Anne, 2nd Princess Royal, Daughter of George II

Father Vs. Son

George II by Charles Jervas

George I's relationship with his son, George Augustus, had always been poor. Whatever could have made George Augustus so angry with his father?  Could it have been: a) George I's ever-present Hanoverian royal mistress, Melusine, who came with George I to England upon his succession; b) George's decision to imprison his wife, George Augustus's mother, Sophia of Celle, for the last 30 years of her life; c) George's decision to separate 11-year-old George Augustus and his sister from her, permanently; or d) all of the above?  Regardless, the heir to the throne always remained a thorn in George I's side.  George Augustus, more popular than his father, was associated with opposition politicians until at least 1720.  Their relationship remained extremely strained until George I's death in 1727, while on a trip to Hanover, where he was buried.

Family tree of George I (Ancestry.com):

A Budding Family in Hanover: Years 1705 - 1713

Caroline Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach 
by Sir Godfrey Kneller

Despite this strain, and perhaps due to his own negative marital experiences, George did allow George Augustus to choose his own bride. Prior to his father's succession, George Augustus married an attractive, Protestant, German princess, Caroline of Ansbach, in 1705. They were devoted to each other throughout their lives. Caroline delivered a healthy son, Frederick, in 1707, as well as a daughter in 1709. And here, we finally come to the second Princess Royal, Anne.

Anne was born in Hanover and named after Queen Anne of Britain, who was still living at the time. During the first five years of her life, a time not commonly known as the most serene, she was styled Her Serene Royal Highness, Duchess Anne of Brunswick-Lüneburg (quite a mouthful).

Handel with George I
by Eduoard Hammon

As a child, Anne was taught music by Handel, who generally disliked teaching, but stated he would make an exception for "Anne, flower of princesses". He knew who buttered his bread. (The royal family always remained closely associated with Handel, commissioning him to write four anthems for George Augustus's coronation, the music for Anne's wedding, and the music for Caroline's funeral.) Anne spent a great deal of time with her younger sisters, Amelia and Caroline, the latter her mother's namesake.

A New Home in Britain: Years 1714 - 1724

Princesses Anne, Amelia and Caroline

by Martin Maingaud, 1721

When Anne was five years old, her grandfather, George I, succeeded to the throne, and her father left with George I for England. Anne sailed to England with her mother and sisters later that same year. Interestingly, Anne's elder brother, Frederick, was left behind in Hanover at the age of seven, to be raised by his great-uncle, Ernest, and private tutors. He would not see his family again for 14 years, a separation that would have negative repercussions for the family for years to come.

Anne's parents were styled the Prince and Princess of Wales, Caroline becoming the first Princess of Wales in over 200 years and the highest ranking woman in the kingdom. Princess Anne's parents were popular with the British public, both making a concerted effort to anglicize: learning the language, customs, and politics of Britain. George I felt threatened by his son's greater popularity.
Prince George William by John Simon

When Anne was eight years old, her younger brother, George William, was born. After a quarrel between George I and George Augustus at George William's christening, George I banished the baby's parents from the court, keeping all the children under his care, thereby separating the children, even the newborn, from their parents. Caroline was not granted permission to visit the baby until two months later. Both parents were allowed to visit the baby when he fell ill at three months old. Tragically, the baby died from the illness in February of 1718, with his father by his side. His parents initially blamed George I for the baby's death, as he had separated the parents from their children, much as he had separated his own children from their mother, George I's wife. Even after a postmortem revealed a polyp on the baby's heart, the relationship between the parents and George I always remained negative, to say the least. Until at least 1720, Anne and her two younger sisters remained in the care of the king.

At the age of 11, Anne survived smallpox, as Caroline and George Augustus had done before Anne's birth. The illness left her face somewhat scarred, and she was thereafter not considered as beautiful as her two younger sisters. Caroline subsequently became an advocate of variolation, a new, early form of immunization against smallpox. When Anne was 12, her younger brother, William, was born, followed by two sisters, Mary and Louise.

