Kings & Queens of England 6/8: The Stuarts – Over Sexed and Over Here

Summary

This historical overview delves into the Stuart dynasty's impact on modern Christianity and English monarchy. King James I's reign saw the unification of England and Scotland and the creation of the King James Bible, which profoundly influenced Protestantism. His son, Charles I, faced religious and political strife, leading to his execution and a period of Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell. The Restoration brought Charles II, known for his debauchery and illegitimate children, while his brother James II's Catholicism sparked the Glorious Revolution, resulting in the Protestant William III and Mary II's rule. The era set the stage for the Acts of Union, creating Great Britain and influencing the British monarchy's future.

Takeaways

• 👑 The crown passed to James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England and Scotland, marking the union of the two kingdoms under one monarch.
• 📜 James I is known for the printing of the King James Bible, which had a significant impact on the Protestant religion and is still popular today.
• 🔥 The Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to blow up King James and Parliament, was foiled and is commemorated annually on November 5th.
• 🌈 James I's bisexuality and appointments of male lovers to high positions sparked controversy and outrage among the public and Parliament.
• ⚔️ Charles I, son of James I, believed in the divine right of kings and had conflicts with Parliament over taxation and religious uniformity, leading to the English Civil War.
• 🏰 The English Civil War resulted in the execution of Charles I, a significant event as it was the first time in over 700 years that an English king was executed.
• 🤴 Charles II, known as the 'merry monarch,' had numerous mistresses and illegitimate children, and his reign was marked by the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London.
• 🐕 Charles II's love for dogs led to the naming of the King Charles Spaniel breed after him.
• 👸 James II, brother of Charles II, was a Catholic, which was a major issue for Protestant and Puritan England, leading to his eventual overthrow.
• 🏳️🏊 The Glorious Revolution saw William of Orange and Mary II take the throne, establishing a new era where Parliament had more control over the monarchy.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The orange in the Irish flag represents William of Orange, who became a hero to Irish Protestants after the Battle of the Boyne.

Q & A

How did the House of Stuart come to power in England?

The House of Stuart came to power in England when Queen Elizabeth I died without children, and the crown passed to her nearest relative, James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England and Scotland.

What was the King James Bible and why is it significant?

The King James Bible, also known as the Authorized Version, was an English translation of the Bible commissioned by King James I. It is significant because it was one of the first Bibles written in English and had a lasting impact on the Protestant religion and the English language.

Why did King James I face opposition from the English Parliament?

King James I faced opposition from the English Parliament because he believed in the divine right of kings and wanted to collect taxes without parliamentary approval, which was against the growing power of the Parliament and the urban middle class.

What was the Gunpowder Plot and how did it affect King James I's reign?

The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt by Catholic conspirators, led by Guy Fawkes, to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament. The plot was foiled, and it led to increased anti-Catholic sentiment and strengthened the Protestant cause in England.

Why did Charles I's reign lead to the English Civil War?

Charles I's reign led to the English Civil War because of his belief in the divine right of kings, his disputes with Parliament over taxes, and his attempts to impose a uniform form of worship that angered the Puritans, leading to a conflict between the Royalists (Cavaliers) and the Parliamentarians (Roundheads).

How did Oliver Cromwell change England during his time as Lord Protector?

During his time as Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell imposed strict Puritan morality on England, closing theatres and brothels, demanding attendance at church, and promoting sobriety. He also reformed the government and military, and England experienced a period of stability and religious tolerance.

What was the Glorious Revolution and why was it significant?

The Glorious Revolution was the peaceful overthrow of King James II in favor of William III and Mary II. It was significant because it established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty over the monarchy, leading to the Bill of Rights and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

Why is the orange color part of the Irish flag?

The orange color in the Irish flag represents the Protestant community, particularly in honor of William of Orange, who became a hero to Irish Protestants after his victory at the Battle of the Boyne.

How did the Acts of Union impact the monarchy in Britain?

The Acts of Union in 1707 joined England and Scotland into a single sovereign state called Great Britain. This led to the monarchs being known as British instead of English, and the Union Jack was adopted as the national flag.

What was the significance of the Act of Settlement in the British monarchy?

