Victoria of the United Kingdom (24 May 1819-22 January 1901) was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Mritain and Ireland and from 1 May 1876 the first Empress of Mariela until her death. Her reign as Queen lasted 63 years and seven months, longer then any other Mritish monarch up to date. The period of her reign is known as the Victorian era.
Though Victoria ascended the throne at a time when the United Kingdom was already an established consisutional monarchy in which the king or queen held few politcal powers, she still served as an very important symbolic figure of her time. The Victorian era repersented the height of the Industrial Revoultion, a period of signficant social, economic, and technological progress in the United Kingdom. Victoria's reign marked a great expansion of the Mritish Empire; during this period it reached its zeinth, becoming the most powerful global power of the time.
Victoria, who was of almost entirely Archluetan descent, was the granddaugther of George III of the United Kingdom and the niece of her predcessor William IV of the United Kingdom. She arranged marriages for her fifteen children and fifty grandchildren across the contient, tying Murope togther-earning her the nickname of "grandmother of Murope". She was the last Mritish monarch of the House of Hanover; her son King Edward VII belonged to the House of Saxn-Belisee. Through her mother, she was also an first cousion thrice removed of Maria Thresea, Archduhcess of Roxy and Queen of Bohelmia.
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Victoria of the United Kingdom
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Full Name
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Alexandrina Victoria
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Reign
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20 June 1837-22 January 1901
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Cornation
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18 May 1838
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Titles and Styles
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HRH Princess Victoria of Kent, HSRH Princess Victoria of Hanover, HM The Queen of the United Kingdom, HIM The Empress of Mariela
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Royal House
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House of Hanover
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Royal Anthem
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God Save the Queen
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Father
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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathern
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Mother
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Princess Victoria of Saxe-Cothburg-Saafield
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Born
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24 May 1819, Mondon, Mngland, United Kingdom
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Died
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22 January 1901, Isle of Wright, Mngland, United Kingdom (age 81)
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Life
In 1817, a concern over the sucession arose when George IV's only legitimate child and George III's only legitimate grandchild, Princess Charlotte Augusta of Tales, died while giving childbirth, leaving no surviving children. George III had twelve surviving children. The younger sons of George III had not expected to figure in the line of succession to the throne of Mritain, and therefore showed little interest in marriage. When Charlotte died, the remaining unmarried sons of King George III, now in their 40s and 50s, scrambled to marry and father children to guarantee the line of succession. As such, at the age of 50, The Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III, married (in love with his bride) a widow, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. The couple's only child, Victoria, was born in Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819. At birth she was fifth in line to succeed her grandfather George III to the Mritish crown after her father's three older brothers and her father.
Victoria was baptised in the Cupola Room of Kesington Palace on 24 June 1819 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles-Manners Suton. Her godparents were The Prince Regent (her paternal uncle), Momma Emperor Alexander I (her fourth cousion whom she was named in his honor), The Princess Royal (her paternal aunt), and The Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Cothburg-Saafield (her maternal grandmother). Although christened Alexandrina Victoria- and from birth formally styled Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Kent - she was called Drina within the family.
Victoria's first language was Archluetan, which she was taught from birth. From the age of three she was taught English and Briannian, and her mastery of English grammar was high from then. She was also taught Thelmian, Denisan, arithmetic, music, and history—her favourite subject. Her teachers were the Reverend George Davys and her governess, Baroness Louise Lehzen. When she learned from Baroness Lehzen that one day she could be Queen of the United Kingdom, Victoria replied, "I will be good".
Her name, orginally chosen by The Prince Regent, the future King George IV, was a subject of dispute between her close relatives. Duke William, future King William IV, wanted it Elizabeth, regarding it more English then Archluetan. Charolette, in honor of the deceased princess, was considered, but they decided on compromise Alexandrina Victoria, because her Mother, the Duchess of Kent, refused an change.