Family tree of George II (Ancestry.com):

The Succession of George II and Anne's Marriage: Years 1727 - 1734

Portrait of Anne, Princess Royal and 
Princess of Orange by Bernard Accama

In 1727, when Anne was 18 years old, Anne's father, George Augustus, succeeded to the throne as George II. For the next 10 years, Queen Caroline, who was coronated, wielded immense political influence, consistently making wise decisions, promoting unity between her husband and Parliament, and showing mercy to the most unfortunate of her subjects, including those in the penal system. Only 10 weeks after his succession, George II created Anne Princess Royal. She used this style for six years and six months. Upon marrying William IV, Prince of Orange, in 1734, the 24-year-old Anne was styled Princess of Orange.

William IV was the first-cousin-twice-removed of William III of England (on William III's father's side). Anne was the second-cousin-twice-removed of William III of England (on William III's mother's side). However, unlike so many royal couples, William IV and Anne were not related. Anne was two years older than William. It was essential that she marry a Protestant and remain Protestant herself; so essential, she had turned down the chance to become Queen of France, when King Louis XV insisted that she first convert to Catholicism.

Reports of William's physical appearance differ. He had a spinal deformity, which affected his appearance. However, at least in the Netherlands, William was considered attractive, educated, and accomplished. Regardless, according to politician Horace Walpole, Anne had said she would marry him even "if he was a baboon" to which George II replied, "Well then, there is baboon enough for you!". After their honeymoon at Kew, the couple sailed to the Netherlands.  

A New Home in the Netherlands: Years 1735 - 1746

Portrait of William IV, Prince of 
Orange by Joseph Aved

Anne and her mother missed each other very much, Queen Caroline writing to her of her "indescribable" sadness at Anne's departure. Feeling homesick and believing herself to be pregnant, Anne visited England while William was on campaign in the Rhineland. She stayed long enough for both her husband and her father to command her to return to Holland. Some reports state that Anne had not been pregnant, after all. Some state she had a stillborn son in 1735. Regardless, in 1736, she had a stillborn daughter.

Anne's decision to visit England may have been prescient, for, in 1737, her mother died. Queen Caroline's uterus had ruptured, and a strangulated bowel had burst, due to a long-untreated umbilical hernia (caused by her final pregnancy in 1724). George II ordered a pair of coffins with removable sides, so that when he joined her in death, they could lay together.

In 1739, Anne had a second stillborn daughter. However, in 1743, she had a healthy daughter, who she named Carolina, after her mother. In 1746, Anne had another daughter, Anna, who only lived for six weeks.

A Final Home at The Hague: Years 1747 - 1759

In 1747, upon William's appointment as General Stadtholder of all the Netherlands, the family moved from Leeuwarden to The Hague. Then, in 1748, the long-awaited son and heir, William, was born. Anne was 38 years old at the time. When William was one year old, he was made the 568th Knight of the Order of the Garter, providing evidence for the maxim that it's all in who you know.  

William IV had been born in 1711, just six weeks after his father's death. His mother had been appointed regent during his childhood. In 1751, when William IV's son was only three-and-a-half years old, William IV died at the age of 40. Anne was appointed regent for the newly-styled William V.

As Princess-Regent, Anne was hardworking, but was unpopular due to her demeanor, which was seen as "neither ingratiating nor bending," according to Walpole. She had a great deal of power as regent, a position she held for nearly 11 years. Despite her powerful position, she was unable to convince the Netherlands to enter the Seven Years' War on the side of the British. The war lasted for most of Anne's regency, and Britain won without the help of the Netherlands. In 1759, when William V was only 10 years old, his mother, Anne, died of dropsy at The Hague.

A Coming of Age: Years 1759 - 1766

State Portrait of Prince William V of Orange 
by Johann Georg Ziesenis

After Anne's death, William V's grandmother, the Dowager Princess Marie Louise, was appointed co-regent, in which capacity she served until her death in 1765. Her co-regent, Duke Louis Ernest, served until 1766, at which time he became a privy councilor.  However, William V was only 17 at the time, still too young to reign independently.

During their regency, in 1760, William V's elder sister, the 17-year-old Princess Carolina had married Karl Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg. In 1766, at the age of 22, Carolina stepped in to "tide over" William V, serving as regent for one year until he turned 18. By 1766, William V ruled as Stadtholder in his own right. Princess Carolina went on to have 15 children.

