stuarts - chapter 2: james 1 and charles 1: character, court and favourites Flashcards
what significantly shaped and affected the period and the monarchs relationship with the rest of the PN?
The characters and personalities of each monarch affected their relationships with the PN
James’ character
James was an intellectual, outgoing and experienced monarch who enjoyed debate and dealing with people. James was also pragmatic, enabling him to make the ill defined English political system work.
Charles’ character
Charles was shy and hampered by a speech defect (therefore unapproachable and more damaging, uncommunicative with parliament). - ‘mirror opposite’ of his father. In governing, his intentions and actions often went unexplained, leaving others to interpret him. Charles had an inferiority complex that made him over-stress his prerogative.
Divine right of kings
The divine right of kings, divine right, or God’s mandate is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It stems from a specific metaphysical framework in which the king is pre-selected as an heir prior to their birth.
James’ view on monarchy
believed in the divine right of kings and defensive of his prerogative. When it came to dealing with the ambiguity of the balance between royal prerogative and parliamentary privileges in the unwritten constitution, james was pragmatic. Although james had written about the art and theory of kingship, he was able to distinguish between the theory and practicalities of ruling. James saw himself as a ‘peacemaker king’ in his foreign policy and he also sought compromise and negotiation with the PN in england while defending his prerogative
Charles’ view on monarchy
believed in the divine right of kings and defensive of his prerogative. unlike his pragmatic father when it came to dealing with the ambiguity of the balance between royal prerogative and parliamentary privileges in the unwritten constitution, charles was provocative. Charles, like his father, sought to defend his prerogative, but did so provocatively, partly as a result of his limited self confidence. He was unwilling to negotiate & the nature of his court increasingly hampered dialogue with the PN, ultimately leading to the undermining of his authority.
court of james
exhibited different aspects of his personality. The court was an open and lively place that reflected the king’s enjoyment of life. He was noted for his open, physical interactions with his courtiers. At its worse, the court had been criticised as drunken, immoral and debauched. Yet james’ intellectual interests were emphasised at his court, particularly in his strong patronage of Shakespeare.
Sources of tension in james’ court
the early dominance of the bedchamber by scots. Although the english elite held the major state offices, they were concerned about the influence the scots could wield through their access to james. The first englishman that james appointed to his bedchamber was george villiers, the duke of buckingham, in 1615 (creating a new source of tension).
court of charles
charles regarded his court as a microcosm, or miniature version, of his state - a model for what could be achieved in the country. The strict order that harles imposed on his court, and the fact that it included only his supporters made it seem isolated from the rest of the country, offering those outside it no point of contact in the political process.
sources of tension in charles’ court
The court seemed to be dominated by catholics and arminians. This caused even greater political damage, as seen in Spain and France, the PN was uneasy about having a monarch who could rule freely without regard for their concerns.
James’ favourites
james became increasingly close to a range of male courtiers during his reign, (favourites). James’ open affection for a range of male courtiers was a source of tension at his court: … Robert Carr, Earl of Sommerset (1607-13), George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (1615-25). The key favourite to James (and Charles) was the Duke of Buckingham. The relationship between James and Buckingham was based on personal affection
Tension regarding James’ favourites
provoked concern about their influence because, as men, they were in a position to have an open political role, and the monarch allowed them to have one. Their temper was also seen as another example of the king’s debauched lifestyle and immoral court. Villiers’ prominence at court particularly was also a major source of political tension between 1618-1628. – James and Buckingham were also supposedly lovers, which would have been frowned upon
Charles’ favourites
Through his remarkable skill, Buckingham was able to maintain his position as favourite when charles became king in 1625, (Buckingham and Charles had initially suffered a difficult relationship during james’ reign, but in 1620 james took a role in reconciling the two). Charles and Buckingham’s relationship was less overtly sexual (as it had been with James).
Tension regarding Charles’ favourites
Buckingham was allowed a dominant role in the management of royal patronage, which forced others to look to parliament in order to pursue their interest. Buckingham’s pre-eminence also led to conflict within the court disrupting parliaments of 1621 to 1628.
