George I: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:51, 5 July 2023

28 March 1660 - 11 October 1727. 1714-1727 King of Great Britain and Ireland. Son of Sophia of Hanover, Elector (=Kurfürst) of Hanover.

After the death of the last Stuart, Queen Anne in 1714, George I inherited the throne of England and Ireland under the Act of Settlement (1701) and became the first King of the House of Hanover, basically because of their Protestantism. “The other alternative was the Catholic son of James II by Mary of Modena, James Edward Stuart” (britannia.com). There was an attempt to bring the so-called Old Pretender to the throne in 1715, but, like the subsequent Jacobite risings, it was not successful.

Politically, George decided to support the Whigs (britannia.com). During George's reign, political power shifted more and more to Parliament, because the King did not speak fluent English and was in Hanover frequently. At that time the Whigs dominated Parliament. And Robert Walpole dominated Parliament, Privy Council and politics: “After the South Sea Bubble crises of 1720, Robert Walpole took over. The most able of George’s ministers and known as the first ‘Prime Minister’. Walpole’s was the longest running administration in British history (1721-42)” (royal.uk).

Marriage

In 1682 Georg married his cousin, Princess Sophia Dorothea von Celle, the daughter of Duke Georg Wilhelm von Celle. She gave birth to a son, George, Prince of Wales, and a daughter named Sophia Dorothea. Their marriage was not based on love but rather motivated by reasons of state. In their marriage, she endured the pain of his infidelity. At Court, King Georg's Mistresses held greater significance than her. Despite playing a significant role in orchestrating the marriage, her mother-in-law treated her as inferior and an unwelcome presence. Sophia of Celle faced frequent accusations of infidelity, but it was her involvement in a scheme against her mother-in-law that ultimately led to her imprisonment. The marriage was dissolved in 1694.

Relationship with Son

"Sophia Dorothea was divorced and Jacobites took the opportunity to hint that George's children were not his own" (oxfordreference.com). King George held a strong hatred towards his son, George, Prince of Wales, due to political scheming. The Tories capitalized on this strained relationship to consolidate political influence and establish connections with the Prince of Wales. During his trips to Hannover, George I entrusted the governance of his country to his Ministers, rather than leaving it under the control of the Prince. "This disdain between father and son was a blight which became a tradition in the House of Hanover" (britannia.com).

Sources

Michael, Wolfgang. England under George I: The Beginnings of the Hanoverian Dynasty. London: Greenwood Press, 1936.

"https://www.royal.uk/george-i." royal.uk, The Royal Household, https://www.royal.uk/george-i.

Britannia Staff Article. "George I (1714-27 AD)." Britannia.com, original URL: http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon53.html, archive URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20180825064546/http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon53.html.

Oxford Reference. "George I." oxfordreference.com, original URL: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199559220.001.0001/acref-9780199559220-e-157?rskey=6o1VDx&result=280.