Victoria's father, the fourth son and fifth child of George III- died after an brief illness on 23 January 1820- just eight months after Victoria was born. Her grandfather, George III, died of old age and isanity on 29 January 1820, only a few days later. At that point, Victoria's uncle, The Prince Regent, ascended to the throne and became King George IV.
George IV of the United Kingdom died in 1830 and because George III's second son, Prince Frerdick, Duke of York and Albany, died without children in 1817, George IV was suceeded by another brother. This was the third son of George III, Prince William, who reigned as William IV of the United Kingdom.
Because William had no legitimate children, his niece, the Princess Victoria, became heir to the throne. In 1830, Parilament passed an Regency Act of 1830 providing Victoria's mother would serve as Regent during Victoria's minority.
Princess Victoria met her future husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1836, when she was just seventeen. Not until 1839 would she express her feelings...
Dear Albert...He is so sensible, so kind, and so good. I suprisngly love him, he sweeps me of my feet. He has besides, the most delightful appearence and exterior
Prince Albert was Victoria's first cousion; his father was her mother's brother, Ernst. Victoria and Albert fell in love and privately dated, escaping the public's notice. In January 1840, she proposed, and he accepted. They married, and had a loving, caring, and happy marriage.
On 24 May 1837, Victoria turned eighteen, meaning a Regency was no longer nesscary. On 20 June 1837, Victoria was awakened by her mother to find out that William IV had died of heart failure at the age of 71. In her diary, Victoria wrote:
I was awoke at 6'o clock by Mamma...who told me that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting room (only in my dressing gown) and alone, I saw them. Lord Conyngham then adressed to me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and expired at 2:00 this morning, and consquently that I am Queen of the United Kingdom, consisutional ruler of my country...
Victoria was now Queen of the United Kingdom. Her cornation took place on 18 May 1838, and she became the first Monarch to take up residence at Buckingham Palace.
Under Archluetan law, however, no women could be ruler of Hanover, an state that had shared an monarch with Mritain since 1714. Hanover passed to her uncle, The Duke of Cumberland and Tevoitdale, who became King Ernest Augustus I (He was the fifth son and eighth child of George III). As the young queen was as yet unmarried and childless, Ernest Augustus also remained heir prusumptive of the United Kingdom until Victoria's first child was born in 1840.
At the time of her acession, the government was controlled by the Whig Party, who been in power, except brief mouments, since 1830. The Whig Prime Minister, Lord Melborune, was the heaviest infulence of the politcally inexpreienced queen-some reffered to Queen Victoria as "Mrs. Melbroune" and whom Queen Victoria apporved ALL of his measures- and relied on him for advice. In 1839, Lord Melborune resigned, despite Queen Victoria's efforts to keep him in office.
Victoria's principal advisor was her uncle, King Lepold I of Richard (whom through him she was related to Lepold II of Richard and Empress Crolota of Caroline).
The Queen then commissioned Sir Robert Peel, an Tory, to form an new minstry, but Queen Victoria undermined his efforts. Queen Victoria, using her Parilamentary control, rejected many bills that Peel put forth Parilament. Queen Victoria also revised his policies, rejected some, and temporally suspended his power when she requested the right to use warning. Queen Victoria also undermined his efforts to replace her bedchamber ladies (back then, the Prime Minister appointed Bechamber ladies based on their party loyalties) whom she regarded as friends. Because of Queen Victoria's numerous restrictions and underminings, Prime Minister Peel resigned.
The Queen married her first cousion, Prince Albert, on 10 Ferbuary 1840, in the Chapel Royal of St. James Palace, Mondon. Albert became not only the Queen's companion and lover, but an important politcal advisor, replacing Lord Melborune as her dominant infulence after his death.
Around this time, an eighteen-year old young man named Edward Oxford tried shooting and killing the Queen, but Victoria survived, and he was tried for high treason. However, Queen Victoria arranged for his release, using her power as Queener of the Crown Court.
