Royal History Today - March 2

1316 - Marjorie Bruce dies at Paisley Abbey

Paisley Abbey, the final resting place of Marjorie Bruce

     Born as the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, Marjorie Bruce came into the world just as the Scottish Wars of Independence were commencing. Eventually, she became a Princess of Scotland at the age of nine when her father was crowned King of Scots in 1306.

     Soon after her father's coronation, Marjorie was held captive by the English at a convent in Watton, East Riding of Yorkshire, where she remained for nearly eight years until her freedom was granted by Edward II of England, probably as part of an exchange for English prisoners held by the Scots following the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

     Upon her return to Scotland, she married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, who had distinguished himself in battle alongside her father. Two years later, Marjorie was riding a horse whilst pregnant when the horse became startled. She was thrown to the ground, went into premature labor, and gave birth to her only child, Robert Stewart, at Paisley Abbey. Within hours, she died and was buried there.

     Her son would eventually succeed to the Scottish throne as Robert II, becoming the first monarch of the House of Stewart. Marjorie's descendants include the successors to the thrones of Scotland, England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is her 18th great-granddaughter.
 

1484 - Richard III of England establishes the College of Arms

Arms of the College of Arms

     The King had an interest in heraldry during the period when he was serving under his brother, Edward IV, and upon his accession, moved to reform the organization of heraldry by creating the College of Arms.

     The College of Arms is the royal corporation responsible for acting on behalf of the monarch on issues of heraldry, granting arms, genealogical research, and recording of pedigree's in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Commonwealth realms such as Australia and New Zealand (with Scotland having its own its own heraldic authority, the Court of the Lord Lyon). It is part of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom and is also responsible for maintaining official registers of flags and national symbols, as well as providing guidance on how flags ought to be used on land. The College also helps to plan and organize ceremonial events such as state funerals, coronations, and the annual State Opening of Parliament, at which the Heralds of the College often accompany the monarch. 

     When Richard III established the College, he appointed Sir John Howard as Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal, and placed him in charge of the organization. Through the centuries, his male descendants have succeeded to those titles, with the present holder being Edward Fitzalan-Howard.

1619 - Death of Anne of Denmark, Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland

Anne, the first Queen consort of all Britain

     Anne was born in 1574 as the second daughter of Frederick II of Denmark, and married James VI of Scotland in 1589 at the age of fourteen - becoming Queen consort of Scots. With King James, she had seven children, three of whom survived beyond infancy: Henry Frederick Stuart, Elizabeth Stuart, and Charles Stuart.

     In 1603, Anne become Queen consort of England and Ireland upon the death of Elizabeth I and her husband's accession to those thrones. As Queen, Anne was noted as patron of the arts during Britain's Jacobean period, and led an outgoing and cosmopolitan lifestyle - in contrast to the more reclusive James, who preferred the close company of intimates and spending time at is hunting lodges. Indeed, the couple drifted apart in their later years in part because of their differing lifestyles.

     Nevertheless, the King was emotionally affected by her death in 1619 at the age of only 44, and paid tribute to her with these verses: 

So did my Queen from hence her court remove

And left off earth to be enthroned above.

She's changed, not dead, for sure no good prince dies,

But, as the sun, sets, only for to rise.

     Queen Anne was buried at Westminster Abbey, where she was joined by her husband in about six years. Their eldest child, Henry Frederick Stuart, had died in 1612, so their youngest child would succeed to the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones as King Charles I. Elizabeth, their eldest daughter, became Queen of Bohemia via her marriage to Frederick I, and grandmother to George I of Great Britain and Ireland.

     Anne is a ninth great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II.

1882 - Assassination attempt on Queen Victoria

Victoria survived eight assassination attempts over the course of her 63 year reign

     In Windsor, Roderick McLean attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria with a pistol in what was the last attempt on the Queen's life. His motive was supposedly the curt reply to some poetry he had sent to the Queen.

     At his trial, he was declare "not guilty, but insane", and spent the remainder of his life at Broadmoor Asylum, where he died in 1921. The Queen is supposed to have asked for a change in law, so that future suspects in similar cases may be found "guilty and insane."


Photo Credit:  Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc