Mary of Modena

Introduction

Mary of Modena, whose full name was Maria Beatrice Eleonora Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este, was born on 5th October 1658 as Princess of the Italian Duchy of Modena and died of cancer on 7th May 1718. She was an abidingly Catholic woman. In 1673 she married King James II who was titled King of England, Scotland and Ireland. She bore him several children: Catharina Laura (born in 1675, died shortly after birth), Isabel(born in 1676, died 1681), Charles, Duke of Cambridge (born in 1677, died shortly after birth), Charlotte Mary (born in 1682, died shortly after her birth), James Francis Edward Stuart (born in 1688) and Louise Marie (born in 1692). In April 1712 both fell sick with smallpox and Louise Mary even died. Her brother, however recovered and became the only successor of his father King James II and therefore should secure the continuity of the Catholic dynasty. This fact however never came true. After the Glorious Revolution Mary of Modena, her husband and her children had to escape into exile in France at the court of Louis XIV where she stayed until her death in 1718.

Her Life

Mary was the oldest child of Alfonso IV, Duke of Modena and Laura Martinozzi. As a member of a noble dynasty she received a good education. She spoke French and Italian fluently and was moreover taught in Latin and English.

Mary saw her husband for the first time on the day of their second marriage ceremony (they had been married by proxy first). For James it was his second marriage. James was twenty-five years older than Mary and his face was covered with cicatrices – a result of his last disease: smallpox. Mary got desperate as she could not imagine living her whole life at King James' side. James, on the other hand, was really happy with his new wife. After a while after both got to know each other more closely Mary changed her attitude towards him and started to accept and like him.

From his last marriage James had two children: Lady Mary and Lady Anne. In contrast to Lady Anne, Lady Mary accepted Mary of Modena, her father’s second wife. In 1677 Lady Mary was married to William of Orange who should later send James II, his father-in-law, and Mary, his wife’s stepmother, into exile in France and take over the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Mary as the Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland:

In 1687 Mary of Modena became pregnant. James II received a male heir which led to fear within the population as from now on the Catholic continuity of James's dynasty was secured. As people were afraid of Catholics they started to search for a possible Protestant king. At once seven leading Whigs invited William of Orange to prevent England from a Catholic reign. After a hard battle which became known as the Glorious Revolution James, his wife Mary and their son Edward had to flee into exile in France to Louis XIV, and William and Lady Mary took over the throne as Joint Rulers. In exile Mary's daughter Louise Mary was born who died later at the age of twenty from smallpox.

James was not satisfied with the fact that he had to give up the throne. That is why he planned an attack to gain everything back. With French support he first tried to invade Ireland. This was stopped in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

In 1701 James II became ill and died. As James Edward was too young to become king it was Mary who took over the reign until her son would be old enough to do it on his own. As her first act she prepared a manifesto which showed all English people James Francis Edward's aims. It was only in Scotland where it was - partly - accepted. Scottish lords even tried to convince Mary of the fact that her son had to become a Protestant to facilitate his possibility of becoming King after William's death. Mary was not satisfied with this solution and that is why it was agreed that when James should become king he should limit Catholic priests in England and he should not obstruct the Church of England. Scottish lords promised to do everything to stop the succession of the line of King William of Orange. This act however failed and when James Francis Edward became 16 years old Mary's reign ended.

Mary went on living in exile where she also died from cancer without having any contact to her relatives in England.

Further Links

English Monarchs <http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_4.htm> (28th April 2010)

Bucholz, Robert; Key, Newton, Early Modern England 1485-1714, Chichester: Blackwell Publishing, 2009.

Haile, Martin, Queen Mary of Modena: her Life and Letters, Cambridge: Cambridge Scholar Publishing, 2009.

Panzer, Marita A. Englands Königinnen. Von den Tudors zu den Windsors. München: Piper, 2003.