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“The Victorian Era”

Twenty-first episode of Siggie, presenting her take on the history of the monarchs of England in the context of her favorite topic….herself. This episode continues the Hanover Dynasty, in particular King George IV’s brother William IV and their niece, the future Queen Victoria. While William’s many illegitimate children were not destined for the crown, Queen Victoria is now famous as “the Grandmother of Europe.” As the last of the Hanover monarchs, her 67 year rule (the longest ever until surpassed by Elizabeth II) is known as the Victorian Era and is famous for its social, economic, industrial, and scientific advances. 

King William IV. He reigned from 1830 to 1837. He was the

brother of King George IV. He was the uncle to Victoria who later became the

famous Queen Victoria. His daddy was King George III, the Mad King George III who

reigned during the American Revolution. During William’s reign, there were many

reforms such as the 1832 Reform Act. This act put an end to the so-called

rotten boroughs. These are boroughs with small electorates that were dominated by

a wealthy patron. Thus, by abolishing these rotten boroughs, the middle classes

were better represented. And goodness! When he died, he was survived by 8 children, 

But absolutely none of these children were legitimate. And so the throne was given to William’s

niece Victoria.

Queen Victoria. She reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Ireland from 1837 to 1901. Her 63-year old reign was known as the Victorian era.

Makes sense. Queen Victoria. Victorian era. She had German roots. She succeeded her

Uncle William IV and inherited the throne in her late teens.

Her father was Edward Duke of Kent and her mother was Victoria of Saxe-Coburg.

She was subjected to the Kensington system under her mother and comptroller

John Connolly, who she basically detested because he was very strict.

She ended up marrying her first cousin, Albert of Saxe-Coburg. and they

had nine children together despite Victoria not exactly being a baby person.

She referred to them as frogs or something. She really wasn’t into it and yet she

had nine children. Victoria was generally popular but that didn’t mean that there

weren’t several disgruntled Englishmen standing by trying to take her out by

assassination.

After her beloved husband Albert died, she basically mourned the next 40 Years

of her reign, always wearing black and staying out of the public eye. She was

actually pretty unpopular during the first years of her widowhood, but she

regained popularity in the 1880s and the 1890s, regarded as a matriarchal figure.

She was the grandmother of Europe with 42 grandchildren, 34 who survived to

Adulthood. Victoria and her husband, Albert, were responsible for the

flourishing of industry and science and politics and military change, and they

helped to greatly expand the British Empire. In ‘76, Victoria was granted the

title of Emperors of India by the British Parliament. She was a national

icon known for placing emphasis on morality and family values. This was in

stark contrast to the scandalous earlier House of Hanover reigns. 

Victoria became more symbolic than political. Victoria

was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover. She was succeeded by

her son Edward the Seventh, who she basically accused of killing her husband

because he was such a wild child, you know in his younger days. She claimed

the stress got to her husband.  Anyway, but she was succeeded by her son

Edward VII of the House of Saxe-Coburg and  Gotha.

(Stay tuned for episode 22 as Hanover Dynasty transitions to the Windsor…)