The Crème de la Crème Aristocracy Mediaeval scaffolding
Aristocrats spend their childhood being beaten by fierce nannies and their later years murdering wildlife, so it is hardly surprising their sex lives are a bit cockeyed
Jilly Cooper The Grand Old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men. His case comes up next week.
Spike Milligan
An Aristocrat without servants is about as useful as a glass hammer.
Dowager, Countess of Grantham How did it come about? The hierarchy
What it meant to be an aristocrat
Outrageous riches or the right parentage? Aristocracy from the Greek meaning excellence and power, is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best" Medieval hierarchical system. The crème de la crème ! Daniel Defoe's’ list of social orders
The Great who live profusely
The Rich who live plentifully
The Middle Sort who live well
The Working Trades who labour hard, but feel no want
The Country People who fare indifferently
The Poor who fare hard
The Miserable who pinch and suffer The Great in Jacobean times
Personage Servants per Average annual household income £ King 100’s £1,200,000 11 Dukes 40 £19—28,000 3 Marquesses 40 ditto 66 Earls 40 ditto 11 Viscounts 40 ditto 65 Barons 40 ditto 26 Bishops 20 £1,300 800 Baronets 16 £880 600 Knights 13 £650 Professionals 4 £75 Labourers 0 £16 Where did it start? Offa….the dirty facts!
Born around 740 A.D. Father was Thingfrith
Seized throne in 757 after murder of cousin Aethelbald
Battles with men of Kent and Welsh and builds Dyke 784
Rules Mercia until death in 796
Murdered his prospective son in law Ethelbert ruler of East Anglia
Ruthlessly put down rebellions and united his realm The Anglo-Saxons drove the Celts to the country’s margins
The country at that time had been divided into seven kingdoms, Wessex, Northumbria, Kent, Sussex, Essex, East Anglia and Mercia.
Each Kingdom fought for supremacy over the other. They were very powerful warlords.
Offa was the ruler of Mercia, but united the kingdoms
Ruthlessly killed the other nobles
Offa's wife, Cynethryth was considered evil by the church
Signed a trade agreement with Charlemagne
Winebert
Ælfthyth. Offa’s wife Cynethryth was jealous of her happiness
Ethelbert Start of Viking raids He was very strong ruler!
…and then a series of monarchs…….until…….
802-839 Egbert House of Wessex 839-856 Aethelwulf House of Wessex 856-860 Aethelbald House of Wessex 860-866 Aethelbert House of Wessex 866-871 Aethelred I House of Wessex 871-899 Alfred the Great House of Wessex 899-924 Edward the Elder House of Wessex 924-940 Athelstan House of Wessex 940-946 Edmund House of Wessex 946-955 Edred House of Wessex 955-959 Edwy House of Wessex 959-975 Edgar House of Wessex 975-978 Edward the Martyr House of Wessex 978-1016 Ethelred II the Unready House of Wessex 1016 Edmund lronside House of Wessex 1016-1035 Cnut (Canute) House of Denmark 1035-1040 Harold I Harefoot House of Denmark 1040-1042 Harthacanut House of Denmark 1042-1066 Edward the Confessor House of Wessex 1066 Harold II King Edred 946 --had eating issues. He could barely eat
King Edwy 955—had an over amorous mother in law.
Edward the Martyr 975—murdered by half brother Aeathelred II Ethelred 978 --‘the poorly advised’. The Danes invaded after a massacre of Danish settlers
Cnut 1017– thought he was powerful
Edward the Confessor 1042—Deeply religious
Harold II—Ouch! ……..King William I of Normandy crowned at 8 years old
1028---1087
William ‘The Bastard’ was promised the throne of England by Edward the Confessor Seized the English throne and ruthlessly stamped his authority
Established Norman Nobility ( Aristocracy) to rule Facts about William 1 succession
In his time he was never referred to as ‘Conqueror’
Every major church was rebuilt in stone
100,000 people died following the conquest
He established a chivalry order
Abolished English slavery
He died near Rouen His body exploded at his funeral in 1087.
More than 25 percent of the English population is also distantly related to him.
He was illiterate
His wife bore him 10 children and made him depressed!!!!!!