Family tree of Anne, Princess Royal (Ancestry.com):

My next post will be about the transition from George II to his grandson, George III. It is necessary to understand this transition, in order to understand how the third holder of the title Princess Royal, Charlotte, daughter of George III, came to be.

Transition: From the House of Stuart to the House of Hanover

Prince James: An Impolitic Heir Apparent: Years 1660 - 1673

To understand how Anne, the second holder of the title Princess Royal, came to be, one must first understand the transition of the English monarchy from the House of Stuart to the House of Hanover.

Anne Hyde, Duchess of York; King James II by Peter Lely

James Stuart, the younger brother of the first Princess Royal, Mary, and of Charles II, had two surviving daughters by his first wife, a commoner, Anne Hyde, who he had controversially married in 1660. Both daughters, Princess Mary and Princess Anne (not to be confused with Anne, Princess Royal), had been raised Protestant, on the orders of Charles II, James's elder brother and the successor of their father, Charles I. Before Anne Hyde's death in 1671, James had converted to Catholicism, in opposition to Charles II's wishes. In 1673, James's conversion became public when he refused to follow the Test Act, to the dismay of Parliament and the English public.

Mary of Modena by Simon Pietersz

Then, in 1673, James married a beautiful, 15-year-old, Italian, Catholic princess, Mary of Modena. The notoriously xenophobic English public feared Mary of Modena could be an agent of the Pope. The public was even more concerned about the unpopular marriage of the brother of the king, given that Charles II and his wife, Catherine of Braganza, were unable to have children. What if James one day succeeded Charles II? Not only would Britain have a Catholic ruler (horrors!), but could even end up with a Catholic dynasty!

Mary's Marriage and the Succession of James II: Years 1677 - 1688

In 1677, James reluctantly consented to the marriage of his daughter, Mary Stuart, to the Protestant William of Orange, and Mary left for the Dutch Republic, leaving her younger sister, Anne Stuart, behind in England. In 1685, Charles II died, ironically after having converted to Catholicism on his deathbed.  He was succeeded by his impolitic younger brother, James II. Tensions rose further when Mary of Modena gave birth in 1688 to a healthy heir, James Francis, in effect, placing Mary and Anne after James Francis in the line of succession. English law allowed women to inherit the throne only if they had no brother. England was actually more liberal than many other European nations/provinces, such as Hanover, which did not allow women to inherit territory, or crowns, at all.

In case you're wondering why James II's daughter, Mary Stuart, was never created Princess Royal, the reason is this: She married William of Orange in 1677, becoming Princess of Orange, eight years before her father's succession to the throne of England. She already had her title.

Family Tree of James II, including his children, Mary, Anne, James Francis, and Louisa Maria (Ancestry.com):

The Glorious Revolution and "Succession" of William III and Mary II: Years 1688 - 1689

Prominent Protestants, including Princess Anne herself, claimed the new heir was "suppositious", alleging he had been smuggled into the birth chamber in a warming pan (a highly unlikely scenario). Within seven weeks, a group of seven Protestant nobles invited William of Orange, Mary's husband, to invade England, which he subsequently did with Mary's support four months later.

Detail of William and Mary from the ceiling of the Painted Hall
by Sir James Thornhill; photo by James Brittain

Bewailing the disloyalty of his daughters, James II fled England, taking up residence in France, the country where he had lived during his exile following the deposition of his father, Charles I, and where he eventually died in 1701. Parliament pronounced James II to have abdicated his throne and declared Mary II and William III joint rulers of England. Bowing to many of William III's initial demands, Parliament agreed he could reign singly, in the event Mary predeceased him, thus delaying Princess Anne's eventual succession (and making her royally angry in the process). Parliament also passed the  Bill of Rights of 1689, which declared no Catholic could ever ascend the throne of England and that no English monarch could ever marry a Catholic.

