The German Influence on the British Monarchy During the Reigns of King William IV and Queen Victoria

Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Bene�, Carrie

Keywords

British Monarchy, German Influence, Nineteenth Century

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

Over time, the British monarchyhas evolved from being the primary agent of government to a national cultural figurehead. The most drastic moment change occurred during the reigns of King William IV and Queen Victoria. It is during this period that the republican and revolutionary ideals circulated Europe and caused the British monarchy to have to adapt in order to retain their position. This study examines the influence that German spouses had on the monarchy during that time using primarily letters and journals of the time. Among the many influences that helped facilitate this evolution of the monarchy�s position, the German spousal influence helped the monarchy create a new domestic image, a renewed sense of virtue, and redirected and fostered a sense of work ethic towards social projects. The long term effects of the changes in the monarchy during that time are still in effect today, most notably the emphasis the British royal family places on charitable projects, and the maintenance of a domestic, familial image.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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