the air forces and navies
of Italy and Germany. The first bombs
fell on 11 June 1940, the day after Italian
dictator Benito Mussolini declared war on
Britain and France.
The island was devastated over
the coming months with the heaviest
sustained bombing taking place in 1942
during the so-called Siege of Malta. For
157 days and nights, 6,700 tons of bombs
fell on the population. Winston Churchill’s
government sent the Royal Navy and Royal
Air Force to help defend the island while
Malta’s people held out and, in 1943, with
victory secured, the Allies used the island
as a launch pad for an invasion of Sicily.
Impressed by their bravery and
resilience, King George VI awarded the
entire people of Malta the George Cross.
In a message to the island’s governor, the
king said the award was “to bear witness
to a heroism and a devotion that will long King George VI fires a Bren gun during
a visit to a small arms factory
be famous in history.”
168
George VI
1952
l War breaks out l Britain is bombed l American allies l Cold War begins l National Health George VI dies l
Chamberlain and George With Winston join war Although victory Service established His mind shattered
VI had appeared Churchill now prime In 1939, George VI had was Britain’s, more The Labour Party ruled and his body ravaged
on the balcony of minister, backed visited America for the troubled brewed. The the UK following the by cancer, George VI’s
Buckingham Palace fully by George New York World’s Fair and “Iron Curtain” split war and socialist policies health deteriorated
to herald the attempt V, England is he had struck a strong Western Europe from were enacted. The NHS and he died in the
at appeasement of bombarded by the bond with President the Communist East was established. But winter of 1952. His
German aggression. German Luftwaffe, Franklin D. Roosevelt. and the Cold War with rationing continues and eldest daughter,
But in 1939, it had blitzing London and That helped when the US Russia in particular the economy was in a Queen Elizabeth II,
evidently failed. other major cities. entered the war in 1941. began in earnest. poor state. took to the throne.
© Getty
169
British Royals
1952-present
Elizabeth II
Still reigning in her nineties after more than six
decades on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II remains
one of history’s most popular monarchs
H
er Majesty the Queen may not have led uncle would almost certainly father children of his
armies into glorious battle or faced down own, pushing Elizabeth further down the line. She
bloodthirsty rebellions in far-flung corners of was never expected to become queen.
her realm, yet she remains one of the most But to the young princess, such trivialities were
popular and beloved rulers to have ever of little concern. Nicknamed ‘Lillibet’ by her family,
worn the crown. Her reign as queen is also the she enjoyed a close relationship with her father,
longest ever by a British monarch as she surpassed her mother Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later the
Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign in 2015. Such a Queen Mother) and her grandfather, George V.
lengthy tenure may seem less noteworthy in an age The king’s health was already deteriorating by the
removed from murderous plots and usurping royal time Elizabeth was born, but her regular visits
relatives, but Elizabeth has nonetheless sat resolute and playful relationship with the ailing monarch
in her duties through the latter half of the 20th were said to have buoyed his spirits far more
Century and the burgeoning years of the than any medicine. Her positive effect
21st – a time when the Western world was even covered by newspapers
metamorphosed in the wake of two – a taste of just how obsessed the
world wars. Britain and her many After WWII, the media could, and would, become
territories have undergone quite with its own monarchy. Still,
the transformation, and the
young Elizabeth Elizabeth got to enjoy the pomp
role of monarch and the royal saved up her ration and privilege of being a royal
family has changed drastically coupons to afford without the pressures of being
along with it. the material for her an heir apparent or an heir
After more than six decades presumptive. However, no one
as the head of state, Elizabeth
wedding dress could see the turn of events that
has faced the perils, challenges came next.
and benefits of being a monarch in The king was dead. George V had
the modern age. Gone are the threats finally passed away from septicaemia on
of invasion, intrigue and insurrections, replaced 20 January 1936, with the throne then passing to ELIZABETH II
instead by satire, media scandals and his eldest son, the Prince of Wales. Named King England, 1926–present
the weight of public opinion. She remains the Edward VIII, it was apparent from the very start
most well-travelled of any British monarch and that Edward wasn’t going to be a conventional Queen Elizabeth II
her tireless work with hundreds of charities around king. Known for his vocal dislike of court protocols of Great Britain may
the world set a precedent that has typified the role and politicians, the new monarch even broke
Brief not have faced the
170
Elizabeth II
The Queen
sent her first
email in… 1976. She
sent the message over
ARPANET, a small-
scale precursor to
the internet
171
British Royals
The annus
horribilis
1992 was an eventful and difficult year
for Queen Elizabeth II
There have been a number of challenging years
in Elizabeth’s considerable reign, but 1992 proved
to be one her worst. Despite it marking the 40th
anniversary of her ascension to the throne, those
12 months were littered with political issues and
startling catastrophes that likely pushed the normally
resolute monarch to her limits. Elizabeth named
the period her ‘annus horribilis’ (likely a reference
to John Dryden’s poem of the same name that
describes London in the grip of the Great Plague and
Great Fire of London in 1666).
