Rex Factor

It's a slight change in format this episode as we split George III in half (so to speak) - this episode will focus on the events and background to his reign while the next will see us review him in the usual fashion and decide whether he has the Rex Factor. So why does "Mad King George" need two episodes? Besides the madness, George's reign encompasses the end of the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the political rivalry between Pitt the Younger and Charles Fox...and much more besides!

It's a slight change in format this episode as we split George III in half (so to speak) - this episode will focus on the events and background to his reign while the next will see us review him in the usual fashion and decide whether he has the Rex Factor. So why does "Mad King George" need two episodes? Besides the madness, George's reign encompasses the end of the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the political rivalry between Pitt the Younger and Charles Fox...and much more besides!

It's a case of history repeating itself when George II comes to the throne in 1727 - like his father, he has Robert Walpole as his 'prime minister', is at odds with his eldest son, has a Jacobite rebellion to deal with, gets involved in the wars and diplomacy of continental Europe and is keen to get back to Hanover as much as possible. Where George II does differ, however, is in his strong and happy marriage to Caroline of Ansbach and the military triumph enjoyed under his rule, with Britain becoming a major worldwide power under the direction of Pitt the Elder. With victories against France and Bonnie Prince Charlie, could George II become the first Hanoverian Rex Factor winner?

It's a case of history repeating itself when George II comes to the throne in 1727 - like his father, he has Robert Walpole as his 'prime minister', is at odds with his eldest son, has a Jacobite rebellion to deal with, gets involved in the wars and diplomacy of continental Europe and is keen to get back to Hanover as much as possible. Where George II does differ, however, is in his strong and happy marriage to Caroline of Ansbach and the military triumph enjoyed under his rule, with Britain becoming a major worldwide power under the direction of Pitt the Elder. With victories against France and Bonnie Prince Charlie, could George II become the first Hanoverian Rex Factor winner?

It's a case of history repeating itself when George II comes to the throne in 1727 - like his father, he has Robert Walpole as his 'prime minister', is at odds with his eldest son, has a Jacobite rebellion to deal with, gets involved in the wars and diplomacy of continental Europe and is keen to get back to Hanover as much as possible. Where George II does differ, however, is in his strong and happy marriage to Caroline of Ansbach and the military triumph enjoyed under his rule, with Britain becoming a major worldwide power under the direction of Pitt the Elder. With victories against France and Bonnie Prince Charlie, could George II become the first Hanoverian Rex Factor winner?

A lack of Protestant Stuarts in 1714 meant the start of a new dynasty with George I and the Hanoverians. Poor George wasn't the happiest of monarchs - he was perfectly happy in Hanover and went back as often as he could, while his British subjects weren't too enamoured with him as a dull German who didn't speak much English. Nevertheless, George's was an interesting reign, seeing the defeat of Jacobite rebellions from the Old Pretender, the rise of Robert Walpole (particularly during the South Sea Bubble Crisis) and the naturalisation of classical composer Handel. George also set a template for all Georgian monarchs: argue with your son and create plenty of juicy scandal!

A lack of Protestant Stuarts in 1714 meant the start of a new dynasty with George I and the Hanoverians. Poor George wasn't the happiest of monarchs - he was perfectly happy in Hanover and went back as often as he could, while his British subjects weren't too enamoured with him as a dull German who didn't speak much English. Nevertheless, George's was an interesting reign, seeing the defeat of Jacobite rebellions from the Old Pretender, the rise of Robert Walpole (particularly during the South Sea Bubble Crisis) and the naturalisation of classical composer Handel. George also set a template for all Georgian monarchs: argue with your son and create plenty of juicy scandal!

A lack of Protestant Stuarts in 1714 meant the start of a new dynasty with George I and the Hanoverians. Poor George wasn't the happiest of monarchs - he was perfectly happy in Hanover and went back as often as he could, while his British subjects weren't too enamoured with him as a dull German who didn't speak much English. Nevertheless, George's was an interesting reign, seeing the defeat of Jacobite rebellions from the Old Pretender, the rise of Robert Walpole (particularly during the South Sea Bubble Crisis) and the naturalisation of classical composer Handel. George also set a template for all Georgian monarchs: argue with your son and create plenty of juicy scandal!

The tumultuous Stuart dynasty comes to an end in this episode with Queen Anne, but otherwise it's an era of new beginnings. John Churchill (Duke of Marlborough) leads England to military glory against Louis XIV, particularly at Blenheim, while at home the Act of Union with Scotland sees the creation of Great Britain. In many ways a glorious reign, and yet Anne's reputation has never been very good. Has she been unfairly sullied by her once best friend, Sarah Churchill, or is history right to forget the last of the Stuarts?

The tumultuous Stuart dynasty comes to an end in this episode with Queen Anne, but otherwise it's an era of new beginnings. John Churchill (Duke of Marlborough) leads England to military glory against Louis XIV, particularly at Blenheim, while at home the Act of Union with Scotland sees the creation of Great Britain. In many ways a glorious reign, and yet Anne's reputation has never been very good. Has she been unfairly sullied by her once best friend, Sarah Churchill, or is history right to forget the last of the Stuarts?

The tumultuous Stuart dynasty comes to an end in this episode with Queen Anne, but otherwise it's an era of new beginnings. John Churchill (Duke of Marlborough) leads England to military glory against Louis XIV, particularly at Blenheim, while at home the Act of Union with Scotland sees the creation of Great Britain. In many ways a glorious reign, and yet Anne's reputation has never been very good. Has she been unfairly sullied by her once best friend, Sarah Churchill, or is history right to forget the last of the Stuarts?

With the removal of James II in 1688 in the Glorious Revolution came the unusual position of joint rulers: the husband and wife team of William III and Mary II. William held executive power and spent most of his time fighting wars against his arch nemesis, Louis XIV of France (the Sun King), as well as stopping James II clawing his way back to England. As well as the wars, this was a period of significant constitutional and economic development that would be vital in forming the modern British state. William and Mary may have shared the throne, but will they be able to share the Rex Factor?

With the removal of James II in 1688 in the Glorious Revolution came the unusual position of joint rulers: the husband and wife team of William III and Mary II. William held executive power and spent most of his time fighting wars against his arch nemesis, Louis XIV of France (the Sun King), as well as stopping James II clawing his way back to England. As well as the wars, this was a period of significant constitutional and economic development that would be vital in forming the modern British state. William and Mary may have shared the throne, but will they be able to share the Rex Factor?

With the removal of James II in 1688 in the Glorious Revolution came the unusual position of joint rulers: the husband and wife team of William III and Mary II. William held executive power and spent most of his time fighting wars against his arch nemesis, Louis XIV of France (the Sun King), as well as stopping James II clawing his way back to England. As well as the wars, this was a period of significant constitutional and economic development that would be vital in forming the modern British state. William and Mary may have shared the throne, but will they be able to share the Rex Factor?

The monarchy was left in a pretty good state by Charles II in 1685, but the trickiest part of his reign had been to prevent Parliament excluding his Catholic brother, James, from the throne, so how would Parliament react to its first Catholic ruler since Mary I? James's life and reign proved to be somewhat turbulent and to a large degree the difficulties were of his own making. Would he be able to persuade his anti-Catholic Parliament to grant religious toleration to Catholics? Would he be want to emulate the absolutist monarchy of Louis XIV? And what is his son-in-law, William of Orange, doing with all those troops in the Netherlands?