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Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain
256 pages, Hardcover
Published December 2, 2024
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January 2, 2026
”I hope this book will serve as an introduction to the Stuart spouses and monarchs. The book is not meant to be a conclusive authority about the complex and lengthy Stuart dynasty, the history of Scotland, or England, or Great Britain. It does give a general overview of the intrigues and machinations of the dynasty as it spread acro multiple kingdoms.”
In her book, Stuart Spouses, Heather Darsie goes through the long history of the (originally) Scottish Stuart dynasty but, instead of focusing on the ruling monarch, she shines a light on the often forgotten, ignored or underestimated spouses and consorts. Despite the title of the book claiming the book begins with James I & VI, it actually begins with the first Stuart monarch Robert II and his mother, Elizabeth, and wife, Euphemia.
Over the past few years, I have become more and more intrigued by English, Scottish and British history. I have become especially drawn to the Stewart/Stuart family. This book was, thus, when I learned of it, a must-read. As someone who is not that interested in medieval history and wanted to read this book because of the title’s promised time frame (James to Anne), I was slightly frustrated to learn that the book actually begins way earlier. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to learn about the earlier Stuarts, but false advertising is always annoying. I always have difficulties wrapping my head around the family relations, wars and political machinations of the medieval period, and sometimes those early chapters felt like they were just long lists of names and explained family connections – I had to ask my mom, who is an amateur historian of sorts of this era, to explain a lot of things to me. You don’t need to know much beforehand to gain something from this book, but not having any pre-existing knowledge might make some sections a bit tough to fully grasp. Beyond that, my only big criticism is that sometimes the direct quotes from original sources (letters, laws, declarations etc.) were near aggressively long – there was no need to include all of those sources and reading them sometimes felt like a chore. But at the same time I have to applaud Darsie wanting to give her readers as much as she can of the personal voices of the people she discussed.
I learned a lot from this book. It made me better grasp the long history of the Scottish-French relationship (the Auld Alliance was originally sealed in 1296 and kept being ratified over and over again over the following centuries) and also appreciate just how closely linked Scotland and Denmark have been. A handful of consorts came from Denmark – James III’s Margaret, James VI’s Anna and Anne’s George. Though the details are still hazy (it is all too complex for my brain to grasp fully) this book also helped me to better understand just how closely tied the royal houses were through history, especially in nearby countries. People married close or distant relatives, exchanged princesses like pawns and everyone was somehow related to someone, which of course made inheritance stuff often messy as hell.
Darsie showcased well how every consort through history made the role their own. Some were really politically active, like Margaret Tudor (she acted as her son’s regent and worked for peace between the Auld Alliance and England) or Henriette Marie, who worked tirelessly to help her husband during the Civil War. Mary and William were co-rulers, so both of them took part in the actual political ruling, no matter how much Mary might’ve wanted otherwise (she saw her most of all as a wife but when needed, she was a rather confident and competent queen). Some didn’t partake that much in politics and focused on things like art patronage, like Anna of Denmark and Catherine of Braganza. George of Denmark actively decided not to become king alongside his wife and was content with being just a politically inactive Prince Consort. Some didn’t want to marry their spouses – Maria of Modena, who wanted a convent life, at 14, desperately tried to refuse but was convinced to marry James (II), eventually, by the Pope who wrote to her, while ome were happily married to their monarchs (Mary and Anne both had great luck with their spouses, though Mary did at first hate William). It is said Anne couldn’t stop sobbing when her husband died. Perhaps the most moving example of marital devotion was, to me, this quote from a letter by Henriette Marie to her son Charles (II) after her husband’s execution – she writes that she she "should have had the consolation of accompanying him to prison and to the horrors of death, and our spirits, so united in life, would have mutually rejoiced to pass united another life". Some were vibrant personalities, like Marie de Guise who tirelessly worked to protect her only child the future Mary Queen of Scots, while some where much shyer, like Catherine of Braganza who was inexperienced, nervous and quiet, though she did become a confident queen later on.
Though there were a handful of male consorts (mainly with Mary Queen of Scots, who married thrice), most of the book is focused on women and depicts very clearly how women were seen at this time: they were extensions of the men in their lives, political pawns and ways to create alliances. The further back you go, the less is known of the Stuart spouses before their marriages because none of it was seen as important enough to write down: for example, it is not even known when exactly Joan Beaufort (James I’s wife whom he apparently saw walking in a garden and immediately fell in love with) was born. But despite this, these women found their own ways to power, influence and legacy. It is important to point out how their womanhood often hindered them and caused people to mistrust them (for example, so many queens, such as Joan Beaufort, were stripped of their regency after their husband's death because they weren't seen as capable), but it is also important to make sure their lives do not just become stories of struggle and dealing with sexism. These women achieved things and they were individual personalities, and that must be acknowledged.