….and then follows another string of Royals…….. 1087-1100 William II House of Normandy 1100-1135 Henry I House of Normandy 1135-1154 Stephen House of Blois 1154-1189 Henry II House of Angevin 1189-1199 Richard I House of Angevin 1199-1216 John House of Angevin 1216-1272 Henry III 1272-1307 Edward I House of Plantagenet 1307-1327 Edward II House of Plantagenet 1327-1377 Edward III House of Plantagenet 1377-1399 Richard II House of Plantagenet 1399-1413 Henry IV House of Lancaster 1413-1422 Henry V House of Lancaster 1422-1461 Henry VI House of Lancaster 1461-1483 Edward IV House of York 1483 Edward V House of York 1483-1485 Richard III House of York 1485-1509 Henry VII 1509-1547 Henry VIII House of Tudor 1547-1553 Edward VI House of Tudor 1553-1558 Mary I House of Tudor 1558-1603 Elizabeth I House of Tudor 1603-1625 James I (King of Scotland House of Stuart as James VI 1567-1625)
1625-1649 Charles I House of Stuart 1649-1653 Commonwealth Commonwealth 1653-1658 Oliver Cromwell (Lord Commonwealth Protector) 1658-1659 Richard Cromwell (Lord Commonwealth Protector) 1660-1685 Charles II House of Stuart 1685-1688 James II House of Stuart 1689-1694 William III of Orange and House of Orange Mary II (jointly) 1694-1702 William III (alone) 1702-1714 Anne House of Stuart 1714-1727 George I House of Hanover 1727-1760 George II House of Hanover 1760-1820 George III (Elector, 1760- House of Hanover 1815, and King,1815-20, of Hanover)
1820-1830 George IV House of Hanover 1830-1837 William IV (King of House of Hanover Hanover 1830-7) 1837-1901 Victoria (Empress of India House of Hanover 1876-1901) 1901-1910 Edward VII House of Saxe-Coburg- Gotha 1910-1936 George V House of Windsor 1936 Edward VIII House of Windsor 1936-1952 George VI House of Windsor 1952- Elizabeth II (Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations) The Monarch Her Consort The Royal succession Succession to the Crown Act 2013
Not to depend on gender, born after 28th October 2011
Removal of disqualification arising from marriage to a Roman Catholic
Prince George of Cambridge
William Wales, Duke of Cambridge …AAAAAhhhh! Princess Charlotte of Cambridge Prince Andrew
Henry alias Harry Princess Beatrix and Eugenie of York Prince Edward, James and Louise Windsor Ann, Peter and Zara Philips, Viscount Linley (David Armstrong Jones) Notable Aristo’s
What does it mean to be a member of the landed gentry?
Who are the nobility? How did they come about?
Earl Spencer of Althorpe The highest stratum of society after royalty. Grew out of Feudal warrior classes
Allegiance to the monarch earned them land
The title passes to the eldest son Primogeniture Duke created in 1337 Edward III
The highest noble
27 Dukedoms and addressed by ‘Your Grace’ Hugh Grosvensor Dukedom or Duchy
From Latin ‘Dux’ or military commander
Edward III adopted French Ducal system of non royal
Duchy is the land ruled by a Duke with special privileges
However there are 2 Royal Duchies—Lancaster and Cornwall Dukes of the Realm
Duke of Norfolk Duke of Cornwall Somerset Richmond Grafton Beaufort St Albans Bedford Devonshire Marlborough Norfolk Rutland Westminster Lancaster
Marlborough Marquess From Germanic word for Mark or border or March Lord. Created in 1385 by Richard II
Holder of large estates and originally a warlord
Addressed by Lord and Lady
However, two thirds of Dukes are also marquesses!
Alexander Thynne Exeter Northampton Camden Wellington Cholmondeley Hastings Ailesby Chandos Bristol Cleveland Westminster( now Duke) Normanby Kedleston Reading Bath Earl and Countess Earl derives from old Norse for Jarl---warrior , nobleman, or Latin ‘comes’ ..related to ‘county’
First used in 800A.D by King Egbert.
