Victoria

Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.

Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. Both the Duke of Kent and King George III died in 1820, and Victoria was raised under close supervision by her German-born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She inherited the throne at the age of 18, after her father's three elder brothers had all died, leaving no legitimate, surviving children. The United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which the sovereign held relatively little direct political power. Privately, Victoria attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments. Publicly, she became a national icon, and was identified with strict standards of personal morality.

Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. Their nine children married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning her the nickname "the grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in 1861, Victoria plunged into deep mourning and avoided public appearances. As a result of her seclusion, republicanism temporarily gained strength, but in the latter half of her reign, her popularity recovered. Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were times of public celebration.

Her reign of 63 years and seven months, which is longer than that of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch in history, is known as the Victorian era. It was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. She was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover. Her son and successor, Edward VII, belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the line of his father.

Queens in the Middle Ages

Queens in the Middle Ages had a very specific role in the monarchy as well as in society in general. They were sometimes rulers in their own right, but often one of their most important duties was to act as a regent when their king was unable to rule, whether the king was sick or too young to make intelligent decisions.

Duties of Queens in the Middle Ages

Medieval Times were overshadowed by deceit and secrecy, and, as such, one of the main duties of a Queen in the Middle Ages was to help the King and other nobility find ways to spy on rivals, ignite conflicts or wars or simply spread important gossip throughout the land. Queens often helped the King strategize or analyzed the meaning behind others’ words and actions.

Queens were among the King’s most trusted allies and confidants. This was because Queens were usually one of the only people, if not the sole person, that Kings spent time alone with. Queens in the Middle Ages were also in Kings’ inner circles of trusted fellows and advisers that served as a part of their entourage and accompanied them most everywhere.

Another important duty of Queens in the Middle ages was to produce a male heir. The purpose of this was to secure her husband’s hold (as well as hers to an extent) on the throne and the empire. Queens were greatly pressured to produce a healthy male baby, especially if they were pregnant for the first time. Infertile Queens in the Middle Ages were shunned, divorced, or sometimes killed.

Queens in the Middle Ages also lived as socialites and hostesses. Notable examples of this included Queen Eleanor of Provence and Queen Isabella of Angouleme. They are sometimes regarded as the first socialites of Europe. Socialite queens were responsible for the comfort and happiness of the guests at their many celebrations. They were also in charge of planning these celebrations, which included many feasts, balls and seasonal parties. Queens also accompanied the King to social functions in other kingdoms.

Sometimes Queens in the Middle Ages served as regents if their king was absent or ill. Examples of this include Berengaria of Navarre, Blanche of Castile and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Queens in the Middle Ages were also considered regents if their sons or other male relatives were thought of as too young to be good Kings. However, it is believed that the Queen was still not the highest power figure if she had an appropriate male heir to rule the throne, no matter how young he was.