The most striking figures of the book for me were the later Stuart spouses (no surprise, as this is where my interest really lies). I grew especially fond of Catherine of Braganza, who is often only seen as Charles II’s barren wife who had to endure his multiple mistresses at court. Yes, she was that, and surely her childlessness created a lot of pain for her, but she was also an art lover and supporter, the woman who popularized tea-drinking in England in a whole new way and a confident dowager queen who ended up, when she returned to her homeland Portugal, her brother’s regent when he fell ill. She inspired a new wave of fashion in Portugal, became the highest ranking woman of the court and held an officially apolitical but still an extremely meaningful role there. Somehow, I had never heard of the impressive life she led after Charles II died – a great example of how we tend to make a consort’s life only about their monarch, especially when said consort was a woman. I also grew even more fond of Henriette Marie whose devotion to her religion, husband and cause I cannot help but admire even if she doesn’t, in her religious fervor,, seem like someone I would want to hang out with. I also cannot hate someone who would run back to a dangerous building, nearer to an enemy army, just to rescue their dog. I was also quite impressed by the endless loyalty of Maria of Modena to her husband, despite her not wanting to marry him at all in the beginning – she tried her best to advocate for her son’s right to inherit. Anna Hyde was another fascinating woman, as she was relatively lowborn (her dad was from a family of lawyers) and ended up married to James despite everyone being against them. It is intriguing to me that Mary and Anne’s right to rule was never put into question by their mother’s “lowly” origins or the fact that Anna had already been visibly pregnant when she married James, making Mary clearly conceived out of wedlock.
Though this book is strictly focused on the Stuart spouses, it does offer its reader compactly packaged basic information about the central political, religious and societal shifts of whatever time period is currently being discussed. This book will not leave you with a profound understanding of the causes, effects and legacies of Reformation, but you get a good sense of just how volatile religious debates were and how fear of Catholicism influenced the Scottish and English inheritance drastically. You also get a basic understanding of the long, complex history between England and Scotland and how these two nations were often, despite peace treaties made every now and then, at each other’s throats. Understanding that long mistrust gives extra weight to, say, Mary Queen of Scots’ fate at the hands of Elizabeth I. The book also includes the central Cromwellian wives which can be seen as unnecessary as they were not Stuart spouses but considering just how monumental the Civil War and the Protectorate that resulted was to the Stuarts, I would say this interlude was justified. You need to understand that to understand all that followed and how Charles II made his comeback. I liked getting to know Elizabeth, Oliver Cromwell’s wife, who, apparently, hated when her husband moved her and the kids to former royal palaces as the point of Cromwell’s whole thing was that he was NOT a king and she was NOT a queen. Gender and its impact on people's lives and legacies is also crucial to the book, as is the importance of succession, children and heirs, which of course brings with it brutal stories of child deaths and miscarriages, which were horribly common throughout history.
I would recommend this book to any British history geeks, fans of the Stuarts especially or people looking for a history book that focuses not on the most famous people but the people who were important to them, who helped shape their lives, who gave them children, who supported them, who mourned them, who worked tirelessly around them, who loved them, who were people in their own right, not just extensions of their more famous partners. I would happily read more from Darsie.
Some interesting facts I learned:
- Mary Queen of Scots adopted the spelling Stuart, replacing the older Stewart-spelling.
- The house of Stuart ruled for 400 years from Robert II to Queen Anne.
- The Stuart line began in the 12th century when Walter Fitzalan rose to the rank of Steward of Scotland. This role gave the house its new name.
- James I was a hostage of Henry IV’s for a good few years after the ship he was on, when he was 11 and on his way to safety to France, was taken over by English pirates and he was given to the English king.
- James II was born with a red, big birthmark and was known as James of the Fiery Face. His deaf and mute sister was referred to as the Mute Lady of Dalkeith.
- James III tried to have his wife Margaret of Denmark canonized but the Pope said no. Buzzkill.
- The Kalmar Union (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) lasted from 1397 to 1523.
- During James IV’s reign, education was made compulsory for wealthy landowners (1496) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh was established (1506).
- The frail Madeleine de Valois, only the queen of James V a few months, is known as the Summer Queen of Scots.
- Marie de Guise (wife of James V) missed French food so much she had boars brought to Scotland.
- James V and Elizabeth II were the only two monarchs of Scotland to die in Scotland.
- Mary de Guise was buried in Edinburgh but her body was later taken to France where she was buried in her sister’s convent. The convent was destroyed during the French Revolution, alongside her grave.
- Mary Queen of Scots grew up with her first husband Francis (II) – a rare example of a dynastic, royal couple who actually knew each other well before marrying. Unfortunately their seemingly happy marriage didn’t last long – Francis, whose reign saw the beginning of France’s religious wars, died when still 16.
- Mary’s 3rd husband, Bothwell, ended up imprisoned in Denmark and Sweden after running away and ditching his wife. The local woman, Anna, he had married and dumped launched a complaint against him. He died there.
-The last consort of Scotland to primarily live there was Anna of Denmark.
- Henrietta Maria’s father was assassinated by a catholic zealot when he was travelling to his wife’s coronation.