The Act of Settlement established the rules for the British line of succession, including that no Catholic could sit on the throne, only legitimate children were eligible, and male primogeniture would determine the order of succession. It also ensured that the monarchy would be Protestant and limited the power of the monarch in matters of succession.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Stuart Monarchy: James I and the Struggles with Power

The first paragraph introduces the Stuart dynasty with James I, who became king after Queen Elizabeth I's death. James, accustomed to Scottish rule, faced challenges with the English Parliament and the growing middle class. He is known for the King James Bible, which had a significant impact on Protestantism. Despite his efforts, religious tensions persisted, as seen in the Gunpowder Plot. James's personal life was marked by bisexuality and favoritism towards his male lovers, which did not sit well with the conservative Puritans. His reign ended with the English colonization of North America and the establishment of Jamestown, Virginia.

05:03

🛡 Charles I and the English Civil War

The second paragraph delves into the reign of Charles I, who shared his father's belief in the divine right of kings. His conflicts with Parliament over taxation and religious uniformity led to the English Civil War. The war saw the Cavaliers, loyal to the king, and the Roundheads, supporters of Parliament, in a deadly struggle. The Roundheads, led by Oliver Cromwell, emerged victorious and executed Charles I, marking the first time in over 700 years that England was without a monarch. Cromwell's rule as Lord Protector was strict and puritanical, leading to a period of moral crackdown and the suppression of cultural activities.

10:04

🏰 The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution

The third paragraph covers the Restoration period with Charles II's return to the throne after Cromwell's death. Charles II, known as the 'merry monarch,' was a stark contrast to the Puritans, enjoying a lavish lifestyle and numerous affairs. His reign saw the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, both of which he managed with rebuilding efforts. The paragraph also discusses the colonization of America, with Carolina named in his honor. The narrative shifts to James II, Charles's Catholic brother, whose reign was fraught with religious tension. The Glorious Revolution followed, with William of Orange and Mary II taking the throne, marking a significant shift in the balance of power towards Parliament and the establishment of the Protestant monarchy.

Keywords

💡House of Stuart

The House of Stuart refers to the royal house that ruled over Scotland, England, and Ireland in the 17th and 18th centuries. The video script discusses how James VI of Scotland became James I of England and Ireland, unifying the crowns and marking the beginning of the Stuart dynasty's influence on modern Christianity and British politics. This is a key concept as it sets the stage for the historical events and figures discussed throughout the script.

💡James I of England

James I of England, also known as James VI of Scotland, is a central figure in the script. He is noted for his significant contributions to the Protestant religion through the printing of the King James Bible, which had a lasting impact on the English language and religious practices. His reign also saw tensions with Parliament and the Gunpowder Plot, illustrating the complex relationship between monarchy and governance during his time.

💡Gunpowder Plot

The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt in 1605 by Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, to assassinate King James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. The script mentions this event as an example of the religious and political turmoil of the era, highlighting the deep-seated conflicts between Catholics and Protestants that influenced the shaping of modern Christianity.

💡King James Bible

The King James Bible, also known as the Authorized Version, is a translation of the Bible into English that was commissioned by James I. As mentioned in the script, it is one of the first Bibles written in English and has had a profound influence on the Protestant religion and the English language. It is an example of how the monarch's personal interests and decisions can have lasting cultural and religious effects.

💡Charles I

Charles I, the son of James I, is discussed in the script for his belief in the divine right of kings and his conflicts with Parliament, which eventually led to the English Civil War. His execution marked a significant shift in the balance of power between the monarchy and the people, as well as a turning point in the history of constitutional monarchy in England.

💡English Civil War

The English Civil War was a series of conflicts between the Royalists, who supported the monarchy, and the Parliamentarians, who sought to limit the king's powers. The script describes how this war was a direct result of Charles I's absolutist views and his struggle with Parliament, leading to his eventual execution and the establishment of a republic under Oliver Cromwell.

💡Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell was a military and political leader who played a crucial role in the English Civil War and the subsequent establishment of the Commonwealth of England. The script mentions him as the Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the execution of Charles I, illustrating his rise to power and the temporary end of the monarchy during his rule.

💡Charles II

Charles II, also known as the 'Merry Monarch,' is highlighted in the script for his restoration to the throne after the interregnum and his reign characterized by a more relaxed and indulgent approach to governance and personal life. His reign also saw the continuation of English colonization in America, with several states named in his honor.