BBC History. "George I (1660-1727)." bbc.co.uk, original URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_i_king.shtml.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[George I]] (March 28 1600 - October 11 1727).He was King of  Great Britain and Ireland from  1714 to 1727. Son of [[Sophia of Hanover]], Elector (=Kurfürst) of Hanover.
+March 1660 - 11 October 1727. 1714-1727 King of Great Britain and Ireland. Son of [[Sophia of Hanover]], Elector (=Kurfürst) of Hanover.
-After the death of the last Stuart, Queen [[Anne I|Anne]] in 1714, George I inherited the throne of England and Ireland under the [[Act of Settlement]] (1701) and became the first king of the House of Hanover. He was chosen to be king because he was brought up a [[Protestantism|Protestant]]. “The other alternative was the [[Catholicism|Catholic]] son of [[James II]] by Mary of Modena, [[James Francis Edward Stuart|James Edward Stuart]]” (britannia.com).
+After the death of the last Stuart, Queen [[Anne I|Anne]] in 1714, George I inherited the throne of England and Ireland under the [[Act of Settlement]] (1701) and became the first King of the House of Hanover, basically because of their  [[Protestantism]]. “The other alternative was the Catholic son of [[James II]] by Mary of Modena, [[James Francis Edward Stuart|James Edward Stuart]]” (britannia.com). There was an attempt to bring the so-called Old Pretender to the throne in 1715, but, like the subsequent [[Jacobitism|Jacobite risings]], it was not successful.
-There was an attempt to bring the so-called [[James Francis Edward Stuart|Old Pretender]] to the throne in 1715, but, like the subsequent [[Jacobitism|Jacobite risings]], it was not successful.
+Politically, George decided to support the Whigs (britannia.com). During George's reign, political power shifted more and more to Parliament, because the King did not speak fluent English and was in Hanover frequently. At that time the [[Whigs]] dominated Parliament. And [[Robert Walpole]] dominated Parliament, Privy Council and politics: “After the South Sea Bubble crises of 1720, Robert Walpole took over. The most able of George’s ministers and known as the first ‘Prime Minister’. Walpole’s was the longest running administration in British history (1721-42)” (royal.uk).
-He knew his decision to become King would at least upset half of Britain's population. During George's reign, political power shifted more and more to Parliament, because the king did not speak fluent English and was in Hanover most of the time. At that time the [[Whigs]] dominated Parliament. And [[Robert Walpole]] dominated Parliament, Privy Council and politics: “After the South Sea Bubble crises of 1720, Robert Walpole took over. The most able of George’s ministers and known as the first ‘Prime Minister’. Walpole’s was the longest running administration in British history (1721-42)”.
+== Marriage ==
-== His marriage ==
+In 1682 Georg married his cousin, Princess Sophia Dorothea von Celle, the daughter of Duke Georg Wilhelm von Celle. She gave birth to a son, George, Prince of Wales, and a daughter named Sophia Dorothea.
+Their marriage was not based on love but rather motivated by reasons of state. In their marriage, she endured the pain of his infidelity. At Court, King Georg's Mistresses held greater significance than her. Despite playing a significant role in orchestrating the marriage, her mother-in-law treated her as inferior and an unwelcome presence.
+Sophia of Celle faced frequent accusations of infidelity, but it was her involvement in a scheme against her mother-in-law that ultimately led to her imprisonment. The marriage was dissolved in 1694.
-He married his cousin, Princess Sophia Dorothy of Celle, in 1682. She was the daughter of Duke Georg Wilhelm of Celle. They had one son, George, Prince of Wales (future King Geoge II), and one daughter, Sophia Dorothea.
+== Relationship with Son ==
-Their marriage had nothing to do with love; it happened for reasons of State. She suffered in their marriage from his infidelity. At Court, King Georg's Mistresses counted for more than she. Her mother-in-law treated her as inferior and an intruder, even though she had played a huge role in arranging the marriage.
-Sophia of Celle was often accused of infidelity. But she got caught starting an intrigue against her mother-in-law. She got imprisoned, and the trial led to a divorce between them. King Geoge I was allowed to re-marry.
-== Jacobite rising ==
+"Sophia Dorothea was divorced and Jacobites took the opportunity to hint that George's children were not his own" (oxfordreference.com). King George held a strong hatred towards his son, George, Prince of Wales, due to political scheming. The Tories capitalized on this strained relationship to consolidate political influence and establish connections with the Prince of Wales.
+During his trips to Hannover, George I entrusted the governance of his country to his Ministers, rather than leaving it under the control of the Prince. "This disdain between father and son was a blight which became a tradition in the House of Hanover" (britannia.com).
-In 1715 he faced a serious Jacobite rising. James Stuart claimed the throne for himself. The Scottish clans fought for him. The rebellion was ill-coordinated, and the French were unwilling to help. He withdrew his claims after the Scottish clans lost the battle of Felkirk.
-The Tories seemed to sympathise with the Jacobites.
-== His relationship with his son ==
-The Jacobites claimed that Kin George's children were not his since Sophia Dorothea was divorced.
-George did dislike his son George, Prince of Wales, due to political intrigue. The Tories used this bad relationship to gain political power and connect with the Prince of Wales. While travelling to Hannover, King Goerge I never left leadership of the government in the Princes' control but rather to his Ministers. "This disdain between father and son was a blight which became a tradition in the House of Hanover" (britannia.com).
@@ Line 27: / Line 20: @@
 == Sources ==
-Michael, Wolfgang. England under George I: The Beginnings of the Hanoverian Dynasty. London: Greenwood Press, 1936.
+Michael, Wolfgang. ''England under George I: The Beginnings of the Hanoverian Dynasty.'' London: Greenwood Press, 1936.
 "https://www.royal.uk/george-i." ''royal.uk'', The Royal Household, https://www.royal.uk/george-i.
@@ Line 34: / Line 27: @@
 Oxford Reference. "George I." ''oxfordreference.com'', original URL: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199559220.001.0001/acref-9780199559220-e-157?rskey=6o1VDx&result=280.
+BBC History. "George I (1660-1727)." ''bbc.co.uk'', original URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_i_king.shtml.