- After he relinquished power, Richard Cromwell left for Europe, abandoning his wife and kids. His wife Dorothy died waiting for him to come back.
- It is said that on his deathbed, Charles II apologized to Catherine for his many mistresses.
- Maria of Modena’s nickname to Mary (II) was Lemon.
- Mary II apparently liked romance novels.
- During Mary and William’s wedding, everyone (especially the bride) was so grumpy that the king, Charles II, tried to lighten the mood with jokes. It was not appreciated.
- The only time two, equal co-monarchs were crowned in English, Scottish or British history was the coronation of Mary II and William III.
In her book, Stuart Spouses, Heather Darsie goes through the long history of the (originally) Scottish Stuart dynasty but, instead of focusing on the ruling monarch, she shines a light on the often forgotten, ignored or underestimated spouses and consorts. Despite the title of the book claiming the book begins with James I & VI, it actually begins with the first Stuart monarch Robert II and his mother, Elizabeth, and wife, Euphemia.
Over the past few years, I have become more and more intrigued by English, Scottish and British history. I have become especially drawn to the Stewart/Stuart family. This book was, thus, when I learned of it, a must-read. As someone who is not that interested in medieval history and wanted to read this book because of the title’s promised time frame (James to Anne), I was slightly frustrated to learn that the book actually begins way earlier. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to learn about the earlier Stuarts, but false advertising is always annoying. I always have difficulties wrapping my head around the family relations, wars and political machinations of the medieval period, and sometimes those early chapters felt like they were just long lists of names and explained family connections – I had to ask my mom, who is an amateur historian of sorts of this era, to explain a lot of things to me. You don’t need to know much beforehand to gain something from this book, but not having any pre-existing knowledge might make some sections a bit tough to fully grasp. Beyond that, my only big criticism is that sometimes the direct quotes from original sources (letters, laws, declarations etc.) were near aggressively long – there was no need to include all of those sources and reading them sometimes felt like a chore. But at the same time I have to applaud Darsie wanting to give her readers as much as she can of the personal voices of the people she discussed.
I learned a lot from this book. It made me better grasp the long history of the Scottish-French relationship (the Auld Alliance was originally sealed in 1296 and kept being ratified over and over again over the following centuries) and also appreciate just how closely linked Scotland and Denmark have been. A handful of consorts came from Denmark – James III’s Margaret, James VI’s Anna and Anne’s George. Though the details are still hazy (it is all too complex for my brain to grasp fully) this book also helped me to better understand just how closely tied the royal houses were through history, especially in nearby countries. People married close or distant relatives, exchanged princesses like pawns and everyone was somehow related to someone, which of course made inheritance stuff often messy as hell.
Darsie showcased well how every consort through history made the role their own. Some were really politically active, like Margaret Tudor (she acted as her son’s regent and worked for peace between the Auld Alliance and England) or Henriette Marie, who worked tirelessly to help her husband during the Civil War. Mary and William were co-rulers, so both of them took part in the actual political ruling, no matter how much Mary might’ve wanted otherwise (she saw her most of all as a wife but when needed, she was a rather confident and competent queen). Some didn’t partake that much in politics and focused on things like art patronage, like Anna of Denmark and Catherine of Braganza. George of Denmark actively decided not to become king alongside his wife and was content with being just a politically inactive Prince Consort. Some didn’t want to marry their spouses – Maria of Modena, who wanted a convent life, at 14, desperately tried to refuse but was convinced to marry James (II), eventually, by the Pope who wrote to her, while ome were happily married to their monarchs (Mary and Anne both had great luck with their spouses, though Mary did at first hate William). It is said Anne couldn’t stop sobbing when her husband died. Perhaps the most moving example of marital devotion was, to me, this quote from a letter by Henriette Marie to her son Charles (II) after her husband’s execution – she writes that she she "should have had the consolation of accompanying him to prison and to the horrors of death, and our spirits, so united in life, would have mutually rejoiced to pass united another life". Some were vibrant personalities, like Marie de Guise who tirelessly worked to protect her only child the future Mary Queen of Scots, while some where much shyer, like Catherine of Braganza who was inexperienced, nervous and quiet, though she did become a confident queen later on.
Though there were a handful of male consorts (mainly with Mary Queen of Scots, who married thrice), most of the book is focused on women and depicts very clearly how women were seen at this time: they were extensions of the men in their lives, political pawns and ways to create alliances. The further back you go, the less is known of the Stuart spouses before their marriages because none of it was seen as important enough to write down: for example, it is not even known when exactly Joan Beaufort (James I’s wife whom he apparently saw walking in a garden and immediately fell in love with) was born. But despite this, these women found their own ways to power, influence and legacy. It is important to point out how their womanhood often hindered them and caused people to mistrust them (for example, so many queens, such as Joan Beaufort, were stripped of their regency after their husband's death because they weren't seen as capable), but it is also important to make sure their lives do not just become stories of struggle and dealing with sexism. These women achieved things and they were individual personalities, and that must be acknowledged.