The Succession of Queen Anne and the End of the House of Stuart: Years 1702 - 1714

Queen Anne and William, Duke of Gloucestor 

by studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller

Whether one views this change of monarchs as an abdication followed by a succession or as a usurpation, the fact is, it eventually led to the end of the House of Stuart. Princess Anne, James II's younger daughter, had married George of Denmark, in 1683. During her marriage, Anne had 17 pregnancies, but only five surviving children. Four of these died before the age of two. Anne's remaining son, William, lived to be 11, dying in 1700, likely of hydrocephalus. Anne's elder sister, Mary II, had died childless in 1694. William III continued to rule after Mary II's death, but never remarried. Therefore, upon William III's death in 1702, Anne was the only person remaining in the line of succession established by the Bill of Rights
of 1689. By the time of Anne's husband's death in 1708, she had no living
children. By the time of her own death in 1714, and thanks to the Bill of Rights of 1689, there was no one from the House of Stuart, at least no Protestants, left to inherit the English throne.

The Succession of George I and the Beginning of the House of Hanover: Year 1714

Family tree of Elizabeth, 

Queen of Bohemia (Ancestry.com):

However, Parliament had seen this coming. In 1701, Parliament had further tested the flexibility of the laws governing succession, while safeguarding England from any dreaded Catholic restoration. In the Act of Settlement of 1701, Parliament bypassed over 50 Catholic claimants more closely related to Anne (including Anne's probable half-brother, James Francis), stating the throne would go to the Protestant descendants of Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia and elder sister of Charles I (please see first post). Elizabeth's daughter, Sophia, married the Elector of Hanover in 1658. Sophia's eldest son, George, became heir to England's throne when his mother predeceased him. Although Sophia had famously quipped, "What Parliament does one day, it undoes the next", George I did ascend the throne in 1714 at the age of 54, founding the royal House of Hanover.

Sophia Dorothea, Princess of Hanover with her children,  
George and Sophia Dorothea by Jacques Valiant

By the time of his succession, George I had already had a pretty eventful life. He had entered into a loveless, arranged marriage with his first cousin, Sophia Dorothea of Celle, in 1682 (not to be confused with his mother, Sophia). He had had two children by Sophia, George Augustus and Sophia of Hanover (yes, a third Sophia), in 1683 and 1687, respectively. He had had three children by his royal mistress, as well. He and his wife, to whom he was physically abusive on at least one occasion, had become estranged. George probably had conspired to have his wife's lover, a Swedish count, murdered and sent to sleep with the fishes in 1694. George had then had his marriage dissolved that same year on the grounds that Sophia had abandoned the relationship. Sophia was imprisoned in Ahlden House in her native Celle until her death over 30 years later. George ensured she never saw her children again.

King George I by Sir Godfrey Kneller

Through some creative wrangling of Salic law and the principle of primogeniture, George's father, Ernest, had left all of his Hanoverian territories (but one) to George upon Ernest's death in 1698. George thereby became the absolute monarch of Hanover. He didn't even have to share any of the territories with his younger brothers. During Queen Anne's reign, England and Scotland had been united into a single, sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain, by the Act of Union of 1707. Upon his succession in 1714, George I joined England, Scotland, Ireland and Hanover under one crown. Oh, and a few German territories he had picked up by the death of one of his uncles. Oh, and also the Swedish territories that were ceded to Hanover in 1719.

In case you're wondering why George I's daughter, Sophia of Hanover, was never titled Princess Royal, the reason is this: She married the King of Prussia in 1706, eight years before her father's succession to the throne of England, becoming Crown Princess and later, Queen of Prussia. She already had her title.

Mary, 1st Princess Royal, Daughter of Charles I

An Ill-Fated Father: The Reign of Charles I from 1625 - 1649

As one would expect, Mary's childhood was influenced by the troubled reign of her father, Charles I. Charles I adhered to the belief he ruled by divine right, exhibited by his statement, "Kings are not bound to give an account of their actions but to God alone".  He believed he should be able to make unilateral decisions regarding the ruling of his country, including levying unpopular taxes without Parliamentary consent and granting illegal monopolies.  Parliament regularly took issue with these antics, seeking to curb and control Charles I's military expenditures.  Charles I sought to keep favorites, such as the Duke of Buckingham, in positions of power.  Parliament, citing the duke's military incompetence, sought to remove him from these positions.  Charles would respond by simply dismissing Parliament and imprisoning parliamentary leaders ... not exactly conciliatory or diplomatic decisions.

Charles I was disadvantaged by a perpetually strained treasury, constant European religious military conflicts, and religious differences between the Anglicans, Puritans, and Scottish "Covenanters" he ruled. Charles usually responded to dissension with defensive, polarizing maneuvers. One such maneuver led to the outright rejection of the Episcopal denomination by the Scots in 1638, in favor of Presbyterianism.

