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COLLECTIONS: Notes.

MONARCHY.

1. Outline: Who were the monarchs?

ANNE (8 March 1702–1 May 1714):

GEORGE I (1 Aug 1714-11 June 1727):

GEORGE II (11 June 1727 – 25^th October 1760):

GEORGE III (25 October 1760-29 Jan 1820):

Went mad Nov 1788.
Said on one occasion no ruler except a Brit King could be treated so harshly in illness.
Second half of reign was “royal apotheosis” (Colley).
However, this did not mean he had more power: more to do with a resurgence of nationalism and its association with the Crown.
Seen as easier to relate to: described as ‘a father and friend’ by Robert Huish, funeral, 1821.
Colley argues that GIII’s had echoes of our current monarchy: “that curious blend of assiduous domestic cosiness interspersed with occasional bouts of public splendour”.

GEORGE IV (29 January 1820 – 26 June 1830):

2. Strengths and weaknesses: How powerful was the monarch?

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
V Constitutionally free – could declare war, end Parliament, pardon. CA: Not really true in practice – see today!	Money was a problem. E.g. Charles I could not afford Inigo Jones’ designed palace to rival Buen Retiro. E.g. could not afford to buy land opp Buckingham palace. Colley credits the increase in money after 1790s partially caused ^ GIII’s popularity. Pitt understood necessity. E.g. May 1795 – Prince of Wales debt paid off. E.g. 1790s-1800s: 168,000 renovating Windsor Castle, 50,000 Buckingham House, 500,000 castle at Kew.
Were few threats of overthrow E.g. Jacobitism too local and volatile (N Rogers). CA: There were exceptions, e.g. Shrewsbury ‘v bold and given to mobbing’ (Rogers). Songs e.g. ‘The King shall enjoy his own again’. 1716 Clare Hall College Cambridge smashed (provoked by loyalist festivities). Diff in diff areas e.g. B’ham stronger.	Civil wars had weakened “Depleted the Crown’s material splendour as well as challenging its mystique” (Colley). E.g. palaces at Greenwich, Woodstock destroyed. HVIII had 20 houses, CII had 7 in 1660.
People could still feel v attached to the monarchy. E.g. Support for GIII when illness announced. E.g. Queen Caroline affair (“cause célèbre of 1820” [N Rogers]). Gifts sent, outpouring of support for her (e.g. ‘a very fine fat pig’), riots.	Lack of dynastic continuity weakened natural authority and stability. 7 monarchs 1625-1727. Worsened as monarchs were not keen on each other’s memories and kept changing palaces e.g. Anne – Windsor, George I – Kensington.
Protestantism: “key to justifying Georgian rule” (H Smith). E.g. GII’s Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach = depicted as Prot. heroine. Followed up by GIII’s Queen. Emph’d by H Smith in contrast to Colley (focuses on more narrow def of patriotism, based on practicality and commercial strength). Ev that this generated public support: 1715 parade of Horse Guards, Hyde Park 1715: GI followed by crowds urging to kiss him (contemp Joseph Addison).	Changing of palaces (see above) resulted in lack of continuity, architectural splendour, and a centralised hub for courtiers – contrast with Versailles. “Britain’s royal court was always parasitic on the capital city” (Colley). CA: could be seen as positive by public – reason for GIII’s image as an ordinary man?
Could enhance power through image E.g. GIII assoc with domesticity.	Lack of control of courtiers came from above point. E.g. When Duchess of Queensberry forbidden from court, she wrote an impertinent letter and went unpunished.
Growth of patriotism enhanced monarch’s power later in period (GIII): key argument of Colley. Link to religion: Smith talks of concept of Christian soldier and credits relig for William’s success (“a...

V Constitutionally free – could declare war, end Parliament, pardon.
CA: Not really true in practice – see today!

Money was a problem.
E.g. Charles I could not afford Inigo Jones’ designed palace to rival Buen Retiro.

E.g. could not afford to buy land opp Buckingham palace.

Colley credits the increase in money after 1790s partially caused ^ GIII’s popularity. Pitt understood necessity. E.g. May 1795 – Prince of Wales debt paid off. E.g. 1790s-1800s: 168,000 renovating Windsor Castle, 50,000 Buckingham House, 500,000 castle at Kew.

Were few threats of overthrow
E.g. Jacobitism too local and volatile (N Rogers).

CA: There were exceptions, e.g. Shrewsbury ‘v bold and given to mobbing’ (Rogers). Songs e.g. ‘The King shall enjoy his own again’. 1716 Clare Hall College Cambridge smashed (provoked by loyalist festivities).
Diff in diff areas e.g. B’ham stronger.

Civil wars had weakened

“Depleted the Crown’s material splendour as well as challenging its mystique” (Colley).
E.g. palaces at Greenwich, Woodstock destroyed. HVIII had 20 houses, CII had 7 in 1660.

People could still feel v attached to the monarchy.
E.g. Support for GIII when illness announced.
E.g. Queen Caroline affair (“cause célèbre of 1820” [N Rogers]). Gifts sent, outpouring of support for her (e.g. ‘a very fine fat pig’), riots.

Lack of dynastic continuity weakened natural authority and stability.
7 monarchs 1625-1727.

Worsened as monarchs were not keen on each other’s memories and kept changing palaces e.g. Anne – Windsor, George I – Kensington.

Protestantism: “key to justifying Georgian rule” (H Smith).

E.g. GII’s Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach = depicted as Prot. heroine.
Followed up by GIII’s Queen.

Emph’d by H Smith in contrast to Colley (focuses on more narrow def of patriotism, based on practicality and commercial strength).

Ev that this generated public support: 1715 parade of Horse Guards, Hyde Park 1715: GI followed by crowds urging to kiss him (contemp Joseph Addison).

Changing of palaces (see above) resulted in lack of continuity, architectural splendour, and a centralised hub for courtiers – contrast with Versailles.

“Britain’s royal court was always parasitic on the capital city” (Colley).
CA: could be seen as positive by public – reason for GIII’s image as an ordinary man?

Could enhance power through image

E.g. GIII assoc with domesticity.

Lack of control of courtiers came from above point.
E.g. When Duchess of Queensberry forbidden from court, she wrote an impertinent letter and went unpunished.

Growth of patriotism enhanced monarch’s power later in period (GIII): key argument of Colley.

Link to religion: Smith talks of concept of Christian soldier and credits relig for William’s success (“a...

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