The duke of Monmouth
Marlene A Koenig
on him, apart from the entry, Brewer's British Royalty, a handy-dandy
little reference book. Good source for ready reference questions.
Monmouth of course was the eldest of Charles II's natural children,
and his mother was Lucy Walter. He was born in Rotterdam on April 9, 1869.
Charles did acknowledge James as his son, but the real father may have been
Robert Sidney. (Charles did not acknowlege Lucy Walter's daughter, Mary.)
Charles took custody of James, and brought him to his mother, Henrietta
Maria. William Crofts (Lord Crofts of Saxham) became the custodial guardian
of teh young boy in 1657. Afterwards, James bore Crofts surname.
He was educated in Paris, and brought to England in 1662.
A favorite at his father's court in London, James was the recipient of a
lot of attention. A marriage was arranged with the heiress Anne Scott
(Countess of Buccleuch in her own right), and, in anticipation of this
marriage, James adopted the surname Scott. He was also knighted, given
an annual income of L8000, and granted the "monopoly of teh export of
all new drapery for 31 years." In 1663, he was created Baron Scott
of Tindale, Earl of Doncaster, and Duke of Monmouth.
On April 20, 1663, the day he married Anne Scott, the duke wsa created
Duke of Buccleuch, Earl of Dalkeith, Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdale.
For a bastard (but number one son), James did rather well in the hereditary
peers department.
He served in the Fleet under his uncle, the Duke of York; he served as
a Privy Councillor; and he served with the British troops sent to help
<Louis XIV against the Dutch,
The Duke's problems began in 1678, when a false claim about the existence
of a Popish plot - Catholics would massacre the Protestants and overthrow
the Protestant monarchy, which, in return, caused "a cry for the Protestant
succession and a recognition of Monmouth as legitimate issue."
Oops. Charles II, not happy with all this fuss, stated that his one and only
wife was the Queen, Catherine of Braganza.
Charles sent his son to Scotland to assist in repressing the Covenanters -
a great success for the young duke. But he caused further displeasure by
insisting that he was legitimate. Charles II relieved him of his command,
and exiled him to Holland. In 1679, James returned without permission,
and was received by the populace "with bonfires and ringing of bells."
But dad would not see him - and dad - the king - deprived him of most of
his positions.
Over the next 2 years, there were attempts to bring about a reconciliation
between father and son. These attempts failed. In 1682, Monmouth was
arrested in Stafford on the king's command, and was brought to London. Lord
Shaftsbury later implicated him in a plot to kill the king and the duke
of York (the future James II). He went into hiding, and was found guilty
of high treason. He did negotiate a pardon by ratting on others involved
in the plot. He later returned to Holland. Charles II died in Feb 1685,
and was succeeded by his brother, the duke of York.
The Duke of Monmouth reasserted his right to the throne, and planned an
invasion of England and Scotland. he landed at Lyme regis on June 11, 1685.
Nine days later, he was proclaimed king at Taunton - not long afterward,
his small army was defeated in battle. The duke, disguised as a laborer,
"was found cowering in a ditch 3 days later." He was brought to London,
attainted as a traitor (charged with treason), he groveled in front of
James II, but was unable to save his own life. He was beheaded on Tower
Hill on July 15 1685. His English titles (inc the monmouth dukedom)
were forfeited by an act of attainder, but not his Scottish titles,
which were inherited by his son. His grandson Francis was able to
regain all the English titles, apart from the Monmouth ducal title.
The duchess remarried in 1688 to Lord Cornwallis.
Monmouth was "posssessed of great personal charm," he lacked intelligence,
and "was in many ways a weak and despicable character." He was also
an unfaithful husband, and had lived openly with Henrietta, Baroness
Wentworth. He described her as his "wife before God." he also had
four illegitimate children (surname Crofts) by Eleanor Needham.
The late Diana, Princess of Wales, Sarah, Duchess of York and HRH
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, are all descendants of
the duke of Monmouth
--
and author of Queen Victoria's Descendants,
published by Rosvall Royal Books
Publisher of Royal Book News, the only newsletter for and about
Royal Books
RCLOVELY
. His grandson Francis was able to
>regain all the English titles,
RC
Marlene A Koenig
and the family name is now MOntagu-Douglas-Scott.
Susan Cohen
Ron wrote:
> The Stuarts showed a remarkable courage and sang-froid when it came to
> dying. If only they had more common sense....
Which historian said, "The Stuarts didn't know how to rule, but they
certainly knew how to die"? (Or words to this effect? This is not a quiz - I
want to know!)
Susan
>
>
> Ron Oliverio
LARKSAM
>It is ironic that Mary, Queen of Scots, her grandson Charles II
You mean Charles I ....Charles II was his son, "The Merry Monarch" , also
father of the D of Monmouth<