The Royal Favourite
Power, Passion & Politics at the Court of King James I
Online Lecture
SNAPSHOT
Lecturer: Dr Lauren Mackay
Date: Monday 22 April, 2024
Duration: 1 hour
Start Time: 7.30pm AEST | 7.00pm SA | 5.30pm WA | 9.30pm NZST
Price: $25 AUD
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Overview
The court of the first Stuart King of England, James I, was a hotbed of faction and intrigue, and James was notorious for enjoying the company of handsome male courtiers. Whoever had the King’s ear and heart, controlled far more.
When King James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne as James I in 1603, he inherited not only the debts of his predecessor, but a realm still burning with the religious and political divisions of the English Reformation. Intending to rule with an iron fist, James struggled with his English subjects and failed to understand the temperament of the English parliament. His distrust of his own government also allowed for the rise of personality politics, as James surrounded himself with young male courtiers who knew that their good looks could be wielded as political currency.
James’ court consequently became rife with factional politics as his favourites, Robert Carr and George Villiers, reaped rewards for holding the King’s heart. But these men knew well the risks of the game- they could be rapidly promoted to exalted positions at court, but also discarded for a new Royal Favourite, igniting personal feuds which shaped English politics for decades.
Join historian Dr Lauren Mackay to explore the explosive reign of James I, which was marked by religious drama and the succession of charismatic favourites that shaped his life, court, and legacy.
Your Expert lecturer
Dr Lauren Mackay holds an MA and PhD in history and is an historian specialising in the Early Modern World. She is the author of three books, and her fourth, "Thunder Through the Realms: Five Kingdoms and the shaping of Early Modern Europe" is due out in early 2025 with Bloomsbury Publishing.
Lauren is a frequent presenter at historical venues around the UK and for the BBC History weekends and is a regular contributor for BBC History and All About History magazines. She has featured as a historical consultant for a number of television programs, including "Henry VIII and the King's Men" (Smithsonian Channel UK), “The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family” (BBC2) which drew on her PhD research, and “Blood, Sex, and Royalty” (Netflix). Lauren is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
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