From 634f8b3fe8dc232ab37945048be70c5d4f5a3296 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Trent Palmer Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:37:48 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] add contrasting-english-queens --- content/contrasting-english-queens.md | 105 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 105 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/contrasting-english-queens.md diff --git a/content/contrasting-english-queens.md b/content/contrasting-english-queens.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be722cb --- /dev/null +++ b/content/contrasting-english-queens.md @@ -0,0 +1,105 @@ +Title: Contrasting English Queens +Date: 2021-12-31 +Tags: Monarch, Victoria, Elizabeth II +Category: War, Culture, Personality, Politics + +Victoria and Elizabeth II are Queens of England, and are related by blood, +but that is where the similarity ends. + +For instance, Queen Victoria was emotional, petty, politically relevant, culturally +relevant, and a dynamic personality. But Elizabeth II was not. + +### Victoria's Contribution to the Historical Record +#### Written Documentation +Queen Victory wrote 60 million words in her lifetime. + +This includes her +[journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria%27s_journals){target="_blank"}, +which fill 122 volumes in the Royal Archive, even after heavy redaction. + +Her book +[Our Life in the Highlands](https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/66173){target="_blank"}, +was a best-seller. + +Queen Victoria also constantly wrote letters. + +### Victoria's Political Relevance +#### Grandmother of Europe +Queen Victoria was known as the +[Grandmother of Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmother_of_Europe){target="_blank"}. + +Having spread her seed amongst Nobility and Royalty all over Europe, +and engaged in constant coorespondence, +she had a profound effect upon International Politics. In theory +this was a key reason why there were no World Wars between +Napoleon and World War One. + +#### British Empire +It should be noted however, that the British Empire was at war every +single year of her 64-year reign, +and it was during her reign that the British Empire +reached its zenith. + +### Victoria's Cultural Relevance +#### Arts and Culture +Queen Victoria was a huge patron of the arts, and her legacy included +[Royal Albert Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Albert_Hall){target="_blank"}, +and statues of Prince Albert were erected all over the British Empire. + +#### Customs and Morality +The court of Victoria and Albert was outwardly morally uptight, and this +percolated through society. The manner in which Christmas was (and still is) +celebrated throughout the Western World, was derived from traditions +begun during the Victorian Era. + +Perhaps reflecting their sheltered upbringing, they were quite naive +and would laugh at any stupid little joke. How annoying! + +### Victoria's Dynamic Personality +#### Melodrama +In the [Bedchamber Crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedchamber_crisis){target="_blank"}, +of 1839, Government dissolved because Victoria refused to replace +her ladies-in-waiting with the wives of the new ministers. + +In her photos she never smiled. But contemporary reports suggest that Victoria +did frequently smile, and could really light up the room. + +#### Mental Depression +Queen Victoria suffered from postpartum depression which poisoned her +relationship with her children and husband. + +Upon Prince Albert's +[untimely death](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert,_Prince_Consort#Illness_and_death){target="_blank"}, +The Queen entered several years of seclusion and wore black for the rest of her life. + +#### Temper Tantrums +Unfortunately, Albert and Victoria frequently squabbled, events which +usually featured a "scene". + +#### Daddy Issues +As a result of a troubled upbringing with a +[controlling stepfather](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conroy){target="_blank"}, +Victoria suffered from "Daddy Issues", and developed obsessive attachments to +[Prime Minister Melbourne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lamb,_2nd_Viscount_Melbourne){target="_blank"}, +[her husband](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert,_Prince_Consort){target="_blank"}, +as well as house servants +[John Brown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(servant)){target="_blank"}, and +[Abdul Karim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Karim_(the_Munshi)){target="_blank"}. + +#### Brattiness +Victoria's innappropriate favouritism towards Brown and Karim, both foreigners, +caused resentment amongst her staff. + +#### Pettiness +Queen Victoria made impolite remarks about other people. + +### Queen Elizabeth II +In her youth Elizabeth once outrageously exclaimed, "My Goodness!" + +### Conclusion +Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II were very different from each other. + +Thanks for reading! + +### Recommended +I recommend [Rex Factor Podcast](https://rexfactor.wordpress.com/){target="_blank"}.