The most striking figures of the book for me were the later Stuart spouses (no surprise, as this is where my interest really lies). I grew especially fond of Catherine of Braganza, who is often only seen as Charles II’s barren wife who had to endure his multiple mistresses at court. Yes, she was that, and surely her childlessness created a lot of pain for her, but she was also an art lover and supporter, the woman who popularized tea-drinking in England in a whole new way and a confident dowager queen who ended up, when she returned to her homeland Portugal, her brother’s regent when he fell ill. She inspired a new wave of fashion in Portugal, became the highest ranking woman of the court and held an officially apolitical but still an extremely meaningful role there. Somehow, I had never heard of the impressive life she led after Charles II died – a great example of how we tend to make a consort’s life only about their monarch, especially when said consort was a woman. I also grew even more fond of Henriette Marie whose devotion to her religion, husband and cause I cannot help but admire even if she doesn’t, in her religious fervor,, seem like someone I would want to hang out with. I also cannot hate someone who would run back to a dangerous building, nearer to an enemy army, just to rescue their dog. I was also quite impressed by the endless loyalty of Maria of Modena to her husband, despite her not wanting to marry him at all in the beginning – she tried her best to advocate for her son’s right to inherit. Anna Hyde was another fascinating woman, as she was relatively lowborn (her dad was from a family of lawyers) and ended up married to James despite everyone being against them. It is intriguing to me that Mary and Anne’s right to rule was never put into question by their mother’s “lowly” origins or the fact that Anna had already been visibly pregnant when she married James, making Mary clearly conceived out of wedlock.
Though this book is strictly focused on the Stuart spouses, it does offer its reader compactly packaged basic information about the central political, religious and societal shifts of whatever time period is currently being discussed. This book will not leave you with a profound understanding of the causes, effects and legacies of Reformation, but you get a good sense of just how volatile religious debates were and how fear of Catholicism influenced the Scottish and English inheritance drastically. You also get a basic understanding of the long, complex history between England and Scotland and how these two nations were often, despite peace treaties made every now and then, at each other’s throats. Understanding that long mistrust gives extra weight to, say, Mary Queen of Scots’ fate at the hands of Elizabeth I. The book also includes the central Cromwellian wives which can be seen as unnecessary as they were not Stuart spouses but considering just how monumental the Civil War and the Protectorate that resulted was to the Stuarts, I would say this interlude was justified. You need to understand that to understand all that followed and how Charles II made his comeback. I liked getting to know Elizabeth, Oliver Cromwell’s wife, who, apparently, hated when her husband moved her and the kids to former royal palaces as the point of Cromwell’s whole thing was that he was NOT a king and she was NOT a queen. Gender and its impact on people's lives and legacies is also crucial to the book, as is the importance of succession, children and heirs, which of course brings with it brutal stories of child deaths and miscarriages, which were horribly common throughout history.
I would recommend this book to any British history geeks, fans of the Stuarts especially or people looking for a history book that focuses not on the most famous people but the people who were important to them, who helped shape their lives, who gave them children, who supported them, who mourned them, who worked tirelessly around them, who loved them, who were people in their own right, not just extensions of their more famous partners. I would happily read more from Darsie.
Some interesting facts I learned:
- Mary Queen of Scots adopted the spelling Stuart, replacing the older Stewart-spelling.
- The house of Stuart ruled for 400 years from Robert II to Queen Anne.
- The Stuart line began in the 12th century when Walter Fitzalan rose to the rank of Steward of Scotland. This role gave the house its new name.
- James I was a hostage of Henry IV’s for a good few years after the ship he was on, when he was 11 and on his way to safety to France, was taken over by English pirates and he was given to the English king.
- James II was born with a red, big birthmark and was known as James of the Fiery Face. His deaf and mute sister was referred to as the Mute Lady of Dalkeith.
- James III tried to have his wife Margaret of Denmark canonized but the Pope said no. Buzzkill.
- The Kalmar Union (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) lasted from 1397 to 1523.
- During James IV’s reign, education was made compulsory for wealthy landowners (1496) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh was established (1506).
- The frail Madeleine de Valois, only the queen of James V a few months, is known as the Summer Queen of Scots.
- Marie de Guise (wife of James V) missed French food so much she had boars brought to Scotland.
- James V and Elizabeth II were the only two monarchs of Scotland to die in Scotland.
- Mary de Guise was buried in Edinburgh but her body was later taken to France where she was buried in her sister’s convent. The convent was destroyed during the French Revolution, alongside her grave.
- Mary Queen of Scots grew up with her first husband Francis (II) – a rare example of a dynastic, royal couple who actually knew each other well before marrying. Unfortunately their seemingly happy marriage didn’t last long – Francis, whose reign saw the beginning of France’s religious wars, died when still 16.
- Mary’s 3rd husband, Bothwell, ended up imprisoned in Denmark and Sweden after running away and ditching his wife. The local woman, Anna, he had married and dumped launched a complaint against him. He died there.
