The 'melancholy pompous sight' : royal deaths and the politics of ritual in the late Stuart monarchy, c. 1685-1714
This thesis explores the deaths, funerals and other associated rituals given at the deaths of British monarchs and royals in the late Stuart period (1660-1714) with a focus on those occurring between the death of King Charles II in 1685 and the death of Queen Anne in 1714. This topic has lacked in-depth archival study and the existing historiography has often focused on larger cultural forces. This thesis presents a series of case studies structured around one or two deaths in particular, examining the ritual response as planned by the Royal Household and Privy Councillors within the wider and immediate political context which shaped their decisions. The first chapter reconstructs the process of a royal death at this time by drawing off a large amount of primary material and examples from across the period being studied. Subsequent chapters explore the political motivations and reasons behind the âprivateâ funeral for Charles II in 1685, the opposite decision for a larger heraldic or âpublicâ funeral for Mary II in 1695 and the decision to hold neither a funeral nor a ritual response beyond the familial obligation of mourning for James II in 1701. Another chapter explores the act of court mourning
Walker, Mark
DA Great Britain
The 'melancholy pompous sight' : royal deaths and the politics of ritual in the late Stuart monarchy, c. 1685-1714. This thesis explores the deaths, funerals and other associated rituals given at the deaths of British monarchs and royals in the late Stuart period (1660-1714) with a focus on those occurring between the death of King Charles II in 1685 and the death of Queen Anne in 1714. This topic has lacked in-depth archival study and the existing historiography has often focused on larger cultural forces. This thesis presents a series of case studies structured around one or two deaths in particular, examining the ritual response as planned by the Royal Household and Privy Councillors within the wider and immediate political context which shaped their decisions. The first chapter reconstructs the process of a royal death at this time by drawing off a large amount of primary material and examples from across the period being studied. Subsequent chapters explore the political motivations and reasons behind the âprivateâ funeral for Charles II in 1685, the opposite decision for a larger heraldic or âpublicâ funeral for Mary II in 1695 and the decision to hold neither a funeral nor a ritual response beyond the familial obligation of mourning for James II in 1701. Another chapter explores the act of court mourning
melancholy sight royal death politics ritual late stuart monarchy explores death funeral associate ritual give death british royal late stuart period focus occur death king charles_ii death queen anne topic lack depth archival study exist_historiography often_focus large cultural force present_series case_study structure_around death particular examine ritual response plan royal household privy within_wider immediate political_context shape decision first reconstruct process royal death time draw large_amount primary_material example across_period study subsequent explore political_motivation reason_behind private funeral charles_ii opposite decision large heraldic public funeral mary decision hold neither funeral ritual response beyond familial obligation mourn james_ii another explore act court mourn