George IV: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:17, 5 July 2023

17 August 1762 (St James's Palace) - 26 June 1830 (Windsor Castle). 1820-1830 King of Britain and Ireland. Eldest son of George III and Queen Charlotte.

Early life

Already in his early years, he began pursuing a life of pleasure. In 1781 he was blackmailed by one of his acquaintances who threatened to sell his love letters (oxfordreference.com). George III had to pay £5,000 to prevent them from being published (oxfordreference.com). George then moved on to another love acquaintance and in 1785 he secretly married Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic widow whom he fell madly in love with in 1784. Because of the Act of Settlement he would not have been able to become king the marriage was declared invalid by his father.

Legitimate Marriage

George ended up marrying his cousin, Princess Caroline of Brunswick. She gave birth to their daughter Charlotte in 1796. When she died in childbirth in 1817, Caroline, who had gone abroad to Italy after the birth, now came back to demand her rights of queenship (oxfordreference.com). He successfully prevented her from attending the coronation and becoming queen. She died only one month later. This news was not unpleasant for George IV, who had been trying to divorce her for quite a while.

Devotion

George IV is considered an outstanding collector and builder. His enthusiasm for architecture can be held responsible for the "Regency" style of architecture. He was responsible for the construction of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and oversaw the renovations of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. His passion for collecting led him to acquire some important works of art, which can be found in today's Royal Collection. His interest spread from dress over fashion to military matters. He was friends with artists, acquired artworks from auctions and dealers and obtained French furniture to furnish his houses.

Reign

After his coronation in 1820, he visited Hannover in 1821 and Scotland in 1822. This visit made him the first monarch to visit Scotland since 1651. Politically he did not enjoy the best standing. In 1829 George was forced to agree to Catholic emancipation. This agreement went "[…] much against his will and his interpretation of his coronation oath […]"(royal.uk). However, this decision gave the monarchy the chance of having a bigger national role (royal.uk).

Death

George IV died at 67 years old at Windsor Castle. He was succeeded by his brother William, Duke of Clarance, who ascended to the position as William IV.

Works Cited

BBC History. "George IV (1762.1830)". bbc.co.uk, original URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_iv_king.shtml.

Britannia. "George IV (1820-30 AD)". britannia.com, original URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20180912151052/http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon56.html.

Oxford Reference. "George IV".oxford reference.com, original URL: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199559220.001.0001/acref-9780199559220-e-166.

The Royal Family. "George IV (r. 1820-1839)". royal.uk, original URL: https://www.royal.uk/george-iv.