It all started in March when her second son,
Prince Andrew Duke of York, separated from his wife
Sarah Ferguson duchess of York. The couple made
an official announcement stating the separation was
amicable, but speculation was rife that all was not so
rosy behind the scenes. These rumours seemingly
sprung to life a few months later when photos of
the duchess topless with her lover appeared all
over the tabloid newspapers. It was an incredibly
embarrassing episode for the royal household and it
didn’t bode well for the rest of the year.
The incidents continued a month after the duke
and duchess’ split in March with another member
of the royal family. Her daughter Anne, the Princess
Royal, had married Mark Phillips, a lieutenant in the
1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, in 1973 and it seemed
another fairy-tale royal union to captivate the public.
However, the couple decided to separate in 1989,
citing years of strain stemming from Phillips’ military
commitments. In April 1992 the couple officially
divorced, further adding to a media-fuelled story
that the royal family was splintering under the strain
of being in the public eye.
In June, things got even worse. The journalist
Andrew Morton had just released his biography
of the princess of Wales, Diana: Her True Story,
and it was filled with sensational stories regarding
Diana and her deteriorating relationship with Prince
Charles. The couple’s fairy-tale relationship had
been falling apart as early as the mid-1980s and
the two were openly seeing other people despite
still being married. Diana’s affair with Major James As the first female monarch in 51 years,
Hewitt, Charles’s liaison with Camilla Parker-Bowles Elizabeth knew many challenges faced
her in a rapidly changing world
and Diana’s supposed suicidal thoughts were
sensationalised in gruesome detail and it caused the
Queen, and her whole royal family, a great deal of Mounting pressure from the rest of the royal It was during her early teens that Elizabeth
embarrassment for years to come. family and Parliament forced the king to choose met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. The
To top it all off, one of the Queen’s favourite between his duties as a monarch and his love for a two began a slow courtship, with Philip travelling
residences was badly damaged by a raging inferno
woman judged too politically troublesome to be his regularly as part of his service in the Royal Navy
in the same year. On the 20 November – a mere
four days before the Queen would give her Guildhall queen. Edward, forever the rebel, chose his heart – eventually the young couple announced their
speech in which she referred to her year as her over his crown and abdicated on 10 December 1936 engagement on 9 July 1947. Her choice of fiancé
annus horribilis – Windsor Castle caught fire, causing after 326 days as king (among the shorter reigns of caused friction with some members of the royal
severe damage to the whole structure. So bad was British monarchs). This unforeseen decision threw court. Philip had very little financial standing and
the damage that it cost an estimated £36.5 million Edward’s younger brother, Elizabeth’s father, onto his family had marital ties to the Nazi party in
to repair over the following five years. The blaze
the throne. With her father crowned George VI on Germany, but his conversion from Greek Orthodoxy
started when a spotlight caused a curtain to catch
alight and it soon spread through the entire castle in
12 May 1937, the 11-year-old princess was no longer to Anglicanism and the taking of his mother’s
a matter in minutes. There were no serious injuries a carefree child, but an heir presumptive to the family name, Mountbatten, helped ease the union
and no deaths as a result of the blaze, but the royal British throne. (An heir presumptive is someone in the eyes of his detractors. The two married
administration was forced to open Buckingham who is first in line to the throne, but whose position later that year on 20 November at Westminster
Palace soon after in order to help fund the castle’s can be superseded by a stronger claim – conversely, Abbey. Despite the hundreds of presents the couple
restoration programme. an heir apparent is someone in the same position, received from around the world, Elizabeth refused
minus the chance of a challenge.) to allow the wedding to be a lavish affair.
172
Elizabeth II
173
British Royals
Timeline
1926
l Elizabeth is born l Marriage to Philip l Prince Charles is born l Princess Anne is born
Born Elizabeth Princess Elizabeth marries A month prior to the arrival of The only daughter of Princess
Alexandra Mary Philip at Westminster Abbey Elizabeth’s first son, Charles, her Elizabeth and Philip, Anne
Windsor, the young after almost 15 years of slow father George VI decrees that is born at Clarence House in
princess is the daughter courtship. Since tensions any of her children will retain the late morning. It’s thought
of Albert, Duke of York are still running high from the title of prince or princess. that the young princess was
(later George VI) and the global catastrophe that This overturns the rules set conceived at Villa Guardamangia,
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was World War II, Philip’s out by George V that restricted the royal couple’s residence in
(later Queen and then German relatives are not such titles to children of the Malta, where Philip is stationed
Queen Mother). permitted to attend. monarch or the monarch’s son. as a Royal Navy officer.