💡Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London in 1666 is mentioned as a significant event during Charles II's reign. The script describes how Charles personally oversaw the firefighting efforts and the subsequent rebuilding of the city, which included new architectural and planning measures to prevent future fires.

💡James II

James II, brother of Charles II, is discussed in the script for his Catholic faith, which was a major point of contention for the predominantly Protestant population. His reign led to further religious and political conflicts, culminating in the Glorious Revolution, where he was overthrown in favor of his daughter and son-in-law, Mary II and William III.

💡Glorious Revolution

The Glorious Revolution refers to the events of 1688, where James II was deposed and replaced by his daughter Mary II and her husband William III. The script describes this as a relatively peaceful transition of power, marking a significant shift in the balance of power towards Parliament and away from the monarchy, and setting a precedent for the constitutional monarchy in Britain.

Highlights

The crown passed to James VI of Scotland, now James I of England and Scotland, marking the union of the two kingdoms.

James I's reign saw the printing of the King James Bible, which had a lasting effect on the Protestant religion.

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, an attempt to blow up King James and Parliament, is still commemorated annually.

James I's bisexuality and appointments of male lovers to high positions caused outrage among the public.

Charles I's belief in the divine right of kings led to conflicts with Parliament over taxation and power.

The English Civil War erupted between the Royalist Cavaliers and the Parliamentary Roundheads.

Charles I was the first English king to be executed, marking a significant shift in the balance of power.

Oliver Cromwell's rule as Lord Protector saw strict moral reforms and the suppression of cultural activities.

Charles II, known as the Merry Monarch, had numerous mistresses and illegitimate children.

The Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666 were significant tragedies during Charles II's reign.

Charles II's colonization efforts led to the naming of North and South Carolina after him.

James II's Catholicism was a major issue for Protestant England, leading to his eventual overthrow.

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw William of Orange and Mary II invited to rule, establishing parliamentary control.

The Battle of the Boyne in 1690 solidified William III's hero status among Irish Protestants, reflected in the Irish flag.

Queen Anne's reign was marked by her numerous pregnancies, none of which produced a surviving heir.

The Acts of Union in 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain, uniting England and Scotland under one sovereign state.

The Hanoverian dynasty began with George I's ascension to the British throne after the death of Queen Anne.

