#stuarthistory

[infamoushistory]

Birth of Frances Stuart: The Beauty Who Inspired Britannia

On July 8, 1647, Frances Stuart was born. Celebrated for her extraordinary beauty, she became one of the most admired figures at the court of Charles II of England during the Restoration era. Known as “La Belle Stuart,” she captivated society and was a favorite subject of artists and courtiers.

Frances Stuart’s legacy extended beyond the royal court, as she is traditionally recognized as the inspiration for the first image of Britannia used on British coinage. Her beauty and influence helped shape one of Britain’s most enduring national symbols, leaving her mark on both royal history and British culture.

[infamoushistory]

The Capture of the Duke of Monmouth: The End of a Rebellion

On July 8, 1685, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, was captured by royal forces in Dorset, just two days after his crushing defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor. The Protestant rebel and illegitimate son of Charles II of England had attempted to seize the English throne from his Catholic uncle, James II of England, but his uprising quickly collapsed.

Found hiding in a ditch after a desperate escape attempt, Monmouth’s capture marked the final defeat of the Monmouth Rebellion. His execution shortly afterward became one of the most infamous events of the Stuart era, while the brutal reprisals known as the Bloody Assizes left a lasting mark on English history.

[infamoushistory]

Charles I Answers Kent’s Petition: A Kingdom on the Edge of Civil WarAnswers Kent’s Petition: A Kingdom on the Edge of Civil War

On August 4, 1642, King Charles I responded to the Kent Petition, a significant moment in the growing crisis between the Crown and Parliament that would soon erupt into the English Civil War. The petitioners from Kent appealed for peace, the protection of traditional rights, and a resolution to the bitter conflict dividing the nation.

Charles I’s reply reflected his determination to defend royal authority while insisting that he had acted for the good of the kingdom. He rejected the idea that the monarchy was responsible for the crisis and argued that Parliament’s actions had challenged the rightful powers of the Crown.

By this point, compromise was rapidly disappearing. Both the King and Parliament were gathering supporters and preparing for armed conflict. Within weeks, England would descend into civil war, with Charles raising his royal standard at Nottingham on August 22, 1642.

The exchange over the Kent Petition showed how political disagreements, religious tensions, and questions of royal power had pushed England toward one of the most dramatic struggles in its history.

[infamoushistory]

Death of Henry Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Groby: The Nobleman Behind Lady Jane Grey’s Family Legacy

On July 26, 1614, Henry Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Groby, an English nobleman and landowner, died at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, the historic home of the Grey family. A member of one of England’s most influential aristocratic houses, Grey built his reputation through his estates, wealth, and connections within the Tudor and early Stuart political world.

After his death, Henry Grey was laid to rest in the Grey family chapel at Bradgate, joining generations of his ancestors. Though he was not remembered as one of England’s most famous nobles, his family line would become central to one of the most dramatic episodes in English history.

His descendants included his son, Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford, whose own daughter was Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days’ Queen” who briefly claimed the English throne in 1553 before her tragic downfall. Through his family, Henry Grey’s legacy remained tied to the turbulent struggles of succession, power, and politics in England.

[infamoushistory]

Lady Alice Lisle: The Widow Who Faced the Axe After Monmouth’s Rebellion

On July 20, 1685, shortly after the defeat of the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion at the Battle of Sedgemoor, Lady Alice Lisle made a decision that would cost her life. At her home, Moyles Court in Hampshire, the elderly widow offered shelter to two fugitives who had supported Monmouth’s failed attempt to seize the English throne from James II.

The two men were later discovered and arrested, and Lisle was accused of harbouring rebels under the harsh treason laws of the period. Despite appeals for mercy and her advanced age, she was convicted at her trial in Winchester and sentenced to death.

On September 2, 1685, Lady Alice Lisle was executed at Winchester. Her case became one of the most controversial episodes of the aftermath of Monmouth’s Rebellion, reflecting the severity of the royal response during the “Bloody Assizes” led by Judge Jeffreys. Her execution remains a powerful example of the political and religious tensions that divided England during the reign of James II.

[infamoushistory]

What Happened to Charles I’s Wife After His Execution? The Tragedy of Queen Henrietta Maria

When Charles I of England was executed on January 30, 1649, his wife Henrietta Maria of France was left devastated and forced into exile. The English Civil War had already separated the couple for years, with Henrietta Maria living in France while supporting the Royalist cause.

After Charles’s death, Henrietta Maria became a widow without a throne. She continued to support the Royalist movement and helped preserve the hopes of her son, the future Charles II of England. She lived in poverty for a time, relying on support from the French court and Royalist allies.

During the rule of Oliver Cromwell, Henrietta Maria remained in France. She returned to England after the Restoration of 1660, when her son regained the crown, but she never fully recovered from the losses caused by the civil war.

In her later years, she lived mostly in France and died at Château de Colombes in 1669. Henrietta Maria was remembered as a devoted wife, a committed Catholic, and a controversial queen whose influence helped shape the struggles that led to the English Civil War.

[infamoushistory]

Birth of John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse: A Royalist Soldier of the English Civil War

Born on June 24, 1614, John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse was an English nobleman, soldier, and politician best remembered for his loyalty to King Charles I during the English Civil War. A member of the powerful Belasyse family of Yorkshire, he became one of the leading commanders of the Royalist cause.

During the Civil War, Belasyse raised troops for the king and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Edgehill (1642) and the Battle of Brentford (1642). His military leadership and dedication to the monarchy earned him royal favor, and he was later created Baron Belasyse of Worlaby in 1645.

After the defeat of the Royalists and the execution of Charles I, Belasyse remained involved in efforts to restore the monarchy. Following the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, he returned to political life and held important positions, although his later years were marked by suspicion during periods of political tension.

John Belasyse died in 1689, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most committed Royalist figures of 17th-century England, remembered for his military service and unwavering support of the Stuart monarchy.

[soonerwxgirl]

Queen of Scots

With the success of CW's Reign, I highly recommend indulging in another take on Mary Stuart's history. If you have a moment, or two or three, please watch the movie 'Mary, Queen of Scots'. Made in 1971, and starring the beautiful Vanessa Redgrave as Mary, the story deals with Mary's return to Scotland, the continued Protestant/Catholic battle within Scotland, and Mary's eventual imprisonment by her cousin, Elizabeth I. It is a splendid watch!