The Monarchs official representative in the counties
Addressed by Lord and Lady
The Carnarvon's of Highclere’ Earl of Arundel is also the 11th Duke of Richmond Viscount and Viscountess
Created in 1440 by Henry VI
The sheriff of the shire and Earl’s deputy
Addressed by Lord and Lady
It was an ‘afterthought’ title
Viscount Linley and 2nd Earl of Snowdon! Confused----so am I ! Viscount Bolingbroke (Lord Exton) Baron and Baroness
From Germanic word, baron or Baroness Natalie Evans…..Leader of freeman the Lords
Created 1066 by William I
The lowest rank
Land granted by the Monarch
Once an important role before the Renaissance
Can be important or the reverse!
Life peers are always Barons or Baronesses Baronet and Baronetess
Created 1611 by James I to raise money for Ulster rebellion
£1,080 Sir Thomas Grosvenor
Ranked above Knight
Addressed Lord and Lady
They are not a peers! No seats in the House of Lords!!!!!! Knight
Not transferable
A mounted warrior of the monarch Sir John Chandos fighting Created 890 A.D. by Athelstan the French!
Religious or political significance ORDER OF PRECEDENCE The Sovereign The Prince of Wales So to recap…….0n the male The Younger sons of the Sovereign line……………… The Grandsons of the Sovereign The Brothers of the Sovereign The Uncles The Nephews The Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Chancellor The Archbishop of York The Premier The Lord High Treasurer The Lord President of the Council The Lord Privy Seal ORDER OF PRECEDENCE The Queen Princess of Wales Princess Royal Other Daughters of the Sovereign, according to birth The female line Wives of Sovereign’s Sons, according to seniority of their Husbands Granddaughters of the Sovereign Wives of Sovereign’s Grandsons, according to seniority of their Husbands Wives of the Sovereign’s Brothers Nieces of the Sovereign Wives of the Sovereign’s Nephews Wives of the Sovereign’s Uncles Other Princesses of the Blood Royal Duchesses Marchionesses Wives of eldest sons of Dukes Daughters of Dukes Countesses Wives of eldest sons of Marquises Daughters of Marquises Wives of younger sons of Dukes Viscountesses Wives of eldest sons of Earls Daughters of Earls Wives of younger sons of Marquises Queen/King As sovereign, the king or queen outranks everyone. They have the power to grant all other titles.
Queen Consort! The queen consort is the wife of the king. While more commonly referred to as queen, she does not hold any power. Prince/Princess A prince or princess is the child of the monarch or they inherited their title from their father or mother. Not Kate or Meghan!
Duke/Duchess A duke or duchess is the highest of five degrees in British peerage. Traditionally, sons of the monarch were given a dukedom when they came of age, but now they are more commonly granted when they are married. Marquess/Marchioness The second tier in the peerage, Earl/Countess The third degree in the peerage system since the reign of King Richard II are either life creations or inherited from their father
Viscount/Viscountess They hold the fourth degree in British peerage and are often the child of an earl, although the title could also be granted. Baron/Baroness The fifth or lowest rank, the king's tenant-in-chief is sometimes a land-holding nobleman, and the title is often hereditary
Life Peer Granted to an individual and cannot be passed down to their children
Privileged lives? The Season See and be Seen! The Cheltenham Festival--March The Boat Race March The Grand National—April at Aintree Badminton Horse Trials --May Chelsea-May Glyndebourne—May to August Dress Code--June What is the dress code?
Formal daywear with knee length dresses or longer
Tops to have 1 inch or wider straps
Jackets and Pashminas may be worn
Trouser suits are welcome but must be matching
Hats should be worn
Midriffs must be covered
Private boxes for parties available from $25,000 to $190,000 per day! …and the men…..
Grey or black morning dress A waistcoat and tie
No cravats
Black shoes Oh Look, it’s Grandmamma! Chestertons Polo--June Royal Derby--June
The Derby Day by William Powell Frith 1856 Garsinton Opera--June June Wimbledon Week--July The Game Fair—August Ragley Hall , Warwickshire A really Purdey pair! Up to $400,000 Royal Cowes Week--August Henley Regatta--August Coming Out—Debutantes in the heyday
‘ female beginner’ …until 1958 Hereditary Peers
Abolished in 1999 A Privileged Education Marlborough College …£34,000 p.a. Charterhouse School. Annual fees: £36,774. ... Ampleforth Abbey and College. Annual fees: £32,733. ... The City of London School. Annual fees: £14,886. ... Winchester School. Annual fees: £36,678. ... Westminster School. Annual fees: £36,462. ... Harrow School. Annual fees: £37,350. ... Eton College. Annual fees: £37,602. Alumni of the public schools are 94 times more likely to reach the UK elite than pupils from elsewhere
Old Etonians! Does it make a difference?