Transcripts

how did a gay king shape modern

Christianity why did Charles the first

get his head chopped off and why is part

of the Irish flag Orange the kings and

queens of England

part six - Stuart oversexed and over

here monarchy has always been about

blood but it had shifted from being less

about whose blood you spilled and more

about whose blood ran through your veins

with Queen Elizabeth the Virgin Queen

dead with no children the crown passed

to her nearest relative her aunt

Margaret tutors great-grandson James the

first the House of Stuart James was also

the son of Mary Queen of Scots whom

Elizabeth had had be seated but Mary had

been imprisoned since James was one he

didn't really remember her so no need to

let that get in the way of him making

nice with Elizabeth and being named her

heir after centuries of English kings

trying to beat Scotland into submission

the two kingdoms were finally united

under James the sixth of Scotland now

James the first of England and Scotland

James was used to Scottish rule where

the king was above the law in England he

bristled with the growing urban middle

class who didn't want an absolute

monarch James also hated that in England

he had to get permission from Parliament

to collect taxes permission they rarely

granted famous Elizabethan explorer Sir

Walter Raleigh was involved in a plot to

remove King James Raleigh was found

guilty of treason and beheaded during

James's reign the British began to

colonize what is now Canada and the

United States of America the colony of

Jamestown Virginia is named for him

perhaps James's most lasting

contribution was the printing of the

King James Bible one of the first

written in English the translation had a

lasting effect on the Protestant

religion and is still very popular today

but James still had plenty of problems

to deal with when it came to religion

the few Henry the eighth's had lit when

he established the Protestant Church of

England continued to burn there was

nearly a massive explosion when it

of Catholic conspirators led by Guy

Fawkes smuggled barrels of gunpowder

under the houses of parliament in an

attempt to blow up King James and all

the MPs the Gunpowder Plot was foiled

and this act of attempted terrorism is

still remembered each year on the 5th of

November with fireworks and bonfires on

which Guy Fawkes is burned in effigy

James didn't impress the Protestants

much either

he was flamboyantly bisexual and had

several male lovers whom he appointed to

powerful court positions that were above

their abilities favorite Robert Carr was

convicted of poisoning a court rival

James pardoned him causing outrage the

king had a secret passageway built

linking his bedroom to that of another

favorite George Villiers whom he

appointed Duke of Buckingham and Lord

Admiral Villiers was an incompetent

military leader and Parliament twice

attempted to impeach him but they were

blocked by the king after King James

died and Villiers no longer had royal

protection he was stabbed to death by a

disgruntled army officer while the king

was alive the word in London was that

Elizabeth had been a king and now they

had a queen those in the growing and

extremely conservative Puritan sect of

Protestantism did not approve James died

at 58

after a twenty-one year reign Charles

first Charles 25 held his father's view

that a king anointed by God should have

absolute power Parliament didn't allow

him tax money either so he devised a

workaround plan to get some cash the

king was allowed to require merchant

ships to go to war for him or to pay a

fee instead there wasn't a proper war on

but he reasoned that since England was

always at war with pirates he could

collect the fee anyway after a year of

this he imposed the feat on inland

communities to make it more fair he was

illegally getting around needing

Parliament at all and the people were

furious Charles also wanted all England

to practice a uniform kind of worship

which enraged the Puritans to open

revolt civil war broke out between the

supporters of the king called

Cavaliers and those of Parliament called

the Roundheads

about 1 in 20 English people died

eventually the Roundheads defeated the

Cavaliers but they had turned into a

revolutionary force of their own

Parliament only wanted to limit the

Kings power the Roundheads wanted him

gone

so they occupied London looted to

Treasury arrested 45 MPs and formed

their own Parliament they put King

Charles on trial and surprise found him

guilty on the scaffold the King wara six

shirt so he would not shiver and appear

frightened and at 48 after 24 years on

the throne the King of England lost his

head

for the first time in over 700 years

England didn't have a monarch Charles

was dead and in his place Oliver

Cromwell

a commoner and leader of the round head

army had himself named Lord Protector

puritan Cromwell cracked down on the

country's morality closing theatres and

brothels demanding that everyone go to

church and stay sober and even canceling

Christmas Cromwell died after five years

in command and appointed his son as his

successor just like a king would Richard

Cromwell was even less popular than his

father and was far weaker a new

Parliament was elected and they wanted

to go back to the good old days they

invited King Charles's son also called

Charles to return from exile in Europe

and become King and Richard Cromwell

wisely made himself scarce

charles ii while in exile Prince Charles

in his time scheming to regain the

throne he was willing to do whatever it

took

denounced his father be a constitutional

monarch convert to Catholicism or

convert to Protestantism once he was

given the throne he had the men who put

his father on trial hang drawn and

quartered and had Oliver Cromwell's

corpse dug up put on trial and hung in

Chains Charles was the complete opposite

of a Puritan he was a fun-loving man

with a grand appetite for women and sex

known as the merry monarch he had

numerous lovers and dozens of

illegitimate children his most

significant mistress was noblewoman and

beauty Barbara Villiers whom he met

while he was still in exile she bore him

five children Barbara and the Queen

Portuguese princess Catherine of

Braganza hated each other and it didn't

help when the King appointed Barbara

mistress of the Queen's bedchamber

another famous mistress was pretty witty

now Gwyn an orange feller turned actress

whom Charles spotted while she was

treading the boards Charles also adored

dogs and the King Charles Spaniel is