Royal Collection Trust. "GEORGE, KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM (1762-1830)". rct.uk, original URL: https://www.rct.uk/collection/people/george-iv-king-of-the-united-kingdom-1762-1830#/type/subject.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-- 1830. King of England from 1820 to 1830.
+August 1762 (St James's Palace) - 26 June 1830 (Windsor Castle). 1820-1830 King of Britain and Ireland. Eldest son of [[George III]] and Queen Charlotte.
-George IV is known for his extravagant lifestyle. The marriage with his wife [[Caroline of Brunswick]] was far from perfect and George's eating habits were a bit over the top. Sieper writes, "Owing to his extravagance, his debts, his divorce suit before the [[House of Lords]], his reign marked the lowest moral standard in the modern history of British monarchy" (67) Although this quote is exaggerated, it points in the right direction.
+==Early life==
+Already in his early years, he began pursuing a life of pleasure. In 1781 he was blackmailed by one of his acquaintances who threatened to sell his love letters (oxfordreference.com). George III had to pay £5,000 to prevent them from being published (oxfordreference.com). George then moved on to another love acquaintance and in 1785 he secretly married Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic widow whom he fell madly in love with in 1784. Because of the Act of Settlement he would not have been able to become king the marriage was declared invalid by his father.
-== Love life ==
+==Legitimate Marriage==
-George married his first wife [[Maria Fitzherbert]] in 1785 without his father's consent. Maria Fitzherbert was a Catholic, so according to the [[Act of Settlement]] George would not be able to become king. His father, [[George III]], thus had this marriage declared illegal.
+George ended up marrying his cousin, Princess Caroline of Brunswick. She gave birth to their daughter Charlotte in 1796. When she died in childbirth in 1817, Caroline, who had gone abroad to Italy after the birth, now came back to demand her rights of queenship (oxfordreference.com). He successfully prevented her from attending the coronation and becoming queen. She died only one month later. This news was not unpleasant for George IV, who had been trying to divorce her for quite a while.
-It is said that George IV became a heavy drinker and gambler afterwards with several affairs with women. His debts were as high as 650,000 pounds by 1795. His debts were paid by [[Parliament]] in exchange for George marrying his cousin Caroline of Brunswick. Despite their loveless marriage they managed to produce a daughter in 1796, [[Princess Charlotte]].
+==Devotion==
+George IV is considered an outstanding collector and builder. His enthusiasm for architecture can be held responsible for the "Regency" style of architecture. He was responsible for the construction of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and oversaw the renovations of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. His passion for collecting led him to acquire some important works of art, which can be found in today's Royal Collection. His interest spread from dress over fashion to military matters. He was friends with artists, acquired artworks from auctions and dealers and obtained French furniture to furnish his houses.
-It is well-known that this marriage was a failure and George IV did his best to get rid of his wife, but did not succeed. Right after the wedding Caroline moved out, and she and her husband lived apart from then on. Both George IV and Caroline had several affairs throughout their lives. George IV entertained a somewhat serious relationship with his former wife Maria Fitzherbert and mentioned her in his will as his wife. Caroline moved back to England in 1820 to claim the title "Queen" and attend her husband's coronation, which she was not able to, because he had her removed from [[Westminster Abbey]].
+==Reign==
+After his coronation in 1820, he visited Hannover in 1821 and Scotland in 1822. This visit made him the first monarch to visit Scotland since 1651. Politically he did not enjoy the best standing. In 1829 George was forced to agree to Catholic emancipation. This agreement went "[…] much against his will and his interpretation of his coronation oath […]"(royal.uk). However, this decision gave the monarchy the chance of having a bigger national role (royal.uk).
-== Regency ==
+==Death==
-George IV served as [[Prince Regent]] from 1811 onwards, when his father was declared insane. He had been a strong supporter of the Whigs before, but once he was Prince Regent he seemed to have changed his mind and followed [[Tories|Tory]] principles. One could argue that he had courted [[Whigs|Whig]] politicians in his youth to annoy his father.
+George IV died at 67 years old at Windsor Castle. He was succeeded by his brother William, Duke of Clarance, who ascended to the position as William IV.
-George IV became King of England in 1820, when his father George III died. When he tried to annul his marriage with his wife Caroline, it triggered off demonstrations against the new king, which only heightened when he had her removed from his coronation ceremony.
+==Works Cited==
-As king George IV found an increasing interest in arts. He acquired an impressive collection of art and supported architects and painters. He left an astonishing architectural legacy including the [[Royal Pavilion]].
+BBC History. "George IV (1762.1830)". ''bbc.co.uk'', original URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_iv_king.shtml.
-== Bibliography ==
+Britannia. "George IV (1820-30 AD)". ''britannia.com'', original URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20180912151052/http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon56.html.
-* BBC. ''Historic Figures: George IV''. 2009 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/george_iv_king.shtml>.
-* Britannia. ''Monarchs of Britain: George IV''. 2010 <http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon56.html>
+Oxford Reference. "George IV".''oxford reference.com'', original URL: https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199559220.001.0001/acref-9780199559220-e-166.
-* Sieper, Roswitha. ''The Student's Companion to Britain''. Ismaning: Hueber, 1993.
-* Simkin, John. ''Spartacus Educational''. 2008 <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRgeorgeIV.htm>
+The Royal Family. "George IV (r. 1820-1839)". ''royal.uk'', original URL: https://www.royal.uk/george-iv.
+Royal Collection Trust. "GEORGE, KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM (1762-1830)". ''rct.uk'', original URL: https://www.rct.uk/collection/people/george-iv-king-of-the-united-kingdom-1762-1830#/type/subject.