Mary II: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:59, 3 May 2010

1662-94. The oldest child of James II and his first wife Lady Anne Hyde.

Mary II was born in London on April 30th 1662. She was brought up a Protestant and was very young - only fifteen - when she was married to her cousin, William of Orange (later William III), in 1677. As Mary's father, James II, tried to re-catholise England more and more, Mary and William were asked for help. Thus William "invaded" England on November the 5th in 1688. In 1689, Mary became Queen, joint sovereign with her husband. She acted as William's mouthpiece in his European absences and had great influence concerning e.g. ecclesiastical issues.

The coronation of William and Mary was one of the greatest events in the British royal history. It took place in London on April 11th 1689 and included a huge ceremonial act. Never before was there anything like this in the British Monarchy before. The coronation of Mary II and her husband was so special because both got the royal title and were sovereigns wearing royal insignia.

The couple reigned both and were often shown together on paintings. Mary was known as a very loyal wife to William and became a popular figure for the people of the Netherlands as well as of the country of her birth. She was especially loved by the people for her caring attitude towards sick and wounded people. The opening of the Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich stands for this character trait. She was brought up in a very religious way and always had in mind that she might be punished by God for what she did.

Mary II died at the age of 32 of smallpox in London on December 28th 1694. Her husband William seemed to have missed her after her death and is said to have deeply mourned for her.

Mary and William had no children, thus the crown went on to her sister Anne after William's death in 1702.

Sources

Kenyon, J.P.: The Stuarts. London, 1972.
McDowall, David: An illustrated History of Britain. Harlow: Longman, 1989.
Wende, Peter (Hg.): Englische Könige und Königinnen Von Heinrich VII. bis Elisabeth II. München 1998.
Encyclopaedia Britannica (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/367538/Mary-II)
The Companion to British History

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Mary II died at the age of 32 of smallpox in London on December 28th 1694. Her husband William seemed to have missed her after her death and is said to have deeply mourned for her.
-Mary and William had no children, thus the crown went on to her sister [Anne I|Anne]] after William's death in 1702.
+Mary and William had no children, thus the crown went on to her sister [[Anne I|Anne]] after William's death in 1702.
 == Sources ==