How the Royal Family Went From Scottish to German...and Who the Heck Was Bonnie Prince Charlie?!
A brief breakdown of the major players in the eventful Stuart Dynasty.
British history is placed into neat eras where even the most minor history enthusiasts can recognize a style of clothing or architecture as being Elizabethan, Georgian, Victorian, etc. On top of that, there are so many historical fiction shows and books that include events from these periods. Whenever I am reading, watching or simply learning about a particular event in history, I am always left wondering, “How did we get here? What is the backdrop?” Today, I am hoping to provide you with a BRIEF backdrop to help you better understand a dynasty that arguably had one of the most eventful centuries in the early modern period, and that is the Stuart Dynasty.
Upon hearing “The Stuart Dynasty” names often come to mind…James, Charles….which Charles? And who got their head cut off? And how exactly was Bonnie Prince Charlie related anyways? And how many James’ were there? And who the heck are William, Mary and Anne and how are they all related?!?!
Well, to be clear, the Stuarts were the Scottish Royal family from 1371 and I have included a family tree of later Stuart Monarchs to help make things more clear. For the purposes of this short post, we will be talking about the Stuarts starting with James VI and I, who was the first Stuart King of England.
The Start of the “British Stuarts”
As Elizabeth I famously did not have children, the succession to the English Crown was an issue that was at the forefront of her reign. Her paternal aunt, Margaret Tudor married James IV of Scotland…They had a son, James V, who had a daughter, Mary Queen of Scotts, making Mary Queen of Scotts the first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth I. It was Mary’s son James VI of Scotland that inherited the throne of England and Ireland from Elizabeth after her death in 1603. He then chose to be styled as the King of Great Britain and Ireland. Sadly, his heir, Henry Frederick died of typhoid before James, so his second son Charles inherited the throne becoming Charles I.
To make it extremely brief, Charles I was the King who was tried for and charged with treason against England, and as a result, he was beheaded in January 1649. Britain then tried its hand at becoming a republic, but after eleven years, decided that they had had enough of that, and brought back the son of Charles I, Charles II.
Right now, I just want to pause to make public a wonderment I have always had…truly, how did Charles II feel coming back? Part of him had to be extremely nervous…..Like, these people cut off your Father’s head, put in a new government, decided they didn’t like the new government, and then decided to bring you back…Seems slightly insane to me? But then again, what society through history hasn’t been slightly insane….
After the Restoration
While Charles was an extremely…fertile…King siring more children than almost any other monarch, his many children were illegitimate making his brother James his heir. James II had support to become King even though he was a Catholic. James had two daughters from his first marriage to Anne Hyde, and their uncle, Charles II ordered that both Mary (Later Mary II) and Anne (Queen Anne) be raised Protestant. James’ Catholic convictions were easier to stomach knowing that both of his daughters were raised Protestant, so the future of the Monarchy would remain that way especially with his daughter Mary being Married to William of Orange. (William was his nephew. William’s mother was Mary Stuart, Princess Royal. Sister to Charles II and James II). After Anne’s death, James was allowed to marry Mary of Modena and they had a son named James Francis Edward Stuart in 1688. The Birth of this Catholic son was a part of the tipping point for an increasingly unpopular James II and he was deposed and exiled during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This is when his Protestant daughter Mary, and her Protestant Husband and cousin William of Orange became co-rulers of England. As we know, William and Mary did not have children, and so Mary’s sister Queen Anne inherited the throne and ruled from 1702-1714.
What About the Pretenders?
Mary and Anne’s half brother, the Catholic James Francis Edward Stuart or “The Old Pretender” never met his sisters, though he did claim the throne after his father James II died in 1701. (Remember at this point, William of Orange was King William III as Mary Died in 1694.) He was at one point supported by the French, and efforts to restore him, and the Stuarts to the throne were made. The efforts culminated in the most famous Jacobite Uprising of 1745 which was led by James Francis Edward’s son, Charles Edward Stuart otherwise known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie.” After his defeat and escape back to Europe, Bonnie Prince Charlie would spend the rest of his life drinking and wasting away. With him, and his brother who never carried out any uprisings, several hundred year Stuart Dynasty would die out.
SO, why did the royal family become German?
Because of the Act of Settlement of 1701, Catholics became prohibited from inheriting the throne. Which is why James Francis Edward, and his son the Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) were barred from inheriting in the first place. That is also the reason that a German branch of cousins, the Hanoverians, became the Rulers of England. Although MANY possibly heirs were passed over because they were Catholic, I think that sometimes the distance of their family relationship can be over exaggerated. George I was just the second cousin of Queen Anne. Both of them being great-grandchildren of James I and VI. Although there have been a few royal family name changes, from George I to today, it is actually an almost entirely direct line leading to the current King Charles III.
The Stuarts ruling, and attempting to rule England and Britain at large was an extremely dramatic century and a half that was loaded with historical events. I personally think that this era is often overlooked and that both it’s political and social landscapes are some of the most interesting in British History..In fact, it was during this time that “British History” actually became a thing. (The Acts of Union formally created Great Britain in 1707.)
I hope this brief outline helps to clarify some of the main royal players during this century and a half, and I hope you follow along for MANY more upcoming posts about Stuart lovers, mistresses, illegitimate children, quarrels and more!
What’s On the Horizon for MBH?
Next week paid subscribers will reach a moment with Edward VIII and Freda Dudley Ward which I have been waiting for! Paid Subscribers also have more in depth biography posts coming up in their pipeline. MBH at large will be moving into the Stuart era and looking at people who were major players, but have been lost to History. If you are a subscriber, THANK YOU! If you aren’t, don’t miss out!
Until Next Time,
McKenzie
Ps. A great Book on the Stuart Dynasty is The Royal Stuarts by Allan Massie
I always enjoy reading your excerpts on history. The line between the Stuarts and Hanoverian lines confused me. Your telling made it clearer. Thank you.
It's fascinating how different things could have turned out if only a few people made different choices. If the Stuarts remained Protestant, they could rule Britain even now, if James II's children were a bit more pragmatic, like Henry IV of France who converted for the Crown, the same could have happened even after 1688.