After a long succession of humiliating military failures in France and Scotland, with an Irish rebellion thrown in, things began to get personal. Parliament stated intentions to impeach Charles's wife, Henrietta Maria, while Charles threatened to execute key members of Parliament on grounds of high treason. These members having fled, Charles raised an army against parliament. The first Civil War began in 1642 and led to much bloodshed. Although defeated, Charles might have been reinstated, albeit with limited powers, had he not provoked a second Civil War in 1648.

Beheading of Charles I of England 

For the first time in English history, a reigning English monarch was brought to trial for treason against England, on the assumption that Charles I had placed his personal interest over the interests of England. He was convicted and sentenced to beheading, as his grandmother, Mary, Queen of Scots, had been ... to the shock 16th-century Europe.  Charles I's sentence was carried out on January 30, 1649.  The most famous of the revolutionary leaders, Oliver Cromwell, in an unprecedented gesture, allowed Charles's head to be sewn back onto his body, so Charles's family could pay their respects. Many English citizens were outraged by the execution of an anointed king. During the ensuing 11 years, known as the Interregnum, England became a Commonwealth.

Family tree of Charles I of England, including his children, Charles, Mary, and James (Ancestry.com):

Betrothed William and Mary by 
Anthony van Dyck

An Early Marriage: Mary's Early Years from 1631 - 1650

Now, just for a moment, imagine growing up in the midst of all that drama. Mary Henrietta Stuart was born in 1631.  In 1642, when she was 11 years old, her father created her Princess Royal.  By this time, Mary had already been married for almost two years, having wedded William, the son of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, at the age of nine. William was almost 15 at the time of the marriage.  Fortunately, their marriage was not consummated for several years.

After her creation as Princess Royal, Mary moved with her mother to the Dutch Republic, little knowing her father would be executed seven years later in 1649, an event that would decrease her own status and value as a political asset. In 1647, when she was only 16, Mary's husband succeeded as Stadtholder, a position William II held for only three years. Mary tended to keep herself apart from Dutch society and was consequently unpopular among the people. Shortly after Mary's 19th birthday and while she was pregnant, William II died of smallpox. As if her life wasn't stressful enough, Mary's son, also William (later William III of England), was born only eight days later on November 4, 1650.


In-Law Problems and Custody Issues: Mary's Motherhood and Widowhood from 1651 - 1659

Like so many women today, Mary had in-law problems. Mary's mother-in-law, Amalia, would not even allow Mary to name her own son, choosing the perhaps more politically desirable name "William" (to increase the chances of his one day succeeding to Stadtholder) over Mary's less palatable preference of "Charles". Despite the wish of the late William II that Mary receive full custody of their son, in the event of William II's untimely demise, Mary was forced to share custody of her son with her mother- and uncle-in-law.

Princess Mary Stuart by Bartholomeus van der Helst and Johannes Lingelbach

The Dutch, displeased by Mary's sympathies with her by-now-exiled immediate family, further isolated her by forbidding her to show hospitality to her two brothers, Charles and James, who had fled to France when Charles I was deposed. Perhaps not surprisingly, from 1654 until 1657, Mary spent little time in Holland. This earned her the reputation of being an inattentive mother.

However, in 1657, she became regent on behalf of seven-year-old William for the principality of Orange. After seeking assistance with the attendant responsibilities from her extravagant cousin, Louis XIV of France, Louis seized the principality. This maneuver did not endear Louis to his nephew of tender years, who, as an adult, waged several wars against France, remaining Louis's lifelong enemy.

The Succession of Charles II and an Early Death: 1660

The English Interregnum coming to an end, largely due to internal divisions and power struggles, Mary's elder brother was crowned Charles II in 1660, thereby ending his nine-year exile and significantly increasing both Mary's status and her son's position in the Dutch Republic. Mary returned to England in 1660 to visit Charles II when her son was ten years old. Just when things were looking up, she died of smallpox (like her husband) on Christmas Eve of 1660 at the age of only 29. She was buried in Westminster Abbey, having been the daughter, eventually the sister, and ultimately the mother, of kings. The next Princess Royal would not be born for another 49 years.