21 April 1926 20 November 1947 14 November 1948 15 August 1950
174
Elizabeth II
worse, the very public disintegration of Charles and a more modernised approach to monarchy, and the
Diana’s marriage had become regular fodder for the new millennium has seen a new side to the royal
British and international media. The publication of family. With William and Harry (with Catherine and
the Diana biography Diana: Her True Story, with its Meghan by their respective sides) representing a
claims of an ongoing affair between the princess new era of monarchy, the future of the Queen and
of Wales and Major James Hewitt, brought further her descendants seems to be in safe hands.
strain on the royal family. Charles and Diana’s
eventual separation in 1993 would lead to years of
criticism of the royal family’s conduct as Diana rose The future of the family
to prominence as a charity worker. This scrutiny Throughout Britain, all eyes are on the younger
would fail to abate, even when Diana was tragically generations of Windsors, whose modern
killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. approach to royalty continues to ensure the
The last decade and a half has seen the royal dynasty remains relevant in these ever-changing
© INTERFOTO / Alamy; Classic Image / Alamy; AF archive / Alamy; Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy; Ploppy / Alamy; Getty Images
times. As the future king and queen, the Duke
family enjoy a far more positive reception in the
and Duchess of Cambridge take a more formal
public eye. The death of the Queen Mother and approach to royalty, but a more laid-back
Elizabeth’s younger sister, Princess Margaret, in the attitude has been adopted by the Duke and
space of two months in 2002 saw an outpouring Duchess of Sussex, who have chosen to raise
For over 70 years the Queen Mother remained a source their children, Archie and Lilbet, away from
of guidance and inspiration, up to her death in 2001 of public support for the Queen, which flowed
seamlessly into celebrations for the golden jubilee the limelight and public scrutiny. As seventh
and eighth in line to the throne respectively,
later that summer. Not one to let personal feelings
however, Archie and Lilibet are only minor
in his original posting – a public decision that affect her royal duties, Elizabeth set out on an royals and both are unlikely to inherit the
showed her pride as a mother as much as her extensive tour of the Commonwealth and throne, and therefore shouldn’t necessarily be
commitment as queen (a fact made all returned to mass celebrations that subjected to a life in the public eye.
the more chilling when you consider surprised many, most notably the
Argentina planned to assassinate Elizabeth II media. Her diamond jubilee a
the prince during the conflict). decade later further cemented
is the longest-
Despite the high points of the nation’s more positive
the previous decade, the 1990s reigning British relationship with the crown,
were a challenging time for monarch, surpassing with celebrations across the
Elizabeth and the rest of the Queen Victoria’s prior land merging with excitement
royal family. A fire at Windsor for London’s hosting of the
Castle at the tail end of 1992
record of 63 years Olympics in 2012.
caused catastrophic damage and and 216 days And now, in her nineties and
destroyed priceless royal heirlooms, the longest-reigning monarch in our
while the script for the Queen’s country’s history, the Queen still exudes
speech was leaked and published by The the same principles of character she learned
Sun newspaper a year later. To make things even in those early years of her rule. She has welcomed
2022
l Prince Andrew is born l The silver jubilee l Charles weds Diana l The Golden Jubilee l The Diamond Jubilee
At the beginning of 1960 – In 1977, Elizabeth celebrates the After a widely publicised In 2002, Elizabeth marks In the summer of 2012,
almost seven years into first major anniversary of her courtship, Prince Charles the 50th anniversary of her Elizabeth celebrates a whole
her reign as queen – accession. A monarch’s jubilee marries Lady Diana Spencer accession to the throne. Despite 60 years as Queen of the
Elizabeth gives birth to is based on the date they were at St Paul’s Cathedral in a the celebrations across the United Kingdom and the
her second son, Prince proclaimed king or queen rather ceremony that captivates Commonwealth, the event Commonwealth. She and Philip
Andrew, in the Belgian than that of their coronation. Great Britain and the wider is bittersweet, as the Queen tour the country as part of the
Suite of Buckingham To celebrate, festivities and world. The marriage will Mother and Elizabeth’s sister celebrations, with their children
Palace. He is baptised parties are held all across the produce two sons, Prince Princess Margaret have died a and grandchildren travelling
three months later. Commonwealth during the year. William and Prince Harry. few months previously. across the Commonwealth.
19 February 1960 1977 29 July 1981 2002 2012
175
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WILLIAM III GEORGE I QUEEN ANNE RICHARD I
Trace the turbulent history of Britain's monarchy from 1066 to the present day
HOW THE BRITISH INSPIRATIONAL EVERY KING & RELIVE OVER 90 YEARS
MONARCHY BEGAN LEADERS QUEEN SINCE 1066 OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Trace the origins of the Find out how Britain’s greatest Learn about every monarch Discover the life and reign of
royal family’s bloodline icons led in turbulent times from William I to Elizabeth II Britain’s longest-serving monarch
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