*Not actually on Valentine's Day
**Not actually about love
I've been meaning to write this post since Valentine's Day proper, but I've had exams and just generally been busy, so here it is now, a fortnight after it should have been published.
I was asked a very important question on Valentine's Day:
I could have said Victoria and Albert, but that's too clichéd for my liking. King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville is certainly a tale for the ages, but they weren't asking about the 'Best Royal Romances'. It was about my favourite royal couple, and when it comes down to it, I can't stand Elizabeth and Edward. And can I really make a favourite out of a couple whose marriage ended in a beheading? I think not.
Obviously, my favourite royal couple, and perhaps even my favourite couple of all time, is William and Kate. As if that even needs to be said. But since it was Historic Royal Palaces, I had to name a couple that had been dead for long enough to qualify as history, or else risk looking like an amateur.
I chose King George II and Queen Caroline of Ansbach. Perhaps not my absolute favourite, but they had a lovely relationship, and I was thinking about what the King said about having known many women, but none fit to buckle her [Caroline's] shoe.
It wasn't a bad choice, but that question really got me thinking. Why don't I have a favourite royal couple? What if I'm ever in a situation where I have to be able to name a favourite royal couple on the spot? I can't think of a time that I would actually be in a such a position, but I figured, better safe than sorry.
And so I'm going to make a list of my five favourite royal couples in history and put it on my blog! That way if Historic Royal Palaces tweets the same question at me next year, I'll have an answer. Also, some peace of mind.
5. George II and Caroline of Ansbach
4. Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
The circumstances under which Henry VII and Elizabeth of York got married were more political than romantic. He was a Lancastrian claimant, and she was a Yorkist heiress and his only chance at uniting the two rival houses to prevent further civil war and give their children an indisputable shot at the throne. A bit like Romeo and Juliet. Or, you know, Matthew and Mary Crawley. In fact, more like Matthew and Mary than Romeo and Juliet.
But without as much of the drama. With her father dead, her mother out of favour with the court, and her brothers locked up in the Tower of London, Elizabeth of York really didn't have much of a say when Henry Tudor promised to marry her, in Rennes in 1483. Two years later, the Battle of Bosworth happened, her uncle Richard lay dead on a battlefield with his head smashed in, and Elizabeth found herself betrothed to King Henry VII of England.
Of course, I will never know what Henry and Elizabeth's relationship was actually like. But from what I've read, it seemed like they loved each other. Or at least grew fond of each other over time. And I've grown fond of them. It was a Tudor romance, the likes of which there would never be again. They were married for some seventeen years, and they had seven children together, four of whom survived infancy. Elizabeth died during childbirth in 1503, and Henry never really got over her death. He died six years later of, if Wikipedia is to be believed, a "broken heart". I'm sure he missed his wife, but I doubt it.
3. Catherine of Valois and Owen Tudor
Speaking of Tudor romances...
Catherine of Valois was the younger daughter of King Charles VI of France, and so quite a pawn in the 100 Years War. Her older sister Isabella had been married to King Richard II as a child, and after Richard died (or was murdered, whatever version of history you believe), Henry IV tried to marry Isabella to his son, Henry, Prince of Wales. That plan came to an end when Isabella married the Duke of Orleans and King Henry died. Separate events, not related to each other.
The new King Henry V was a remarkable military leader. He led his army in the war against France, and after the spectacular victory at Agincourt (and some negotiating) he was recognised at heir to the French throne. As his spoils of war, he took the King's daughter Catherine as his bride. She gave birth to the couple's only son, Prince Henry, in 1921, just ten months before King Henry died. Of dysentery.
Now, Catherine was only 21 years old at the time. No one expected her to live out the rest of her life as a widow. But I don't think anyone expected her to do what she did next either - marry Owen Tudor, a Welshman at the court of the late King Henry. It was a royal scandal. As Dowager Queen, she was expected to get the King's consent before remarrying. The problem was, the King was a child. He probably barely understood what was going on.
