17th Century England

Lesson 2: Meet the King and the main personalities.

Duke of Buckingham

George Villiers, the future Duke of Buckingham, grew up in Leicestershire with his widowed mother, who evidently had high hopes for him. She pushed him to learn how to ride, fence, dance and he travelled to France like the young noblemen on a Grand Tour, with a friend, Sir John Eliot.

Sir John would later be a mortal enemy, but in this quiet and peaceful time, Villiers spent three years in France. He returned to his mother penniless, but had learned her intended lessons and was now fully trained in how to be a courtier.

All he needed now was a Monarch and a court. In London, he was introduced to King Charles I's father, King James I and soon became the King's cupbearer, a minor position at court.

Court factions caused the party who opposed the King's favourite minister, the Earl of Somerset, to appoint Villiers as their candidate to push Somerset out of the King's favour. Soon it had worked and James had knighted Villiers, promoting him to a Gentleman of the Bedchamber.

Villier's charm and good looks had worked wonders on the King, who was susceptible to young men's charms and he rose through the ranks like wildfire; 1616, he was Master of the Horse, Knight of the Garter, Viscount Villiers, Baron Whaddon and in 1617, Earl of Buckingham.

James expressed his respect and love for Buckingham in many councils and he became part of the family, with James calling him his child. It wasn't long before he invaded the ranks of Dukes, becoming Duke of Buckingham, the rank normally only reserved for Royalty itself.

Buckingham held a host of government offices and grew rich indeed on them. He was the object of much jealousy. His hobbies and interests included collecting paintings and artwork, a hobby he shared with the young Charles I. Later he would carry on a love affair with the Queen of France.

He married a daughter of the Earl of Rutland and had several children, which were taken in by the Royal Family after his death and brought up with the Royal Children. The fact that both James and Charles gave immense backing, titles, wealth, appointments and support to this man aroused not only envy, but brought the Monarch dangerously close to being tarnished when Buckingham found himself in hot water - something that frequently occurred.

  1  2  3  4  5  6  7