Link to the Youtube video and the rest of the series!

“Germans Take Over the Throne.” Nineteenth episode of Siggie, presenting her take on the history of the monarchs of England in the context of her favorite topic….herself. This episode introduces the Hanover Dynasty, which began with the German prince George I, the nearest Protestant relative of the heirless Queen Anne (the Act of Settlement of 1701 disqualified any Roman Catholic claimant). Beginning with his rule, the British monarchs significantly ceded political power to Parliament and, in this case, the de facto first Prime Minister Robert Walpole. George’s son, George II, had a long reign that was highlighted by the War of the Austrian Succession (where he became the most recent British monarch to lead an army in battle) and the last unsuccessful attempt of the Stuarts to retake the throne.

Moving along now from the House of Stuart to the

House of Hanover… King George I, who ruled from 1714 to

1727. George I was the second cousin of Queen Anne and her closest

Protestant relative. So the Act of Settlement in 1701 allowed George to

inherit the throne. How exactly it did that I don’t know. I’d have to look up

what the Act of Settlement is. [Parliament’s Act of Settlement

(1701) stated that the succession to the English and 

Irish crowns would be only to Protestants. The Act of 

Settlement excluded all Catholics, so Anne was succeeded by her second

cousin George I of the House of Hanover]. George I was also a German

Prince and he ended up spending a good deal of his time in Hanover, Germany. He

could afford to do this because a drumroll… during George I’s reign

in 1721, Sir Robert Walpole became England’s first prime minister and ended

up doing all the work that the Royals didn’t have to do. So this translated

into less royal power and less royal responsibility. After George I died at

the age of 67, his son George II took over the throne.

Of note, George II was the very last English Monarch to have been

born abroad as well as to have led an Army in battle. So remember, this is the

House of Hanover, so during George II’s reign was the Jacobite Rebellion, which

was one of the Stuart’s attempts to take over the throne. Obviously they were

unsuccessful because it didn’t happen and it’s still the house of Hanover. Also

during George II’s reign was the Seven Years War. And, something you don’t hear

every day. You ready for this one? George II actually requested, instructed that

the sides of his and his wife’s coffins be removed so that the remains could

mingle and party. King George II reigned from 1727 to 1760, for 33 whole years.

(Stay tuned for episode 20 and more Hanover Dynasty…)