Anyway, Catherine and Owen got married and had some children. I'm not sure how many, but among them were Edmund and Jasper Tudor, the former of whom sired Henry Tudor and began the Tudor dynasty.
This isn't the greatest of love stories, but I think it's sweet that Catherine finally got to stop being a piece in the political game that was the 100 Year's War, and just be happy with someone that she loved. She died, eventually, predeceasing Owen who was later beheaded for his participation in the Wars of Roses. History is grim.
2. John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster
Normally, when someone thinks of John of Gaunt as being one half of a royal couple, they think of the other half as being Katherine Swynford. And why shouldn't they? It was quite a love story: he married his mistress, and their descendants caused a great upset and ended the Wars of the Roses. But what people sometimes forget is that John of Gaunt was married three times, and before he was married to Katherine Swynford, he was married to Blanche of Lancaster.
Blanche of Lancaster was the first wife of the third son of King Edward III. Through their marriage, she brought him the title of Duke of Lancaster, which he continued to use and share with his other wives, even after her death. She also brought him a lot of money - her father was one of the richest men in England at the time - and palaces. Their son, Henry, would go on to become King Henry IV, the first King of the House of Lancaster.
The pair were married for a very, very short time before Blanche died at the age of 23. And, to be honest, I think Geoffrey Chaucer was more upset about her death than John was - he wrote The Book of The Duchess in her memory. After Blanche's death, John of Gaunt married Constance of Castile in a bid to have himself crowned King of Castile and Leon. In the meantime, he took Katherine Swynford as his mistress, and after Constance died, he married her. Yet, when John died while he was still married to Katherine, he chose to be buried next to Blanche.
I have no idea whether John and Blanche were happy together or whether, like with Constance, he only married her for her title and inheritance. But I do like to imagine that they were. I ship them, I ship their happiness with each other. And perhaps the fact that John didn't take a mistress while he was married to Blanche (Katherine Swynford was well and alive at that time too) proves that he loved her at least enough to remain faithful to her. Doesn't it?
I think it does.
1. Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
Nothing says true love like giving up a throne, giving up a country (Edward never returned to England after his marriage) for someone. If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times - the story of Edward and Wallis is a marvelous love story.
[It's definitely a better story than Victoria and Albert. I mean, the couple is remembered for having known that it was true love from the moment they met each other, and the fact that Queen Victoria remained in mourning for her whole life after Albert's death. Thousands of people love each other and don't remarry after their significant other dies. Does that mean that every third person has a spectacular love story?]
I was reading something about Wallis Simpson the other day, and I ended up just staring at her picture for ten minutes thinking, "Someone gave up a throne for her." It had never happened before - no English Monarch had ever abdicated the throne by choice. And definitely not for love. Except King Edward. And I think that's great.
When she married Edward, Wallis Simpson had already been divorced twice. But she didn't divorce him. Maybe it was out of pity for the fact that he had given up a throne for her. And maybe it was because she loved him. He definitely loved her.
Edward and Wallis lived out the rest of their lives in France and the Bahamas, as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The two were buried side by side in Windsor; and whatever animosity the Royal family might have harboured against them in life, their funerals were attended by the Queen and the Queen Mother. I'm glad.
And that's it. Happy much belated Valentine's Day.
N
**Not actually about love
I've been meaning to write this post since Valentine's Day proper, but I've had exams and just generally been busy, so here it is now, a fortnight after it should have been published.
I was asked a very important question on Valentine's Day:
Happy Valentine's Day! Who's your favourite royal couple?
— HistoricRoyalPalaces (@HRP_palaces) February 14, 2015
I panicked. I don't know why - I have not known answers in qualifying exams that went on to determine my future and not panicked as much as I did when I couldn't answer Historic Royal Palaces' rhetoric question about my favourite royal couple.I could have said Victoria and Albert, but that's too clichéd for my liking. King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville is certainly a tale for the ages, but they weren't asking about the 'Best Royal Romances'. It was about my favourite royal couple, and when it comes down to it, I can't stand Elizabeth and Edward. And can I really make a favourite out of a couple whose marriage ended in a beheading? I think not.
