Rocking the Cradle, Ruling the World: Britain's Queen Mothers (ep 54)

British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics

This week, we’ll be looking at six of the women who came to England and became game-changers: Emma of Normandy, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Henrietta Maria of France, Mary of Modena, and Mary of Teck. In her own way, each of these women had an extraordinary and lasting impact on her son (or, in some cases, sons) and his rule.
Emma’s political alliances and influence helped shaped the monarchy. She also established a family relationship between the dukes of Normandy and the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, which gave the Normans a hereditary claim to the English throne. Emma was involved and influential in politics on both sides of the English Channel and throughout Europe. Less than 15 years after Emma’s death, William of Normandy set out for England. His claim to the throne was based in part on Emma and her influence.
It was after Henry’s death in 1189 that Eleanor really came into her own. Richard, her favorite son, took the throne on his father’s death. One of his first acts was to release Eleanor from prison; he made her his Regent while he participated in the Third Crusade. Eleanor had a large and strong network across the kingdom, and she successfully promoted Richard’s policies and his reputation. He became known as Richard the Lionheart, in part because of her efforts to establish (or possibly embellish?) his reputation. When he was captured on his way home from the Crusade, Eleanor herself raised the funds for his ransom and traveled to deliver it. She was with him when he died in 1199. She died in 1203 and was buried next to her husband, Henry II.
Isabella of France raised forces against her husband and installed her son on the throne. She ruled as Regent for a few years, then after her son took control, lived an independent and wealthy life. She is the only one of our Queen Mothers to actually overthrow her husband to put her child on the throne.
Mary of Modena gave us one of the strangest scandals of the Stuart regime. After a series of miscarriages, she gave birth to a healthy son in 1688. Appalled at the thought of a Catholic succeeding to the throne, Protestants responded by accusing the Queen of miscarrying again and smuggling in a fake heir in a warming pan! The birth of the prince tipped Parliament into inviting William and Mary to replace James and Mary of Modena on the throne.
Mary of Teck is the last non-English Queen consort and Queen Mother. Actually born and raised in the UK, she was technically Princess of Teck. She was selected as a royal bride by Queen Victoria and married her grandson Prince George. After the death of his father Edward VII, George became King George V and Mary became Queen. She represented continuity of the monarchy through the abdication of her son Edward VIII and helped generate support for her son George VI. She lived to see her granddaughter come to the throne, providing an amazing arc from Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II.

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