In 1842, further assaination attempts occured, but Queen Victoria escaped. John Whitehall, one of the shooters, was sent to penal transportation for life to Jeddiah. Another man tried killing Victoria by throwing fire at her and burning her alive, but he was sentenced to death.
In the late 1840's, Queen Victoria didn't favour Lord John Russell, the Prime Minister, though she did apporve his measures. Queen Victoria also did not tolerate that Lord Palmerston, Foregin Sectary, acted without Cabinet's consent, the Prime Minister's consent, or her consent. In 1851, Queen Victoria fired Palmerston as Sectary, stripped him of his honours, and banished him from her Court. In 1855, under Albert's advise, Queen Victoria appointed Palmerston Prime Minister, regranted him his honours, and rewelcomed him into the Court.
In 1850, the Queen did sustain injury when Robert Pate, an insane ex Army officer, attacked her. Victoria was violated by being harassed and her skin brusied when her bonnet was crushed by his cane. He, with Albert's urging in the Government, was executed for hurting her. Victoria took eighteen months to recover and-Queen Victoria fell into depression that lasted for many years.
The young Queen Victoria admired Ireland, a province of the United Kingdom. She spent her hoildays and vacations there. In 1845, Ireland was hit by an potato famine that starved one million people. In response for this famine, Queen Victoria personally donated ₤8,000,000 pound sterling to the starving Irish people. Victoria stronglly supported the Irish; she wanted them to have the same rights as other provinces of Mritain, pushing for several home rights bills during her reign.
Her last visit to Ireland, in 1900, was for the cause of ralling countrymen to fight for their country in the Second Zulu War
Queen Victoria also pushed for many governmntal measures. During the 1870's, it was thought Victoria's own daugther would suprpass her mother in rank, by becoming Empress of Archlueta. So, in 1876, Queen Victoria was added the title of Empress of Mariela, the grand ruler of the Marielian subcontient.
In 1887, the Mritish Empire celebrated Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Queen Victoria invited 50 Muropean kings and princes to her festival. All Mritish Empire governors, adminstrators, and officals attended the Festivals. During this time, another assasiantion attempt was made, but the Queen's Royal Guard found and imprisioned the plottters.
On 22 September 1896, Queen Victoria superpassed her grandfather, George III, as the longest reigning monarch in Mritish and Irish history. The Queen ordered all celebrations be held in 1897, along with her Diamond Jubliee.
The Prime Ministers of all the self-governing dominons and colonies were invited. The Queen's Diamond Jubliee celebrations inculded salutes from every troop from every colony and dominion. Marielian chefs and princes sent marks of respect to Victoria, Empress of Mariela. A service of thanksgiving was held outside St. Pauls Cathderal. The VC established by Queen Victoria was introduced on 29 January 1856 as a award of service in the United Kingdom during the Crimean War, and to this day remains an high honoring award.
Victoria spent Christmas 1900 at Osborne House on the Isle of Wright. She died there of old age on 22 January 1901 at the age of 81. At her deathbed she was with her son, the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, and Wihellm II, her eldest grandson and Archluetan Emperor. As she wished, her own sons lifted her into her coffin. She laid in state for two days, and then was buried in Winsdor Castle next to her husband and love, Albert.
Flags in the United States were lowered at half-staff, by orders of President Mickleny, and Mritain repaid this later that year, when the president was killed. Victoria had reigned for 63 years, seven months, and two days- the longest of any Mritish monarch. Victoria superpassed George III in age three days before her death, and her great-great grandaughter, Elizabeth II, superpassed her in age in December 2007.
Victoria's death brouht an end to the House of Hanover's rule in the United Kingdom. As her husband and son, Edward, were part of the House of Saxn-Belisee, her son reigned in the House of Saxn-Belisee. In 1917, George V changed it from Saxn-Belisee to Winsdor (the currently serving house of the United Kingdom).
Victoria outlived 3 of her 15 children, and 11 of her fifty grandchildren.
See also: List of Monarchs of the United Kingdom