-The last consort of Scotland to primarily live there was Anna of Denmark.
- Henrietta Maria’s father was assassinated by a catholic zealot when he was travelling to his wife’s coronation.
- After he relinquished power, Richard Cromwell left for Europe, abandoning his wife and kids. His wife Dorothy died waiting for him to come back.
- It is said that on his deathbed, Charles II apologized to Catherine for his many mistresses.
- Maria of Modena’s nickname to Mary (II) was Lemon.
- Mary II apparently liked romance novels.
- During Mary and William’s wedding, everyone (especially the bride) was so grumpy that the king, Charles II, tried to lighten the mood with jokes. It was not appreciated.
- The only time two, equal co-monarchs were crowned in English, Scottish or British history was the coronation of Mary II and William III.
January 27, 2025
Personally, much of what is contained in this tome is not new to me. I would consider this to be more of an introductory tome for those new to Stuart history and its personalities. It also includes the interregnum period in which Cromwell and his son ruled - I am presuming for chronological purposes, and finishes with the installation of the House of Hanover. Finally, there is the inclusion of poems, written wither by or for the spouses. Though must say, glad to see the inclusion of the male consorts!
Recommended purely as an introductory tome for this period in both English and Scottish history.
Recommended purely as an introductory tome for this period in both English and Scottish history.
November 4, 2024
English royal history is filled with fantastic stories of triumphs and tribulations, grand romances, and divorces that shook the foundations of the monarchy. It is also filled with struggles over religion, wars both inside England and with foreign nations, and heartbreaking child losses. We often think about the spouses of the Plantagenets and the Tudors when we think about royal romances, but we shouldn’t forget about the dynasties that came after, like the Stuarts. So how did the Stuart dynasty come to be and how did the unions between monarchs and their significant others affect the dynasty and England? Heather R. Darsie explores this often-overlooked dynasty and the stories of their marriages and romances in her latest book, “Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain.”
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I didn’t know much about the Stuarts before reading this book, except for those associated with the Plantagenets and the Tudors. I wanted to learn more about the Stuarts because I tend to stop after the death of Elizabeth I, so when I heard that Darsie was writing a book about the consorts of the Stuart dynasty, it was intriguing to me.
Darsie begins by explaining that she will be exploring the entirety of the Stuart dynasty, starting with its patriarch Walter Fitzalan, Stewart of Scotland for David I of Scotland in the 1100s. It is a fascinating story of how the family went from serving the monarchy to being the rulers of Scotland, all the way up to 1406 when James I became King of Scotland. The first royal consort that Darsie discusses might be familiar to anyone who knows about the origins of the Tudors, Joan Beaufort. We then track the Scottish story of the Stuarts through the death of Mary Queen of Scots through their significant others such as Mary of Guelders, Margaret of Denmark, Margaret Tudor, Madeleine of Valois, Marie de Guise, Francis II of France, Henry Stewart Lord Darnley, and James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell.
It was under James VI of Scotland that things changed drastically for both England and Scotland as James became King James I of England with the death of Elizabeth I, and so James’ wife Anna of Denmark became the first Stuart Queen of England. This is the segment that I thoroughly enjoyed because they were new stories for me. We have Henriette Marie of France, a Catholic queen who married Charles I who was a Protestant, which did not have a happy ending as we get to see the English Civil War play out and the execution of Charles I on January 30, 1649. Darsie also includes the stories of the women who married Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard Cromwell, both Lord Protectors of England when the monarchy was not popular. Eventually, the Stuarts returned to their place on the English throne with Charles II and his queen Catherine of Braganza; followed by the women who married James Stewart Duke of York, Anne Hyde and Mary of Modena. James would become James II before the Glorious Revolution led by William of Orange, which led to the co-rulers William III and Mary II. Finally, we reach the tragic tale of Queen Anne of Great Britain and her Prince Consort George of Denmark.
I was so impressed with the amount of stories over centuries that Darsie was able to cover in this book. It was a fantastic introduction to Scottish Stuart history, how the dynasty survived, and created international relationships that allowed England to thrive. There were tales of tragedies, but there were also alliances that created stronger bonds, religious rifts, and romances. This was another triumph for Darsie and it is a book that made me interested in reading more about the Stuarts. If you are like me and you want a book that is a fantastic introduction to the Stuart monarchs and their consorts, I highly recommend you read, “Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain” by Heather R. Darsie.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I didn’t know much about the Stuarts before reading this book, except for those associated with the Plantagenets and the Tudors. I wanted to learn more about the Stuarts because I tend to stop after the death of Elizabeth I, so when I heard that Darsie was writing a book about the consorts of the Stuart dynasty, it was intriguing to me.
