8 Facts About Elizabeth Stuart, The Winter Queen Bohemia
She spent her childhood in Scotland
Elizabeth, until the age of seven, stayed in “one of the grandest of Scotland’s royal residences”, the Linlithgow Palace, where she was placed under the guardianship of Alexander Livingstone, 1st Earl of Linlithgow, and his wife, Helenor Hay, Countess of Linlithgow.
Elizabeth, until the age of seven, stayed in “one of the grandest of Scotland’s royal residences”, the Linlithgow Palace, where she was placed under the guardianship of Alexander Livingstone, 1st Earl of Linlithgow, and his wife, Helenor Hay, Countess of Linlithgow.
A plot almost made her a reigning queen
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 aimed to assassinate King James and eradicate the Protestant monarchy, and to kidnap the then nine-year-old Elizabeth and make her a Catholic queen. The plot, however, failed after the conspirators were betrayed and Guy Fawkes was caught by the King’s soldiers just as he was about to ignite the powder.
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 aimed to assassinate King James and eradicate the Protestant monarchy, and to kidnap the then nine-year-old Elizabeth and make her a Catholic queen. The plot, however, failed after the conspirators were betrayed and Guy Fawkes was caught by the King’s soldiers just as he was about to ignite the powder.
She was an educated lady
Elizabeth received comprehensive education in fields such as history, languages, writing, geography, theology, dancing , and music, however was denied from learning about the classics as her father believed, "Latin had the unfortunate effect of making women more cunning.”
Elizabeth received comprehensive education in fields such as history, languages, writing, geography, theology, dancing , and music, however was denied from learning about the classics as her father believed, "Latin had the unfortunate effect of making women more cunning.”
Her wedding was dubbed the wedding of the century
Elizabeth’s choice of husband would have real implications to her father and the whole kingdom, so she was arranged to marry Frederick V, Count Palatine of the Rhine, primarily because of his high lineage and his Protestant faith. The wedding took place at the Palace of Whitehall’s royal chapel on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1613, a massive and lavish fête that cost £50,000, and which almost bankrupted King James. It has been considered as one of the biggest events of the 17th century as celebrations went on for months!
Elizabeth’s choice of husband would have real implications to her father and the whole kingdom, so she was arranged to marry Frederick V, Count Palatine of the Rhine, primarily because of his high lineage and his Protestant faith. The wedding took place at the Palace of Whitehall’s royal chapel on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1613, a massive and lavish fête that cost £50,000, and which almost bankrupted King James. It has been considered as one of the biggest events of the 17th century as celebrations went on for months!
She was a mother to 13 children
Elizabeth and Frederick had 13 children:
Elizabeth and Frederick had 13 children:
She was Queen of Bohemia for only one winter
Bohemia, which at the time was one of the few successful pluralist states where nobles elect the monarch, found itself in deep crisis following the death of King Matthias in 1619 and was left with an heir apparent, Archduke Ferdinand, who was a devout Catholic who persecuted Protestants in his land, Styria. The Bohemians weighed their options and ended up inviting Frederick as their new king, which the latter gladly accepted. Frederick was crowned as the new King of Bohemia on November 4, 1619. Elizabeth was crowned Queen of Bohemia three days later. Unfortunately, Frederick’s monarchy only lasted for a year as he was defeated by Ferdinand II during the Battle of White Mountain, which took place during the winter season. It was Elizabeth’s short-lived reign as Queen of Bohemia and the drastic turn of events that earned her the title “Winter Queen”.
Bohemia, which at the time was one of the few successful pluralist states where nobles elect the monarch, found itself in deep crisis following the death of King Matthias in 1619 and was left with an heir apparent, Archduke Ferdinand, who was a devout Catholic who persecuted Protestants in his land, Styria. The Bohemians weighed their options and ended up inviting Frederick as their new king, which the latter gladly accepted. Frederick was crowned as the new King of Bohemia on November 4, 1619. Elizabeth was crowned Queen of Bohemia three days later. Unfortunately, Frederick’s monarchy only lasted for a year as he was defeated by Ferdinand II during the Battle of White Mountain, which took place during the winter season. It was Elizabeth’s short-lived reign as Queen of Bohemia and the drastic turn of events that earned her the title “Winter Queen”.
They lived in exile in The Hague
After their defeat in the Battle of White Mountain, the family traveled to and took up residence in The Hague, where the Princes of Orange provided them a home and gave them financial support. It was during this time when they got “nothing to devour but pearls and diamonds” but still had to host massive balls and accommodate nobles and ambassadors, as recalled by one of Elizabeth’s daughters in her memoir.
After their defeat in the Battle of White Mountain, the family traveled to and took up residence in The Hague, where the Princes of Orange provided them a home and gave them financial support. It was during this time when they got “nothing to devour but pearls and diamonds” but still had to host massive balls and accommodate nobles and ambassadors, as recalled by one of Elizabeth’s daughters in her memoir.
She died in her native land
A little
less than a year after returning to her native land, England, Elizabeth died of
pneumonia at the Leicester House on February 13, 1662 with her son Rupert by
her side. Her remains were then laid to rest at the Westminster Abbey.
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