Obviously, my favourite royal couple, and perhaps even my favourite couple of all time, is William and Kate. As if that even needs to be said. But since it was Historic Royal Palaces, I had to name a couple that had been dead for long enough to qualify as history, or else risk looking like an amateur.
I chose King George II and Queen Caroline of Ansbach. Perhaps not my absolute favourite, but they had a lovely relationship, and I was thinking about what the King said about having known many women, but none fit to buckle her [Caroline's] shoe.
It wasn't a bad choice, but that question really got me thinking. Why don't I have a favourite royal couple? What if I'm ever in a situation where I have to be able to name a favourite royal couple on the spot? I can't think of a time that I would actually be in a such a position, but I figured, better safe than sorry.
And so I'm going to make a list of my five favourite royal couples in history and put it on my blog! That way if Historic Royal Palaces tweets the same question at me next year, I'll have an answer. Also, some peace of mind.
5. George II and Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Ansbach was a Queen of England, and a very intelligent one at that. But when she married George in 1705, she wasn't marrying a King - she was marrying the heir to the heir to the Duchy of Hanover. But in 1714, both Electress Sophia and Queen Anne were dead, and Caroline was the Princess of Wales.
George's father, King George I, had been married Sophia Dorothea of Celle, and despised her for every minute of it. Because he didn't want his son to go through the same ordeal, he let him marry his bride of choice. George chose Caroline, his first cousin. He chose her for her 'good character', but the couple soon bonded over their mutual dislike of people - the first King George, their own son, and there were probably others.
Caroline influenced her husband greatly during his reign. When he traveled to Hanover, he appointed her as Regent, instead of his son, who, as I previously mentioned, he hated. When she died in 1737, that was when it was evident how much King George II had loved her in life.
When it was evident that she was dying, Caroline asked George to remarry. He said that he wouldn't, and that he would only take mistresses. He died 23 years later. He didn't marry again. He never met a woman fit to buckle Caroline's shoe.
4. Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
The circumstances under which Henry VII and Elizabeth of York got married were more political than romantic. He was a Lancastrian claimant, and she was a Yorkist heiress and his only chance at uniting the two rival houses to prevent further civil war and give their children an indisputable shot at the throne. A bit like Romeo and Juliet. Or, you know, Matthew and Mary Crawley. In fact, more like Matthew and Mary than Romeo and Juliet.
But without as much of the drama. With her father dead, her mother out of favour with the court, and her brothers locked up in the Tower of London, Elizabeth of York really didn't have much of a say when Henry Tudor promised to marry her, in Rennes in 1483. Two years later, the Battle of Bosworth happened, her uncle Richard lay dead on a battlefield with his head smashed in, and Elizabeth found herself betrothed to King Henry VII of England.
Of course, I will never know what Henry and Elizabeth's relationship was actually like. But from what I've read, it seemed like they loved each other. Or at least grew fond of each other over time. And I've grown fond of them. It was a Tudor romance, the likes of which there would never be again. They were married for some seventeen years, and they had seven children together, four of whom survived infancy. Elizabeth died during childbirth in 1503, and Henry never really got over her death. He died six years later of, if Wikipedia is to be believed, a "broken heart". I'm sure he missed his wife, but I doubt it.
3. Catherine of Valois and Owen Tudor
Speaking of Tudor romances...
Catherine of Valois was the younger daughter of King Charles VI of France, and so quite a pawn in the 100 Years War. Her older sister Isabella had been married to King Richard II as a child, and after Richard died (or was murdered, whatever version of history you believe), Henry IV tried to marry Isabella to his son, Henry, Prince of Wales. That plan came to an end when Isabella married the Duke of Orleans and King Henry died. Separate events, not related to each other.
