Rocking the Cradle, Ruling the World: Britain's Queen Mothers (ep 54)

This week, we’ll be looking at six of the women who came to
England and became game-changers: Emma of Normandy, Eleanor of
Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Henrietta Maria of France, Mary of
Modena, and Mary of Teck. In her own way, each of these women had
an extraordinary and lasting impact on her son (or, in some
cases, sons) and his rule.

Emma’s political alliances and influence helped shaped the
monarchy. She also established a family relationship between the
dukes of Normandy and the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, which
gave the Normans a hereditary claim to the English throne. Emma
was involved and influential in politics on both sides of the
English Channel and throughout Europe. Less than 15 years after
Emma’s death, William of Normandy set out for England. His claim
to the throne was based in part on Emma and her
influence. 

It was after Henry’s death in 1189 that Eleanor really came into
her own. Richard, her favorite son, took the throne on his
father’s death. One of his first acts was to release Eleanor from
prison; he made her his Regent while he participated in the Third
Crusade. Eleanor had a large and strong network across the
kingdom, and she successfully promoted Richard’s policies and his
reputation. He became known as Richard the Lionheart, in part
because of her efforts to establish (or possibly embellish?) his
reputation. When he was captured on his way home from the
Crusade, Eleanor herself raised the funds for his ransom and
traveled to deliver it. She was with him when he died in 1199.
She died in 1203 and was buried next to her husband, Henry
II.

Isabella of France raised forces against her husband and
installed her son on the throne. She ruled as Regent for a few
years, then after her son took control, lived an independent and
wealthy life. She is the only one of our Queen Mothers to
actually overthrow her husband to put her child on the
throne.

Mary of Modena gave us one of the strangest scandals of the
Stuart regime. After a series of miscarriages, she gave birth to
a healthy son in 1688. Appalled at the thought of a Catholic
succeeding to the throne, Protestants responded by accusing the
Queen of miscarrying again and smuggling in a fake heir in a
warming pan! The birth of the prince tipped Parliament into
inviting William and Mary to replace James and Mary of Modena on
the throne.

Mary of Teck is the last non-English Queen consort and Queen
Mother. Actually born and raised in the UK, she was technically
Princess of Teck. She was selected as a royal bride by Queen
Victoria and married her grandson Prince George. After the death
of his father Edward VII, George became King George V and Mary
became Queen. She represented continuity of the monarchy through
the abdication of her son Edward VIII and helped generate support
for her son George VI. She lived to see her granddaughter come to
the throne, providing an amazing arc from Victoria to Queen
Elizabeth II.


History shows us what's possible.