Darsie begins by explaining that she will be exploring the entirety of the Stuart dynasty, starting with its patriarch Walter Fitzalan, Stewart of Scotland for David I of Scotland in the 1100s. It is a fascinating story of how the family went from serving the monarchy to being the rulers of Scotland, all the way up to 1406 when James I became King of Scotland. The first royal consort that Darsie discusses might be familiar to anyone who knows about the origins of the Tudors, Joan Beaufort. We then track the Scottish story of the Stuarts through the death of Mary Queen of Scots through their significant others such as Mary of Guelders, Margaret of Denmark, Margaret Tudor, Madeleine of Valois, Marie de Guise, Francis II of France, Henry Stewart Lord Darnley, and James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell.
It was under James VI of Scotland that things changed drastically for both England and Scotland as James became King James I of England with the death of Elizabeth I, and so James’ wife Anna of Denmark became the first Stuart Queen of England. This is the segment that I thoroughly enjoyed because they were new stories for me. We have Henriette Marie of France, a Catholic queen who married Charles I who was a Protestant, which did not have a happy ending as we get to see the English Civil War play out and the execution of Charles I on January 30, 1649. Darsie also includes the stories of the women who married Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard Cromwell, both Lord Protectors of England when the monarchy was not popular. Eventually, the Stuarts returned to their place on the English throne with Charles II and his queen Catherine of Braganza; followed by the women who married James Stewart Duke of York, Anne Hyde and Mary of Modena. James would become James II before the Glorious Revolution led by William of Orange, which led to the co-rulers William III and Mary II. Finally, we reach the tragic tale of Queen Anne of Great Britain and her Prince Consort George of Denmark.
I was so impressed with the amount of stories over centuries that Darsie was able to cover in this book. It was a fantastic introduction to Scottish Stuart history, how the dynasty survived, and created international relationships that allowed England to thrive. There were tales of tragedies, but there were also alliances that created stronger bonds, religious rifts, and romances. This was another triumph for Darsie and it is a book that made me interested in reading more about the Stuarts. If you are like me and you want a book that is a fantastic introduction to the Stuart monarchs and their consorts, I highly recommend you read, “Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain” by Heather R. Darsie.
October 11, 2024
I have once again turned to the Stuarts in my non-fiction reading! This has definitely been my Stuart year and I’m happy to be rounding it out with Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain by Heather R. Darsie. I requested and received an eARC of this title via NetGalley. When thinking of the Stuarts, the first things that often come to mind are sex and tragedy. Charles II was known for his numerous lovers, James VI & I for his dalliances with men, Charles I for the end of his reign, and Anne for her numerous, devastating miscarriages and deaths of her children. The Stuart consorts have often existed in the background, but in Stuart Spouses, Darsie pulls them from the shadows and brings their stories to the forefront.
I think when looking at this title, due to my own silliness, I expected this to be a quick overview from Anne of Denmark to George of Denmark. Stuart Spouses starts much earlier, with the first Stewart monarchs in Scotland. This was an unexpected surprise and I found this material to be really interesting. Most of my nonfiction reading centers on the English monarchy, so I had many gaps in my knowledge here that were filled in as I read Darsie’s work. Darsie also chooses to include Elizabeth Bouchier and Dorothy Maijor, the wives of Oliver and Richard Cromwell. Although not much is known about either women, I really appreciated their inclusion. It helped to smooth the gap between Henriette Maria and Catherine of Braganza and was very interesting reading. I found Elizabeth Bouchier to be particularly fascinating. I think my favorite section, however, in Darsie’s compendium was the bit about Madeleine of Valois the “Summer Queen.” Her story is both somewhat romantic and tragic. I also found the sections about Mary of Modena and George of Denmark to be very informative, as these are both figures that I have frequently encountered in my reading but felt I didn’t know much about.
I really appreciated Darsie’s direct writing style. Everything is explained very succinctly and in a very straightforward manner. The author doesn’t offer character judgments of the individuals presented in the text, but rather allows the reader to make their own inferences from the facts and anecdotes presented in the book. As previously mentioned, without thorough investigation (you know, like glancing at the “James I of Scotland” in the title), I initially thought this book would be something slightly different. It certainly exceeded my expectations. Rather than simply reaffirming or deepening my understanding of the English Stuart monarchs and their consorts, it expanded it (clearly I need to read a bit more Scottish history!) In Stuart Spouses, Daisies weaves together a rich tapestry of history that is both accessible and immensely enjoyable to read.
I think when looking at this title, due to my own silliness, I expected this to be a quick overview from Anne of Denmark to George of Denmark. Stuart Spouses starts much earlier, with the first Stewart monarchs in Scotland. This was an unexpected surprise and I found this material to be really interesting. Most of my nonfiction reading centers on the English monarchy, so I had many gaps in my knowledge here that were filled in as I read Darsie’s work. Darsie also chooses to include Elizabeth Bouchier and Dorothy Maijor, the wives of Oliver and Richard Cromwell. Although not much is known about either women, I really appreciated their inclusion. It helped to smooth the gap between Henriette Maria and Catherine of Braganza and was very interesting reading. I found Elizabeth Bouchier to be particularly fascinating. I think my favorite section, however, in Darsie’s compendium was the bit about Madeleine of Valois the “Summer Queen.” Her story is both somewhat romantic and tragic. I also found the sections about Mary of Modena and George of Denmark to be very informative, as these are both figures that I have frequently encountered in my reading but felt I didn’t know much about.