An Ambitious Son: The Dutch Rule of William III: 1660 -1689

William III by Peter Lely

William III went on to receive a brilliant education, become Stadtholder, and maintain a strict sense of morality throughout his life (with the two minor exceptions of an acknowledged mistress and a usurpation of a rightful, albeit unpopular monarch). In 1677, he married his first cousin, Mary Stuart, his mother's namesake and a confirmed Protestant, like himself. The couple remained childless.

After the death of Charles II and the succession of Mary Stuart's father, James II, William and Mary invaded England in 1688, overthrew James II (who fled to France ... again), and were crowned as joint monarchs in 1689. For a more delicious description of the scandalous family drama and intrigue precipitating the couple's decision to overthrow James II, please read Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown by Maureen Waller (2004).

Family tree of Mary, Princess Royal, including William III and his wife, Mary II (Ancestry.com):

An Ambitious Husband: The English Rule of William III: 1690 - 1702

Mary II by Peter Lely

From the time of Queen Mary II's death in 1694 of that darned smallpox, William III ruled alone. He died in 1702 from pneumonia and was buried in Westminster Abbey alongside his wife. He was succeeded by Mary II's changeable and conniving younger sister, Queen Anne, who had impatiently awaited his death for eight years.

My next post will be about the transition of the English monarchy from the House of Stuart to the House of Hanover. It is necessary to understand this transition, in order to understand how the second Princess Royal, Anne, daughter of George II, came to be.

Princess Royal, Since 1642

Princess Royal, Since 1642

Once, I read Princesses: The Six Daughters of George III by Flora Fraser (2006). I particularly remember a section about George III and his adoration of his eldest daughter, Charlotte. He was so overcome by fatherly joy he bestowed upon her the title, "Princess Royal" (at first unofficially and later officially). From then on, her family nickname was "Royal". I can only imagine how that moniker must have inflated that child's ego. I shudder to think what my three-year-old daughter would become were she called "Royal" every day of her life.

Much as a small child would, I became interested in the title Princess Royal, wondering whether it came with any tangible benefits attached, such as a royal pony or, perhaps, a place in the succession over a younger brother.  I found it came (and still comes) with nothing attached, not even exemption from the current traffic laws of Britain.  However, it just has ... such a nice ring to it.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I began to read more and more British history during snatches of alone time covetously guarded.  I learned the title Princess Royal is not automatic or hereditary, but is traditionally granted to the unmarried eldest daughter of a monarch, during the monarch's reign and at that monarch's pleasure.  There has never been more than one living holder of this title at any time. 

The next few posts are going to include true stories about the ordinary and extraordinary women who have held this title throughout British history.  Certain posts, the transition posts, will set the stage for the forthcoming Princess Royal, describing her family, the political climate and famous people of her time.  Other posts will be short biographies of the six Princesses Royal, each of whom have lived during exciting and pivotal times in British history from the 1630s until today.

Here is the story about the origin of the title, Princess Royal, first bestowed in 1642:

The Succession of James I in 1603

James I by Daniel Mytens

King James I was the first monarch to unite the crowns of England and Scotland. He succeeded Elizabeth I, who had no children or heirs apparent. He was both the son of Queen Elizabeth's cousin and rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, and of a line that had been excluded from the succession by the will of Henry VIII. Elizabeth I herself referred to him as "the false Scotch urchin."[1]  However, by 1603, James was the only member of the royal family who hadn't been imprisoned, murdered, executed, exiled, or politically and socially marginalized. Plus, he was married (something Elizabeth I ever refused to be), had children, and possessed experience ruling a country. Most important to the nobility and citizens of England, King James was at least ostensibly a Protestant (thanks to the Scottish lords). It just made sense for him to come on down to London.  So, he did ... but he refused to attend Queen Bess's funeral, opting to go hunting, instead.[1]

James I may have been vain and self-indulgent with poor table manners, but he was also an intellectual, a prolific writer, and an avid horseman. He may have had at least an emotional obsession with a string of handsome young courtiers, but he had a positive relationship with his frivolous, fashionable wife, Anne of Denmark, who had married James at the age of 15, and who he affectionately called, "my Annie."[1]  (Once, Anne shot James's favorite dog accidentally with a cross bow.  James said the accident could have happened to anyone "and sent her £2,000 as Jowler's legacy."[1])  James I exhibited shrewd judgement in helping to uncover the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 by personally insisting on searches of the buildings in and around Parliament, which led to the capture of Guy Fawkes.  This same nous helped James I hold onto his crown, no easy feat in those days.