Eton was set up to provide education for the children of paupers by Henry VI Tally Ho!!!!! Fox hunting illegal in 2005 The Glorious 12th…August …..and finally clubs
…some still exclusively male and by invitation only. Whites—1693—Male only persuasion Prince Charles is a member.
Brooks –1762—all male preserve
Boodles—1762—mainly Tory party members!
Athenaeum—1824—male preserve
The In & Out, Naval and Military Club—by invitation only—men and women
The Reform –1832—admitted women in 1981! Time for tea don’t cha’ know ! Scandal and intrigue Sir Francis Dashwood….Hellfire Caves Cruel William Rufus alias William II 1056--1100
Walter Tyrell William Purkess—charcoal burner Winchester cathedral Yahoo! Now to seize the throne!
Henry I 1068--1135 Richard I 1157--1199
Spent most of his time fighting!
Had his own father Henry II killed
Only spent 6 months in England
Fatally wounded in 1199 in France
Died childless Berengaria of Navarre Prince Charles is a direct descendant, 16 times removed from this person. Princess Mary of Teck married George V
She was Elizabeth II ‘s grandmother
Descended from two of Vlad’s sons
Porphyria affliction! A build up of red blood cells
“Transylvania is in my blood quipped Prince Charles. “The genealogy shows I am descended from Vlad the Impaler, so I do have a bit of a stake in the country.”
Charles bought a farmhouse in Transylvania Welcome!!!!! The Virgin Queen ??? 1533--1603 Sir Walter Raleigh ?
Sir Christopher Hatton ? 1575 Sir Christopher Hatton
Never married but had illegitimate daughter
Knight of the Garter
Borrowed money from Elizabeth but couldn't repay it.
Elizabeth called him her ‘mouton’
Sir Walter Raleigh
Secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton
Elizabeth was insanely jealous
They were sent to the Tower Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex?
Over -stretched his authority and…..
1601 was not his best year!
…..Prime candidate for lover must be ……..
Sir Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester
BUT….. Intrigue follows….
Elizabeth had his bed chamber moved next to hers.
He did ask her to marry him. They were childhood sweethearts and were imprisoned in the Tower together
Politics won out in the end
He married Amy Robsart in 1550
She was never allowed at court
However…… in 1560 He had a long standing affair with Lettice.
Lettice Knollys, (Viscountess Hereford) married him secretly in 1578
She was the mother of Robert Devereux. ….but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! …and then in 1588!!!! Gay scandal or just close friendship
Piers Gaveston 1st Earl of Edward II’s coronation Cornwall 1284--1312 Edward I , known as ‘Longshanks’, banished Piers to France After death of Edward 1 he was recalled from exile
The Earldom of Cornwall Gaveston cavorting with Edward and hated by the Barons
‘Burst Belly’, Whoreson’, ‘the Fiddler’ Deddington Rectory in Oxfordshire Blacklow Hill and Warwick’s revenge Every picture tells a story!!! Warwick is happy! Edward was devastated. He spent a fortune on the funeral.
More disaster followed.
Defeat at Bannockburn 1314
His wife Isabella left him
She invaded England with her lover Mortimer
He abdicated
Murdered at Berkley Castle in 1327 OUCH !!!! Dorothea Jordan 1761 ---1816 A famous Anglo Irish comic actress
Had many affairs including having 3 illegitimate children with Sir Richard Ford However….
..sadly no marriage, so back on stage at Drury Lane
Peggy in ‘ The Country Girl’ Whilst touring she was nearly killed by falling stage machinery in 1782.
Her costume caught fire in 1802
She had a very enthralled admirer Duke of Clarence, later William IV, third son of George III Married to Queen Adelaide
20 year romance
10 illegitimate children with the surname FitzClarence Bushy House in Teddington
‘Fording the Jordan’ by Gilray and ‘Silly Billy’! The relationship ended in 1811 with a large settlement
William reclaimed his daughters in 1814 after she decided to go back to acting
Dorothea died in poverty in France in 1815
David Cameron (ex P.M) is a descendant
His wife Samantha is the Queens 11th cousin John ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton Inherited Halston Hall at 2 years of age £925,000 per annum
Expelled from Harrow 3 times
Loved practical jokes
Drank a lot
Travelled the world as an officer
Kept 2000 dogs for fox hunting
3,000 shirts, 1,000 hats, 700 hunting boots, and 150 hunting breeches.