The new King Henry V was a remarkable military leader. He led his army in the war against France, and after the spectacular victory at Agincourt (and some negotiating) he was recognised at heir to the French throne. As his spoils of war, he took the King's daughter Catherine as his bride. She gave birth to the couple's only son, Prince Henry, in 1921, just ten months before King Henry died. Of dysentery.
Now, Catherine was only 21 years old at the time. No one expected her to live out the rest of her life as a widow. But I don't think anyone expected her to do what she did next either - marry Owen Tudor, a Welshman at the court of the late King Henry. It was a royal scandal. As Dowager Queen, she was expected to get the King's consent before remarrying. The problem was, the King was a child. He probably barely understood what was going on.
Anyway, Catherine and Owen got married and had some children. I'm not sure how many, but among them were Edmund and Jasper Tudor, the former of whom sired Henry Tudor and began the Tudor dynasty.
This isn't the greatest of love stories, but I think it's sweet that Catherine finally got to stop being a piece in the political game that was the 100 Year's War, and just be happy with someone that she loved. She died, eventually, predeceasing Owen who was later beheaded for his participation in the Wars of Roses. History is grim.
2. John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster
Normally, when someone thinks of John of Gaunt as being one half of a royal couple, they think of the other half as being Katherine Swynford. And why shouldn't they? It was quite a love story: he married his mistress, and their descendants caused a great upset and ended the Wars of the Roses. But what people sometimes forget is that John of Gaunt was married three times, and before he was married to Katherine Swynford, he was married to Blanche of Lancaster.
Blanche of Lancaster was the first wife of the third son of King Edward III. Through their marriage, she brought him the title of Duke of Lancaster, which he continued to use and share with his other wives, even after her death. She also brought him a lot of money - her father was one of the richest men in England at the time - and palaces. Their son, Henry, would go on to become King Henry IV, the first King of the House of Lancaster.
The pair were married for a very, very short time before Blanche died at the age of 23. And, to be honest, I think Geoffrey Chaucer was more upset about her death than John was - he wrote The Book of The Duchess in her memory. After Blanche's death, John of Gaunt married Constance of Castile in a bid to have himself crowned King of Castile and Leon. In the meantime, he took Katherine Swynford as his mistress, and after Constance died, he married her. Yet, when John died while he was still married to Katherine, he chose to be buried next to Blanche.
I have no idea whether John and Blanche were happy together or whether, like with Constance, he only married her for her title and inheritance. But I do like to imagine that they were. I ship them, I ship their happiness with each other. And perhaps the fact that John didn't take a mistress while he was married to Blanche (Katherine Swynford was well and alive at that time too) proves that he loved her at least enough to remain faithful to her. Doesn't it?
I think it does.
1. Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
Nothing says true love like giving up a throne, giving up a country (Edward never returned to England after his marriage) for someone. If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times - the story of Edward and Wallis is a marvelous love story.
[It's definitely a better story than Victoria and Albert. I mean, the couple is remembered for having known that it was true love from the moment they met each other, and the fact that Queen Victoria remained in mourning for her whole life after Albert's death. Thousands of people love each other and don't remarry after their significant other dies. Does that mean that every third person has a spectacular love story?]
I was reading something about Wallis Simpson the other day, and I ended up just staring at her picture for ten minutes thinking, "Someone gave up a throne for her." It had never happened before - no English Monarch had ever abdicated the throne by choice. And definitely not for love. Except King Edward. And I think that's great.
When she married Edward, Wallis Simpson had already been divorced twice. But she didn't divorce him. Maybe it was out of pity for the fact that he had given up a throne for her. And maybe it was because she loved him. He definitely loved her.
Edward and Wallis lived out the rest of their lives in France and the Bahamas, as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The two were buried side by side in Windsor; and whatever animosity the Royal family might have harboured against them in life, their funerals were attended by the Queen and the Queen Mother. I'm glad.
~
And that's it. Happy much belated Valentine's Day.
N
CP Victoria and Daniel!
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