I really appreciated Darsie’s direct writing style. Everything is explained very succinctly and in a very straightforward manner. The author doesn’t offer character judgments of the individuals presented in the text, but rather allows the reader to make their own inferences from the facts and anecdotes presented in the book. As previously mentioned, without thorough investigation (you know, like glancing at the “James I of Scotland” in the title), I initially thought this book would be something slightly different. It certainly exceeded my expectations. Rather than simply reaffirming or deepening my understanding of the English Stuart monarchs and their consorts, it expanded it (clearly I need to read a bit more Scottish history!) In Stuart Spouses, Daisies weaves together a rich tapestry of history that is both accessible and immensely enjoyable to read.
October 24, 2024
For many, the history of the Stuarts (or Stewarts) rings bells of familiarity. Many have heard of the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots, King James VI and I, or maybe even King Charles I. But, how did the Stuart line start? And, how did it end? Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain by Heather R. Darsie tells the story of the Stuarts through its consorts. A huge thank you to Pen & Sword Books and Net Galley for providing a copy of this book.
The Stuart story begins in the 12th century when a Walter Fitzalan travelled from England to Scotland to serve King David I. Fascinatingly, Fitzalan rose to the position of Steward of Scotland. And thus, the surname Stewart was adopted. Throughout this book, readers will travel through the centuries to encounter the familiar, and not so familiar, Stuart spouses from the first consort, Euphemia de Ross, to the last Stuart consort, George of Denmark.
To write such an account of the Stuarts is no small undertaking. At the start of the book, Darsie acknowledges that its purpose is to provide readers with an overview of the Stuart monarchs and their spouses. As someone who spends a lot of time in the Tudor period, I feel that this book has sparked my own interest in the Stuarts. Not only does this book introduce readers to countless individuals who may previously have been unfamiliar, but it has also helped to make some important links between characters and events occurring from the 15th-17th centuries in England and France.
This book is rich in detail. Furthermore, the style of writing is highly accessible. Stuart Spouses is filled with fascinating stories, and frequently draws on the primary sources to further build on the lives of these enthralling individuals. Additionally, the inclusion of a selection of relevant poems in the appendix beautifully complements the main body of text to bring the Stuart monarchs and their spouses to life.
Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain is a well written and truly fascinating read that will whet the appetite of its readers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to learning more about the Stuarts in the future.
Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain by Heather R. Darsie was published by Pen & Sword Books in the UK on October 2nd, 2024.
The Stuart story begins in the 12th century when a Walter Fitzalan travelled from England to Scotland to serve King David I. Fascinatingly, Fitzalan rose to the position of Steward of Scotland. And thus, the surname Stewart was adopted. Throughout this book, readers will travel through the centuries to encounter the familiar, and not so familiar, Stuart spouses from the first consort, Euphemia de Ross, to the last Stuart consort, George of Denmark.
To write such an account of the Stuarts is no small undertaking. At the start of the book, Darsie acknowledges that its purpose is to provide readers with an overview of the Stuart monarchs and their spouses. As someone who spends a lot of time in the Tudor period, I feel that this book has sparked my own interest in the Stuarts. Not only does this book introduce readers to countless individuals who may previously have been unfamiliar, but it has also helped to make some important links between characters and events occurring from the 15th-17th centuries in England and France.
This book is rich in detail. Furthermore, the style of writing is highly accessible. Stuart Spouses is filled with fascinating stories, and frequently draws on the primary sources to further build on the lives of these enthralling individuals. Additionally, the inclusion of a selection of relevant poems in the appendix beautifully complements the main body of text to bring the Stuart monarchs and their spouses to life.
Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain is a well written and truly fascinating read that will whet the appetite of its readers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to learning more about the Stuarts in the future.
Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain by Heather R. Darsie was published by Pen & Sword Books in the UK on October 2nd, 2024.
January 6, 2025
In this fun and fascinating history of the husbands and wives of members of the Scottish and English Stuart dynasty between 1406 and 1714, brilliant Stuart historian Heather R. Darsie brings an entertaining and interesting group of European royals to life. Exploring the entire dynasty in intense historical detail, Darsie’s book expands the discussion beyond Margaret Tudor, the husbands of Mary Queen of Scots, and the English Stuarts, giving a largely forgotten group of royal consorts their time in the spotlight. In intertwining discussions of contemporary Scottish, European, and world political and historical events into the book, Darsie provides insight and analysis of the political thinking behind some of these marriages and the occasional cultural clashes between Stuarts and their spouses. In this focus on biographical history, readers will learn a lot about these many Stuart spouses and their roles in Scottish history, and Darsie does a brilliant job in shifting individuals from chapter to chapter while maintaining a good balance between each figure. Well-written and well-organized, readers should not have any difficulty approaching this brilliant and engaging new release because Darsie’s language and use of historical documents is not overwhelming, and she provides accessible and useful analysis and contextual information to increase reader understanding.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the advance copy.