The Succession of Charles I in 1625

Charles I by Anthony van Deck

King James's son, Charles, was not the most prepossessing heir apparent. At first, he wasn't even an heir apparent.  He must have been an heir unapparent. His beloved elder brother, Henry, was created Prince of Wales upon his father's succession, while Charles was initially created Duke of York.  However, Henry died when Charles was only 11, making Charles the new heir. Charles's elder sister, Elizabeth, was married off by the time Charles was 12 years old.  Although her marriage to the King of Bohemia proved to be politically disastrous for her, Elizabeth's descendants later comprised the House of Hanover ... and the current royal family.

From the time of his birth in 1600, Charles was seen as having fragile health. He wasn't even expected to live and was baptized on the day of his birth. As a toddler, he did not "toddle", due to weak ankles.  He was not considered strong enough to journey to England to join his parents and elder siblings until age three-and-a-half in August of 1604.  He did not learn to walk or talk until the age of four, and then, only thanks to Lady Carey, who was entrusted with his care.  He exhibited a stammer for the rest of his life (much like his sister's descendant, Charlotte, Princess Royal, and George VI).  Believed by many scholars to have had rickets as a child, Charles grew to be only 5'4".[1]  However, by the age of eight, he had astonished everyone with his intellectual achievements, writing in Latin and beginning to learn four additional languages.  He received an excellent education and eventually became quite an outdoorsman.

Charles I's personality was quite different from his father's.  He was conscientious, pious, formal, austere, tenacious, principled, high-minded, and well-mannered.  He had an aloof demeanor and took himself very seriously.[1]  Charles's affectionate mother influenced his artistic and aesthetic tastes, and he eventually became a patron of the arts.  Perhaps due to Queen Anne's example as a spendthrift (despite a huge income, she was always in debt), Charles had little financial sense. Charles witnessed the reign of his father, characterized by poor administrative and financial habits, an extravagant, ever-moving court, irritating conflicts between the monarch and Parliament, the narrowly averted disaster of the Gunpowder Plot, popular hatred of Catholicism, rising inflation, and an increasing divide between rich and poor.  According to Bowle, "During the eight years since Prince Charles had come to England the prospects of the monarchy had deteriorated - over religion, the common law, the relationship with Parliament, the management of the economy and the personnel of government."[1]  This was Charles I's inheritance.

A Hoity Toity Queen (from 1625 - 1644)

Henrietta Maria of France, Anthony van Deck

Charles succeeded to his father's throne at the age of 24. Two months later, Charles married a half-French, half-Italian Catholic, Henriette Marie of France.  Henriette Marie bore similarities to Charles's mother, not the least her habit of extravagant spending.  She also eerily reminded Charles's subjects of his ill-fated grandmother, Mary, Queen of Scots, who was Catholic and, culturally, decidedly French.  Henriette Marie was everything the English were not: cosmopolitan, witty, and frivolous.  Neither her hoity toity French customs nor her Catholicism endeared her to the English hoi poloi.  After all, the last Catholic queen the English had experienced had regularly burned Protestants in the streets of London.  The people came to hate her, much as the French public came to hate Queen Marie Antoinette in the next century.

Henriette Marie, ironically, was a youngest daughter. However, she brought with her to England a French custom of honoring the eldest daughter of the monarch with the title Madame Royale, or Princess Royal.  That and a shilling could have bought her an ale.  The English never appreciated her small contribution to their culture ... or her.

Henriette Marie, the daughter of a queen who was exiled, became an exiled queen herself in 1644. Henriette Marie, the daughter of a king who was assassinated before she was a year old, became the wife of a king who was executed before she was 40.

My next post will be about Mary, the daughter of Charles I, the first English Princess Royal.

Family tree of James I, including his children, Henry, Elizabeth, and Charles (Ancestry.com):

1. Bowle, John. Charles the First. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1975.