named for him during all this royal

debauchery the country was hit by two

major tragedies in 1665 plague swept

through killing about 20 percent of the

population a year later in 1666 the

Great Fire of London burned the capital

to the ground

Charles personally oversaw the Fire

Brigades and the rebuilding of the city

keeping the original Roland layout but

insisting on fire breaks and brick

building so it would never burn again

colonization continued in America and

North and South Carolina were named

after Charles in exchange for aid in a

war with the Dutch Charles promised his

cousin king louis xiv of france that he

would one day convert to Catholicism

which he managed to put off and tell his

deathbed in 1685

ages before his many illegitimate

children were given titles and a state

however the Queen was childless so

Charles had no legitimate son to pass

the crown to James the second Charles's

52 year old brother was very much like

him a womanizer and a pragmatic ruler

but he was a Catholic and to Protestant

and Puritans this was a major problem

charles the second's illegitimate son

James Duke of Monmouth claims that his

mother had been secretly married to King

Charles and that he was the rightful

ruler as he was a Protestant he gained a

lot of support King James raised an army

and squashed the rebellion then he had

the rebels and even anyone who had aided

diluted hanged or exported to the West

Indies for hard labor and Monmouth of

course was beheaded with the job

thoroughly done James refused to disband

the army as he was expected to now he

had a standing army with Catholic

generals that would follow his command

and he wanted to go to war alongside

Catholic France against Protestant

Holland when MPs complained he dissolved

parliament James had two adult daughters

from his first marriage both of whom

were Protestants I'm married to

Protestant European rulers the people of

England were holding out hope that when

James died his daughter Mary would

reverse James's anti Protestant policy

but then James's second wife Mary of

Modena gave birth to a son who would be

raised Catholic and asked his sisters

the public were so reluctant to accept

the new Prince that there was a rumour

that the real royal infant had been

stillborn and an imposter child had been

smuggled into the birthing chamber in a

warming pan while most royal princes

secured their fathers Dinah

this new baby was James's downfall

Pilate wrote secretly to Mary and her

husband William of Orange and offered

them the throne all they had to do was

come and take it from King James they

did just that as their Armada sails

unopposed into London James tried to

escape by boat but was captured by local

fishermen eventually William gave James

permission to flee to France William the

third and Mary the second

William was the Prince of orange and

ruler of the Dutch his mother Mary

Stuart was the daughter of Charles to

first his wife Mary had a better claim

on the English throne but she insisted

that her husband be her co-ruler this

suited Williams fine as he was not a man

to play second fiddle to his wife

because they ruled at Parliament's

invitation Parliament's finally got to

call the shots no standing army no

raising taxes no going to war without

Parliament's permission and pilant got

to decide who was monarch it was called

the Glorious Revolution because royal

power was redefined free of bloodshed

King James made a bid to regain the

crown from his daughter and son-in-law

by raising Catholic troops in Ireland

but his forces were defeated at the

Battle of the Boyne william of orange

became such a hero to irish protestants

who called him King Billy that the

orange third of the Irish flag honors

him William was more interested in his

land in the Netherlands and spent much

of his time there so Mary did most of

the ruling in England five years into

their joint reign she died of smallpox

at the age of 32

William deeply mourned his wife's

passing he lived another eight years

and aside from promoting religious

tolerance pretty much that Parliament

rule England the power couple hadn't had

any children so Parliament decided on a

conflict-free line of succession and the

crown passed to Mary's sister

and like her sister and was married to a

Protestant Prince Georgia Denmark but he

was no King William he was an indolent

alcoholic and she had no interest in

sharing power with him and was the first

married queen to rule on her own in 1707

parliament passed the acts of Union

which finally made England and Scotland

a single sovereign state called Great

Britain all monarchs from this point on

would be known as British rather than

English a combination of the two

countries flags called the Union Jack

became where I'd be used as several

kings before her had had male favorites

Pan had female favorites the most

significant of which was Sarah Churchill

ancestor of the World War two Prime

Minister Winston Churchill Sarah's

husband was a top military commander and

Sarah's close relationship with the

Queen made her the second most powerful

woman in England Queen Anne must have

spent some time with her husband because

she had 17 pregnancies tragically most

ended in miscarriage or stillbirth four

of her children were born alive but died

in infancy her one great hope her son

Prince William died at the age of eleven

with no clear air to take the throne

after Anne it was important that

Parliament decide who the next monarch

would be so they passed the active

settlement which laid down the rules by

which the British line of succession is

still decided today the rules were no

Catholic will ever again sit on the

throne only legitimate children were

eligible spouses a monarch were not

eligible and male primogeniture or sons

would outrank daughters in the line of

succession the last rule was eventually

changed well we'll get to that later and

closest Protestant relatives was Sophia

of Hanover whom despite being in her 80s

was determined to outlive the sickly 49

year old and and be

queen she almost succeeded but a letter

from an accusing her of plotting to take

the throne so shocked her that she died

two months before an the crown went to

Sophia's son George and a new German

dynasty stepped onto the British stage

check out the next video to find out why

did America revolt against George the

third

how did Britain get its national anthem

from a French king's hemorrhoids and why

did all the princes dump their

mistresses and get married

[Music]