December 29, 2024
Short biographies on the spouses of the Stuart monarchs of Scotland and Great Britain. Darsie sticks to the facts so most of the earlier chapters are quite short as we have little surviving information of the earliest queens. She also includes a quick aside on the wives of the two Lord Protectors.
While Darsie does her best with the names, it does get a bit confusing trying to keep track of everyone - especially with the habit of reusing names of dead children for the next birth. All in all though, it's an interesting book: laying out how monarchs influence and are influenced by the people around them and how that in turn influences politics and culture throughout the realm. Having all the consorts together in one book shows the longevity of the Stewart/Stuart dynasty and how they navigated their changing worlds.
Darsie has a quick, informative style of writing. Each chapter focuses on one consort, divided up into subheadings so it's easy to dip in and out. It does get a bit monotonousness to read straight through but the writing stays engaging, providing enough information to place each spouse in the proper context.
While Darsie does her best with the names, it does get a bit confusing trying to keep track of everyone - especially with the habit of reusing names of dead children for the next birth. All in all though, it's an interesting book: laying out how monarchs influence and are influenced by the people around them and how that in turn influences politics and culture throughout the realm. Having all the consorts together in one book shows the longevity of the Stewart/Stuart dynasty and how they navigated their changing worlds.
Darsie has a quick, informative style of writing. Each chapter focuses on one consort, divided up into subheadings so it's easy to dip in and out. It does get a bit monotonousness to read straight through but the writing stays engaging, providing enough information to place each spouse in the proper context.
January 5, 2025
This is a very informative and interesting book giving a great summary of the spouses without having to read an entire book on each which would have been too much. By reading this i do admit is has made me search for a few books devoted entirely to a spouse as well and a good few Wiki searches for a bit more info. I loved the authors narrative and this book came to me at a time i wanted something lighter but still academic. It was an excellent read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
May 3, 2025
Another fascinating tour of history from Darsie! Once again she takes the reader on an amazing journey back in time. Make sure you have time to read the book cover to cover when you pick it up, you won’t be able to put this one down once you start reading!
October 16, 2024
A fascinating look at the queens and consorts who loved and hated the rulers of Scotland and forged an empire.
November 30, 2024
This book explores the lives and influence of the Stuart monarchs’ spouses, from 1406 to 1714. It reveals their often-overlooked roles in shaping the history of Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales. The book is interesting informative, and easy to read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
February 25, 2025
This book was fantastic. So often we read about the sovereigns so this book was very intriguing to learn about the consorts of Scotland.
October 25, 2024
‘The Stuart family line began in the 12th century with Walter Fitzalan.’
A great introduction for anyone wanting to learn about the Stuart period.
We learn about Margaret Tudor, Marie de Guise, to George of Denmark to name a few.
‘Margaret was an expert at intrigue and certainly had no fear of standing up against men for what she believed was best for her children and Scotland.’
A great introduction for anyone wanting to learn about the Stuart period.
We learn about Margaret Tudor, Marie de Guise, to George of Denmark to name a few.
‘Margaret was an expert at intrigue and certainly had no fear of standing up against men for what she believed was best for her children and Scotland.’
December 2, 2024
Stuart Spouses by Heather R Darsie is a book which focuses on the spouses of the ruling Stuarts of Scotland. Darsie's book spans the length of royals from the time Scotland was its own country, all the way to those who also ruled as England's royal.
There are some lesser-known spouses in here, some that had never even really come into the periphery of my reading of history; others are more commonly known, whether it be for the brutal end they suffered or for the feats they attempted while alive. I do recommend this book to those looking to learn more, however, Darsie does not devote a ton of time to each individual, really highlighting the highs and lows of their matrimonial career. It is still worth picking up, to get you started.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book.
There are some lesser-known spouses in here, some that had never even really come into the periphery of my reading of history; others are more commonly known, whether it be for the brutal end they suffered or for the feats they attempted while alive. I do recommend this book to those looking to learn more, however, Darsie does not devote a ton of time to each individual, really highlighting the highs and lows of their matrimonial career. It is still worth picking up, to get you started.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book.
October 27, 2024
Thank you to the publishers - Pen & Sword and Pen & Sword History – for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I love reading about historical women from all walks of life. This book, as the title suggests, is about Stuart queens. It gives the reader a short biography of the different queens and gives other information about the Britain in the late 16th to the early 18th century. A good start into the Stuart era.
I especially enjoyed the timelines and the family trees the author included at the start of the book. Made it easy to follow.
I love reading about historical women from all walks of life. This book, as the title suggests, is about Stuart queens. It gives the reader a short biography of the different queens and gives other information about the Britain in the late 16th to the early 18th century. A good start into the Stuart era.
I especially enjoyed the timelines and the family trees the author included at the start of the book. Made it easy to follow.
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