The Kings and Queens podcast

30. George I


Listen Later

Author Simon Jenkins described the Georgian kings not as monarchs but as princelings, who came to power not by the sword or politics but merely descent from a distant protestant mistress. They were mostly bewigged, powdered non-entities who couldn’t even control their own children, nor say boo to a goose.

The first, George I (1714-27), faced a perilous threat from the moment he stepped on British shores, the shadow of the Jacobites was widening. The foreigner would need to heavily rely upon his new British statesmen to ensure the House of Hanover would survive.


Characters

George I – King of Great Britain (1702-27), Elector of Hanover (1698-27)

Sophia Dorothea of Celle – wife of George I (1682-94)
Ernest Augustus – Elector of Hanover (1692-98), duke of Brunswick-Luneberg (1679-98), father of George I
Sophia of the Palatinate – Electress consort of Hanover, former heir apparent to the British throne, mother of George I
Prince George Augustus – son of George I

Count Christoph von Konigsmarck – lover of Sophia Dorothea

Melusine von der Schulenberg – mistress of George I
Sophia von Kielmansegg – half-sister and companion of George I
Mustapha and Mahomet – Turkish servants of George I
Peter the wild boy – feral child brought to the court of George I

Robert Walpole – British statesman, first de facto Prime Minister of Great Britain

Charles Townshend – British statesman and ally of Robert Walpole
James Stanhope – British statesman and chief minister (1717-21)
Charles Spencer – British statesman and ally of Earl Stanhope
Horace Walpole – son of Robert Walpole
Duke of Shrewsbury – chief minister and Whig (1714)
John Younger – dean of Salisbury

James Stuart ‘the Old Pretender’ – chief Jacobite claimant to the British throne

James Butler, duke of Ormonde – Commander-in-chief of the British forces, supporter of the Jacobite rebellion (1715)
John Churchill, duke of Marlborough – commander-in-chief of the British forces
Henry St. John – leader of the Tories and supporter of the Jacobite rebellion (1715)
John Erskine, earl of Mar – leader of the Jacobite rebellion (1715)
John Campbell, duke of Argyll – senior commander of the British army during the Jacobite rebellion (1715)

George Frideric Handel – Baroque composer

Louis XIV – King of France (1643-1715)

Louis XV – King of France (1715-74), great-grandson of Louis XIV
Philippe II, Duke of Orleans – regent of France under Louis XV
Giulio Alberoni – Spanish cardinal and statesman
Philip V – King of Spain (1700-46)

William III – King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1689-1702)

Anne – Queen of Great Britain (1702-14)
James II of England and VII of Scotland – King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1685-88)
James I of England and VI of Scotland - King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1603-25)

Simon Jenkins – historian

Lord Chesterfield – contemporary statesman and writer

Credits

Suite in D major – The Water Music – George Frideric Handel

bbc_18th-centu_07019161
bbc_period-bat_07019148
bbc_period-bat_07019002
bbc_large-outd_07019156
451958__kyles__flag-flaps-back-and-forth-between-2-flags-in-high-wind-on-mountain-good-crisp-fabric-detail
bbc_atmosphere_07030054
97382__soundbytez__lion-distant
33658__sagetyrtle__laughter

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Kings and Queens podcastBy Jonny Langton

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

38 ratings


More shows like The Kings and Queens podcast

View all
History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,187 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

234 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,794 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,238 Listeners

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs & Dictators by Global

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs & Dictators

70 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

14,672 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,832 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

2,040 Listeners

Short History Of... by NOISER

Short History Of...

2,813 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,093 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

1,061 Listeners

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For by Sony Music Entertainment

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

1,716 Listeners

The Rest Is Money by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Money

186 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

985 Listeners

Journey Through Time by Goalhanger

Journey Through Time

328 Listeners