Forced his horse to drink a bottle of port
Married twice
Paid a pretty companion £500 a year (£80 K)
Died in a debtors prison from liver damage in 1834 ‘We’ are not amused Princess Louise 1848--1939
Artistic
Rebellious There was a mystery here that’s been covered up by the Royal Family. Lucinda Hawksley , researcher
Great, great ,great granddaughter of Dickens National Gallery
Victoria and Albert Museum
Overseas archives Royal archives Duke of Argyll’s archives Sir Charles Locock 1862
18 years old Victoria's 6th child Cover up Walter Stirling
Louise with Leopold Henry Frederick Leicester Locock
Leicester Osborne House
No birth records, just an adoption certificate
Leicester died in 1907
Huge cash injection
Buried in Sevenoaks ,Kent
1867---1907 Fast forward to 2004
Nick Locock
Found all records were at Windsor Castle Never to be released! Dornden , Kent There is no absolute proof….BUT…….
The Locock family have a bronze sculpture of a baby gifted by Queen Victoria
A specially hand decorated framed photo of Henry as a baby
Henry’s father maintained a discreet silence
Henry was given the title of Royal Groom but with no responsibility and a large allowance
An anonymous benefactor set up a trust fund for Henry’s children Lord Lorne 9th Duke of Argyle..a cold fish! Joseph Edgar Boehm—sculptor Died in Louise’s arms
Younger sister, Beatrice scandal involving Louise
She died aged 91 Elizabeth Chudleigh—Mistress 1720--1788 Maid of Honour
Secretly married……..so she could retain her place at court
Augusta , Princess of Wales , mother of George 111 William Hervey R.N. Earl of Bristol
But…..she was very unhappy and separated 1744
Meanwhile….. She secretly married Duke of Kingston Scandalised Society at a Ball
'It has been asserted this lady appeared [at a masquerade] in a shape of flesh-coloured silk so nicely and closely fitted to her body as to produce a perfect review of the unadorned mother of mankind, and that this fair representative of frailty, … had contrived a method of giving as evident tokens of modesty, by binding her loins with a partial covering, or zone, of fig-leaves.'
She fled abroad never to return! Mocked in the press Celebrity Gossip columns
Courtesan Fanny Murray ….and a few other notable cases Nerissa and Katherine Bowes- Lyon – nieces of the Queen Mother and first cousins to the Queen
Incarcerated since 1941 in the Royal Earlswood Asylum for Mental Defectives, at Redhill in Surrey.
Sir Tatton Sykes, commonly known as Old Sir Tat of Yorkshire
Sledmore House
Walked 4 miles up and down the library daily before breakfast of a pint of stout and a pint of double cream Lord Clancarty –UFO’s Baron De Rothschild Lord Cornbury appointed Gov. of New York and New Jersey 1702--1708
Possibly!!!!!!! Prince John and nanny Lalla 1905---1919 He loved practical jokes and would put glue on door-handles and pins on chairs.
When he went out walking, he was tethered by a rope 'He was more of an animal than anything else. That I should be plunged into mourning for this!'
Henry Paget 5th Marquess of Anglesey
Annual allowance of over 50 million pounds
150-seat theatre
Married his beautiful cousin
He spent around half a billion pounds on gold accessories
“Butterfly Dance” Lord Rokeby…Born 1712
beard
water
barley
Humane treatment of animals and eating only locally grown food William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Portland
2 foot tall hat
umbrella
500 workers
1.5 mile underground passages
Trapdoors Henry Beresford , Marquess of Waterford
Brawler
Train crash!
Gin drinker Lord Berners, Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson (1883–1950) Dog throwing! Gerald Tyrwhitt Wilson 14th baronet of Berners
Giraffe
Doves
Dogs
Pigs head mask George Sitwell, 4th Baronet of Renishaw
Inventor toothbrush
Wasps!
Fox hunting Mad dogs and Englishmen……..